There was no chance of Sorscha the toy poodle attacking Jay. Her barking, snarling attack seemed to be directed solely towards me and Billie, as we finally had our laughing and jumping scene. Veronica seemed overjoyed for us; Sorscha and Jay, however, were not amused.
‘Oh my God, I can’t believe you are here,’ Billie said, cupping my face, checking that she wasn’t imagining things.
‘Me either – it’s insane!’
Our laughter was interrupted by the scraping sound of my suitcase handle being repeatedly extended and retracted, as Jay gave a less-than-subtle hint.
‘Jay, you are a legend! I owe you one.’
Jay extended the handle again, clicking it into place and grabbing it. ‘You owe me four.’ He looked at Billie rather pointedly.
Billie chose to ignore his tone. ‘You’re hilarious.’
It then occurred to me that I hadn’t yet thanked him for picking me up; could this be the reason for his lack of personality thus far? Before I had a chance to remedy the situation he began to move towards the stairs.
‘Where do you want it?’ he asked Billie, as if I wasn’t there. He had been so nice to Veronica and her dog but couldn’t seem to bring himself to make eye contact with me.
‘It’s okay, I’ve got it,’ I said, stepping forward and reaching for my suitcase, which he tipped back out of my reach.
‘Do you?’ he asked, his brow curving, as if the very notion of me rolling a bag was ridiculous.
‘I think I can manage,’ I said, reaching again, only to grab at fresh air.
‘Listen, I don’t know what you have in here, but dragging it up those steps ain’t going to be easy.’
‘Well, I guess I shouldn’t have packed all my acting props, you know, my wigs and feather boas.’
‘Is that what was spilling out of your suitcase … a prop?’ Jay smirked, watching as I flushed at the memory of my canary-yellow undies.
‘Shut up!’ I said, marching on towards the stairs and leaving him with the stupidly heavy bag; it wasn’t until I got to the foot of the stairs that I realised I had no idea where I was going.
‘Ah, this way?’ I pointed to the stairs.
Billie’s eyes flicked from Jay to me with a sparkle of interest. ‘Yes, that’s the way,’ she said, whacking Jay in the side. ‘Come on, muscles, let’s get the girl settled in.’
An image of Jay tucking me into bed while Billie read me a bedtime story flashed in my mind. I quickly turned and started for the very long, very narrow, stairs. I was suddenly ever so grateful that I had not won that argument; it was hard enough to get myself upstairs, let alone my excess baggage. If anything, I took great pleasure in hearing the clunk, clunk, clunk of suitcase wheels being dragged up each step by the begrudging Jay.
‘Turn left up here,’ said Billie. ‘2C.’
A small hall led into a little alcove that had a gold, slightly crooked 2C on the left, and 2D on the right. I guessed that was Jay’s door, and tried not to notice its close proximity as I heard the rolling of wheels approach.
He was trying to keep his breath even but, as Billie worked on unlocking her door, I could tell he was a little worn out.
‘Thanks, I think I can take it from here,’ I said, reaching out for the handle; this time he didn’t fight me, and my hand brushed over his as he slowly let go. It was the strangest sensation, almost as if an electric shock had passed between us, and I could still feel the warmth of his skin against mine. Our eyes met for a brief moment then we quickly looked away as Billie pushed the door to her condo open.
‘Home sweet home!’ she sing-songed. ‘Hey, thanks again for helping out, Jay.’
I pulled my bag inside the doorway. ‘Yeah, thanks,’ I said, probably sounding a little ungrateful. The truth was if I never saw Jay Davis again, it would probably be too soon. The sight of his cocky, lopsided smile as he unlocked his own door only strengthened my resolve.
Rather than say ‘anytime’ like a normal, polite person would, he looked at my broken suitcase and shook his head, then stepped inside his door.
‘See you around, ladies.’
Billie’s West Hollywood condo was beautiful: the charming, bright space matched the perfection of the vintage building and its idyllic location, being just steps away from the fabulous dining and entertainment that the Sunset Strip had to offer. A cosy kitchen opened into the formal dining room, light hardwood floors flowing through out the space. Natural light flooded in through the windows that looked onto the terrace, and the coved ceilings and arched doorways had the charm and character of Old Hollywood. Billie had added her own distinctive touches to the place: a large framed picture of Frank Sinatra sat above the fireplace, and the room was furnished with her attractively worn leather couches, eclectic rugs and boho cushions.
‘Um, I think I need to get a gig as a make-up artist,’ I said, running my hand along the marble countertop of the kitchen.
Billie laughed. ‘You mean, what’s a girl like me doing in a place like this?’
‘Oh, no, sorry, I didn’t mean it like that.’ I winced.
‘How can I possibly afford it?’
It was the very question burning a hole in my brain, but I wouldn’t come out and say it.
Billie plonked herself on the couch, tucking a cushion in her arms. ‘That’s okay – I totally can’t afford it.’
I stilled, turning to her. ‘Jesus, Billie, you’re not a squatter, are you?’ I seriously wouldn’t have put it past her.
She burst out laughing, turfing a cushion at me. I caught it, much to my own amazement.
‘No, I am not a squatter, I am simply a very charming individual.’
I threw the cushion back and collapsed on the couch next to her. ‘Well, I know that.’
Billie tucked one leg underneath the other. ‘One of the best jobs I’ve ever had here was a short-lived production for a Hallmark Western with Nancy Satora and Jack Seddan.’
I blinked, rolling the names around in my head.
‘Who?’
‘Trust me, they’re big in the midday movie world.’
‘Okay, right.’
‘Anyway, there was this really amazing character played by the legendary stage actor Molly White, and because I was the new kid on the block, I was assigned to do the make-up of anyone over seventy on the shoot.’
I laughed, shaking my head at the vision.
‘Not that I minded. Nancy was so up herself, and Jack Seddan had wandering hands, if you know what I mean. Plus Molly was a hoot – I used to love going to work just to listen to her repeat the same stories about her young Hollywood days. I honestly think I was the only one that ever had the time or the patience to listen to her.’
‘That’s kind of sad.’
‘Yeah, yeah, it was. Especially as she could out-act anyone.’ Billie spoke with a faraway look in her eyes, reliving a fond memory, before blinking back to the here and now. ‘So, anyway, production wrapped, we caught up for a top-shelf lunch afterwards and she was horrified to learn that I was couch-surfing in some dark, downtrodden corner. She lives in Florida but has had a condo here for years and said that I’d be doing her a favour to keep it dust-free for her.’
‘Wait, this is Molly White’s place?’
‘Yeah. I’m her favourite tenant – have been near-on two years now.’
‘Wow, that’s awesome.’
‘She’s awesome! I pay her every week – much to her disgruntlement – and water the pot plants. Before Molly, I was this close to packing it all in and moving home, so I intend on taking full advantage of the card I’ve been dealt for however long it lasts.’
I looked at Billie, slightly taken aback at her confession. I’d had no idea she had struggled here; she had never given that impression. But then again, everything in the online world had a giant filter – I could attest to that.
‘So, does Molly know I’m staying here?’
‘Oh, yeah, of course – she was actually thrilled. She constantly worries about me being on my own.’
I slapped my hands on my knees. ‘Well, Miss Martin, be careful what you wish for because you are definitely not alone anymore.’
‘Yaaaaay!’ Billie clapped her hands together in delight. ‘Come on, I’ll give the grand tour: first stop, your new room.’
My room was sparse compared to the living areas, but it mattered little as I stepped towards the sliding door to the small patio that overlooked the pool.
‘Ah, yeah, thought you might like this room.’
I tore my eyes away from where Veronica and Sorscha still sat in the shady part of the courtyard. ‘It’s bloody awesome,’ I said, moving over to her and wrapping my arms around her. ‘I can’t thank you enough.’
‘Don’t mention it. No friend of mine is going to stay on some flea-ridden couch.’
I took in the space again. With white walls, plenty of light and a double bed, it was a blank canvas. Just what I needed for my new start in a new town – a new adventure.
‘Oh, and before I forget.’ Billie grabbed my hand and dragged me out of my room, through the living area and into the kitchen. ‘Look.’ Billie pointed to perhaps the most beautiful thing I had ever seen: an industrial coffee maker. ‘Please tell me you are still addicted?’
‘Worse than ever,’ I said, stepping closer and admiring its beauty. I had died and gone to heaven.
‘You can have coffee on your balcony and learn your lines,’ Billie smiled. It was as if she was trying to convince me to stay, but she seriously needn’t have bothered – I was already well and truly sold!