This is what we did whenever we got together. We lounged around and ate a bunch of junk food. Years ago, some dumb reporter had mentioned the three of us having a “private party” and speculated about what kinds of things were really going on. We all got a good laugh about it so the phrase kind of stuck. Now, whenever one of us mentioned getting together to “party,” we knew it was time to break out the cookie dough and Sara’s footie pajamas.
No, it wasn’t terribly manly. But I didn’t see them very often so it was nice to just hang out and relax. Besides, Elaine and I had the same taste in movies and two against one meant we always had the majority vote.
Thirty minutes into the world of guns and explosions and I looked down to see Sara asleep, her head on Elaine’s lap, her feet on mine.
I looked over at Elaine who apparently had just noticed Sleeping Beauty as well.
“Every time,” I said with a smirk.
“Every time,” she repeated in agreement, taking another handful of popcorn and turning back to the movie.
I had wanted to try to reach Addison again last night, but by the time the movie was over it was two o’clock in the morning. That’s one a.m. at home. On a work night. So I figured I’d call her when I woke up.
As I peeled my eyes open, I could see some light flurries outside the window. Gotta love the first day of December in NYC. I rolled over to glance at the clock.
10:00.
Time to get up and at ‘em if I was gonna make my flight. No telling how long it would take to get to La Guardia if the snow got any thicker.
I grabbed my phone, hoping I could catch Addison on her way to work. Instead, I found twelve missed calls and three text messages. I darted up in bed and started reading.
Mom: Jason, honey, I don’t know what’s going on. But I hope it’s not what it looks like. Call me when you can. I love you.
What? What’s she talking about?
Lindsay: Jay, I love you. But you are SUCH a fucking douchebag! I have NEVER been so disappointed in you. I’ll stop leaving you nasty messages when you call me back so I can say it directly to you!
Oh shit. What happened now?
Adam: Relax. I’m on it.
Once I read Adam’s text, I knew I was in deep shit. Something was going on and I needed to find out what. I threw the covers back and stood up, pulling up the internet on my phone as I headed out toward the kitchen. Before I even made it out the bedroom door, the first picture from my google search popped up.
It was of me and Sara. And her kissing me on the lips as I grabbed her.
The second was from the restaurant. We were both leaning over the table toward each other, smiling and holding hands.
And then, of course, a picture of me kissing her knuckles at the table.
Fuck.
I dialed Addison’s number, frantic to reach her, but it went straight to voicemail. No ring. Just voicemail.
“Sara! Elaine!” I yelled toward the kitchen as I made my way down the hall. They were both sitting at the breakfast bar working on their laptops. Sara was sipping on a cup of coffee. Elaine was typing away at a rapid pace.
“Good morning, Sunshine,” Sara cooed at me. I ignored her.
“Did you see this?” I asked, holding up my phone so she could see the photo collage someone had made of us with all the pictures from last night.
She squinted her eyes until she recognized what she was looking at.
“Oh yeah. The paps are still downstairs,” she shrugged.
“What?” I said, running toward the window. Sure enough, there were about a dozen photographers milled about. “FUCK!”
“Jason, this happens every time,” Elaine said in her no-nonsense manager voice. I have no idea how she and Adam could stay calm when things like this happened. “Adam and I already put out our usual generic statements. Why are you freaking out?”
I sighed, trying to calm myself down. After a few deep breaths, I looked up at Elaine.
“I forgot about meeting up with Sara until after the game yesterday,” I started, putting my hands on my hips. “I’ve been trying to reach Addison since yesterday but haven’t been able to. So she has no idea what’s going on or why I’m here. Except for what she’s probably seen all over the internet by now.”
Elaine’s eyebrows shot to the ceiling. “You didn’t tell your girlfriend you had a fake date with a famous actress?”
“I didn’t mean to,” I said, rubbing my hands down my face. “You know how I am with remembering this kind of thing, Elaine. But I know her. And I know she is freaking out right now, thinking I cheated on her.”
My phone beeped again. I ignored it as I walked over and dropped down on the couch. I wasn’t in the mood to get bitched out by Lindsay or my mom again.