I got a little jealous, but only just a bit. I sat at a small table for two, and waited for her to return. After about two really fast songs, with the beats banging loud and hard, she came to find me. I handed her a drink, and we laughed that we really couldn’t hear each other talking.
She nodded towards the patio, and got up. I followed her outside, and we were rewarded with the warm night air, and a star filled sky.
“It’s normally like that in there, sorry. At least you can’t beat this view, huh?”
The stars above us were impressive indeed. There were several other couples on the patio, and some laughter coming from a larger group of people off to the side. Overall, it was a nice setting.
“James, I want to come visit you again, soon. I have some scenes to shoot for the next two weeks or so, but would love to come out, once I get done.”
“I think I would like that very much,” I had to smile at that thought.
We spent another hour at the club, having a few drinks, and dancing. Yes, I finally got my old ass out there and danced with her. The club was hopping, and it was a relief to be able to hear again when we left. I actually thought the hard hitting techno sounds coming from the club were cool, just not my normal cup of tea.
My vacation came to an end two days later, after having absorbed as much of the Los Angeles sun as I could. We didn’t have day-long marathons, but each evening and morning we did spend making love, or just plain fucking as hard as we could. I wanted to spend more time on her back patio, but we both had lives to resume. I was also exhausted.
At 42 now, I was no spring chicken. Sure, I could still keep up, but how long would that last? On the return flight, I had to be honest with myself. Tanya was in her prime, not just financially, but she was a very active person. Could I keep up with her? What should I even call her, my girlfriend? Or was I just someone she liked to have sex with?
I decided to table my own internal discussion until later. I got home, and found that Shawn had more parts on order, and wouldn’t be done with the plane for at least another week. I told him to keep at it, and decided to take the boat out for a while. I had a talk with Howard, and arranged for Shawn to stay with him for a few nights.
I drove out of the bay, down the coast, and found the perfect spot. The inlet was just a barren beach, with no homes nearby. I dropped anchor, and decided to just relax on the deck. I thought about Caitlin, about Tanya, heck, I even thought about that hot, young, concierge Kim. Eventually I went below, and had a light salad for dinner.
I slept soundly, with none of the noise of that big city around me. The waves had their usual calming effect on me, and when I awoke, I felt like a new man. I decided to get up, and seize the day! And by seize the day, I meant that I would actually do more than just tan on one side. I might roll over too…
I had just rolled over, when I heard a plane fly over. It wasn’t all that close, but reminded me of flying anyhow. I really wanted to get back up, behind those controls. I hated that I would need to wait for my bird to get fixed.
While sitting on the deck, I thought about my time alone, on that island. It surely wasn’t movie material, but maybe I could write a story about it. Would anyone even want to read it, should I write it? It might do me some good, actually, to write down all that happened. I honestly didn’t care if no one ever read it. I would consider it my therapy, for being stranded for those days.
I got out a pad and pen, and started writing. After an hour, my hands were numb, and I realized that I had no idea what I was getting myself into. I had a sandwich for lunch, with one of my Beach Rum drinks (damn did I miss those in L. A.), and returned to the deck. I was a writing machine again until the sun started setting, and I was three drinks into the evening. My writing was looking pretty sloppy, so I gave up for the night.
My hand was so cramped up, I had to ice it. I hadn’t written like that in years, probably since College. The next day was very similar, although I didn’t write with as much gusto. My hands were still raw from the abuse they had taken the day before.
I returned to the marina, and joined Shawn and Howard for a nice dinner, followed by too much alcohol again. I really should watch out for Howard more. That man would likely die from liver failure, before that of old age. Maybe that was his hidden agenda all along.
The next day, I got a call from Tanya.
“Hey James, just wanted to let you know that shooting this one, is taking longer than I had hoped. I won’t be able to come out for another two weeks. Sorry.” She sounded contrite.
I wasn’t going to bust her balls about it. “Don’t sweat it, you can still come, just let me know when. OK?”
“Sure, of course. I really wish you were here right now, in my bed…” she purred.
I was hard instantly, or as quickly as my cock can push its way up in the confines of my shorts. My verbal reaction was very similar to my non-verbal one. “You have no idea how badly I want that…”
She giggled, “Well, I will just have to hurry up with this picture, so we can warm up your bed again.”
“I’m going to hold you to that.”
Another giggle, and a sigh. “OK, well I should probably let you go. I can’t wait to see you in two weeks!”
“OK, see you then,” I said, as we both hung up.
I was truly starting to have feelings for her. How can that be? She is a famous actress. What the hell is she going to do with me around? I mean, aside from the great sex of course. Was there anything that I could do, to even pretend to be her equal? I would mull that over all night, until falling asleep.
The next day, Shawn informed me that the parts he needed were still being shipped. A thought struck me then, how I could possibly try to fit into her lifestyle more. I asked him if he wanted to take a trip to Los Angeles with me, since we were basically just waiting for parts. He actually agreed, “That’s a damn fine idea. I actually need a break from this beast.”
The next day, the two of us were on a plane, heading back to L. A. I didn’t really care for the big city, but was really starting to like this woman, and would do anything for her. We got a rental car, and I had booked a room for Shawn near her house, in case she didn’t want him staying in a guest room. I just hoped us showing up like this made her happy.
We drove to her place, and Shawn whistled when we pulled up. The gate was open, and there were several cars in the driveway. I wondered if she was having a party or something. This could be a lot of fun. I parked the rental, and we went to the door.
I rang the doorbell, and shortly, someone opened the door. As I got a closer look, it was Skip Cruz, another very popular actor right now. I still always had an internal laugh at the poor guys name though. He had boxers on, and a shirt that was completely unbuttoned. He looked drunk, or high, or something, but at least smiled at us.
“Hey guys, are you both here for the party, too?”
“Yeah man, I’m a friend of Tanya’s,” I replied. “Have you seen her?”
“Yup, she’s right this way.”
He led us into the house, and out to the back patio. There, sitting on one of her lounge chairs, was a completely naked Tanya. Tyler Palmer, her ex, sitting in between her legs, also naked. I knew at that moment, that things truly were too good to be true with her. It was a deflating moment, but I guess I should have seen it coming.
He walked us out, and said, “Hey babe, this guy says he’s a friend of yours.” Jeez, was everyone here in on the orgy?
She opened her eyes, and gasped. “James, oh god, what are you doing here? I thought you were still in Hawaii?” She jumped up, grabbed a towel, and ran inside.
“What gives, babe?” asked Tyler.
I turned to Shawn, and said, “Let’s go. I guess showing up unannounced really was a bad idea.” I turned to Tyler and said, “She’s all yours, man.”
We were walking out her front door, when she came running out in a robe. “JAMES, WAIT!”
I stopped at the rental, and turned around. “Tanya, you don’t need to explain anything to me. I should have known better.”
“James, this isn’t what it looks like. Tyler… He is an ex-boyfriend that just comes around every now and then. Nothing happened with him!”
“Then what happened to your clothes, and why was he only in boxers?” After an uncomfortable silence, “I thought so. Tanya, I was glad to have gotten the chance to know you. I hope you have a happy life here.”
“Please, James. Can’t we just talk about this? I don’t want it to end like this. I really like you!”
Shawn had gotten into the car, and I opened my door. “No, I think we’ve said enough. I really liked you too, but can’t be with anyone that lies. You said you were still shooting for a picture, and couldn’t come to visit me. At least you could have done the decent thing, and told me that your ex was keeping you busy. It would have saved me the trip. Goodbye, Tanya.”
With that, I got in the car. She stood there crying, but I am not sure if she even knew why. Perhaps it was a princess reaction, to losing something she liked? I was hurt by her betrayal, but had to remind myself that it wasn’t like we had been married. I had just assumed that we were in a mutually exclusive relationship, and we all know about assumptions. They tend to make an ass out of you and me.
Either way, we went back to the hotel to stay the night, and returned to Moloka’i the next day. She had sent me a few text messages, and left a single voice mail, all of which I deleted. It was time to move on, and resume my happy life in Hawaii. I was sad that our brief romance was over, but also glad that I hadn’t gotten more involved before finding out.