The Critic (29 page)

“Bev, I just wanted to let you know we were leaving,” I said.

She stood to give me a hug. While we were linked, she whispered, “I’m in Satan’s lair.”

I laughed as we pulled apart, but I gave her a sympathetic look. I leaned in again. “Who’s that guy?”

Bev smiled and told me his name was Dane.
Hmm, great name for a hot guy.

“Well, Dane hasn’t taken his eyes off you,” I said.

She glanced back. “I don’t know about that, but he’s the only normal one here. Want to meet him?”

I glanced at Bentley. He must have overheard us, because he nodded and took my hand as we walked over to Dane. He stood, and if I hadn’t been holding on to Bentley, I may have wavered in my stilettos.

“Dane, this is my friend Andi and her boyfriend, Bentley,” Bev said.

He smiled at me and shook Bentley’s hand. “It’s a pleasure.”

“Very nice to meet you. Make sure you take care of my friend Bev here, okay?”

He gave me a nod, making me grin. Something about his presence made me feel as though he were ready to toss Bev over his shoulder caveman-style and have his way with her. I couldn’t help but smile at that image. His eyes raked over her, making my insides quiver. How Bev could just stand there and appear unfazed was beyond me. I looked at Bentley, who raised a single brow at me. I shrugged—he’d clearly busted me scoping out Dane.

I gave Bev another quick hug good-bye. “Don’t let these bitches bring your night down. Dane wants your ass!”

She snickered. “Trust me, I’m not a timid high school girl anymore. These tramps can suck it.” Her eyes flickered to Dane and back to me. “And I’ll suck that.”

We laughed as Bentley took my hand.

“Excuse us, but Andi made me miss dessert,” he said. “I need to take her home and have her instead. I’m famished.”

Bentley and I walked across the room, leaving Bev giggling. Dane had a look of understanding, and the bitches’ mouths hung open. I was overcome by his words. The man was like hot caramel, and I was the ice cream melting in his presence. My heels clicked on the marble as we rushed across the room. I prayed I didn’t skid across the shiny floor.

His hand tightened around mine as if he knew my steps were uncertain. “She’s cool. I liked her.”

Bev
was
cool, and I hadn’t realized how much I’d missed her. In the past, I would’ve worried about leaving her with those skanks, but not tonight. She was ready to kick ass and take names later. With Dane next to her, oozing alpha male, she was primed for a great night.

I welcomed the brisk evening air as we approached the valet. Bentley handed him our ticket.

To say I hadn’t been nervous walking into the club to meet her parents would have been a lie, but having her hand in mine as I did it calmed me. I looked at my beautiful girlfriend as we sat at a red light, and I said a silent thank you to anyone who was listening.

Andi’s eyes shifted toward me. “What are you staring at?” She shyly smiled, and my heart melted.

“You. The way you handled those uppity women and the things you said about the shows and me just blew me away. You blow me away.”

“Well, they were horrible to Bev in high school. She was overweight, and they called her names like ‘heavy Bevvy.’ It was awful. Back then, she was shy, so I stood up for her.” Andi sighed.

“And to you?”

“Hmm?” She laid her head on the seatback. “Were they mean to me?”

“Yeah, did they call you names too?”

“Sometimes, but I didn’t let it bother me too much. It bothered me more when they picked on Beverly. People don’t understand how words can be weapons, ya know? It’s sad really. We have this wonderful language with over a million words in it, and the cruel ones flow so easily while the others stay unspoken or maybe just on the pages of the dictionary.”

The thought of anyone being mean to Andi made my heart ache. Then I realized I’d done that. I had been mean to her with my words. My mind raced, trying to think of all the bad reviews I’d written and how people had counted on them, not only those who read the reviews but the actors and directors involved. “Shit.”

“What’s the matter, babe?” She placed her hand on mine.

I stared out the window as we pulled into the hotel parking lot.

“Bentley? Are you okay?”

Her thumb rubbed the back of my hand, and with each pass, I felt more guilt.

“I’m sorry I hurt you with my words.” I looked into her eyes as the valet opened her door.

She held up her index finger and pulled her door closed. Her body swiveled so she was facing me. “Apology accepted.” She placed a soft kiss on my lips. “Yes, your words hurt me, but you weren’t being malicious. If it weren’t for your reviews, I wouldn’t have been able to grace the stage of Broadway with confidence.” Her eyes glassed over. “As much as I hate to admit it, you were right. I wasn’t performing as I should’ve been. I was going through the motions, and you made me feel the emotions that I lacked.”

All I could do was nod. This was the first time I’d ever questioned my work. I had always vowed to stand behind my words, and I prided myself on the honesty I brought to each review.

“Don’t change who you are or, as you told me not so long ago, your reviews won’t be worth the paper they’re written on. Now let’s go to our room, and I’ll take your mind off all this.”

“I love you, Andi.” Those were words that I hoped to say more times than I’d be able to count.

“I love you too.”

And those were the words I hoped to hear just as often.

My one-week run on Broadway opened doors for me. The director, Marcus, was directing another show that started rehearsals in the fall, and he asked me if I’d be interested in reading for the lead role. Naturally, I couldn’t turn down that opportunity, but sometimes the hardest part was timing. Since it was only the beginning of summer, I needed to either find another short-running play or a short-term job.

Gina and I decided we needed to look for a place in the city. She was working there every day since she had back to back jobs, and she was getting tired of the commute. Seth wanted to move as well, and we liked the idea of having him as a roommate. Even though they were officially dating, I wasn’t sure how Bentley would feel about that.

My buzzer sounded, and I half expected to see Gina with the classifieds in her hand, but my hot boyfriend came in instead.

“Hey, you! What are you doing here?”

Bentley gave me a kiss. “Do I need a reason to visit my girl?”

“No, but what if I wasn’t here? It isn’t like I live around the corner.” I walked into my kitchen. “Would you like something to drink?”

Bentley relaxed onto my sofa. “No, thanks. I just had lunch.”

“Oh, so you’ve been in Jersey?” I opened a Diet Coke and sat next to him.

“I had to go see Mack about the show.” He fidgeted with his shirt, and creases developed in his forehead.

“You don’t have to feel badly about mentioning Mack or the show. Really, it’s fine. I’m in such a better place now.” I put my hand on his thigh and felt his muscles tighten. “What’s wrong?”

He picked up my hand and placed my palm on his cheek while he took deep breaths. “A very large producer picked up
Together Again.
They’re going to Broadway then touring major cities when that run is over. It’s going to be pretty big and . . .”

I nodded. I knew what that meant for the cast and what it could have meant for me, but I was happier now. “That’s fantastic! This must be why Seth wants to move to the city. You didn’t think I’d be happy?”

Bentley walked across the room to my window, which overlooked a park. His chin rested in his hand as he just stared outside. “I thought you’d be might be upset.”

“Babe, look at me.” He turned as I padded across my carpet to him. I placed my hands in his and held them against my chest. “Everything happens for a reason. You’re my reason. I’m really content with the way things are right now, so it’s all good.” His arms snaked around me, lifting me off the carpet.

I wrapped my legs around his hips as he carried me to the couch and sat. My hands went into his hair, and I studied his face. He looked more gorgeous today than he had yesterday. “So, Mr. Chambers, what do you have planned for today?”

“Well, that’s another reason why I’m here. My parents are having a birthday get-together for Brett, and I wanted to know if you’d go with me.” His lips turned up slightly, forcing a smile. “I think they want to take his mind off everything that’s going on, and I’d love for them to meet you before I leave.”

I nodded and tried to contain my sadness “Okay, when?” My heart hammered at the thought of meeting his parents, but from what I could tell, they were nice people who supported their children.

“Sunday afternoon at their place in the Hamptons.” His thumb grazed my breasts as he raised his hands up my ribcage. He lowered his forehead to mine, and I watched his chest rise and fall with each breath.

“I hope your parents like me.”

He played with my nipples, making me not really care who liked me. “They will love you. I promise.”

“Hey, Bentley?”

“Mmm hmm.” He was sprinkling kisses on my neck.

“I want you.” My head fell back as his tongue glided from my collarbone to my earlobe.

His teeth nibbled my soft flesh. “Babe, I’m yours.”

He carried me into the bedroom, and we spent the majority of the day in bed, loving and holding each other.

As we drove up the Chambers’ long driveway in South Hampton, I felt my hands getting sweaty. I’d chosen to wear a cotton floral dress and a pair of wedge-heeled sandals. My man looked hot in his beige golf shorts and navy polo shirt, which brought out the depth of his gorgeous eyes. We’d stopped and picked up a bouquet of flowers for his mother. Even though the party was for Brett, I wanted to bring his mom something. My nerves surfaced as Bentley pulled up behind a beautiful Maserati.

“Wow! That car is gorgeous,” I said.

“That’s Alex’s car.”

I glanced at him.

“Brett’s best friend and co-owner of The White Orchid,” Bentley said.

“Yes, I remember you telling me about him.” We got out of the car, and I smoothed my skirt.