Written in the Stars (11 page)

“You didn’t,” I answered before he could regret anything he said.

“I can’t help thinking I’m bombing out here.”

“You’re not. It’s just that…” I hesitated. “I have hard time believing this is really happening.”

“Which part of this is hard to believe?” As if he had to ask.

“The part of you being Geoff Mann, and me being just an average everyday boring girl, named Sophie.”

“I see.” 

“Oh, good, so you understand why I think this should be the last time we see each other?”

“Wow, wait a minute.” He stopped me. “I definitely don’t understand that at all.”

“Geoff, we both live in the real world, well, one of us, at least,” I started to explain.

“I’m pretty sure both of us live in the real world.”

“I know it’s just that my world doesn’t involve fairytales anymore.”

“Neither does mine.” He looked upset.

“This isn’t coming ou
t right.” I was getting flustered again. “What I’m trying to say is that we live such different lives, and my life is complicated enough that I don’t need to add to it.”

“You think I’m a complication?”

“I know you’re a complication.”

“Sophie, I know what it means to have a complicated life, and how it feels not to want to get out of bed because you’re afraid of what the day will bring. My life isn’t a fairytale, and neither am I. I’m just an average guy who happens to really like the girl standing in front of me, and I’m hoping that girl would like to get to know the real me.”

I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. What are the odds of a teenage girl’s dream coming true, and having her prince find her? Maybe I was getting ahead of myself, but I knew if I backed out now, I would never know. Geoff Mann just asked me for the chance to get to know me better, and I would be an idiot not to say yes.

“I’ll make you a deal.” The way the corners of his mouth curled up slightly made it hard for me not to smile. “If you will promise to do everything in your power to keep my face out of any and all magazines, and that whatever this is stays
simple, so that when the summer ends and we both go back to our normal lives, there are no complications, then I will let you get to know me better.”

“I promise no cameras, no pictures, no public, and no complications when the summer ends.” He held up his hand like an Eagle Scout.

“I can’t believe I’m about to agree to this, but I guess I’ll see you in the morning then.” I was hoping I wouldn’t regret the words coming out of my mouth.

“Actually, since we’re in some kind of agreement now, I was hoping I could talk you into joining me for a midnight play in the park,” he asked.

“Play, as in an actual play?”

“Yes, an actual play. Some of our local performers like to put on a midnight showing of whatever their
current play is for fun. My family used to go all the time, and I would love it if you would join me.”

“So, you want me to go to a public place with you?”

“It’s a small public place, no more than a hundred people.”

“I don’t think that’s a good idea, considering the whole picture, magazine thing,” I said.

“What if I promise no one will recognize me?”

“I would say that’s a promise you shouldn’t make,” I replied.

“I’ll make a deal with you.” He smiled. “If you recognize me when I pick you up, then we won’t go.”

“Yet another deal.” I squinted at him. “Fine, if your disguise is good enough, then I’ll go.”

“Thank God.” He sighed. “I was thinking I was going to have camp out on your porch until you said yes.”

“Now that’s just weird.” I smiled.

“Maybe, but a guy has to do what a guy has to do to win the girl.” He smiled.

“Okay.” I could feel my face flush.
“I’m going inside to let Nonna know that I’m okay.”

“And I will pick you up at ten.”

“Disguised?”

“Yes, disguised.” He grinned.

“Great, then I guess I’ll see you when I see you.”

“I’ll be there.”

I took a deep breath and held it, since this time I knew he was watching me walk away. I didn’t look back or breathe again until I reached the front door. I gave him a half wave goodbye since he was still standing in the same spot I left him, with a silly smile on his face. I waited until he climbed into the car that pulled up right after we stopped walking, before opening the door to face an overly excited Erin.

“Not one word,” I told her.

“Okay, if not one, how about four?” She followed me into the kitchen. “I told you so.”

“Fine, I’ll admit you were right about whatever you think you were right about, but that doesn’t mean anything is going to happen between Geoff Mann and me. We’re just friends.”

“Sure, keep telling yourself that and, by the end of the summer, I’ll get to say those beautiful words you never wanted to hear me say.”

“And what would they be?” I should have known not to ask.

“I was right, and you were wrong.” She smiled.

“Don’t get your hopes up,” I replied. “I’m not in love with him anymore, and I never will be.”

She didn’t reply, and she didn’t need to. The smirk on her face said it all, and all I could think about was how the hole I was digging was only getting bigger, which was probably a good thing, since I was going to have to be buried in it after dying of either a broken heart, or embarrassment, whichever came first.

Shortly after dinner, I found myself watching the second hand slowly creep around the mantle clock. The anticipation of getting to see Geoff had gotten the best of me, and now seconds felt like minutes, minutes like hours, and the hours
that had already past put me well into next week.

“What time is he supposed to be here?” Erin asked without looking up from the book she was reading.

“Who?”

“Are you really going to make me say his name?” She glared at me.

“I guess so.”

“Sophie, you haven’t been able to sit still all day, you’re not dressed for bed yet, and you’ve fixed your hair at least twenty times in the last ten minutes. I don’t need to be in detective mode to know that you have plans with a certain someone. I just want to know how much longer you plan on torturing yourself watching time slowly pass by.”

“He said ten.” I looked at the clock again.

“Well, you have fifteen minutes, so instead of eyeballing the clock, go double check yourself or do something constructive.” She went back to reading.

I was a little thrown off by how calm and collected she was being about me having plans without her. Especially when she knew I had plans with none other than Geoff Mann. There was a soft knock on the door before I could make it to the bathroom.

“I’ll get it.” Erin quickly jumped up, and looked out the side window before opening the door. “Do they have a lot of homeless people around this area?”

“Not that I know of, why?”

“Only because I think one has lost his way, and somehow ended up here.” I smiled when I looked out the window and saw who I hoped to be Geoff dressed in a huge trench coat, a black hat, and dark sunglasses.

“It’s Geoff.” I unlatched the lock.

“There’s no way that’s Geoff.” Erin looked out the window again.

“What do you think?” Geoff asked as soon as I opened the door.

“I think you look ridiculous,” Erin answered for me.

“What she said.” I smiled.

“Yes, but did you recognize me?” He took off his glasses.

I would recognize those eyes anywhere. I got lost in my thoughts.

“No, I didn’t.” Erin brought me back to earth. “Where’s Mario?”

“Where’s Mario why?” I looked at her.

“Duh, because we’re going with.” She grabbed her coat.

Calm and collected all of a sudden made sense.

“I thought it would be fun to double date,” Geoff said.

“And, because I need to chaperone my baby cousin’s first real date.” Mario came out of nowhere.

“This isn’t my first date.” I blushed.

“Yes it is.” Erin threw my coat at me. “Let’s go before all the good grassy spots are taken.”

“Sorry,” Geoff mouthed as he helped me with my coat.

Lord, please let Erin come down with laryngitis before the night begins
. It couldn’t hurt to ask.

I think we were all surprised to see how many people were already camped out on blankets when we arrived. I held my breath, praying that no one would recognize Geoff as we made our way through the crowd to the only opened spot left.

“There are so many people here.” Erin was in awe. “Maybe we should let everyone see Geoff, so when they start chasing him we can get a better spot.”

“Erin!” I snapped at her.

“I’m only joking.” She smiled at me as she spread out her blanket.

“I’ll go get us some refreshments,” Geoff said.

“I’ll come with you.” I was more than ready to have some alone time with him.

“You’re not upset that I invited them, are you?” he asked me.

“You invited them?”

“Yes, I wasn’t sure how comfortable you were about being alone with me yet.”

“I was alone with you this morning.”

“I meant in public.”

“I’m not going to lie, I was a little worried. But you promised nothing bad would happen, so I trusted you.”

“Do
you mean I could have had you all to myself tonight?”

“If you don’t count the huge crowd of people surrounding us, then yes.” I smiled.

“Man, I could just kick myself in the….” He stumbled forward when someone bumped into him from behind.

“Oh my, I’m so sorry,” a tall, thin lady said as she picked up the book she dropped. “Hold on, you probably don’t speak English.” She started flipping through the pages.

“Don’t worry. There was no harm done.” Geoff picked up her blanket for her.

“Thank God you
do speak English. It takes me forever to use this book.” She shoved it into her bag.

“No problem,” Geoff said and then turned to walk away.

“Excuse me.” The woman stopped him. “I hope you don’t think I’m trying to make the moves on you, but you look awfully familiar.” She studied his face.

“I get that a lot.” Geoff slowly pulled me behind him for shielding. I did my best to make sure my
whole body was hidden behind his, since I knew it was only a matter of seconds before she realized who he was, and we were bombarded with people and cameras.

“You know, you look a lot like that actor person my daughter is head over heels in love with. So much she drives me crazy talking about him all the time. Now what is his name?” She went into thinking mode. “Greg, Jack? Oh, I can’t remember, but my daughter will. Marie!” she yelled across the
crowd to a very beautiful young redhead wooing some guys a few yards away.

“Mom, I was making friends.” Marie looked perturbed.

“I’m sorry, honey, but doesn’t he look like that one actor you’re infatuated with? You know; the guy you have plastered all over your walls at home?”

“You mean Geoff Mann?” Marie eyed him.

“That’s it. Geoff Mann. Doesn’t he look like him?” They both were now studying his face.

“Nope, not even close. Geoff is way better looking than him,” Marie replied after almost a full minute of both of us holding our breath.

“Well, I think he does,” her mother insisted as they walked away.

I couldn’t stop the smile from overtaking my fac
e, or stop the laughter that had built once I saw the stunned, dumbstruck look on Geoff’s face.

“That was really…”

“Funny.” I laughed.

“I was going to say ‘close.’”

“Oh, sorry.” I bit my bottom lip to stop from laughing.

“Sophie, this isn’t funny. Do you know how scared I was that someone actually recognized me?”

“I’m sorry; you’re right. So was I,” I said, and then went back to biting my lip.

“This is no laughing matter.” He playfully glared at me.

“I know. I’m not laughing.” I tried looking worried. “I’m sorry I can’t help it, that was classic.” I started laughing.

“You know what I don’t understand, is how Geoff Mann is better looking than me right now.” He modeled his bum-looking outfit.

“Yeah, I have no idea. You look amazing.” I grinned.

“Thanks.” He grabbed my hand. “Let’s go sit down before someone else decides to prove me wrong, and knocks my confidence level down in front of you again.”

With one look, Erin knew something had happened, and within a few minutes of telling the story, she was laughing along with me. If the play hadn’t started shortly after, I think Geoff would have thrown in the towel and called it a night. Now all I had to do was pay attention to the play, hoping it would take the mental image of Geoff’s stunned face dancing through my head to keep me from laughing. For the most part, I was able to keep my composure, but only because I had taken advantage of the few times the crowd laughed to release some built up giggles.

Like a character
out of a Nicholas Sparks movies, Geoff walked me to the door, and politely said his goodbyes to both Erin and Mario before taking off his awful disguise and turning his full attention back to me.

“Did you have a good time?”  

“I had a great time. Thanks for taking me.”

“Thanks for going.” He tucked his hands into his front pockets and leaned up against the house, making me well aware of how someone with a body like his could
easily make a simple black t-shirt and a basic pair of jeans renders a girl speechless. And by basic, of course, I mean a thousand-dollar pair of designer jeans that I’m sure were made just for him, since they seemed to fit perfectly.

Don’t stare!
I took a deep breath, hoping he didn’t notice as I moved to the opposite side of the porch. “So, I guess I’ll see you in the morning.” I said making myself look at him.

“Definitely.” My heart skipped a beat when he started moving towards me.

“Great, well thanks again.” I bolted for the front door and opened it before he could reach me.

“Are you okay?” He looked baffled.

“I’m great, just really tired. Really, really, tired.” I sounded like an idiot.

“Okay, well I guess a hug goodbye is out of the question, so…” He extended his hand. “Thank you for a lovely evening, Sophie Watters.”

“Back at you.” I quickly shook his hand and shut the door.

“Sophie, what in the world is wrong with you?” Erin came rushing out of the kitchen. “Couldn’t you tell by the look in his eyes he wanted more than a stupid handshake?”

“Yes, and no!” I snapped. “There is no way I’m going to let myself get caught up in some kind of summer fling with a bored celebrity.” I started walking up the stairs.

“Sophie, sometimes I wonder where you were the day God was handing out brains.” She glared at me.

“I was first in line,” I rep              lied before shutting my door.

Hanging out with Geoff this summer was going to be a lot harder than I anticipated, but no matter how hard it would be, there was no way I could let myself fall in love with him again. I’d learned the hard way that love can bring the strongest of men to their knees, and shatter the coldest of hearts when lost. It can also make the world seem very dark
and lonely when it’s taken from you without warning. Love was the one thing I feared the most.