We didn’t really have time for breakfast Saturday morning so we exchanged our contact information and kissed goodbye. I tried to ignore the slight ache in my chest at our parting. We’d see each other again, and anyway it seemed silly to be that bothered since we’d known each other—in person—only a couple of days. I put on a bright face and told him I’d see him briefly at the photo ops.
He grabbed my wrist just as I was walking out the door to give me one more kiss.
“One more thing,” Sebastian said as he released me. He shifted awkwardly. “You know, I’m not officially out as anything but straight right now.”
I arched a brow. “I know.”
“You do?”
“Uh-huh. In fact, I never imagined you were anything else before I met you. Your publicist is good.” I smiled. “Don’t worry. I don’t imagine the rags are going to be camped outside my house.”
Sebastian winced. “I’m an ass. I know.”
“Nah, I know how it works. I knew when I agreed that we weren’t going to be walking the red carpet together.”
“It’s just the career thing. You know.”
“I know. I’m not a naïve kid with stars in my eyes, Sebastian,” I assured him. “I believe in science, not fantasy.”
His smile was relieved and I tried not to let it bother me. Much.
I waved goodbye as I headed out of his hotel room. The same guard still stood at the station for the floor.
“See you tonight?” he asked as I hit the button for the elevator.
I shook my head. “Nah, this is it. I won’t be back.”
He gave me a sympathetic smile and I didn’t bother to explain. I figured he was paid well to keep his mouth shut anyway.
* * * *
Jack was waiting for me in our room. “Have fun?”
I smiled. “Yeah. He’s going home today.”
“Oh, Jesus.” He frowned. “I’m sorry, Marty. I guess I thought you’d have tonight.”
“I did, too. But it’s okay.” I started stripping out of yesterday’s clothes so I could get a quick shower and head off to the events for the day. “We’re keeping in touch.”
“You’re what now?”
“We’re going to see each other again in California,” I said over my shoulder as I headed into the bathroom and turned on the shower.
“You’re going to date Sebastian Lookinland?”
I shrugged. “That’s the idea. But you know, in secret or whatever.”
Jack blinked at me, kind of like an owl. “My geeky scientist brother is going to have a secret gay affair with a famous celebrity.”
“Yep.” I stepped into the shower.
“Well, damn.”
“Jack?”
“Huh?”
“A little privacy?”
Jack just stared.
“Get out of the bathroom.”
“Oh. Sorry.” Jack laughed as he closed the door behind him.
* * * *
I returned to work Monday feeling a little out of sorts. My time at the Space Heroes Convention had been even better than I had thought it would be. Well, besides having started something with Sebastian, of course.
But coming back to reality and my students, who seemed to care only a little about Astronomy, I had some trouble adjusting back to that reality.
Of course, when I’d gotten home Sunday afternoon, I’d been perhaps a little giddy to get a text message from Sebastian. Between morning classes, I looked at it again.
Hey, M. I just concluded my meeting with those producers. Hope you made it back okay.
All right, so it wasn’t terribly romantic or anything, but it meant he had really contacted me. As we had gotten on the plane and left Seattle, I had started to have doubts that I would ever hear from Sebastian again.
First of all, I had no experience with actors. Maybe he told everyone he hooked up with the same thing. And second, there was precedence in our “connecting” before. He’d stopped writing me when we were kids. Part of me wondered if I’d be facing that again. Now, I still wondered.
I had replied of course.
Rest of convention great. Flight home was tolerable. Dreading work. Miss u.
I had agonized over that last part but had sent it anyway. He had replied with the number two, which I hoped meant he missed me, too. I hadn’t sent anything after that and neither had he. I had the feeling we were both still figuring out the parameters.
Monday night I received an email in my inbox from him.
How was your first day back? I had a long day. I’m having a long day, actually. Still filming. I’m doing a cameo in an action film. I think my part in the movie is about five minutes but I’ve been here pretty much all day. Pretty sure it’s ‘cause they hired me only for a day or two. Have about a week and a half off, then I have to go to Brazil for a month of filming. I’ve been thinking about you a lot, Marty.
The rest of the week pretty much went like that. Sebastian and me exchanging brief texts and longer emails. I didn’t teach courses Friday, but I spend the morning at my office at the university grading papers. I had just gotten home when Sebastian called. I almost dropped my cell trying to get to it so fast.
“Sebastian?” I panted.
He chuckled. “Hey. Are we going to have phone sex? You’re already out of breath.”
“Sorry. I was carrying in groceries and had to lunge for the phone.”
“Anything good?”
“If you think frozen pizza is good.”
His soft laugh did funny things to my stomach. I’d forgotten what a great voice he had. What a sexy laugh he had. “Actually I don’t mind it. And I’m starving so it sounds pretty good to me.”
I twisted off the cap of a beer as I began to put away my groceries. “Well, drive down to San Diego and you can have some. With Friday traffic, you should make it in four hours,” I joked.
“Nah. Just open your front door.”
I slammed the bottle of beer on the counter. “What?”
My doorbell rang. I went to the door. If I ran a little, who could blame me?
There he stood, wearing a tank top, jeans, and sunglasses. And a fucking perfect smile.
“Surprise.” Sebastian grinned.
“Oh, my God.”
“Too much? Too stalkerish?”
“No! Jesus, come in.” I grabbed him and yanked him into my house. “I would have bought more food if I knew you were coming. Are you staying?” I was babbling, maybe. But he was holding a small duffel bag.
“If you’ll let me. Thought I’d stay until Sunday morning.”
“Let you? Are you kidding?” My face hurt from grinning.
He removed his sunglasses and glanced around. “Nice house.”
“It’s rented,” I blurted out for no apparent reason.
“Still nice.”
“It’s…well close to work, so—”
“Marty, I mean it. It’s nice. I like it. Homey.”
It wasn’t much really. Just a two-bedroom bungalow. Someday I might actually buy a house of my own. Wasn’t really ready for it yet.
I didn’t know why I was nervous, but I was. Sebastian could see it, too. He came over to me and put his arms around my neck.
“Was this a bad idea, hmm?”
I shook my head. “No, it was a great idea. Maybe I’m still a little star-struck.”
“A big star expert like you?” Sebastian kissed the corner of my mouth.
“Well.” I laughed.
“How about we put the pizza on when we’re finished?”
“Finished?”
Sebastian dropped to his knees and started to unzip my pants. “Yeah. Finished.”
“Fuck.”