Happy Six Month Anniversary.
I smiled at the message. And hell, it had been six months, hadn’t it? If you counted that first night at the Space Heroes Convention.
It hadn’t been all smooth sailing. Sebastian was away a lot for filming and we’d gone several weeks without seeing each other at all. Sneaking in weekends when we could. Neither of us had yet said those three words either, which were an elephant in the room. I knew I was in love with him. I had been for a while. No longer my crush on the actor or even on my old pen pal, Spencer. I actually loved the man Sebastian was. And I was pretty sure he loved me, too.
Happy Six Months.
It was Wednesday night and I’d been grading tests. I hoped to see Sebastian this weekend, in fact. And the truth was, I wanted to go to L.A. I wasn’t crazy about the drive, but I was crazy about his house and the area and the space I could see from his magnificent backyard. I’d been to the Griffith Park Observatory several times since visiting L.A so often. A couple of times, Sebastian even went with me, and with a baseball cap and sunglasses he was hardly recognized. Much.
One time while I was by myself, I put the feelers out with one of the guys doing a class at the Observatory about employment there, and the next thing I knew, I was filling out an application. Something I hadn’t even told Sebastian about. It was only for part-time. Giving lectures and classes in the theaters and such. But I’d have access to all the equipment and latest technology.
I’d also started thinking about getting work at a closer university. That wasn’t easy. One didn’t just walk into a professorship at UC or something. But Sebastian had been hinting more and more about me moving to Los Angeles. He hadn’t come out and asked, but it was a near thing. And the crazy thing was…I kind of wanted to do it.
Hey, what are you doing?
Grading. You?
Reading a script. Want to come up early?
Like?
Thursday night after your classes. I know the drive is a hassle but an extra night, right?
I couldn’t deny having an extra night in L.A with Sebastian was very appealing. The drive after work did suck, though. Ah, hell. Life was short.
I really want to talk to you about something.
That came in before I’d had a chance to respond. Immediately my heart pounded hard. Was it the “it’s not you, it’s me” speech? Was that why he wanted to get it over with early? Or was it the “move to L.A” speech? I wish I knew. And now my stomach was in knots.
Marty?
Yeah, okay. Sure. I’ll come up tomorrow.
Great. Can’t wait to see you.
Me, too.
I got an unexpected call Thursday morning after my first class. It was from the guy in charge of the Observatory. He wanted to interview me. It would all be through the City of Los Angeles as they were city employees and I’d have to do testing and all that, but was I interested in meeting with him? I mentioned I’d be in the area the following day, and to my surprise, he set something up for Friday. I tried not to read too much into it. It might not work out. And it especially wouldn’t if Sebastian was breaking up with me.
I decided to test the waters a bit.
So…funny thing. I have an interview at the Observatory Friday. Part-time lecturing.
Yeah? You applied?
One of the times I was there. On a lark. Didn’t really think it would come to anything.
Keeping secrets? LOL. Very cool. See you soon.
So that was that. I knew exactly…nothing. I finished my classes for the day, went home for my stuff, and hit the road.
* * * *
It took nearly four hours by the time I made it up the long hill that led to Sebastian’s home. As the guard smiled and waved me in, I felt like I was returning to my own home. I knew I shouldn’t get too attached. Nothing had changed really. Yeah, there were feelings between us. I thought so, anyway. But he was still a famous actor living the Hollywood lifestyle and I was still a nobody.
I shook my head to clear the depressing thoughts, parked and went to the front door. I walked in without knocking these days. I even had my own key, though the door was rarely locked. A point of contention between us. I thought it should be locked and Sebastian thought only someone who could fly would get up there without getting past his guard.
“Sebastian? You in here, sweetheart?”
“Kitchen!”
Sure enough, that’s where I found him. Chopping up garlic and onions and putting the ingredients into spaghetti sauce.
“Cooking and everything.” I came around the counter and kissed him.
“Yeah. Why not? You want some wine? I have some chilling.”
“I’d love some. But I’ll get it.”
“Bad drive?”
“When isn’t it?” I found the bottle—a Sauvignon Blanc we both enjoyed with a twist top—and poured myself some. “You?”
“Please.” He put the lid on the pot with the sauce and took the glass from me, leaning a hip on the counter. “So.”
I smiled. “So?”
He returned the smile. “Next week I have a premiere for that action movie I did. Remember? The cameo?”
“Yeah. It was right after you and I got together.”
“Want to go?”
I took a sip of my wine. “To the premiere?”
He chuckled. “Yes, the premiere. You know…the red carpet.”
“As your date?” I asked in surprise.
His nod was slow as he took a large swallow of his wine. “Yeah. What do you think about that?”
My heart was beating through my chest. “Sebastian?”
He moved away from the counter and put his hand on the back of my neck, bringing our foreheads together. “Is this too soon?”
“Is…is what too soon?” My voice totally cracked.
“To ask you to consider moving to L.A. To be here with me. I know I’m gone a lot. But I’ve love to come home to you.” He paused. “I know what you’re going to say.”
I swallowed thickly. “Yeah? What?”
“Celebrities go through relationships like normal people go through underwear.”
I laughed low. “Well.”
“I’m an actor and you’re an astronomer.”
“That part’s true.”
“You have a job in San Diego and family and everything.”
“I can get a new job here. I do have that interview. And San Diego isn’t that far,” I heard myself say.
Sebastian pulled back a little. There was hope in his blue eyes. So much, it kind of hurt. “Yeah? If you got that job, even if it was part-time, it wouldn’t matter. I have plenty of money.”
“I don’t need your money.” I was firm on that. Hell, I’d sign a pre-nup if he wanted. Not sure they did those for just relationships, though.
“I know. What I meant is, you could do whatever you wanted. Work there, look at stars and planets. Teach. Join the space program. Whatever. I know it’s only been six months. It’s nuts. It’s just…I’m in love with you, Marty.” He looked so vulnerable, any resistance I’d had—which wasn’t much—cracked and disappeared like it was nothing.
I took the wineglass from his hand and set both mine and his on the counter. I grabbed his hand and led him from the kitchen.
“I hope that burner is on low, because dinner’s going to wait,” I told him as I pulled him toward the bedroom.
“Oh?” His smile was picture perfect. Stunning. Sweet and hot. And he loved me.
I pushed him down onto the bed, straddled him, and fused my lips with his. “I love you, too.”
* * * *
Long after lovemaking and dinner, a movie, and some more lovemaking, I went outside to the telescope. I’d left Sebastian asleep. Or thought I did. It wasn’t long before I heard him come outside, and he wrapped his arms around my waist.
“Couldn’t sleep?”
“Just wanted to take a look at the planets before I did.”
“Mmm. Did you think about what we talked about before?” he asked like it didn’t matter. Very casual. But I’d seen that hope before and I knew it did. I suspected Sebastian needed stability in his life. He had a great life. Yeah. No doubt about it. But stability wasn’t something he had. No family that wanted anything to do with him. No real friends to speak of.
“You’re really going to come out with a boyfriend and all?” I glanced at him as I moved the telescope into position. “What’s Abby think about that?”
Sebastian shrugged. “She’s dealing. It’s not like nobody’s come out or anything.”
“True. But it’s still gotta be hard for actors who want to be leading men.”
“Maybe, yeah. I don’t care.”
I smiled. “You should care. Look. I’m willing to move here if that’s what you want. But don’t come out for me. Come out for you.”
“That’s what I’m doing, Marty. I promise. What do you want? You want to move here?” His breath caught as we both spotted a shooting star.
“Make a wish,” I whispered. I turned to him and drew him close. “Did you wish?”
“Yep.” He kissed me. Tucked some of my hair behind my ear. His eyes were so full of warmth. “What about you? What did you wish for?”
“I want to move to L.A,” I said by way of answer. “It is crazy, like you said. But maybe I want to be crazy. Maybe we’ll beat the odds. I don’t know. But I do know I want to try. With you.”
His smile was radiant. “That’s what I wished for. That you would want to move here. Stupid?”
I laughed and shook my head. “No way. I wished for this, too.”
As we kissed under the stars and planets I so loved, I couldn’t help thinking that, yeah, this was worth it. He was, too.
THE END