Bethany Lu
Without pics, it didn’t happen,” Dawn said, once I finished recapping my “In the Toilet with the Captain” story. Who could blame her? Also, maybe I should come up with a better title than “In the Toilet with the Captain”? “In the Loo”? Class it up a bit? Have Thandiwe Newton play me in the trailer in my mind.
“Let’s just say it didn’t, okay?” I yelled back into the speaker on my cell over the sound of my microwave. “Listen, I’m dead tired. Can I call you tomorrow?”
“You’d better,” she answered. “Also, I feel like you’re leaving out something really important. There are more holes in this story than a pair of distressed jeans from the nineties. But I’ll let it wait…for a minute. Talk to you tomorrow, love.”
When Dawn hung up, I felt like I’d dodged a huge bullet. I wasn’t ready to deal with the night myself, let alone analyze it to shreds with my BFF. I couldn’t handle it. Not after my near breakdown and the kiss that led to nowhere.
I thought about taking Morphie for a walk, but didn’t want to risk running into True, so I went the opposite way and took him for a patio quickie before heading to bed.
I wondered if True stayed out to talk to Aimee or whether he’d invited her in. I looked back at my phone, which stayed frustratingly silent. I turned it off. “Fuck it, Morph,” I said and padded over to grab some wine and popcorn and a treat for him. “You’re my best company anyway.”
I flipped on my DVR and queued up Speed once again. “Shoot the hostage, Morph. Always shoot the hostage. Get rid of all sentimental ties right out of the gate. That way, no matter which way it goes, you don’t have to hurt later.”
I woke the next morning to texts from Dawn, Daniel and True.
I rubbed my eyes and decided to deal with Daniel’s first. The others would probably need coffee.
D. Lim: Great to see you last night. But you disappeared. Just making sure you’re okay. Your timetable is fine, as we’re still very interested in working with you. This could be major.
There was only one emoji and that was the little bomb sign, so I guess that was an improvement for Daniel.
I responded with a quick made it home and that my agent would be in touch when there was news. The more businesslike distance I could maintain, the better with Daniel.
I let Morphie out to the patio and went to the bathroom, then came back to make my coffee. My phone buzzed and I saw a new message from Dawn stacked on others from last night.
Dawn: What did you do? Why is Daniel Lim writing to me so early in the morning?
Me: I didn’t do anything. And I’m not taking his offer firmly off the table, but I just get a vibe. When you’re back in New York, you can meet with him if you want and see.
…I knew she was thinking.
Dawn: Okay. If you get a vibe, then that’s it. We move on. Like I said. I’ve got your back. There are other bigtime investors in the sea.
Me: I’m still thinking about it, but I just wanted to give you a heads-up.
Dawn: Follow your heart. 
I loved her. I knew it wouldn’t be easy for her to give up such a big commission if I decided not to go with Daniel or someone like him.
I looked at my work in progress, the calendar and where I stood. The days were ticking away. Keanu was getting further from me and closer to his proposed wedding date and possible retirement. And now after last night, it felt like True was getting even further than that. And not to mention I still had a couple of pieces to finish for the show at Dawn’s gallery. I needed to unblock.
I had to work or at least pretend to be the artist I was supposed to be. Work, paint, sketch. Take my dog out for a walk. Do something to at least feel human.
Morphie gave me a look, then nudged at his bowl. “Fine, and you’re right, priorities. That’s what I love about you, Morphie. You know how to make a plan and stick with it. I don’t know why I didn’t consult you from the start. Dealing with True has been nothing but a disaster.”
I put his food in his bowl. Morphie looked at me with silent thanks I’m sure somewhere in his rather stoic expression. “That’s just what I’m going to do. Pick a thing and focus.” I looked at my now not-so-white board and my K-90 plan. So what if I was still at the first step? There weren’t that many. Time to just saddle up again. I could do this without True. He wasn’t part of the plan when I conceived it anyway. I could find Keanu all by myself.
I flipped another pod in the brewer to get a second cup of coffee going, then grabbed my laptop.
All right, Mr. Reeves. You may have eluded me thus far, but I’ll catch up with you somewhere.
My doorbell rang.
Dammit. I looked out the peephole and there was True. I opened the door and he grinned at me. It was wide, joyous and a lot. A whole lot.
All I could do for a moment was blink and stand in shock as I took in all towering six foot three inches of him encased in black spandex. All except his worn-out New Balances, which now looked like big white-and-gray flippers on his feet, and a blue pack across his body. I let my eyes roam, getting stuck over some large bumps and deep valleys. Whoa. Like I said, this was a lot.
“What in the world are you wearing? You’d better get in here before the neighbors call the cops for indecent exposure.”
True’s smile faded and, even though I knew I shouldn’t have been looking, it seemed as if perhaps some of his earlier, um, confidence faded along with it. I looked downward again. Or perhaps not.
“You didn’t read my messages?” he asked.
Oh, crap, I didn’t.
I shook my head and turned to grab my phone. True followed me in. I glanced at him. He was standing in a semi-casual pose or poses. Shifting his legs and arms like he was practicing for his mix tape photo shoot or something, looking uncomfortable against my wall in that ridiculous bodysuit.
I forced my eyes away from the marvel before me and swiped my cell screen. My eyes went wide. Well, wider.
True: I’m sorry. I should have been there for you. All the way.
True: I won’t let you down again.
I looked at him. “You didn’t let me down, True. I was overreacting. It’s over. We’re fine. But now what are you wearing? I don’t understand.”
He looked at me confused and then stalked over, coming really close really fast. I leaned back. It was a lot with not a lot of filter between us. But he looked at my phone.
“Crap! Didn’t I send the attachment and last message?”
He leaned back again, and I was shocked at the temperature change in my atmosphere of with True vs. without True.
He unhooked his bag quickly like a Black Batman and pulled out his phone. My phone buzzed.
I looked at him. “Feeling dramatic much this morning?”
He shrugged. “A little.”
I sighed, then looked.
True: Are you ready to play dress up?
I almost blushed, then looked at the attachment.
NEW MEXICO Hero Fest with lots of surprise guests
Special John Wick X Matrix Panel
“Are you serious?”
He was grinning again and for some reason posing, standing tall, legs spread, hands on hips. “My guy.”
“Gary?”
“Gary said he thinks Keanu might be there. So are we going?”
I shook my head and put my phone down on the counter going for my coffee. “No.”
“What do you mean, no? I got into this cool-ass ninja suit for you.”
I looked him up and down again, then picked up my coffee and leaned back on the counter. “Is that what that’s supposed to be? I thought you were getting ready for your next big night out and you wanted me to paint a tuxedo shirt outline on it or something.”
He faked laughter as he walked over to me and put his hands on the counter, surrounding me on both sides. “Very funny,” he said. “You say you’re not mad, but your little jokes say different. Now, why are you telling me no? You’re not giving up, are you?”
I pushed lightly at his chest, noting he definitely didn’t need one of those fake costume chestplate thingies. True stepped back.
“I’m not giving up. I’m just not asking you to come if I decide to go on this trip. Though I do thank you and Gary for the information.”
He frowned.
“You’re a busy man, True. You have work. I mean it’s obvious with your TA showing up at all hours.”
I watched as his lip quirked. What was that about, and now I wondered when did Aimee leave? Did she help him into the suit this morning?
“I’m not so busy. At least not right now. The semester is over and I’m free.”
“What do you mean free? You’re never free.”
“Just that I’m free. Well, for the summer at least. Aimee was there to pick up some file keys for my office. I declined summer semester classes. I have things to do with my book and some other things to work out.”
I sighed. “Aimee must be devastated.”
True laughed and I had the sudden urge to kick him. “I don’t know. She may be. She’s got a lot on her plate with her fiancé and having to take over my classes. But that’s her problem now.”
I blinked, hating my sudden transparency. “Fiancé?”
“Yes.” He nodded.
I looked him up and down again. He looked ridiculous but he did fill out the suit nicely. “Where did you get this silly suit?”
True did a quick turn and jazz hands. “You like it? I got it from the dance shop on 125th this morning. I was there as soon as they opened. The woman in the shop gave me a discount since it wasn’t my right size.” He leaned forward and down and got close to my face. “Now are you going to forgive me just a little for last night and come on and finish what the hell we started? You know how I hate having loose threads. And besides, I already bought the tickets. Nonrefundable on my miles. You can’t not go with me.”
“You did what?!” I yelled, slamming my cup back on the counter. “You’re crazy. Why would you take that risk? What if I still say I won’t go?”
He stared at me. “But you won’t say that.”
I stared back. “Why wouldn’t I?”
He raised a brow. Then posed, one leg up, hands raised in a Kung Fu fighting stance. “Because, woman, you don’t want me to have to use my special fighting powers on you.”
“You look like an idiot,” I said with a grin.
He smiled. And dropped his leg, toppling over in pain. “I know. An idiot with a leg cramp and a huge wedgie. Now we need to get ready to go and you have to find me another costume, because there’s no way I’m going through the torture of getting in this thing again.”
I shook my head. Why was he so damned cute and so off-limits?