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Forget nuclear fusion. 4ever love is one of the strongest forces in the universe. If they figured out how to harness it, people wouldn’t have to search for alternative energy sources. My fangirl fervor kept me going the whole day. As long as I was in the same room as Ki Tae, my internal motor purred like a kitten. But I will admit, the moment he left I started to feel it. It was like someone shut the power off.
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Letty collapsed on the bright yellow couch she had waited on a lifetime ago. Or was it just that morning? Her giant suitcase sat beside her and she leaned over and rested her temple on the top. The plastic handle pressed into the side of her head but she was too tired to care. She turned her face an inch to the right and saw the same receptionist from earlier glance her way.
Letty grinned at her and called across the lobby, “I think I could fall asleep right here.”
The woman gave a professional smile and turned back to the computer screen on her desk, her back ramrod straight and shoulders forming two perfect ninety degree angles. She looked as good now as she had 14 hours ago. How was that even possible?
“Maybe she’s a twin.” Letty adjusted her head so the suitcase handle was pressing into her cheek instead. “There’s no way someone can look that good after all this time.”
She heard voices and looked over towards the left hallway with the posters just as Ben walked out with two women she recognized from the shoot. They must have been writers or stylists. Letty wasn’t sure which. Both women giggled at something Ben said and one fluttered her long, false eyelashes and bent her body closer to his as she responded. He spotted Letty waiting, gave them a wave, and walked over.
Letty raised her head off her suitcase and moaned. “Can I please go home now?”
“You ready to pack it up already? I thought a true stalker could last more than one day.”
“I didn’t mean home as in Pittsburgh!” Letty stood and pulled up the retractable handle of her suitcase. “I meant anywhere there’s a bed I can fall on top of. You guys didn’t tell me where my hotel is.”
“That’s what I’m here for.” Ben held both hands toward the exit with a slight bow. “Please allow me to escort you to your quarters, madam. Your lodgings are just a short walk down the street.”
They headed for the glass doors and Ben tapped the receptionist’s desk as he passed. The woman beamed and waved both of her hands in goodbye.
Letty side eyed him.
“What is it?” he said as they passed through the revolving glass door.
“You’re awfully popular with the ladies here.” Letty scooted her case in front of her as the door spun.
They exited into the nippy night air and walked side by side. Ben pointed his hand in the direction they should go. They took a left turn at the corner of the building and walked down the sidewalk.
“I guess I’m what you call a people person.” Ben placed a light hand on her back and directed her to his other side so he was on the right, closest to the street. He took her suitcase from her hand and pulled it behind him. The wheels rattled against the pavement as they walked.
“I can think of another name for it.”
“And what’s that?” He glanced down at her.
“It starts with the letter ‘P’ and ends with a ‘layer’.”
“Hey!” Ben protested. “I am not a player. I’m just friendly.”
“Isn’t that what all the players say?”
Ben huffed. “And what about you? You were pretty friendly yourself. With Ducky. And Ki Tae. And Chance. Someone could accuse you of being a flirt.”
“That’s different!” Letty stopped and put her hands on her hips.
“How is it so different?” Ben faced her and mirrored her position with his arms and a dramatic little head waggle.
“The difference is,” Letty paused for dramatic effect, “I really am a flirt.”
Ben’s jaw dropped a little. He threw back his head and laughed hard and long while she stood there grinning. Ben grabbed her suitcase and they started to walk again.
“Letty McDonnell,” he said, “what am I going to do with you?”
Letty could hardly wait to find out, but she didn’t say it aloud. They strolled along in an easy silence until they arrived at the mid-level hotel about a block from the agency. Ben already had her key and he walked her to a room on the first floor.
“I’ll be here to pick you up at seven in the morning,” he said, and Letty groaned in response. “Sorry! I know you’d like to sleep in but we’ve got lots to do. Lots of scenes to film.”
“When is the first episode going to air?” Letty asked as he passed her the key card and she shoved it in the door.
“It should be out the day after tomorrow.”
Letty whirled around to face him. “That soon?”
Ben nodded. “That’s why we’re packing in so much filming. The company is releasing a mini-web episode every other day, with an hour long special on TV each Saturday. The show is supposed to run for a month all together, so that’s a lot of minis to crank out in a short amount of time.”
“I’ll say.” Letty leaned against the doorjamb. “I can’t believe everyone in South Korea is going to know my face in just one more day.”
“Believe me.” Ben smiled at her. “After all they have planned for tomorrow, it will probably feel more like a lifetime.” He passed her suitcase over and took a step back. “You have my number. If you need anything, just give me a call. Doesn’t matter what time it is.”
“Thanks.” Letty opened her hotel door. “All I need right now is sleep. I don’t want Ki Tae to think he’s married the bride of Frankenstein tomorrow.”
“Not a chance.”
Letty pushed her giant bag through the door and turned.
“Well ... good night.”
Ben looked around her shoulder in the room and down the hallway. “You sure you’re okay? Do you want to check and see if the room has everything you need before I leave?”
“I told you, all I need is a bed. I can feel the bags under my eyes about to hit my knees.”
“Okay.” Ben laughed. “I’ll leave you alone. But seriously, call me if you need anything. I wouldn’t want you to get lost trying to find the ice machine.”
“You don’t need ice when you’re comatose.” Letty reached a hand up and shoved his shoulder. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
He took a step back while still facing her. “See you tomorrow.”
With a grin, Ben was gone and Letty shut the door. She walked into the room and flopped in an exhausted heap onto the queen-sized bed.
“I must be tired.” She moaned. “I’m even telling good looking guys to go away.”
She had meant to write on her blog as soon as the day ended. But how could one post contain everything?
Sweet superstar husbands.
Wedding dress pandemonium.
Tea candles, and fake flowers, and never ending pictures, and ketchup bottles.
And Ben.
She should definitely give a shout-out to her accommodating flower boy translator. She’d do that just as soon as she...
Her eyes drifted shut and the blog had to wait for another time as Letty’s exhausted body powered down for the night.
