CHAPTER 54
Tiffany
Why hadn’t I stayed with him? I kept asking myself the same question over and over while staring across the dimly lit table at Warren Michael Joseph. We went to a southern restaurant that also featured a live jazz band, not too far from the convention center. So many years had gone by, but our chemistry was still the same. We were already on our second drink, reminiscing about the past. Warren was always easygoing and a pleasure to be around. He had some other things going on in his life, but the good always outweighed the bad with us.
“Being together tonight reminds me of being back at the library studying, pulling all-nighters. You would run and get the Mountain Dews and I would bring all the Jolly Ranchers and Swedish Fish and somehow we would make it to class and pass our test.”
“We sure did, with A’s and B’s”
“Just imagine if we would have stayed together. We probably would have a bunch of kids by now,” Warren said.
“I was just thinking that. We used to have a lot of fun.”
“Yeah, I remember all of that fun. Then you had to go and leave me?”
“I’ve wanted to apologize. I’m so sorry.”
“No, it’s just I didn’t see it coming. One day we were the happy couple and the next day I’m walking around campus and people are saying, ‘Damien stole your girl.’ ”
“I know. I felt so bad, but I . . .”
“I had to go check myself into one of those places for the weekend.”
“Check yourself in where?”
“A mental institution. I was just dealing with a lot at the time. They had me on suicide watch. I questioned everything in my life after.” He threw his drink back and then said, “I never loved anyone how I loved you. We were so close. I shared everything with you. You knew everything about me. Then you just got up and left me. That was devastating. I’m okay now. Time heals everything.”
“I never knew that. I loved you, too, but, Warren, I was young and I didn’t know any better.”
“Yeah, we do a lot of stupid things in our youth. So now after all that, you guys are getting a divorce. Was he cheating?”
“No, I left him. We were having financial problems.”
“Finances, right. I heard he was running out of money after he got hurt. I thought you two were going to be together forever.”
I didn’t want it to sound like I left him because he was bankrupt, so I spun the story some.
“No, we were having problems in our marriage, before the injury. So how many movies have you done?” I asked, changing the subject.
“I filmed an independent movie last year. Including that, two coming out this year. I’m up to five. I’ve been back and forth between here and Los Angeles. But now that I’m done playing, I’m just going to stay out there. You have to come out to the West Coast.”
“We will see, but right now I have to go to the restroom. I’ll be back.” I was feeling my drink. I walked into the bathroom and tried to make sure I looked good. I fluffed my hair and my phone rang. I knew it was my mother calling me to give me advice. I’m sure Wilson had told her I ran into Warren. She was probably planning my second wedding. I answered only to hear Damien crying on the other end of the telephone. I didn’t have time to deal with him right now.
“So you left me with no explanation. I gave you everything, Tiffany, and you just left me.”
“I didn’t leave you, Damien. I left misery. You’re miserable and just because you fall down, doesn’t mean you have to give up. I can’t talk right now.”
I disconnected the call and powered my phone off. I was amused at the irony. Damien had stolen me from Warren, and now he was calling me crying while I was out with Warren. I came out of the restroom and Warren was on a call. I sat patiently until he hung up. “You were in there for a while.”
“Not that long.”
“So it’s getting late. I thought I would be able to drive you home, but honestly I think I had one too many. Let’s get you an taxi or I can get you a hotel room.”
I would have preferred if he asked me to stay with him. I was enjoying spending time with him.
“It’s going to be crazy driving in a car with a stranger for thirty minutes. And you don’t have to get me a room.”
“Well, you are welcome to stay with me and I’ll get you a car in the morning.”
“Then I’m staying with you.”
“Let’s have one more drink and toast to old friends,” Warren said, holding his glass up.
“How about old friends becoming new friends?” I said as I winked at him.
“Sounds even better.”
Once we were in his room, I sat on the sofa and he began talking again. And then he planted a gentle kiss on my lips. I already knew that once I was in his room, I would allow him to seduce me. I wanted to make up for ten years ago and show him I was a new woman.
We made passionate love. He was so excited and he came in minutes, but the second time we went at it, he took two hours just to release. It was rock hard and would not go down. Warren made me feel like a new woman again. I cried in his arms and told him about everything I’d been through with Damien. From him filing bankruptcy, to the lights being cut off and me having to move back home with my parents. Warren wiped away all my tears and held me. He told me not to worry anymore, that everything was going to be okay because he was back in my life.
In the morning we showered together and Warren dried me off and lotioned every part of me from my toes to my shoulders. He tucked me under the covers and then he ordered breakfast and cut up my bacon omelet and buttered my toast and fed me.
“I can feed myself.”
“I know you can, but I loved taking care of you. Remember when I use to feed you Pop-Tarts straight out the microwave.”
“Yes, I remember, but you can’t do all this spoiling and then get on a plane and go home. When are you leaving?”
“I am going back to Los Angeles tomorrow, but I do want to see you again. Whenever you are in town, I want you to come and stay with me. I’m having a birthday party in a few weeks; maybe you can come out then? And from there we will see where this will go.”
“Okay.” He finished feeding me and then we began to make love again.