Is He or Isn’t He?

chapter fifteen

“If I asked you to kiss me, would you?” Anthony asked Max.

Max shrugged. “I don’t know. I’ve never kissed a guy before.”

“Never?”

“Never.”

“Have you ever wondered what it might be like?”

“No.”

“Not even a little?”

“Not even a little.”

Anthony laughed, a devilish glint in his eye. “I think you’re lying. And I’m going to prove it.”

“How?”

“Like this.”

But before Anthony could close the distance between himself and Max, giving him the kiss he’d been waiting weeks for, Max held up the script he was holding.

“And that’s when Dominick kisses Michael for the first time, right?” Max asked.

Argh!!!

Foiled again!

Anthony bit back a sigh, keeping a smile on his face. Was he ever going to get a chance to lock lips with Max? They’d been rehearsing his screenplay for weeks and they still hadn’t kissed. Either they rehearsed up to the kissing scene, or when they picked up where they left off, they ran lines after the kissing scene.

Patience, Anthony reminded himself. Patience. All good things come to those who wait.

“Right.” Anthony tossed his copy of the screenplay on his bed. “I think we’ve done enough for today.”

“We’re making good progress,” Max said. “We’ve almost got the whole script memorized.”

Was it his imagination or did Max seem more relaxed now that the threat of a kiss was over?

But that didn’t explain anything. Despite the lack of lip action, Max was sending out signals that indicated he was interested in Anthony. There was never a lack of body contact between the two of them. If they were walking down the school hallways or down the street, Max was always throwing an arm around Anthony’s shoulders. If they were at the movies or watching TV together, Max would press his leg against Anthony’s to get his attention. And Max was always willing to go over lines to his screenplay, even though they hadn’t rehearsed the kissing scene yet.

What did it all mean?!

Was it all in his mind? Was Max just a friendly guy? Or was he trying to tell him something?

He didn’t know!

Anthony didn’t want to think about it anymore. It made his head hurt. Instead, he was going to think about something fun.

“Thanks again for the invite to your dad’s party. I’m looking forward to it.”

“Even though it’s a black tie event, it should be a blast.”

“Paige tells me you’ve been stopping by her apartment all week with yummy desserts. I wonder if she’ll still be able to fit into the dress she bought for tonight.”

“I feel bad about what happened out in the Hamptons. Guilty conscience.”

“You didn’t know she was going to be in your room.”

“Neither did she.”

“Do you really believe that?”

Max gave Anthony a puzzled look. “What do you mean?”

Anthony decided it was time to make things a little interesting. Toss out a little bait and see if Max nibbled on it.

“Maybe she didn’t go into your room by accident.” Anthony gave Max a pointed look. “Maybe she knew exactly where she was going.”

“Why would she do that?”

“Because she likes you?”

“She likes me?”

Oookay, either we’ve underestimated Max’s level of intelligence and he’s just another pretty boy with nothing upstairs, or he really doesn’t have a clue….

Anthony knew he’d better do some backtracking. Paige would kill him if he told Max that she liked him. Plus, he really wasn’t sure if he wanted to know if Max was straight. And that he might like his best friend as much as she liked him. Was it selfish of him to want Max to be gay and like him instead?

“Ants, does Paige like me?” Max asked, breaking into Anthony’s thoughts.

“I think so, but I’m not a hundred percent sure. She hasn’t come out and told me that she likes you. But if you want, I could try and find out.”

“You could?”

“Uh-huh. Paige and I are best friends. We tell each other everything, although so far she hasn’t told me anything about you. Paige is like that when it comes to guys; she’s afraid if she shares her feelings, she’ll jinx things. So, do you want me to find out?”

Max shook his head. “No.”

“No?” That hadn’t been the answer Anthony was expecting. “Why not?” He tried not to sound shocked. What was wrong with Paige? Any guy would be lucky to have her as his girlfriend. Was she not good enough for Max? Was that it? Because if it was, Max was going to get an earful from him!

“I like Paige. A lot. She’s a good friend.”

But not good enough to be a girlfriend? Is that it? Because you’re really looking for a boy friend? If that’s the case, you don’t have to look very far. The perfect boyfriend is standing right in front of you!

“I don’t have time in my life right now for a relationship with anyone. There’s too much other stuff going on.” Max glanced at his watch. “I better get going. I still have to pick up my tux, shower and change. See you later.”

“Later,” Anthony said, watching Max leave his bedroom as the wheels in his head started churning.

Hmmm. He doesn’t have time in his life for a relationship with anyone. Anyone could be a girl…or a guy…

When Paige arrived at Anthony’s to pick him up for the party, she was expecting him to open his front door.

Instead, it was opened by Paolo.

Paige was taken by surprise. She hadn’t seen him since their argument at her apartment earlier in the week and she didn’t know what to say to him. Should she apologize? After all, he was entitled to his opinion. But that didn’t mean he had to put down hers. Before she could decide what she was going to say, Paolo spoke first.

“Where are you going all dressed up? Wait. Don’t tell me. Let me guess.” Paolo closed his eyes and started rubbing the sides of his forehead. “My ESP powers say this has something to do with Marvelous Max.”

“He invited us to a party that the Cooking Channel is throwing for his father,” Paige said, walking past Paolo into the living room. As usual, the TV was on and tuned to a sports event. Where was the remote control? Just once she’d like to see something other than sports on this TV!

“And of course the two of you instantly accepted,” Paolo said, following after her.

“Why wouldn’t we?”

Paolo plopped himself down on the couch and picked up the remote control hidden between two cushions, switching to another sports channel. “Ever hear of playing hard to get? The two of you are making it so easy for this guy!”

“What do you know about playing hard to get?”

“Guys are intrigued by girls who they can’t get right away. They like the chase.”

“Did you chase after all your girlfriends?”

“Some of them. And some of them chased after me.”

Paige stared at Paolo. “Did you just say what I think you said?”

“Huh?” Paolo asked, his eyes glued to the TV. Paige walked over to it and shut it off.

“Hey!” Paolo shouted. “What are you doing?”

“Answer my question. You’re saying some of your girlfriends chased after you?”

“Yes.”

“You are such a hypocrite!” Paige screamed. Oh, he was so infuriating! “How can you criticize Anthony and me for chasing after Max when you’ve been chased after?”

“Easy,” Paolo said smugly, aiming the remote control at the TV and turning it back on. “I was aware that I was being chased. Mysterious Max is clueless!”

“Where are your parents?” Paige asked, deciding she wasn’t going to discuss Max anymore with Paolo. For some bizarre reason, Max bugged him. “I want to say hello to them.”

“They’re in Rome. They were only here for two nights. They’re going to be there until the spring.”

“Rome is supposed to be one of the most romantic places in the world,” Paige sighed. “I’ve always wanted to go there.”

Paolo made the sign of the cross with two fingers, as if warding off a vampire, and hissed. “Let’s avoid all talk of romance. You remember what happened last time.”

“How could I forget?” Paige began hotly just as Anthony stuck his head in the living room.

“Ready to go?”

“Ready,” she said, eager to leave Paolo behind.

“Hey, Paige,” Paolo called out as she left the living room.

She turned around. “Yes?” she asked coldly, expecting him to toss another zinger at her.

“The swelling in your nose went down. You look like your old self again. I’m glad.”

Paige touched her nose self-consciously, surprised that Paolo had noticed. “Thanks,” she said.

Once Paige and Anthony had stepped into the limousine they had rented for the night to take them to the Rainbow Room in Rockefeller Center where the party was taking place, Anthony dropped his bombshell. He told Paige what he’d told Max.

“You told Max you thought I might like him? You didn’t!” Paige screamed.

“I did!”

“How could you?!”

“How could I not? Remember how you were ready to throw in the towel?”

“That was just a temporary lapse,” Paige said. “A week’s worth of Max’s TLC has given me hope!”

“Well, now my hope is gone.” Anthony gazed out his limousine window. “I’m starting to feel the exact same way you did. If he’s straight, then I want you to have him.”

“That’s so noble of you.”

Anthony turned away from the window and looked at Paige. “It is, isn’t it?”

“What’s the problem? Tell me.”

“We still haven’t rehearsed the kissing scene in my screenplay.”

“But you will get to kiss him. Eventually.” Paige began rummaging through her Celine pink tote. “I don’t see what you’re complaining about.”

“Do you think it’s going to be as good as I’m expecting it to be?”

“Probably not,” Paige said, taking a gold compact and tube of lipstick out of her purse.

“Thanks a lot.”

“You want me to lie? Anticipation is always the best part of something you’ve been waiting for. The rest is all downhill.”

“Not always. Someone as cute as Max can’t be a bad kisser. Even if it’s a fake kiss.”

Paige, who was applying a fresh coat of ruby red lipstick, glanced away from her open compact. “A fake kiss is better than no kiss.”

“Have I told you how nice you look?”

Paige was wearing a geranium silk dress with a plunging neckline that stopped at the waist with a sparkly brooch. She’d also used a flat iron on her hair so that it fell over one shoulder in a long sleek sheet.

“Thank you. You don’t look so bad yourself.”

“You can’t go wrong with a basic black tuxedo.”

“I wonder how many celebrities are going to be there.”

“Whoever’s on the Cooking Channel, at least.”

“I wonder if there’s going to be a red carpet for us to walk down,” Paige said, as their limo pulled in front of the NBC building, where the Rainbow Room was located.

“I’m sure there will be. With our luck, Felix will be right on it, scribbling away like mad for his column.”

When they arrived at the party, the first thing they saw was the food. Everywhere they turned, there were buffets manned by waiters and waitresses ready to serve.

“Where should we start?” Anthony asked, grabbing a plate and silverware wrapped in a linen napkin.

“Appetizers first. Then we’ll move on to the main course.”

After filling their plates with a variety of goodies, Anthony and Paige found themselves a corner table that would allow them to watch the entire ballroom.

“Do you see anyone we know?” Anthony asked.

“There are the twins,” Paige said, pointing them out at the open bar where they were both sipping Cokes.

Rachel was wearing a black Empire waist dress designed by Chanel. Both the bodice and the skirt were embroidered with white daisies. Bianca, as usual, was wearing an eye-catching color. She had on a Zac Posen scarlet red chiffon dress pleated on the diagonal with a halter neckline.

“They both look like they’re posing,” Anthony said.

“Why wouldn’t they? This is a golden opportunity for them. With all the network executives here, they’re probably hoping someone will offer them a cooking show.”

“What’s the premise going to be?” Anthony snickered. “How to order takeout?”

“Be nice,” Paige scolded. “You know how much being on TV means to them.”

“I’m only teasing!” Anthony said. “Have you seen Colleen?”

Paige gazed around the ballroom. “There she is. Over by the stuffed lobsters.”

Anthony waved to Colleen, who saw him and headed in his direction.

“Don’t we look nice,” Paige said as Colleen put her plate down and pulled out a seat.

“This old thing?” Colleen said, referring to her bejeweled emerald green Dolce & Gabbana chiffon baby doll dress.

“It looks fabulous on you,” Anthony said.

“Thanks. I wish Miranda had felt the same way.”

Miranda was Colleen’s mother, and from the way Colleen had uttered her name, Anthony sensed trouble. Miranda O’Brian was one of Manhattan’s top socialites. Blond, super thin and constantly having plastic surgery to keep her face youthful and wrinkle free, her name was one that was always in the New York City gossip columns. Which she loved. The one thing she didn’t love was her daughter’s weight and was constantly nagging Colleen about it, trying to get her to slim down.

“She didn’t like the dress?” Anthony asked.

“She loved the dress,” Colleen said while digging into her pasta salad. “She just didn’t love it on me. She felt it was too revealing for someone of my size.”

“She’s right, you know.”

Bianca and Rachel approached the table with their barely touched Cokes.

“Excuse me?” Colleen said. “I don’t remember asking for your opinion.”

“You’re going to get it anyway,” Bianca said.

“We’re your friends, Colleen,” Rachel said, putting a hand on her shoulder. “Best friends. We care.”

“And because we care, I’m not going to sugarcoat this,” Bianca said, tossing her long hair over one shoulder. “Your dress shows too much. Way too much.”

“And that’s a problem because…? You always show too much.”

“But there’s less of me to show! And what I do show, people want to see!”

“And they don’t want to see me in this dress?” Colleen pushed away her plate. “Come on, Bianca. Spit it out. Is this a dress a fat girl shouldn’t be wearing?”

Bianca shrugged. “I know this is going to make me sound like a bitch, but you said it, not me.”

“And we’re not making judgments,” Rachel said hurriedly. “Honest. But a lot of people have been commenting.”

Colleen picked up her fork and started eating again. “Let them. I don’t care what other people have to say. I’ll wear what I want, when I want. I’m supposed to wear a shapeless sack? Or better yet, a sweat suit?”

“Obviously there’s no reasoning with you,” Bianca sniffed. “So much for trying to help a friend. Come on, Rachel. Let’s go mingle.”

“Can you believe those two?” Colleen said after the twins had left.

“They didn’t mean to sound malicious,” Paige said, coming to the twins’ defense. “They were only looking out for you. You know they’d never intentionally hurt your feelings.”

“They’re as bad as Miranda. And speaking of Mommie Dearest, listen to this! As if complaining about my dress wasn’t bad enough, there’s some fat farm she wants me to go to in Palm Springs. I told her no way. Why can’t she be proud of my accomplishments? I’m a plus-sized teen model! People are paying me because I look like this and I don’t have a problem with my size. I like myself. If I didn’t, I’d do something about the weight. It’s like she’s competing with all her other socialite buddies because their daughters are the perfect debutantes.”

Just then the sound of applause came from the table next to them. Anthony and Paige turned around to see a late-twentysomething woman dressed in a black leather miniskirt and blazer approach their table. Her short black hair was slicked back, her black glasses were cat-eyed, and around her neck and wrists she wore a triple strand of black pearls.

“Allow me to introduce myself,” the woman said in a low, raspy voice. “I’m Devorah Schwartz.”

“Doesn’t she mean Devour?” Anthony whispered in Paige’s ear.

Paige giggled. “Stop!”

“Why? She’s fabulous! She doesn’t look like she takes any crap from anyone! All she needs is a whip!”

“I didn’t mean to eavesdrop,” Devorah said, “but I couldn’t help overhearing your conversation.”

Colleen buttered a roll. “And?”

“I found it positively refreshing! You are who you are and you make no bones about it. I like that. I like it a lot.”

“Thanks,” Colleen said.

“What would you say if I were to offer you your own TV show?”

Colleen dropped her butter knife while Anthony and Paige’s mouths dropped open.

“Excuse me?”

“You heard me. I’m head of development for TTV. That’s Terrific Television. We’re launching next September. We’re another division of the corporation that owns the Cooking Channel. I’m seeing a reality series that follows you during your days as a plus-sized model.”

“What would you call the show?” Anthony asked.

Devorah held up her hands in a square, as if creating a TV set. “Fat Model. It says exactly what the show is, don’t you think? You don’t have a problem with that, do you, Colleen? Let’s face it, ‘plus-sized’ is just another word for ‘fat.’ And fat is a word that’s going to grab people’s attention.”

“I love it!” Colleen exclaimed.

“Good!” Devorah handed Colleen her business card. “Have your modeling agent call my office in the morning. We’ll set up a meeting.”

After Devorah left, there was silence at the table. Then Anthony, Paige and Colleen began screaming excitedly.

“Oh my God! Oh my God! Oh my God! I’m getting my own TV show!” Colleen shrieked. “Miranda’s going to die! I can just see her telling her friends the name of my show. Not!”

“Who needs Hairspray?” Anthony said. “Reality TV is creating new stars every day.”

“But the show could also follow me around as I try to make it as an actress!” Colleen exclaimed. “It would be like a televised audition every week for producers and directors in Hollywood!”

“What’s going on here?” Bianca asked, rejoining the table with Rachel. “We could hear you screaming all the way across the room.”

Anthony leaned close to Paige and whispered in her ear. “Ever seen a human volcano?”

“No.”

“Get ready. Because you’re about to see one, possibly two, explode.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Keep your eyes on the twins. As soon as they hear Colleen’s news, they’re going to erupt.”

“Guess who’s getting her own TV show?” Colleen asked.

Rachel shrugged. “I don’t know. Who?”

“Me!”

“You’re getting your own TV show?” Bianca gasped.

“Yes!” Anthony exclaimed. “Isn’t it fabulous?”

“B-b-but that’s impossible!” Rachel sputtered.

“Why is it impossible?” Paige asked. “Are only thin people allowed to have TV shows?”

“She doesn’t want to be a TV star,” Bianca said. “We do! We should be getting our own show, not her!”

“If you’re nice, I’ll let you guest star,” Colleen said, “but I can’t promise any special billing,”

“Guest star?!” Bianca shrieked in horror. “We’ll never guest star on your show or anyone else’s!”

“We’re going to have our own show!” Rachel proclaimed.

“Speaking of guest stars,” Anthony interrupted, “it looks like our guest of honor is here.”

Everyone’s eyes turned to the entrance of the ballroom, where a waving Steve Coulter was arriving with his wife on his arm. Max’s mother was dark-haired, slim and pretty, wearing an elegant ivory-colored dress and gold earrings. Walking in behind them was Max.

There was no mistaking Steve Coulter. Even though he was wearing a tuxedo and bow tie, he gave off waves of testosterone. From the black cowboy hat on his head, the black cowboy boots on his feet and the cigar he was chomping, he was macho with a capital M.

From the way Max was standing behind Steve, out of sight, trying not to draw attention to himself, it was obvious that he was overshadowed by his famous father.

At that moment, Anthony’s heart went out to Max and all the pieces of the puzzle fell into place. Why hadn’t he realized it sooner?