Plan B (5 page)

I shook his hand. “Thank you.”

That was it, just a handshake and a compliment. No introductions, thank God. What had I been expecting? Better question, what was I dreading? Why hadn’t I thought to consider that his girlfriend wanted to come to the show and it had nothing to do with Lance wanting to see me or maybe he just liked the theater? Hadn’t he thought the fact that I was a theater major was
cool
? Damn, I was vain, no big surprise there. I had to laugh at myself as I turned back to my parents. I was beginning to think I had a screw loose.

M
Y
PARENTS
had reservations at a small restaurant close to the theater, but it seemed everyone else had the same idea. It was standing room only; the noise of several different conversations going on around us made it nearly impossible to chat without screaming. My parents each had one glass of wine, and I settled for a soda with dinner. Damn minimum twenty-one-year-old drinking age law! I could have used a glass of wine to settle the way I still felt, all jittery from seeing Lance. It was nice spending time with them. I knew they missed me and I appreciated the effort, but I was ready for a more relaxed atmosphere. Translation—sweet, nerve calming wine.

By the time I reached the cast party, it was in full swing. I say cast “party” but it was really more of an intimate setting of about thirty people. The group was comprised of a few of us who had become good friends during production or had already built friendships from previously working on other projects, and their close friends or significant others. As usual, the party was held at the home of Lee (who played the sorcerer) and Clifford (who played the tailor’s apprentice), both of whom I’d known since the first day of classes during my first semester at U of M. They shared their large Tudor-style house with a couple of other guys who, while big into the theater, hadn’t been in
The Boys from Syracuse
. However, they were used to their place being the hot spot for production after-parties.

I found a beer—but since I wasn’t in a beer mood, I filled a plastic cup with ginger ale, as the champagne and wine were gone. I knew if I didn’t have a cup in my hand, someone would make sure I did. While wine tends to mellow me out, enough beer makes me horny and keeps me pissing every thirty minutes—neither of which I was in the mood to be dealing with that night.

Bo and Katie were sitting on one of the couches in the living room. As soon as I spotted them—and the empty space to Bo’s right—I quickened my steps. I plopped my ass down next to Bo, close enough to bump his shoulder, and caused his beer to spill on his lap.

“Hey, asshole!” He wiped at his crotch. “Don’t be thinking just because you’re a big star or something that I won’t kick your ass.”

I leaned forward and addressed Katie. “If you haven’t figured it out yet, he’s totally delusional.” I glanced at Bo briefly and wrinkled my nose. “And a major klutz.”

“Yeah, I’ve noticed.” She laughed.

“Hey! I’m neither of those things,” Bo complained, then scowled when both Katie and I laughed harder.

“Great! Just what my sister needs, another delusional person in her life.”

I stiffened and my smile fell as I heard Lance’s familiar voice. Turning my head, I found Lance sitting in an overstuffed chair to my right that faced the couch, smiling at me. How had I not seen him when I passed by?

Shocked, all I could do was sit there and gape at him. I had noticed more about him each time we’d run into each other. Like originally, I hadn’t thought he was exceptionally attractive, but now I realized it had been the alcohol and his demeanor that had given me that impression. His dark brown hair had sun-streaked highlights; his lips were full and looked very kissable. His smile was slightly crooked, giving him a mischievous expression when he turned it on.

A sharp nudge to my arm from Bo brought me out of my musings. I jerked. “What?” I felt my cheeks heat when I realized I’d been staring at Lance with my mouth open. I snapped it shut. My embarrassment increased, even my ears felt hot, when Lance chuckled as if he’d known what I’d been thinking.

I looked away.

“I hope you don’t mind that we invited my brother. His date ditched him.”

I shook my head since I didn’t yet trust my voice. My throat had gone dry at the same moment my mouth had flopped open.

“She had a long drive back!” Lance protested.

“Uh huh.”

“Shut up,” he grumbled, but there was no heat behind Lance’s words. Obviously just a little friendly sibling banter, but it was enough to take the attention off me and I relaxed a little. I sipped at my soda and said nothing as the two of them went back and forth. Although I kept my head down, eyes glued to the cup in my hand, I was very much aware of Lance and couldn’t help but steal glances out of the corner of my eye. It was like I was drawn to him and simply couldn’t help myself.

“So what’s next?”

It took me a second to realize that the three of them had gone silent and the question was directed at me. I hadn’t been paying attention even if I was trying to pretend I was.

“Umm….” I had to clear my throat and try again. “Basically just classes for a while. I got a small part in a show called
August Osage County
, a stand-in part really.”

“Are they crazy?” Bo said dramatically. “Putting a star in as a stand-in role?”

“Smartass.” I rolled my eyes at Bo and nudged him with my elbow. His beer jostled but he caught it in time. “You’re getting better with the reflexes,” I teased.

“He’s right, you know. You’re a lot better than just a stand-in.”

My gut got all fluttery when Lance paid me a compliment and I smiled as I replied, “Thank you.”

“Hey, how come he doesn’t get an elbow to the ribs?” Bo complained, rubbing his hand across his abused side.

“Because he was being sincere. You were just being an ass.”

I said that just to irritate Bo and it did. He knew I was kidding, but his eyes began shifting back and forth between Lance and me. Bo knew me too well, and the last thing I needed was for him to notice my attraction to his girlfriend’s brother.

Time for a subject change.

“Hey, Katie. How did you do on that ECON test you were stressing over?”

“Won’t find out till Tuesday, but pretty sure I did well.” She looked up at Bo with a dreamy look in her eyes. “Thanks to Bo. He really came through, helping me study.”

I swear to God, she batted her lashes at the man and he turned into a pile of melted goo boy. At that moment, however, I was glad my friend was pussy-whipped, as he forgot all about Lance and me.

I honestly tried to pay attention to what Katie and Bo were saying, but it was hard. I think I did okay, adding a few questions here and there to keep them going, but I was fighting the urge to stare at Lance the entire time. I could feel his eyes on me, and I found it increasingly difficult not to squirm in my seat or keep up with what the lovey couple was saying. I didn’t want to know about ECON or tests or classes or anything else to do with school. What I really wanted to know was what Lance was thinking as he stared at me. I really wanted to know if he found me as attractive as I found him, if he’d consider going back to my place and banging the hell out of me.

Sitting there trying to listen to my friends and clamping down on my urge to openly stare was the worst possible time to be thinking about jumping Lance’s bones or vice versa, because that line of thinking just made my dick start to swell, and then I didn’t dare meet his eyes because I knew he’d see the lust. And wasn’t that totally not me. I wasn’t shy—when I wanted to know something I asked—but with Lance, he did this crazy shit to me that made me so not… me. I didn’t like it, yet I did, and that made no goddamn sense at all.

The longer I sat there trying to figure Lance out, and hoping he’d give me a clue or at least talk to me, the more my tension grew. It was as if someone was wringing my body tighter and tighter as they would a windup toy and my twisty thing was about to pop. I needed to move, to put some space between me and Lance and just fucking breath for a minute. I downed the last of my ginger ale and jumped to my feet.

“I’m going to grab something else to drink. Anyone need anything?”

“I’m good,” Bo said without even looking away from Katie, who just shook her head.

“I could use another beer. I’ll go with you,” Lance offered and started to rise.

“I think I can handle two cups.”

My voice was a little strained, which made my reply come out clipped, and it was rude to walk away without looking at him. But I didn’t dare. I was already horned up just being around him and I figured it would be better if he thought I was an asshole, rather than thinking I was lusting after him.

I spent a few minutes in the bathroom, fussing with my hair and makeup and giving a good stern talk to my reflection in the mirror. Reminding myself that it had been a very busy week, some strange stuff—like my new obsession with Lance—was happening and I needed to get my shit together and start focusing on the next class and project. It’s easier said than done. I was stubborn as hell and finally even my reflection was rolling its eyes at me. But whatever. I did manage to look composed when I emerged, grabbed a soda and a beer, and returned to sit next to Bo all casual-like.

I do love postproduction parties, everyone finally getting to relax and a chance to talk to friends without having to read from a script. The problem with this particular gathering was, between Bo and Katie ignoring me and Lance staring at me, it had become one of the most uncomfortable ones I’d ever attended and that included the
frat
party Bo had forced me to. The adrenaline high from the show was wearing off, and for the first time I realized how weary I was. When I get tired, I get cranky.

I turned toward Lance. He was sitting there drinking his beer, and the blank, creepy expression from the first night I met him had returned to his face. I was relieved that my libido had simmered down, but in its wake was left irritation.

“Do I have something on my face?” I bared my teeth at him. “Anything in my teeth?”

Lance blinked, and then shook his head, like he was trying to clear it. “Uh? What?”

“You keep staring at me. So I must either have something on my face or you are just rude.”

“Sorry, I didn’t even realize I was.” His cheeks flushed. “I zone out when I’m daydreaming.”

“It’s nighttime, but hey, whatever.” I still thought it was rude. I was ready for a hot shower and a lumpy dorm-size bed. I downed my soda and patted Bo’s shoulder. “I’m going to head out.”

“Wait. What? This is your party,” Bo said.

I stood and glared down at my inconsiderate friend. “Between you two lovebirds fawning all over each other, ignoring me and”—I pointed a finger at Lance—“this guy staring at me like I’m some kind of freak with shit in my teeth, I’ve had all the party fun I can stand for one night. Besides, I’m tired.”

“And cranky,” Bo muttered.

“Shut up.”

Lance stood as well. “Danny, c’mon, man, don’t go. I honestly didn’t mean to stare.”

Katie also got to her feet, her pale cheeks pink. “I didn’t mean to be rude, and I promise Lance wasn’t trying to be an ass. He’s been this weird since he was a kid.”

“Gee, thanks a lot,” Lance grumbled.

Katie held her hands up. “I didn’t mean it like that.” She laughed and then said to me, “You think he’s staring at you, but in his mind he’s not even in the same room. He’s the freaky one, but I still love him.” She looked up at her brother and stuck her tongue out him playfully.

I was beginning to feel like a drama queen who had just had a little hissy fit and they were all standing around, apologizing and trying to placate me. I could have been up mingling with everyone else. It wasn’t their fault I’d been sitting there hoping Lance would say something to me. Nor was it their fault I got pissy when he didn’t. Sometimes I could be a true bitch to drama.

When Bo turned to me and said, “We’ll go get you a coffee. It’ll make you feel better,” it only intensified the feeling of being a knob.

I’m sure I would have come up with some wonderfully witty retort like “fuck off” had I not been so worn out. Instead, I just patted his shoulder again and said, “Coffee is the last thing my cranky ass needs. A bed, a pillow, and eight hours hanging with Mr. Sandman is about the only thing that will make me feel better.”

“All right. You want me to give you a ride back?”

We were only about four blocks from campus, but Katie lived a few miles away, so Bo had started driving everywhere since he had to pick her up and take her back whenever they did anything together. I was exhausted and briefly thought about taking the offer, but the short walk would do me good. Give me a chance to clear my head.

“Nah, you and Katie go on. I’d rather walk, but thanks.” I gave Katie a hug. “Thanks for coming.”

“It was my pleasure. You really were amazing on that stage tonight.”

I pulled back from the embrace and gave her a small smile. “Thanks.”

Bo patted me on the back, but was looking at Lance. “You want to come with?”

He shook his head. “I think I’ll walk back with Danny.” He glanced at me. “If that’s okay?”

“Umm… yeah. Sure.” Wow, there went that witty repartee of mine again. I scowled at Lance as he hugged his sister. How in the hell did he do that to me?

Bo and Katie headed out, and after I said my good-byes to Lee, Clifford, and half a dozen other people, Lance and I stepped out the door and headed in the direction of the dorm.

Now that the mystery of the creepy stares was solved, I couldn’t help but wonder why Lance was walking along with me. Why wasn’t he hanging out with his jock buddies? I really wanted to know what had brought him to the show, and I was very curious as to what he’d been thinking when he was zoned out earlier. Was he thinking about me, obsessing as crazily as I seemed to be?

There goes that vanity of yours again
, I thought.