Shy Town Girls (13 page)

I felt a lump rise in my throat and my face turn
white-hot. He was pathetic, empty, and ugly. I wanted to scream at
him for insulting not only Oliver but me, for the pain he caused
me, for all the lies I bought and for wasting my time, but instead
I went with my second impulse. SLAP! I laid all five fingers across
Charlie’s million-dollar face. “Don’t you ever insult me or him.
Are we clear?” I said in a cold voice. I heard gasps, and people
were staring as I made my way to the exit. I didn’t look back.

I was standing at the coat check waiting for my fur
when I heard Meryl’s voice calling. “Whoa, whoa, whoa. What do you
think you’re doing?”

“
Leaving.”

“
Are you serious, Bobbie?
Why?”

“
If I stay, I’ll murder Charlie,” I
tapped my heel impatiently.

“
What did he do? Actually no, I
don’t want to know because I’ll want to murder him too. Bobbie,
please stay. Don’t let him ruin your night—your life—like he’s done
since day one! This is your time. Don’t let him be in charge of
it.”

She was right. It was stupid to let him get to me as
usual, allowing him to ruin the night. I realized I hadn’t even
asked her what had happened with to her date. I felt a sudden rush
of guilt.

“
You’re right, Meryl,” I said. We
walked back to the ballroom together, and I felt defiant. Charlie
was all over his new model girlfriend. Oliver was nowhere to be
found.

“
Meryl, can you excuse me for a few
minutes?” I asked.

She gave me a look.

“
I just want to get some air. I’m
not going anywhere, I promise,” I said, my face still
hot.

“
Okay,” She winked.

I stepped out onto the balcony. The only other people
on the balcony were two smokers near the railing , the orange tips
of their cigarettes glowing in the dark. I looked out at the
panorama of the city. It was stunning; impeccable. Each one of the
countless city lights sparkled like a sea of stars down below. I
sighed, attempting to fill my lungs with the fresh night air. The
night panorama only seemed to simplify things. The darkness crowded
out the hustle and bustle of the city, leaving only an array of
lights behind, but the sounds were still there. And with those
sounds came countless, complex lives. Just because you can no
longer see the details of the tiny people and cars down below, it
doesn’t mean they aren’t there. Life is still complicated, even if
the details are shrouded. I stared into the darkness above the city
lights to clear my head. I wanted to fly, to escape. I wanted
things to be simple. I wanted freedom. I had thought the city would
give me freedom, but it just seemed like things were getting more
complicated. I closed my eyes, but the glow of the city was still
there, very bright behind my eyelids.

“
Don’t jump,” said a voice. I turned
around to see Oliver standing with his head down, looking at me
from under his brow, hands in pockets.

“
Wasn’t gonna,” I said. His suit fit
him well, or he fit the suit, I wasn’t sure which it was—but he
looked sharp.

“
You look beautiful, Bobbie,” he
said, coming to stand beside me, leaning against the railing. His
tone was different now, no longer the silly British accent he’d
used before when he’d complimented me.

“
Thanks,” I blushed. “And thanks
for--in there--I’m sorry.” I stuttered. He wanted to defend me
against Charlie, but I had to do it myself. He always knew when I
needed him, always leading me to find some light in the
dark.

“
What’s going on, you?” he
asked.

“
Just getting some air.”

“
I don’t mean right now, but what’s
going on with your life. . . you know. With him.”

“
Charlie and I are...I don’t know.”
I felt embarrassed, too shy to go into detail.

“
Just let go,” he
blurted.

“
What?” He had sounded like Charlie
there for a moment.

“
Look Bobbie, you’re a gorgeous girl
and equally complicated as gorgeous.”

“
Well, you know me better than
anyone, don’t you?”

“
That’s ‘cause I’ve seen you through
all your phases. Like your rock star phase when you only listened
to angry lesbian girl bands. And your hippie phase when you joined
Greenpeace and you made me call the Argentinean Embassy. I know
that you like to lock yourself in your room and listen to emo
music, and I know how you eat tomatoes even though you hate them
because you think they’re good for your heart. This and that,
Charlie, it’s a phase.”

“
Hey, I still like those angry girl
bands,” I laughed at the memory.

“
What I’m saying is, you have a
history, we have a history. So, I think I’m entitled to point out
that you could do a lot better. You don’t need that guy in your
life, bringing you down to pull himself up.”

The smokers had gone inside. In the unexpected calm
of the fall evening, the wind whistled over the hum of voices from
inside.

I exhaled. “I know,” I said giving in.

“
You do?” he asked, looking at me
with his head cocked sideways. I nodded in assurance that I
understood him, and he was right. He ran his fingers through his
hair and itched his nose. “Well, all right, then. By the way, your
roommates are great. Ivy keeps hitting on me.”

“
When she’s drunk she hits on
everyone. Don’t get too excited.”

“
Don’t tell me that. I thought she
really liked me. And you know I need all the ego boost I can get,”
he grinned.

“
Olly?”

“
Yeah?” Crossing his arms
again.

“
Why didn’t you tell me that you’re
opening a gallery?”

“
I did,” he shrugged. “Didn’t
I?”

“
I mean, you talked about it, but. .
. I feel like I was the last to know. I guess I thought we were
closer than that. When I saw your web site. . .”

“
Hey, it’s really no big deal. I
don’t know. I guess...I didn’t know if I was going to be successful
or not when I decided to do my own thing. I didn’t want to
disappoint you or myself really.”

“
Disappoint? You’re crazy. I just
wish you had told me sooner. I wished I didn’t have to find out
through the grapevine. I would’ve wanted to help you.”

“
I’ve still got a long way to go,
Bobbie, but luckily I have a few loyal clients to keep me afloat
while I get my feet on the ground. Sorry. I know how you hate it
when I mix my metaphors.”

“
When do you leave?”

“
Leave Fordham?”

“
Yeah.”

“
I’m done. Haven’t you noticed I
haven’t been around as much?” He laughed, but I think he felt
somewhat offended.

“
I did notice,” I said. “But I
thought you were out on assignment. So, you left before the
Centennial! Wolfie must have had a fit.”

“
I told him I’d help him out if he
needed me. He didn’t seem to think he’d need me.”

“
And you don’t need—Fordham.” I was
about to say, “we don’t need Fordham.”

“
I really have no emotional ties to
that place, Bobbie. It wasn’t hard. I’m really not into what that
place is all about.”

“
I know. You’re too good for all
that.” I affirmed.

“
There’s plenty more talented
photographers than me, Bobbie,” he informed me.

“
I’m not talking about just your
photography.” He was too good of a person for the industry. His
photos could change the world.

My heart sank to the depths of my stomach as I
pictured myself without Olly in that white, hospital-like,
florescent lit building filled with insatiable human beings
starving for approval.

“
I’m sorry, Olly. My head’s been up
my ass. I’m gonna miss that over-roasted coffee.”

“
You know, if you play your cards
right, you might not have to go without. I’d like you to come by
and see the new studio. I can make you coffee there.”

“
I’d like that.”

“
Good,” he smiled.

I grinned, blushing. We leaned toward each other and
almost bumped foreheads. “Oops,” I said, “Sorry.”

“
Shall we?” he cocked his arm,
gesturing me to link. I ignored his arm and threw my arms around
him, hugging him, holding him close. I felt his heart racing
against my chest, his hands cool against my back.

As I drew away, he didn’t let go of me. His arms were
around me. I felt his body warm and firm against mine. I looked up
at him and saw that expression in his eyes—the soulful one that
always got me questioning. What’s going on behind that cheerful,
yet calm personality of his? He leaned in closer, still staring
into my eyes. I was suddenly seized with panic. I pulled out of his
embrace. Shivering at the sudden loss of his warmth, I wrapped my
arms around my torso and forced a smile. He cleared his throat.

“
Look at you freezing in this little
dress. Next time wear a turtleneck, would you? And sweatpants. And
no make-up. And yeah, I’m not okay with all these hounds checking
you out all night,” he murmured, slipping his jacket off and
draping it over my shoulders. It smelled good—like him. “We’d
better get you inside. Dance with me?” I smiled and
nodded.

Chapter 14

We walked back inside. Ella, Ivy, and Meryl came
storming towards me. “Are you okay?” they cried.

“
Girls, I appreciate the concern,
but this night is not about me. Can we please enjoy it
together?”

“
Well, hello again, handsome, I’m
Ivy,” Ivy said, extending her hand to Oliver.

“
Yes,” he said. “We’ve met. At least
twice.”

“
God, you’re cute.” She reached for
his hair as he pushed away her hand.

He laughed as Ella pulled on Ivy’s dress, trying to
tame her.

“
Why isn’t anyone dancing?” Ivy
asked. “Come on, girls! You too, Oliver!”

Oliver grabbed my hand and led me to
the dance floor. I looked at the piano player, and he shot me a
wink, transitioning into “
The Way You Look
Tonight
.” As he played the introduction, a
woman in a gold dress came to stand behind him, swinging her hips
to the music as she began singing: “
Someday when I’m awfully low, when the world is cold, I will
feel a glow just thinking of you, and that way you look
tonight.
”

“
You know who that pianist is,
right?” Oliver asked me.

“
No clue,” I responded, watching the
pianist handle the keyboard like a wizard.

“
Stephen Kummer,” Oliver said.
“That’s your fun fact for the day,” he added as he spun me around.
I laughed, feeling lightheaded from alcohol and emotion. I turned
to see Meryl laughing, dancing with a man I didn’t recognize. He
was looking at her with an unmistakably starry-eyed expression as
they twirled around together. She looked at me, and I read her
lips, Ryan. I gave her a thumbs up. Ivy was trying to dance a tango
with Ella, Ella resisting. By the end of the tug-of-war, Ivy got
her way. The two of them together were no different at an
extravagant gala than in the living room of our
apartment.

Later on the evening, the crowd began to dwindle, as
did my energy. We were sauced up from the neverending catering
service and champagne. Ella was ready to go; Meryl was saying her
goodbyes; and Ivy had four men surrounding her at the bar as she
gabbed about how much fun it was to work in PR. I motioned to her,
and she gave me a nod.

The four of us split a cab home.

“
So Bobbie,” Ivy said. “Give us the
goods on sweet Oliver.”

“
He is sweet, isn’t he?” I
mused.

“
If you ask me, he’s way better than
that guy Charlie.”

“
No one asked you,” said
Ella.

“
So, Meryl,” I said. “I saw you on
the dance floor. Who was he?”

“
I don’t know who you’re talking
about!” she said and then smiled conspiratorially.

As we approached the building I now called home, I
felt comforted by its antique beauty and rich history, as well as
the personal history I was beginning to build there. The stories,
laughs, and friendships that were unfolding inside were as rich,
charming, and opulent as the building itself.

I noticed Barbara’s living room light on. It was late
in the evening, way past her usual bedtime, and I was a little
worried. “You girls go ahead and go to bed. I’ll check on Barbara.”
They yawned and nodded. I scurried up the stairs and lightly
knocked on her door. “Barbara?”

I didn’t hear a word, not even Due was doing his
usual run and greet routine. I twisted the old glass knob and the
door creaked open. I poked my head in. It was silent, and only the
living room light was on. I stepped in, taking a look around. I
didn’t want to wake her, if she was asleep.

“
Ahhh!” Barbara jumped out of the
kitchen with a frying pan in her hand ready to attack.

“
Barbara! It’s me! It’s just me!” I
yelled in defense.

She dropped her arm and grabbed at her heart with her
other hand. “Oh,” she giggled, “I figured you were out for the
night—thought you might be some man coming to get me!”

I shook my head. She truly was nutty. “We just got
back from the gala. It was very glamorous, especially wearing
this.” I handed her the fur coat I had worn.