Total pages in book: 28
Estimated words: 25974 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 130(@200wpm)___ 104(@250wpm)___ 87(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 25974 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 130(@200wpm)___ 104(@250wpm)___ 87(@300wpm)
Me: Who? Timothee Chalamet? Lin-Manuel Miranda? Finn Heller?
Chris: dunno. Probs not as big as any of those tho.
I laughed out loud before ordering my food and heading back out into the weak winter sunlight and making my way to a nearby park to eat my bagel. We’d had plenty of big names in the audience in the past. It used to intimidate me until Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew Broderick had come to the show several weekends in a row with various famous friends. After that, I’d gotten used to it. I’d still rather not know ahead of time, though.
I found a bench and enjoyed my hot coffee and late breakfast sandwich while enjoying watching people strolling through the park. Despite the winter day, the combination of clear sunshine with no breeze made it nice enough to sit outside for a little while as long as I stayed bundled up.
I loved this city. Even after traveling all over the world with my mom, I knew I wanted to end up in New York. There was an energy here that made me feel more alive. People seemed more confident to be themselves here than in any other place I’d been. If I walked from East Harlem up to the theater district, I’d see people from dozens of different countries and cultures. I’d see dancers and actors, baristas and construction workers, investment bankers and sex workers. There’d be people dressed in bright, garish colors and others dressed in conservative attire. And I’d pass hundreds of stories of joy and heartbreak, boredom and enlightenment, stress and meditation.
I finished my bagel and took another sip of coffee. New York was my home now. I was a Broadway actor with friends, family, a promising career, and a potential… something… with Dawson. Maybe. Hopefully.
If only my mom was still around to see Lina and me doing so well. She would have been thrilled to see us both succeeding in the theater industry, and she would have been over the moon to meet Lina and Garett’s baby. Even though she would have balked at becoming a grandmother.
I smiled to myself remembering the time she’d said her grandchildren could call her “Gigi” or “Mimi.” We’d have to make sure to tell her grandchildren what a grande dame she’d been.
After throwing away my trash, I pulled out my phone to arrange a ride to the theater. While I waited for the car to arrive, another text came in. Finally, this one was from Dawson.
Dawson: Everything okay with Lina?
I smiled.
Jem: Yes. They’re headed back to NJ. I’m getting in car for theater now.
Dawson: I’m finishing a quick bite then I’ll be there. Think we can find some time alone before the show?
My heartbeat sped up.
Jem: Definitely.
I was giddy when I arrived at the theater, and when Dawson yanked me into an alcove and kissed the hell out of me for the span of three long breaths, I was dizzy too.
“Hi,” he said against my lips. “Will I freak you out if I say I missed you?”
I shook my head and ducked my face to hide it in his neck. “Missed you too.”
“Good,” he murmured before pressing a kiss to the top of my head and holding me in his arms for another moment. He stepped back, gently setting me away from him. “How do you want to handle this?” he asked softly.
I knew Dawson was asking whether I wanted people at work to know about us, and I didn’t really have an answer. I didn’t know what “us” meant, exactly. Not yet anyway.
“Can we, uh, take it slow?” I asked. “Until we can talk it through, at least?”
He smiled in understanding. “Of course. That’s probably a good idea.”
I let out a breath. “Okay, yeah. Good.” But part of me wanted to claim him in front of everyone. It was hard to step away from him and continue through the theater as if we were back to being nothing more than castmates.
We went through our normal routine with makeup and wardrobe before meeting up again in the wings before it was time to take the stage. Dawson’s eyes roamed over me like he wanted to lick the clothes from my body. I was breathless when the audience welcome began and had to think of horrible things to keep my dick from humiliating me onstage.
The play proceeded as usual, fast and fun. And when it came time for Dawson to kiss me, time slowed to a delicious crawl. His eyes flared with the kind of intensity that used to intimidate me. This time, it lit me up inside.
He clasped my jaw with his hands and came in slowly with the slightest upturn to his lips like we shared a secret. When his lips landed on mine, they were soft but possessive. His tongue teased my mouth the tiniest bit, and one of his legs moved between mine to almost brush my dick.