“You got it,” says one, and Kris gives him a two-fingered wave. “We’re here for Oprah, anyway.”
Kris laughs. “Happy hunting.”
He walks up to a street vendor and buys a black cap with the initials NY embroidered on it in white and a pair of black wrap-around sunglasses.
“See now, I’m incognito.”
“What about me?”
“Who’s going to recognize you?”
Right on cue, Harriet and Harry walk toward us.
“Athena!” yells Harriet as she waves enthusiastically.
Kris chuckles and goes back to the vendor, “I’ll have another cap and another pair of sunglasses.”
“Oh, Athena, it’s so good to see you,” gushes Harriet.
“You only saw her last night,” reminds Harry.
Harriet slaps his arm playfully. “Hush now. So, Athena, what are you going to do today?”
Kris hands me a cap and some sunglasses and then takes my hand in his. “We’re going to go for a walk through Central Park.”
“Harriet, this is Kris. Kris, meet Harriet and Harry.”
Kris shakes hands with them. Harriet is polite, but she only has eyes for me.
“What are you doing for dinner tonight?”
“Well, Kris has a special night planned, but we’re still on for Thursday, yes?”
Harriet looks a little upset, but Harry puts his arm around her and pats her arm. “That’s fine, Athena. Come on, Harriet, let these two enjoy their walk.”
Harriet nods and kisses me on the cheek. “See you Thursday night.”
Harry waves as he drags his reluctant wife in the opposite direction.
“She didn’t even look at me.”
“Well, I am her favorite author.”
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Kris
Hand in hand, we walk into her publisher’s offices. Athena is wearing a red pencil skirt with a matching jacket and a white silk blouse. We went shopping yesterday, and I bought an assortment of Athena-approved clothing. I’m dressed in jeans, a white t-shirt, and a blazer, the type with patches on the elbows. She says it makes me look distinguished.
“Why are you here?”
“Raquel wanted a sit down with Multi-Media to discuss making one of my books into a movie.”
“Which one?”
“Like you’ve read any of my books.” Athena grins at me.
“I’ve read some. Come on, which one?”
“Ms. Goddess?” A woman in a black suit approaches us. “Ms. Storm said to put you in her office. She’ll only be a moment. If you will follow me?”
Absently, I hold Athena’s fingers to my lips and kiss them as we are shown through the building to her publisher’s office. When we get there, the woman in black looks at me.
“Jesus! You’re Kris Livingston.” She goes back and forth between Athena and me. “Are you endorsing the book for a movie?”
I hold up my hands, but Athena answers, “No, no, no. Nothing like that. Kris is my, well, he’s…”
Seeing that she’s having a hard time giving us a label, I finish her sentence, “I’m her boyfriend. I’m here for moral support.”
The woman nods, raises her eyebrows, and looks at Athena. “Smart.”
She winks, then leaves the room.
“Boyfriend?”
“Should I have said lover? Consort? Fuck buddy?” I tease.
“Boyfriend sounds so…” she looks around the room, “… high school?”
I chuckle. “Fine, I’ll introduce myself as the guy who’s loved you your entire life. The guy who’d wither away and die without you. The guy who’s totally and utterly in love with you.”
Athena walks closer to me with every word I speak. When I’m finished, she has her body pressed to mine, and I have her beautiful face cupped in my hands.
“I like the sound of that,” she whispers.
“Well, I am an actor, I make everything sound good.”
“Say it again.”
“I. Love. You.”
Athena kisses me hard, walks me backward until my back hits the wall and doesn’t stop.
The door to the office opens, and someone clears their throat.
“Um… Athena?”
Athena turns around, and I wrap an arm around her waist.
“Hello, Raquel, good to see you.”
“Do you want the room?” asks Raquel with a knowing smile.
Athena pulls me forward. “Raquel, this is…” Athena looks at me. “This is my Kris.” She smiles and looks back at Raquel. “This is Kris Livingston.”
“Oh my God. Are you interested in the book, too?” Raquel shakes my hand and gestures for us to sit. “You’d be perfect for the lead.”
“No, Raquel. Kris is here for me, not for the book.”
Raquel gives Athena a sideways look and nods. “Sure. I get it. You’re playing hard to get. Okay, okay. Well, Gerald is in the boardroom. So, let’s get you two in there.” Raquel stands and winks at me. “Follow me.”
Slowing Athena down, so we are further behind Raquel, I whisper, “What book are you pitching?”
“Lost.”
I stop dead in my tracks, stopping Athena mid-stride. “Lost?” I repeat.
“Yes.”
“You’re making our story into a movie?”
Athena’s eyes bulge. “You’ve read it?”
“Yes, I’ve read it,” I reply indignantly as I place a hand to the back of my neck. “To be fair, Todd may have lent me his copy.”
Pursing her lips together, she smiles at me. “So, you’ve only just read it.”
“It was good, but it’s our story, isn’t it? Except you gave them a happy ending.”
Touching my chest and grabbing my other hand, Athena looks up at me. “We’re getting our happy ending. Right here, right now.”
“Um… Athena?”
We both stare at Raquel. “Are you coming?”
Athena smiles and drags me forward. Sitting in the room is a man who’s doing his best to look bored. I’ve met his type many times before—the producers, the directors, the fellow actors who treat you like you’re nothing. I don’t get treated like this anymore. Recognition goes across his face, and the boredom disappears replaced with excitement at having me in the room.
“Kris Livingston?”
He holds out his hand, and I grasp it in mine. “Yes, and you are?”
“Gerald Anderson, Multi-Media.”
I let go of his hand and look at Athena. “This is the woman of the moment, Athena Goddess. New York Times, USA Today best-selling author and keeper of my heart.”
Gerald shakes her hand and looks at Raquel. “Well, aren’t you a keeper of secrets.”
“Oh, this is all Athena, and has nothing to do with me,” replies Raquel.
“Okay, Athena, tell me about your book.”
I stand and kiss Athena on the top of her head. “I’ll be right back.” Then I point at Gerald. “And whatever he offers you, it’s worth twice that much.”
Raquel bursts out laughing. “That’s my job.”