“I’m game,” Lorenzo shrugs.
“Of course you are,” I mumble. “Is there a choice in this? Or was it already made for me?”
“Jenna, this is about your careers. You didn’t expect to write books together and never meet, did you?” Marley laughs.
That’s exactly what I was expecting. How can I now finally face him and keep things professional?
“No, I...okay. When is this happenin’?”
“Two weeks,” Stacey answers. “We put all the info on your calendars. Can you make the drive down yourself Jenna or you want us to send you someone?”
“No,” I answer quickly, “I can drive it. Please.”
I see Stacey’s face change to sadness and I try and change the subject, not wanting to make a big deal.
“How long we stayin’ there? What’s the plan?”
“A quick trip. Friday night is the signing and then Saturday morning and afternoon are a few radio shows and a local new station. You could drive back home Saturday night if you really want,” Marley answers.
I nod, looking to Lorenzo.
“Or you could come down Thursday night and leave Sunday morning like me. Get to spend a few days together?”
Yeah, that’s not fucking happening.
“I’ll play it by ear,” I answer with a smile. “That all? I have a busy day.”
“That’s all. See you in two weeks,” Marley says, hanging up the call while Stacey waves and hangs up right after.
“You gonna pick me up at the airport?” Lorenzo smirks.
“I...I don’t know if I’m gonna come down Thursday. I have stuff I need to take care of here.”
“How about I fly into Nashville Thursday night, spend the night with you and then we can drive down to Atlanta on Friday morning together?”
I laugh, almost snorting before I realize Lorenzo is being serious.
“No way in fuckin’ hell. I’ll meet you there Friday mornin’. Marley will have a car to pick you up.”
“Spending less time with me isn’t gonna make the desire go away, J.”
“Oh shut up, you cocky bastard. Not every woman wants you,” I scoff.
He laughs, his head dropping back with a hoarse laugh.
“We’ll see about that.”
He hangs up and I curse him, knowing he’s right. Just one minute face to face with Lorenzo and I’m sure I’ll be drowning in my want for him.
Dammit.
I shift my weight from one foot to the other nervously as I look through the peephole of my hotel room.
Open the door, Jenna. You can do this.
I take a few seconds to shamelessly eye Lorenzo behind the safety of my hotel door and wipe the drool off my chin.
His black button down shirt has the first two buttons unbuttoned and the sleeves are rolled up his forearm. A large watch sits on his left wrist and I see the muscles of his arm flex as he cups his chin, then runs a hand through his thick brown hair.
Holy mother of God he is so much hotter in real life. He smiles, as if he knows I’m right on the other side of the door watching him and knocks again.
“Don’t make us late for our first signing, Watson. Get your ass out here.”
I take another deep breath, sniff myself for good measure and run toward my bathroom, spraying two more sprays of my perfume. Walking back to the door, I finally open it and the breath is swept from my lungs as I take him in without the door as a barrier.
His black slacks are tighter around his thighs, and he’s a lot taller than I thought he was going to be. His big smile takes up his face as he walks to me and I'm unsure of what to do as I awkwardly put my hand out as he goes in for a hug.
"Sorry," we both mumble with a laugh.
I go to hug him now as he puts out his hand and we do this weird half hug with his hand trapped in between our bodies.
"Why is this awkward?" he laughs, taking the reins as he wraps his arms around me in a tight embrace.
I laugh, hugging him back like a normal person now as he steps back.
"I don't know, I guess it's weird seein' you in person and not on a screen."
“Well hi,” he says with a smile. “Nice to finally meet you.”
“Nice to finally meet you too,” I giggle, my cheeks heating now as I remember not too many nights ago what Lorenzo’s writing did to me and now having to face that in real life. Why did my brain have to go to that right at this instant? Dammit.
God, he’s so hot. His voice is deeper and now I can smell him and see the clean shaven face, the angles of his jaw, that breathtaking smile. Shit, I’m in so much trouble.
“Ready to go? Stacey and Marley set up our table, it looks fucking awesome.”
“Yeah, I’m ready.”
I turn back into my room and grab my bag, closing my hotel door behind me as we walk down the hall to the elevator.
When we step inside I see him watching me out of the corner of my eye and bump his shoulder.
“What? Why are you starin’ at me?”
"Nothing. I...you're just...really here. Feels weird," he laughs. "I mean over six months video chatting and talking and texting and now you're in the flesh."
"Here I am," I say with a cheesy smile.
"You're a lot hotter than I thought you'd be."
Right back at you buddy.
I scoff, rolling my eyes, feeling my nerves start to wane a little, getting back to the comfort I feel around Lorenzo every day. He's still my best friend, just now he's in front of my face.
"I'd say the same to you but you never have a shirt on so it's hard to tell."
I arch my eyebrow, challenging him and when the elevator stops at the lobby, he pulls me down a hallway, pushing me up against a wall.
“W-what are you doin’?” I squeak, nervously.
"Seeing if I measure up in the flesh?" He smirks, unbuttoning his shirt as I grab his wrist, stopping him.
"Don't," I say with panic. "Just...don't."
"Ohh Watson, you getting shy on me?" He leans forward, putting a hand above my shoulder on the wall behind my back and I close my eyes, shaking my head.
“We got a signin’ to get to, Balboa. Don’t get us all hot and bothered.”
I slowly open my eyes, pushing against his chest as I run my other hand down the front of his unbuttoned shirt. When my fingers connect with his hot skin, I hear him suck in a breath and look up at him through my lashes.
I smile, buttoning his shirt back up torturously slow, leaving the top one unbuttoned.
“There you two are. What are you doing?”
Stacey’s voice from down the hall breaks our moment and I step back, my eyes still on Lorenzo.
“Just gettin’ acquainted before we head to the table.”
Lorenzo smiles, nodding as he walks past me toward Stacey, turning back around as he opens his arm for me to slide mine through.
“Shall we, Watson?”
“What about the girl that passed out when you put your arm ‘round her?” I laugh, slapping Lorenzo’s arm as we share drinks in the hotel bar at a booth in the back.
“I felt like a dick. Although I won’t lie, I think she expected me to do mouth to mouth. Pulled a Squints from Sandlot, trying to get a kiss from Wendy Peffercorn.”