The One That I Want(10)

“I knew you were keeping something from me, I just didn’t know what it was.” I had to ask all the questions I had, while he was being open and honest. “What do you see in me? I mean, look at you compared with me. I’m a nothing and you’re...” I made a sweeping gesture that encompassed the entirety of him.

“How can you say that about yourself? You’re gorgeous. I love your small muscles and tight ass. You’re funny, even when you’re not trying to be. You’re strong and determined. You have more integrity in your big toe than all my previous boyfriends put together. You live life without worrying about what people think. Look at the way you danced during the Grease Dance Party. You danced with anyone and everyone and didn’t care one bit what people thought.”

Huh. I never thought of myself that way. I saw only an awkward, skinny bore who got overly enthusiastic with some things. There was something else I had to ask.

“Why do you fall asleep during the shows? You basically pass out fifteen minutes in and don’t wake until it’s over. Is it me, am I that boring a date?”

“Oh God. You’re really pushing for all the secrets now, aren’t you?” Paul tried again to lighten the mood, but when I remained stony-faced, he sighed before continuing. “I... don’t like musicals. I’m sorry but they bore me to tears.” He held up his hand. “Before you get all angry and upset, let me explain. I wanted to impress you, and I wanted to spend time with you. I’d seen you in the elevator reading your Encore magazine and the more I saw you the more I wanted to get to know you. I planned my mornings so I could wait for you at the elevator, hoping you’d throw me a lifeline, but you never did. You barely looked at me so I had to try something.”

“So you decided to scare the shit out of me in the stairwell?”

He grinned. “It worked didn’t it?”

I smiled. “Yes, but...”

“No buts. I had to do something. I’d been stalking the elevator for months before I got up the courage to speak to you, then you shot me down. I was crushed.”

“You... you were stalking me... for months?” This little piece of information blew my mind.

“Yes. I wanted to get to know you, but you were making it very difficult.”

“But you know so much about the plays, I thought you liked them as much as I do.”

“I researched. Every time I got tickets, I researched the cast, the costumes, the orchestra. All of it. I just wanted to be with you.”

Wow. I couldn’t believe he would do all that for me, a pathetic cubicle accountant from the third floor. Maybe Paul saw something in me that I didn’t.

When Paul opened his arms again, I couldn’t resist. I stepped into them, wrapping my arms around his waist and letting his scent envelop me. I rested my head against his chest and closed my eyes as I melted against him, soaking in his warmth.

Paul kissed the top of my head. “Do you have any plans for tonight?”

“No, why?”

“We’re having dinner with my family.”





EPILOGUE



6 MONTHS LATER


THE CAB dropped me off outside the theater, and I fixed my wig as I walked up to the ticket booth. The doors were closed; no show was playing tonight, but a solitary twenty-something girl was sitting in the ticket booth.

“You must be Jason. Give me a minute to run around and open the door for you.”

“Okay?”

Why would Paul bring me to a theater that had no show playing?

The front door opened and the girl stood aside to let me in. “Please go down to the front row, Kenickie is waiting for you. The show will start shortly.”

“Thanks.”

I had no idea what was going on, but I followed her instructions. Paul knew of my Danny/Kenickie fantasy and I hoped to God he was dressed up.

When I entered the main theater it was empty. All the lights were dimmed but the stage was lit up like it would be for a performance. On stage was the front end of the Grease car and nothing else. When I stepped forward, the curtain closed, and I tried not to be disappointed. Apparently I wasn’t here to see a show.

In the dim light, I saw Paul/Kenickie holding his hand out for me to take, his eyes shimmering.

He pulled me into his arms and kissed me, long and deep.

“Hmm.” I breathed him in while I tried to get my mind out of that kiss.

“Come, sit. It will start in a minute.”

As Paul sat in the seat, he twitched. His leg bounced, he kept wiping his hands on his jeans. Just as I was about to ask him what was going on, the music started and the curtain rose. Danny and Kenickie were sitting in the Grease car, facing us, their arms around each other’s shoulder as Danny pretended to drive.

It took me only a second to recognize the song. Hopelessly Devoted to You rang out over the speakers as Danny and Kenickie took turns singing to each other, looking into each other’s eyes. The love they shared as they sang was tangible. I didn’t think anybody could act that well and it made me think these two actors were probably a couple off stage.

Of course, I sang along with them but it wasn’t until Paul stood up, dragging me into his arms to dance that I choked up, unable to get the words out. I didn’t need to sing, Paul sang all the words to me. Well, he tried to—he messed up a few lines but I didn’t care. I danced in his arms as I watched the two on stage make love to each other through the lyrics. It was something else and my chest tightened. I didn’t want the song to end. I wanted to keep watching Danny and Kenickie sing to each other and I really didn’t want my dance with Paul to finish.