Victorious(55)

The doctor had to tell me more than once that it was “just” the flu, and I had to be talked out of taking her to the ER on two different occasions. Thank God she’d rallied and was now almost fully recovered, but I won’t soon forget the fright of her illness or the loneliness of having her close by but unavailable. I hated that almost as much as I hated that she was sick in the first place.

I glance over to check on her and see that she’s asleep with Fluff rolled up in a ball on her lap. The two of them are so damned cute together, even if one of them likes to bite me.

I can’t wait for tonight, to take Natalie to the club and to introduce her to yet another facet of my life. I feel confident that she’s ready, that we’ve talked it all through and she’s prepared for what to expect. When I get home, I’ll text the others and let them know I’m bringing her by. They’ll appreciate the heads-up, and I fully expect them to be thrilled to welcome her.

Hayden, in particular, has expressed concern about me marrying someone outside our lifestyle, as that had been such a spectacular failure the last time around. That makes me think of Valerie, and I wonder if she has gotten the offer we arranged—to appear on a reality TV show about a fishing boat in Alaska.

Rather than confronting her and making her day with my rage over what she tried to do to Nat and me, Hayden suggested this route, and I have to admit it’s f*cking brilliant. I smile to myself when I picture her in an environment she will find so far beneath her, but I’ve made sure it’s the only offer she’ll get for the immediate future.

She’ll have no choice but to take it, which will get her out of town and out of my hair for the time being. Our manager, Danielle, who took on Val only because I asked her to when we were married, was happy to facilitate something as far beneath Valerie’s self-determined standards as she could find.

When Danielle came back to us with the Alaskan fishing boat show, Hayden and I laughed our asses off and told her to go for it. Make it happen.

I’m fairly confident Valerie will have no doubt how she ended up in Alaska. She might blame me until the cows come home, but it isn’t my fault that she has no other options. Her reputation as a self-aggrandizing prima donna makes it so no one wants to work with her. That’s on her. The affair she had with our director at the end of our marriage won her no friends either, especially when it came to light that she broke up the director’s marriage to exact her revenge on me.

I haven’t forgotten the one ace she still holds in her hand—her knowledge of my sexual preferences. The only reason I’d ever care if that got out is because it might embarrass my parents. Not to mention the potential impact on my career. But that’s a much lesser concern. I don’t even want to think about my parents catching wind of my preference for kinky sex. The thought of that makes me feel like I’m getting the flu.

Natalie is still asleep when we arrive at home, so I pick up her and the wildebeest and carry them inside, laying Nat on our bed and tucking her in for a while. We’ve got plenty of time. The club doesn’t really get busy until after ten anyway.

I take advantage of the free time to play with some thoughts on the big idea I had the other day. Before it goes much further, though, I need to talk to Natalie about it because the story that’s running around in my head is hers—and ours. Ever since the idea came to me, it’s almost all I can think about. I’ve learned to trust my gut in this business. If a project gives me the chills, chances are it will resonate with audiences, too. Jeremy’s story in Camouflage is a recent example of my instincts paying off in a big way. Not only is the film a huge critical and financial success, it’s racking up the awards, too.

I reach for my phone to call Hayden. I want his take. If he thinks it’s an awful idea, then there’s no point in pursuing it with Natalie.

“What’s up?” he asks when he takes the call.

“This and that. Did you get my text?”

“Yep. So are you doing a scene tonight?”

“No, nothing like that. We’re taking baby steps, but so far, so good. She’s curious about the club, so I figure I’d bring her by to get a feel for it.”

“I gotta say… I didn’t see that coming. In light of everything… From her past and all.”

“She’s got this inner strength that astounds me, and a determination not to let her past dictate her future.”

“I know I’ve been kind of a douche about her and you and everything, but I hope you know how happy I am for you.”

“Thanks, man.”

“And despite how it might’ve appeared on occasion, I like her and I like her for you, even more so now that you’re not hiding a big part of who you are from her.”

“I like her for me, too,” I say with a low laugh.

“I bet you do.”

“So listen, I’ve been thinking about something that I want to run by you.”

“Is it a title for the film that defies naming?”

“I wish.”

“So do I,” he says with a sigh.

“If it’s any consolation, the early cut is amazing.”

“I’m happy with it, too. I just wish we could name the f*cker.”

“We will.”

“What’s the other thing you’re thinking about?”