Page 166 of Stage Dive: Short Stories & Novellas
“Good is a strong word.”Mal steps closer and peers at me.“Good would be your crush transferring to a more suitable person such as myself.Talented, good-looking, I’ve got it all.You wouldn’t believe how amazing I am.I mean, check out my long blond hair.Beautiful, right?”
“Um.Yeah.It’s great, Mal.”
“Right?Better even than Chris Hemsworth when he’s playing Thor.I told him that, and he nearly cried.The dude is much more delicate than you’d expect for someone that size.But back to me.Let me demonstrate my hair for you.”Mal tosses his hair this way and that.“See what I mean?Look at that color and movement.And the texture is so soft.”
“Wow.”
He stops swishing his hair about and studies my face instead.Which I could definitely do without.Then he says, “But as for your thing for Jimmy, I’m not seeing any sign of lingering signs of fangirl behavior.No dreaminess in the eyes.Your hands aren’t even shaking with excitement at his presence.Though you are a little pink in the cheeks still.”
“I think that might be due to current circumstances than any lingering teenage crush,” says Lizzy.“Having her stand in the middle of the room while we all watch and comment would be a lot for most anyone.”
Mal shrugs.“I would have no problem with that, thank you very much.”
“Yeah,” says Ben.“But you’re not normal.Have you noticed that?”
“Shut up, Ben.Nobody was talking to you.”
The big man just shrugs.
Jimmy makes a growly noise and pulls me into a hug.It is basically him patting me on the back with a vaguely pained expression.“Okay, Jude.We’re all good.”
“Thanks, Jimmy.”
“But it hasn’t been five minutes,” cries Mal.
Jimmy ruffles his hair.“Move on, man.”
“Don’t mess with the hair.”
Dean wanders over and pulls me into his arms.The smile on his face…he is much too damn amused by all of this.I should step on his toes.But I am a wonderful, forgiving woman.So I wrap my arms around his waist and hide my face against his chest for a moment.Because Lizzy was right, that was a lot.
“I thought you were brave facing down your crush like that,” says Dean in a low voice.
“This better be the last I ever hear about it.Or else.”
“Fair enough.”He kisses me on the head and rubs my back.“I love you, Jude.”
“I love you too.”
We have decided to try long distance for a while.At least for the next few months to a year.Having Dean welcome to stay with me in the guest house whenever he can will make things easier.There’s a studio in town that he likes working at too.He doesn’t always have to be in L.A.And he’s in sufficient demand to ask the talent to come to him.I have no idea what the future will bring.But after the last month, I am hopeful that we have a long future ahead of us.We’ve spent every night and weekend together.Going out to restaurants and listening to bands and watching TV.Just being happy together and working through things.
I’ve never felt this way about anyone, and he feels the same.We’re committed to making this work.
I didn’t even realize something was missing, but his love is just what I needed.
