Love's Last Chance (14 page)

* * * *

No matter how beautiful the sunrise, or how
alluring the beach was in the early hours, it stood empty. After a
raucous and drunken Saturday night, the residents of both houses
slept in on Sunday morning. The earliest riser in the men’s
quarters was Pierre at ten o’clock. He wandered over to the women’
house to find Dorrie sitting on the front steps, a mug of coffee in
her hand.

“Good morning,” he greeted her.

“Shh. Everyone’s still sleeping,” she
whispered.

He sat down on the steps next to her.
Instinctively, Dorrie moved away.

“Am I bothering you?”

“Don’t get too close. I don’t like you
touching me.”

“I’m not touching you. I like to look at
you. Is that a crime?”

If it isn’t, it should be. Criminal code
number three thirty-six, anyone named Pierre ogling a Dorrance
Rodgers is breaking the law.
She sipped her coffee as his gaze
roved over her body.

“Stop it, Pierre. Stop looking at me like
that. You’re creeping me out.”

“Just remembering you that day on the nude
beach. You were so sexy, and now with your new, voluptuous body…are
those real?” He pointed to her breasts.

“Of course!”

“They’ve grown since five years ago. They
look very tasty.”

Dorrie pushed to her feet. “This is my
house. I don’t have to sit here and take this crap.”

She opened the screen door and went inside,
straight to her room, closing the door behind her. Faintly, she
heard, “What? What did I say?”

The slow start to the day gave Dorrie a
false sense of laziness. With only two hours left before the four
o’clock ferry back to reality, she wandered from house to house,
unable to sit still. Pacing the walkway on the Bay side, she heard
a familiar voice.

“Where have you been?” Johnny ran up behind
her.

“Here and there. Why?”

“I’ve been looking for you.”

“Oh?”

“Come on, don’t be like that. After last
night…”

“I thought I’d give you some space,” she
said.

“I don’t want space, I want to be with you.”
He wrapped his fingers around her biceps.

“In the biblical sense?”

“Hey, if I’m crowding you, then fine. Forget
it.” He let go and turned toward the path.

“Wait! Don’t go. I’m sorry.” She grabbed his
arm.

“It wasn’t a one-night stand. Not for
me.”

“It’s just… I’m going back and so…”

“Yeah. You’re doing the movie. So you’ll be
gone, what, two months? Three? Then, we can be together. You’ll
come back to New York…maybe move in with me?”

“I’m not coming back to New York.”

Silence hung heavy between them. His gaze
searched her face.

“Why not?”

“Because there’s a TV series after the
movie. They want to start on the pilot right away. If it gets
picked up, I’ll be working steadily…in L.A.”

“But what about us?”

“I don’t know. Is there an ‘us’?”

“I thought there was, or there could
be.”

Dorrie glanced at her watch. “Time to pack.
We can at least ride home together on the ferry.” Johnny took her
hand, and they walked back in silence. A heavy feeling entered her
heart.

This is your second shot at some kind of
dance career. You won’t get a third. You must take it. How can you
throw everything you’ve worked for away on a ‘maybe’ from Johnny?
Don’t tell him about the New York offer. He’ll talk you into
staying.

“I just got this promotion to Senior V.
P.…”

“I understand.”

Johnny carried her bag to the ferry. They
stood together at the railing, staring out at the bay as the
gangplank was lifted. All the members of both houses were on the
same boat.

“A great reunion, wouldn’t you say?” Drake
came up behind them and slapped Johnny on the back.

Mary sidled up to Johnny. “Come over here. I
didn’t get a chance to tell you about my new job. Dorrie hogged you
all weekend.” Johnny rolled his eyes and allowed Mary to pull him
to a more private spot on the railing. Dorrie stifled a laugh with
her hand. She didn’t notice Drake moving closer.

“Speaking of hogging. John sure moved in on
you.”

She glanced at him. “We’re old friends.”

“Is that all it is?” She smiled
enigmatically at him. “Good. I was hoping that was true. I’ve been
trying to get to talk to you…alone…all weekend.”

“Why didn’t you say so? What’s on your
mind?” She turned to face him.

Drake glanced down at his hands before
speaking. His eyes didn’t make contact with her right away.

“You know I’ve always…liked you…”

“Seems like we’ve been friends forever.”

“Yeah, well, it hasn’t always been
just…friendship for me.”

Disbelief and surprised overwhelmed her.
No, no, it can’t be! Chrissy is a close friend. He’s married.
Come on, Drake, don’t do this.
“Drake…Are you sure…” He put his
hand on her arm to stop her. Dorrie swallowed the lump in her
throat.

“Let me finish. I’ve had…feelings for you,
since the beginning.”

“Oh, God, Drake. Now?”

“I can’t keep silent anymore. It’s you I
want to be with. Not Chrissy.”

“Shit, Drake!” Dorrie shook her head and
avoided his stare.

“It’s true. Do you feel the same?”

Dorrie touches his shoulder. “I love you
like a brother, Drake. Please don’t do this. You and Chrissy belong
together. Crap, you’ve been married for four years! I’m going back
to L.A. Can we forget this conversation ever happened?”

He hung his head and shrugged her hand off.
“You can’t be serious. Forget I said this? Impossible.” The noise
of the boat cutting through the water was the only sound for a
while. Dorrie glanced over at Johnny, who was looking at her with a
furrowed brow. He moved away from Mary.

“Thanks…Thanks for shooting me down, Dorrie.
I didn’t think you’d do that.”

The anger in his tone sparked sadness in
her.

“What did you think? I’m a home-wrecker? You
had plenty of time before marrying Chrissy to speak up.”

“Would your answer have been different?”

“No. I’m sorry, Drake, but chemistry is
chemistry. And we don’t have any, beyond friendship.”

“Whatever.” He stepped away from the railing
and moved to the back of the boat.

Johnny rejoined Dorrie. “What did Drake
say?”

“It’s personal.”

“Shit. He didn’t.” He shook his head slowly
and closed his eyes for a moment.

“What?” She looked up at him.

“He made a play for you? I told him not to.
Did you shoot him down?”

“Of course I did. He’s married. There was
never anything between us. You knew about this?”

“He mentioned it to me.”

“And you didn’t think to tell me? Warn
me?”

“I didn’t think it was my business. How the
hell do I know how you feel about Drake?”

“Oh, Johnny…” She shook her head. Tears
threatened. “Don’t you know me by now?”

“What do you mean?”

“First, I’d never break up a marriage.
Second, it’s always been you, not Drake.”

“Yeah? I was hoping you’d say that.” He
leaned over and kissed her, but she pushed him away.

“Our magic always seemed to evaporate when
the ferry docked in Bay Shore.”

“What do you mean?” He raised his
eyebrows.

“We never went out in the city. Just here.
Our magic only existed on Fire Island.”

“I wasn’t into commitment. I had city girls
and Fire Island chicks.”

“And that’s changed?” She turned a skeptical
eye on him.

“I’m thirty-two now. Not a kid. Of course,
that’s changed. Didn’t I just ask you to move in with me?”

“Did you?”

“You used to be a good listener. What
happened?”

“History is hard to shake.” He put his arm
around her, and she rested against him. Her mind was confused.
Drake, Johnny, Johnny, Archer, Archer, Rick. Johnny, no time. No
commitment. Why did Drake have to do that? I can’t stay at his
place now. How can I face Chrissy?

Dorrie forced herself to stop thinking and
enjoy the moment. John kissed her hair as they stood silently,
holding on to each other.
I’m not staying in New York to move in
with him. I need a commitment, and that’s not enough. Move in
today, get dumped tomorrow, and turn your back on your dreams.
Don’t think so.

Though the sun was still strong, the salty
spray from the Long Island Sound kept them cool.

“Thought the reunion would be a waste of
time,” he said.

“And?”

“It was great.” He smiled down at her.

Before she had a chance to respond, the boat
slowed down. They would be docked in another minute or two. Dorrie
turned to Johnny and looked up into his eyes, but a pull on her
sleeve diverted her attention. Chrissy was tugging on her arm and
beaming. John and Dorrie turned to face her.

Instead of feeling uncomfortable in her
friend’s company, Dorrie was sorry for the young woman.
To be
married to a man who doesn’t love you. She deserves better.
Johnny turned his attention to Chrissy and made small talk with
her, holding her steady as the boat lurched.

Dorrie glanced at Drake who was hugging the
railing a few feet away with his head hung low.
Maybe he regrets
what he said?
Chrissy was even perkier than usual, obviously
not picking up on the somber attitude of her companions. Her
friend’s cheerful demeanor raised questions in Dorrie’s mind.
How can she be so blind?
It wasn’t long before she got her
answer.

“I wasn’t going to tell anyone yet, because
it’s so early.”

“What?” Dorrie asked.

“I’m too excited…have to tell you.”

“Spit it out, girl.”

“I’m pregnant!”

* * * *

John joined Dorrie in the taxi service van,
whisking them from the ferry back into Manhattan. Drake and Chrissy
tagged along.

As traffic clogged the Long Island
Expressway, Dorrie got drowsy. She rested her head on Johnny’s
shoulder. He tucked her closer, slipping his arm around her, and
she fell asleep. After the traffic jam broke up, it was clear
sailing. Dorrie woke up.

“Why don’t you come and stay with me? We’ll
have fun,” he whispered in her ear.

“I have early rehearsal tomorrow, and you’re
way downtown.”

“So?” He gave her a lustful look.

“And I don’t want to be tired before I get
started,” she chuckled.

“Suit yourself.” The look of disappointment
on his face inspired her to kiss him.

“It’s been fun…as always,” she said.

“Yeah. Wish you were staying longer.”

They listened to Chrissy gush about being
pregnant, children’s names, and due dates until Drake interrupted
her. “Dorrie’s seeing two other men on this trip, John. Thought you
should know.”

Johnny, who had been staring out the window,
sat up straighter. His head snapped forward, and his eyes flew
open.

“Two other men?” He turned toward
Dorrie.

“I—”

“Yeah. Two other guys. Two guys she’s trying
to decide about, just like you.”

“What do you mean, ‘decide about’?” Johnny
trained his gaze on her.

“I came back to see…uh, see how it might be
with one more day…”

“One more day with me…and these other guys?”
His tone was sharp.

She nodded and shot a sharp look at Drake.
“Thanks a lot, Drake.”

“My pleasure,” he said, an evil grin
stretching his lips.

“Do the other guys know?” John asked. Dorrie
shook her head. “Please tell them, Drake. Level this playing
field,” he said.

“I only know one. But I’d be glad to inform
him.”

“You bastard,” Dorrie spat at him.

Drake grinned at her. “Takes one to know
one.”

“What’s this all about?” Chrissy asked. John
moved to the other seat and put his arm around her. “Seems like the
end of a perfect friendship.”

“Drake and Dorrie?”

“Yep,” John gave her shoulders a squeeze
before he turned back to face Dorrie.

“When were you going to tell me?”

“Never.”

“Really?” His eyebrows shot up.

“Do you tell me about every woman you date
or sleep with? No. So why should I tell you something that doesn’t
concern you?”

“I think it does concern me. Where do I
stand?” The van pulled up in front of the last stop, and they all
piled out. Johnny grabbed Dorrie’s arm. “I asked you a
question.”

“I don’t have an answer.” She avoided his
gaze.

“Just great.” He dropped her arm and moved
away, picking up his bag.

“Let’s go,” Chrissy said, taking Dorrie’s
arm. But Dorrie had texted Chaz and arranged to stay there.

“I’ll come to get my stuff, but I’m moving
to Chaz Duncan’s.” She picked up her bag.

“You’re leaving?”

“You need your rest and I’m sure you two
want to be alone.” She stared at Drake.

Chrissy made a face. “I wanted to share it
with you.”

“Share it with your husband. He’s going to
be a dad. I’m sure he’s just as excited as you are.” Dorrie’s voice
dripped with sarcasm. Drake avoided her stare.

Johnny backed away, toward the subway,
swinging his duffle up onto his shoulder. Dorrie looked at him, but
he didn’t meet her gaze.
Crap! I’ve blown it with him.
She
headed uptown to pick up her things at the Cunninghams. Drake
managed to corner her after Chrissy went to lie down.

“Chrissy’s pregnancy doesn’t change
anything.”

“It doesn’t? Then you’re not the man I
thought you were, Drake. Man up, dammit. You’re going to be a
father.”

“Getting pregnant was her idea.”

“Yeah? Well, it takes two. You and I’ll
never be, and now you’ve destroyed our friendship, too. All for a
silly crush. Grow up. I’ve lost all respect for you. Get outta my
way.” Dorrie pushed past him and headed for the elevator.

“At least let me help you,” he called
out.