Starlet's Web (The Starlet Series, #1) (34 page)

“So that's why she had all that stuff in her room.” He explained, “But I have a lot of self-control. I could have handled my feelings for you. That night, she yelled at me, gave me an ultimatum. She told me that it was her or you. I loved her. You were about to go on some worldwide ‘Muse' premiere tour with either Matthew or Grant. You were an actress, you would always be kissing some hot guy in some movie. I chose Kate.”

He took both of my hands in his and lifted them to his lips, kissed them and put them on both of his cheeks. “Later she told me I couldn't speak to you anymore. I told her I couldn't do that. That would have been much too painful. I broke up with her. I felt terrible that I didn't love her enough and felt worse that I dreamt of you.”

He stopped. He took my hands from his face. The pain of the break-up was surfacing. I didn't want him to remember. I wanted to get to the point, to save him from the guilt he felt. I also felt Alan watching us from across the pool. I felt uncomfortable with the setting and the confession that was none of my business. I needed to get this conversation moving.

“Then she got pregnant and everything got confusing. Sure we were engaged but it felt so messed up. She dumped me the night we all went out to see
Jefferson's Muse
because she knew. I couldn't watch you on screen. It absolutely burned me to the core to see you kiss Matthew. It was so wrong that I wanted you. I didn't deserve either of you.”

“Manuel, don't beat yourself up about feelings you didn't even act upon. You were trying to do the right thing for yourself, Kate, and the baby in a bad situation.”

“I do feel guilty, Lia. I was going to marry her, have a baby, and there I was thinking about you.” He sighed. “I put her through hell. She knew, and that's why she got an abortion. I'm not as good as you think I am. I guess that's what she wanted to tell you, that I'm a complete prick.”

I interrupted and put my hand on his shoulder. “Shh… You're a good guy with faults. We all have faults, and I love you. But that is not exactly what she told me.”

“Manuel, listen.” I waited until his eyes met mine to tell him. “She wasn't pregnant. She made it up to trap you. She lied and didn't know how to get out of the lie since you committed to her and wanted the baby that didn't exist. She was going to pretend a miscarriage but said the abortion thing to hurt you. She broke it off because she was in the lie too deeply and couldn't live with it anymore.”

“What?” He stared at me.

“Kate knew you were in love with me and made the pregnancy up to make you love her more than you loved me, to commit to her.”

“Why?” He stared at me.

“To keep you, but then she felt bad, had to get out of the lie since you knew something was off. Remember, your immediate response was that she cheated on you. You were convinced for days. You did the math to figure out when she ovulated. You and I talked about how nothing added up to you. You knew it wasn't yours because you were right. There was no baby.”

Manuel jumped off the chaise and yelled, “That bitch!”

By the time I had realized that he was gone, he was getting his phone out of his backpack on the other side of the pool. I walked back towards the table where Alan was sitting, watching Manuel. Everyone was watching Manuel.

He was yelling into the phone, “You bitch. We need to talk right now… No, I'll meet you… No, if you don't I'll tell everyone here at Alan's… Fine… No, now!... Yes, fifteen minutes. Where?”

He hung up the phone. “Lia Marie, I'm too drunk to drive. You have to take me. Let's go.”

“But I don't want to go! Can I drop you off? Ugh, I shouldn't be there.”

“Please. Drive me; wait with me. I'll talk to the bitch alone but be there. I need you.”

I gulped. “Okay, let's go.”

Everyone wanted to know what was going on. Manuel said something to Beth in German. We left.

 

It was Thursday afternoon, and I was done with high school! I couldn't wait to see Manuel and relax. He waited for me at my place. I felt a lot better since I talked with Dad and read CSY6's emails.  I was also glad Manuel knew the truth about Kate. After he had a very emotional discussion with her, he asked me to drop him off at his apartment. He wanted to talk to his parents. He felt played—betrayed. He did not forgive her.

“Hey, Manuel!” I said as I came in from the garage.

“Hi, high school graduate!” Manuel hugged me.

“Yeah. It's cool. My finals today were really easy.”

The housecleaners were finishing up the floors, so Manuel took my hand and led me to my bedroom. He spun me around. He was happy. He put his arm around me, sliding his hand from the middle of my back to my shoulder. I shuddered from a tingle that zipped down my spine and warmed my pelvis. The feeling was getting uncomfortably intense.

I ignored my feelings. So this was the feeling of desire he felt for years—wanting me so badly but trying so hard to be good. This is how he felt about me while he was dating Kate. Poor guy. I had no idea how intense the feeling could be and how much control I had to exert over myself. 

I asked, “So what do you want to do for the rest of the day?”

“I thought we might drive to Malibu. I know you love that sushi restaurant, and thought I'd experience it with my new perspective.” Manuel laughed. “Before we go, though, I want to give you your graduation present.”

I could tell he was very excited to give it to me. But I was so preoccupied these last few weeks that I didn't have a present for him. I didn't even think about it. I hesitated.

He asked, “What's wrong?”

“Manuel, I don't have anything for you. I didn't even think about it. I'm so sorry.”

“Lia, I don't care. As a matter of fact, I kind of like it better this way because now I won't get two things and you just one. I kind of share in your gift.” He beamed. He was even more delighted.

We heard the housecleaners close the front door. We had the house to ourselves. The thought made my heart leap. I tried to settle myself when he took my hand to lead me to his backpack leaning against my bed, but his touch re-ignited the fire and I was burning for him. We both sat on the bed.

“I saw this and thought it perfectly captured our relationship. It's really corny. But the guardian angel thing is just between us, so…” He handed me a large jewelry box tied with a ribbon. I smiled at him. He smiled warmly back at me, eager for me to open it, hoping I would like it.

The box contained two pendants on their own chains, one chain more delicate than the other. Each pendant was a half of a heart. Together they made a whole. Both halves were engraved. The pendant on my dainty necklace read, “Guardian” and the one on the thick necklace said, “Angel.”

“I love it! I love you. Thank you!”

Manuel was overjoyed that I liked his gift. “Let me put it on you!”

He already had my necklace out of the box and was unclasping it. He sat in front of me, smoldered me with his deep brown eyes, and put the chain around my neck. Once more a shock of electricity overwhelmed my body. My groin throbbed and my lungs felt tight as if my heart was ready to explode. He admired the pendant.

“I love you,” he breathed.

And that was it. Finally my mind and my body were in complete agreement. I wanted him. I chose him. I
had
to have him. I just could not take another second of being aroused or it was going to become painful. I tackled him, kissing his lips with passion I had no idea that I had. I pulled at his tee shirt, desperate to get it off of his body. With the other hand, I pulled off my sun dress and then unzipped his shorts. He started helping me. Within a few seconds, we had our clothes off and were completely linked in a passionate embrace. I was on top of him on the bed and tossed off the comforter. I slowed my kisses and opened my eyes. Shortly afterwards, he opened his eyes too. I looked at him devilishly, feeling overwhelmed with love and appreciation for him and absolute desire.

I continued to kiss him while he got ready. When we started again I felt his entire body relax. He kissed me and felt the contours of my body, intensifying the pleasure I was feeling, multiplying it until I felt like I was going to burst. Then a feeling beyond intensity overpowered me. Electricity pulsated from where we were together to every part of my body, my toes, my head and neck, my fingertips. I gasped in the delight of the pleasure and open my eyes. I was too dizzy to see. I couldn't focus. It felt like I had lost my eyesight and my head spun.

Manuel looked absolutely triumphant. I giggled and rested my head on his chest. I stayed still while I let the love flow through me.

After he could feel that I calmed down, he whispered, “Thank you for my tattoos. I'm so happy I could give you all of me.”

I carefully rolled to my back. I kissed him again and felt his warm skin with my hands, trying to bring him even closer to me. He was beautiful. We were beautiful together. I was completely in love. He moaned and then slowed. We relaxed into each other.

“Lia, you're the sexiest girl alive, ya know. I absolutely love you.”

I opened my eyes and smiled at him with sheer joy. “I love you. That was…beautiful. Thanks for my tattoos, too.”

Making love with Manuel shattered my diamond gland and heart. I let love overwhelm me. I did not feel sinful. I felt awakened. I felt new.

 

 

I woke up in Manuel's arms the happiest I had been since I could remember. It was Friday, the day before the graduation ceremony.

Mom chartered a jet and was picking up Dad and Celia from Palo Alto on her way home from Vancouver. Celia understood the context from which Mom made the horrendous decision and did not judge her harshly. Dad, on the other hand, was going to take the opportunity to have it out with her.

“Good morning, angel. I slept great, how about you?”

“Awesome. I love sleeping with you. It's very comforting, very nice.” I kissed Manuel's cheek and relaxed back into his chest. I asked, “So what are we going to do today? When does your mom want you home?”

“Well, I have to work at four. Sorry. I wish I could be with you all day and night. We should meet my mom for some coffee. My dad might be there too. Liz would really like to see you and have proof that she didn't mess us up.”

He smiled at me and kissed my hand.

“Lia, you're covered in blood!” He looked at my sleep shirt. We both looked at the sheets. There was blood everywhere. “What the hell?” He was out of the bed in an instant looking at me and at the sheets, completely frazzled.

“Are you in pain?” I asked. “There's blood on your side and underwear. What did you cut?”

“I feel great. What did you cut?”

I was out of the bed, too. It was obvious that the blood came from me but I didn't feel any pain. We both went to the bathroom. I felt funny walking and looked at my underwear. It was soaked with blood.

“Wow!” I squealed. “I got my period! I
am
going to be able to have kids! I'm so happy!”

Manuel busted out laughing. “Geez, Lia. I just had a heart attack.” He hugged me, shaking me from his laughter. “Congrats on getting your period. Now get in that shower. I'll get everything in the washer.”

Manuel was not at all embarrassed or grossed out. He was used to doing his family's laundry for a fourteen-year-old sister and a mom.

I removed my sleep shirt, wrapped it around my underwear and handed the bundle to him. He laughed and shook his head as he started cleaning up the bed.

While Manuel was in the shower, I texted Dr. Jack and told him I just started my cycle. He asked if I could come in at 10 am.

“Can we swing by Dr. Jack's lab at 10? We should have enough time to see your family. Or I can also go by myself so you can spend some time with them. Whatever works for you.”

“Sure, Lia. But this is a celebration day. We've met many more milestones than we had intended in the last 24 hours, so we should meet my mom.” His smile was absolutely naughty.

“You're so evil, such the seducer. You know that once I have my first Krispy Kreme there is no telling what I will do next. What would Elise do if I tell her I cheated? She'd give up on me for my utter lack of discipline.”

I had not eaten a donut in four years. I had a few pieces of cake, several croissants, a few brownies, pasta and pizza: all off-limit foods. But a donut, essentially an iced, fried cupcake, was beyond forbidden. Liz walks to Krispy Kreme every Friday morning. It's her indulgence.

He started rushing. “Let's go, it's 8 am.” He explained, “She'll just be getting there now.”

I wasn't quite ready to go. I was so happy that I wanted to talk about something first. I stopped him at the garage door and held his hand. “Manuel, I want to get married.”

He smiled. “I'd love to get married.” He asked, “Did having the best night of your life and getting your period bring this on or do you want to grow old with me and can't wait another minute to get started?”