The Unidentified Redhead (Redhead #1)(41)
Author: Alice Clayton

We stared at each other and I saw him, really saw him. I saw the boy I remembered, and now I saw the man he had become. The face was the same, but different somehow. More full, and the facial structure was stronger. His face was a little careworn and the laugh lines that were there, even in college, were etched a little more deeply. His hair was still curly and the eyes full of mischief.

He was still the funniest guy I had ever known.

I thought about what he said. Did I treat him like a “little buddy” after we had sex? Maybe, out of self-preservation. And our friendship had cooled so quickly after that.

“Revisionist history … ” I muttered.

“What? I didn’t catch that.”

“Revisionist history. One event, two sides, and over the years it changes and twists into what we need it to be,” I said, looking at my old friend.

“And it is history, Grace. It really is.” He smiled, taking my hand. I was quiet for a moment, taking it all in.

“You know, it really is great to see you,” I said shyly, remembering how much fun we all had together.

“You too.” He smiled again. “Oh, come here,” he said and pulled me into a big bear hug.

I heard the French door open.

“Grace?” It was Jack, standing there in jeans, once again bare chest and barefoot.

I removed my arms from around Michael’s neck.

“Good morning, Hamilton.”

After Michael went back inside to talk to Holly, I pulled Jack to me for a close hug. He still smelled like sleep, warm and toasty. But his eyes were chilly.

He returned my hug, although it felt perfunctory.

“Did you get my note? You must have, you haven’t showered yet,” I teased, making a show of sniffing his underarm. He gave me a compulsory smile.

“Yes, I got it, and no I didn’t yet. Who’s the guy?” he asked. Wow, he went right for it.

“His name is Michael, and he’s an old college friend. I haven’t seen him in years.”

“A friend, a college friend. OK.” He nodded, his face relaxing just a touch.

“And, he’s also a writer. In fact, he wrote the show that I had the meeting about yesterday, and I—”

“Oh, hell, Grace. I wanted to ask you about it last night, but you were so sleepy.

How’d it go?” His face was animated again as he asked me about my audition.

“Well, it went well. Very well, in fact. I … I got the part,” I answered quietly, looking at him with hesitance. His face broke into a huge grin.

“Grace, that’s brilliant! Well done!” he shouted, sweeping me up and swinging me around in a circle. “Oh, love, that’s fantastic! I am so proud of you!” he exclaimed, laughing while he twirled me. Then, he stopped, and without setting me down, crushed his lips to mine.

Love? Pride?

I smiled into his kiss, my legs kicking in the air. He finally set me down, hands settled firmly on my ass.

“Now, let’s go get some coffee and you can tell me all about it,” he decided, taking my hand and walking me into the kitchen.

Shit.

Once we were in the kitchen, Michael looked at our entwined hands and raised an eyebrow to me. He then walked over to Jack and stuck out his hand.

“Hey, man. I’m Michael O’Connell.”

“Jack, Jack Hamilton, nice to meet you,” he answered, as the two shook hands.

Michael looked him up and down and raised his eyebrows again at the lack of clothing Jack had on. I loved that he didn’t feel the slightest bit embarrassed that he was considerably less dressed than all of us.

“So, are you staying here with the girls?” Michael asked, nodding at Holly and me.

“Well, I stayed with Grace last night. And Holly loves having me here, don’t ya, Holls?” He laughed, ruffling her hair.

“Oh, yes, it’s just one big whorehouse here, and I’m the Madame,” Holly chuckled. “Actually, Jack’s an actor, and I represent him. He has a huge movie about to open this fall.”

“Ah, so you and he work together,” Michael said. “Grace, playing this one a little close to home, aren’t we?” Michael asked, winking at me.

Jack had been in the process of pulling me close to him, wrapping his arm around my waist when he heard Michael. He looked over at him and I felt him tense a little. He pulled me even closer.

“O’Connell, shut up,” I teased, pulling away from Jack and crossing over to where Holly stood by the fridge. We exchanged glances and settled against the counter to watch this unfold.

“So, Michael, was it? You’re a writer?”

“Yep, I’ve written for film and TV for years. This is my first musical, but with Grace as my lead, how can I go wrong?” he answered coolly, smiling at me warmly though.

“Wel , Grace is amazing, that’s for sure,” Jack answered back, winking at me.

This was weird.

“How about I make us all some lunch? Who’s hungry? I’m hungry!” I said, whirling around and looking in the fridge for something to make for lunch.

I made food for the four of us, although it was a little difficult with a Hamilton stuck to my hip. Honestly, he could not have been more obvious if he’d just peed on me.

While I bustled about making sandwiches, Michael, Holly and I talked about old times. It really was nice to talk to him again, and he was reminding me how much fun we all used to have together. He was telling the story about how one night we all got drunk, snuck into the theater, climbed up through the fly system and went out on the roof.

“Grace, when the cops showed up, you were white as a sheet!” he howled with laughter.

“I was white as a sheet because I had just vomited over the side of the building.” I laughed back.

Holly had tears streaming down her face as she remembered. “Oh, God, I forgot about that. You really had trouble holding your liquor then.” She grinned.

“You also had trouble holding on to your clothes. You were in your bra when the cops got there. Wow, all that lace,” Michael sighed, making a face at me when I swatted him with the dishtowel I was holding.

“Shut up. I was not!”

“Oh, yes, ma’am, you were. You tried to convince the cops that it was your costume—that you had just performed in Cabaret and it was really a very tiny corset.” He laughed.

“That’s true, Grace. You were half naked up there,” Holly agreed.

We all laughed while I finished making lunch, and we settled in to eat.

Jack was quiet most of the time, and as the meal went on, I noticed he was not making as much of an effort to touch me as he was earlier. I grabbed his hand at one point and he smiled, but it didn’t quite reach his eyes.