Love's Autograph (34 page)

“
Oh, I wish you would've warned me. I would've brought a bunch of signed stuff. Sure, of course,” Ellie said. “Let me shower quickly, and grab some things from the buffet in my dressing room. I'm hungry. You want anything?”

“
No thanks,” Jazzie said. “I'll wait here unless you need help in the shower.”

“
No thanks,” Ellie laughed.

Ellie showered, got dressed, grabbed a sandwich from the dressing room, and met Jazzie outside her dressing room.

“So kids or sick people or what are we talking?” Ellie asked. “It doesn't matter. I just like to prepare myself.”

“
Oh, umm… some inner-city kids,” Jazzie said. “Nothing big just meet, greet and signing.”

“
That’s great,” Ellie said. “Let's go.”

Jazzie walked Ellie up to a long limousine with Clara standing next to it. That section of the arena had high security and there were no any fans or media around. It was eerily quiet.

“We’re taking this?” Ellie asked.

“
Yeah, thought the kids would get a kick out of it,” Jazzie said.

“
You can drive this long thing?” Ellie asked.

“I can drive anything with wheels,” Jazzie laughed. “Get in.”

Clara opened the door for Ellie. Ellie gave Clara a hug. Clara remained stiff but tolerated the hug.

“Good seeing you again, Clara,” Ellie said. “Heard you got a new gig with some new hottie.”

“
Yes, but nobody is as wonderful as you,” Clara answered.

Ellie climbed into the limo and settled back in the seats. The seats were not as comfortable as Jazzie's other car seats. Jazzie entered the driver's seat, started the engine, and pulled away. The limo seemed to be a ten person limo, and it was dark. There was
a faint light illuminating the glasses sitting in the cup holders.

I don't remember limos being this dark.
Ellie opened a small fridge, pulled out a soda, and popped it open.

“
You going to offer me one?” a voice said from the darkness across from her.

“
What the—?” Ellie said as she stared into the darkness. There was a woman there. The person reached over and turned on the interior lights.

“
Ria, what the—? You scared the crap out of me. What are you doing here?” Ellie asked.

“
Well, we figured this would be the only way we could get you for more than a minute,” Ria said. “Wasn't my idea, but I was persuaded.”

“
Jazzie!” Ellie yelled up to the front of the car.

“
I can't hear you, I have my music on too loud,” Jazzie said. “It wasn't my idea, but I'm in agreement.” Jazzie said as she raised the tinted glass in between the front and back seat and turned up her music.

“
You guys suck!” Ellie called up. “What do you want Ria?” Ria slid from the far side of the limo toward Ellie. She was wearing the red dress that she was supposed to wear to Hot Mama’s, and her black boots. Ellie felt dizzy. Ria's hair was down and she wore a swooping, sparkling necklace.

“
So how about a drink?” Ria asked.

“
Sure what do you want?” Ellie asked as she opened the fridge.

“
A soda is fine,” Ria said. Ellie handed it to her.

“
What're you doing here? And what's with all the secrecy?” Ellie asked.

“
Well, how else was I going to get you to be a captive audience, and please listen to what I have to say?” Ria asked.

“
I can get out of the car you know,” Ellie said as Jazzie came to a stop at a light and Ellie pulled the door handle.

“
Darn those childproof locks,” Ria said. Ellie glared at her and sat back against the seat taking a long swig of her soda. “Okay, before you get mad, this wasn't my idea. I'm not trying to get you mad. I was ready to give you your space, and wait for you to make a move on me.”

“
So?” Ellie asked.

“
So, if it wasn't for Dina coming to see me at the hospital,” Ria said. “Who's charming and seems to love you, by the way.”

“
She's not the biggest fan of people who hurt me,” Ellie said. “She's a little protective of me.”

“
More than a little. She makes Clara look like a kitten. You should change her position to head of your security,” Ria said. “Anyway, Dina came to me telling me how miserable you are. She told me it's all my fault and I had to fix it one way or another.”

“
I'm not...” Ellie started and hesitated.

“
You can't even say it,” Ria said. “You're miserable?”

“
I wouldn't say miserable,” Ellie said. “Not all that happy.”

“
Me either,” Ria said.

“
Your own doing,” Ellie said. “You at least have Maggie.”

“
I know,” Ria said. “So, would you consider it?”

“
What?” Ellie asked.

“
Going out on a date with me or going out with me again, or starting to hang out with me again?” Ria asked.

“
No,” Ellie answered. She could almost feel her heart icing over in defense.

“
To what?” Ria asked with a look of hurt.

“
To everything,” Ellie said.

“
Why?”

“
Because my heart can't take the hurt. I put myself out there with you and you hurt me again and again,” Ellie said.

“
I know and I’m sorry,” Ria said. “Look Dina stated that if I break your heart… well, let's say she promised some unrepeatable and painful things.”

“
Even so,” Ellie said. “Can we stop? Or can I get out?”

“
Ellie,” Ria said as she moved across the aisle and next to Ellie. She tried to grab Ellie's hand, but then settled for just placing her hand on top of Ellie's hand.

“
What?” Ellie asked with an uncharacteristic harshness in her voice, so much so that Ria jerked her hand back.

The fear Ellie saw in Ria's eyes scared her.

Ellie took a deep breath and spoke,
“Wow, I'm never like this. I, you, you make me crazy. You come here and my heart wants you, and I'm head over heels, but then I remember.”

“
Ellie,” Ria said.

“
What,” Ellie whispered back, and Ria took Ellie's hand between her hands.

“
I’m in love with you,” Ria said. “It took me a while to admit it to myself, but I'm in love with you. And I hurt you over and over, and there is really no logical reason you should take me back, but I do love you.”

“
You love me?” Ellie asked.

“
Yes,” Ria said. “Dina said you weren't sure how I felt and were confused. I understand why, and I need you to know that I’m in love you.” Ria lifted Ellie's chin and took her face in her hands. Ellie looked up into Ria's eyes. Ellie stopped breathing as Ria slowly moved her lips toward Ellie's. Ria's soft lips gently touched Ellie's, and then moved gently against them. Energy surged through Ellie's lips, and finally she allowed her lips to push against Ria's. Butterflies danced in her chest and multiplied her previous resolve with every pass of their lips. While still kissing, Ellie ran her hands through Ria's hair, and then moved a hand to Ria's leg. She found the top of her boot and then her naked leg between her red dress and boots.

Ria moaned as Ellie slipped her hands under the dress to her thighs. Ria ran her tongue lightly across Ellie's lips, and Ellie's
kiss intensified. Ria wrapped her arm around Ellie's waist and pulled their bodies tightly together. Ellie broke the kiss and slid away from Ria.

“
What?” Ria asked still trying to catch her breath.

“
It's not going to work,” Ellie said.

“
What? Did you not feel the spark? What do you mean?”

“
Oh, I felt the spark. It about melted me,” Ellie said. “This... this pattern. You change your mind. We break up, you get mad or change your mind, you go back to Gwen and then we get back together. It feels like the same pattern. This doesn't feel right?”

“
Ellie,” Ria whispered as she grabbed Ellie's hand. Ellie intertwined her fingers with Ria's and once again a surge of excitement coursed through her. “What are you saying? Are you over me?”

“
No,” Ellie said. “I'm not sure what I'm saying. I do know that I'm not angry with you anymore, and my heart is thawing and mending.”

“
Okay, good. So?”

“
I don't know,” Ellie said. “I just...”

“
You're not ready?” Ria asked.

“
I guess not,” Ellie said. “I know I can't stand to go through yet another heartbreak. At least, right now I can't.”

“
Okay, I'm not sure what to say,” Ria said. “Are you trying to get back at me? You know, revenge?”

“
No, come on you know me better than that,” Ellie said. “Denying you in that dress and those boots is hard. You definitely wore the right outfit. Give me some time and space.”

“
And then?” Ria asked.

“
I've no idea, but I swear if you...” Ellie started and then stopped.

“
If I? If I start dating someone?” Ria asked.

“
I didn't say that,” Ellie said.

“
I don't plan on going back to Gwen or dating anyone else,” Ria said. “Are you seeing anyone?”

“
Since the first day I met you, I haven't dated anyone,” Ellie said.

Ria said,
“Don't worry. I'm bitten by you as much as you by me. I can't stop thinking about you, and us and especially that one night.”

“
Okay enough,” Ellie said. “Do you mind if we drop you home? You're driving me crazy and any longer in this limo and you'll be naked.”

“
I'm okay with taking that chance,” Ria teased.

“
Yeah, I'm not. At least not right now,” Ellie said. Ria gave her a teasing smile and slid to the front of the limo. She tapped on the glass. Jazzie lowered the glass.

“
Can you take me home Jazzie, please?” Ria asked.

“
You sure? Dina said...” Jazzie started.

“
Yes, I know what she said, but I think we pushed it as far as we could go,” Ria said.

“
Okay,” Jazzie said and lifted the tinted glass divider back up.

Ria slid back to sitting across from Ellie.

“So you guys had this whole attack planned?” Ellie said. “What was next? Taking me to a warehouse and putting me in handcuffs?”

“
I prefer tying you up instead of handcuffs,” Ria smiled and winked at Ellie.

“
You've done that before?” Ellie asked.

“
I'd love to try it with you,” Ria said and smirked at Ellie.

“
Okay, that look, and talk isn't okay,” Ellie said. “And when or if we see each other again, that outfit is totally banned.”

“
What, this old thing?” Ria laughed. “What
is
okay to wear?”

“
Sweats and... wait no you look cute in that,” Ellie paused. “I think the only thing you would be safe wearing around me would be a Jenny Vito t-shirt.” Ellie laughed.

“
And even then, you would probably rip it off me,” Ria laughed in turn.

“
Okay, how long until we get to your apartment, because I don't think I'm going to make it,” Ellie said as she leaned back and took another long swig of her soda. “I’m so attracted to you.”

Ria leaned back in her seat and looked out the window,
“Sorry, I'll stop teasing you. It's about twenty minutes or so. What would you like to talk...” Ellie got up and made her way over to Ria.

“
Forget this,” Ellie said. Ellie leaned over and passionately kissed Ria. She straddled Ria and continued intensely kissing her. Ria put her hands on Ellie's hips. Ellie pulled away from Ria's lips and whispered into Ria's ear, “I still need time to process us, but I would love to spend this ride getting reacquainted with your lips, if that's okay with you.” Ria nodded and they continued kissing. They kissed the entire ride to Ria's apartment. Jazzie stopped the limo outside of Ria's apartment.

“
Do you want to come in?” Ria asked.

“
Yes and absolutely no,” Ellie answered with a smile.

“
Maggie's at a friends for the night,” Ria said as Jazzie opened Ria's door.

“
Then absolutely and positively no,” Ellie said. Ria nodded and then leaned in and gave Ellie one last, long, lingering kiss on the lips.