Loved In Pieces (7 page)

“Thanks.” I let go. “Hi Sage.” I hugged her too.

“Great job, Marie. It’
s always a pleasure working for you. I’m so proud of you, too.”

“Thanks, Sage. And thanks to you, I have nothing
to worry about. Except tonight
.
I’m terrified. Can we practice again, Mom?”

“That’s wh
y
I’
m here
. B
ut let’s
make sure your dress fits first
.”

Mom
turned to
Byron
and shook his hand. “Hello,
Byron
, I’m Michelle Michael, co-producer of the film you are wrecking. Please learn how to act.”

Byron
shook her hand but said nothing. He
smiled
and
winked at her
. For a moment, I thought
Mom
had turned him on or something.
We walked
uneasily
to the elevator and to the hotel room.

Mom
hugged Franz
and the three of them
left the room to the adjoining room to
brief Franz’s team
.

Byron
kissed me again
from out of nowhere
.

“Stop! Dude, I didn’t see that coming.
I’m aware that
you’re standing next to me, and then boom, out of nowhere!
Please, my nerves are completely rattled.
D
on’t kiss me.”

“
I
thought it would relieve some tension, that’s all.”

I searched his face and shook my head.
His eyes expressed sincerity and face was relaxed, showing no sign of tension or worry. I pleaded,
“I don’t want to be just another girl to you. I want it to be special, with someone who only loves me. Please, I’m not a trophy.”

He
stepped back from me and waited until I looked at him. He explained using his most patient voice,
“You don’t fool me, Marie. I see how lonely you are. I’m your guy. I can give you so much
love
.”

“Byron, you think I’m this innocent virgin. I’m not. I have chosen not to be promiscuous. I used to party, too. I’ve seen it all and don’t want it. I’m not going to
attend porn parties,
blow you
,
or
go
through rehab again.
I’m completely not your type.”

He shook his head. “You’
re wrong about me, Marie.
You’re right
that
I get pissed too much.
And these girls, they’
re everywhere, aggressive, in line
.
I won’t deny myself but I don’
t want you in the way I have
them.
I respect you, admire you.
” He
looked down
and his lips slightly puckered
into a sexy pout
.
“I want you to move in
to my condo with me until we finish
shoot
ing.
You won’t be lonely anymore. I won’t be either.”

I shook my head.
“
Be
realistic. We wrap. We say a painful goodbye.
We both feel more
alone
afterwards as we go on to the next project. You’re incredibly hot,
Byron
. Your line of girls will never stop.
You’ll continue to lose yourself each time you’re
bashed
online.
You’ll keep changing who you are for a fickle audience.
I’
ll miss you too much. An affair is temporary. It’
s not what I want.”

He sighed, looking deflated.
“Okay.
I’ll back off.”

“Promise?” I asked.

“
You have to know the effect you have on me. I love the color of your eyes
and the mind hidden behind them
, and I only get to see them if I’m really close.
B
abe,
w
e connect.
But
I’ll do my be
st
,
”
Byron
assured me
, crossed the room,
and slouched onto the couch
.
He added, “I wrote you a song. Please just let me sing it to you when we get back
to the set
.”
He picked up the remote and turned on the TV.

He didn’t promise. A song would completely wear me down. I answered, “
Just
take no for an answer.”

Mom
came i
n to get me to try on the dress
.
She assess
ed
the situation.

She walked directly to
Byron
and put her hand on his shoulder, looking at him
with knowledge and purpose
. “
Byron
,
back off from my daughter. You’
re
co-star
s.
You’re
not romantic. Use your feelings on screen. Repress them when
you’re
off the set.
Marie is
not
Muse.
You touch her w
ithout her permission and you’
ll wish you stayed down under.
”

Byron
put his hand on hers and returned the stare with
conviction
. “I’m in love with her
. I know she’s more than Muse.
Shit
, she’s perfect,
one-
of
-
a
-
kind, extraordinary,
and
beautiful.
But she’s so lonely. I can replace that loneliness with my love if she’d let me.
” He
took
Mom’s
hand off of his shoulder and kissed the top of it as he
got up from the couch
. He held her hand as he
walked her to me
. 

“You both are absolutely gorgeous. I promise I’ll try, Marie.” He smiled and put
Mom
’s hand in mine. Then he walked back to the sofa, sat down, and watched TV.

Mom
and I watched him
.
I wondered if any want-to-
be or unproven actor but
Byron
had
the nerve to treat
Mom
that way.
Mom
was
a
diva and most people tried desperately to kiss her ass.
Then I looked at Mom. Her
face glowed from the confrontation and she shifted her body, accentuating her legs.
She actually had an insurance policy on her
perfect
legs.
I shook my head in disbelief.
She giggled and tossed her hair as she pulled me to the adjoining room.
 

I was going to scold her but
Franz was positively giddy when I entered the room. I thought he would be stressed out about
how
M
om
would react to
the dresses
but he grinn
ed
and tr
ied
not to bounce.
His hands were clasped together
. I looked at Sage and Mom
. They
smiled
, too.

I asked, “What is it, Franz?”

He squealed, “Your Oscar presents! Your own collection! What do you think?”

He
unveiled a collection of Anabelle by Marcia Sherrill handbags, totes, evening bags and a cute little backpack. Her trademark was a pink pineapple
,
which always brought me back to comforting thoughts of looking out of my terrace in Santa Monica at all the palm trees in the canyon.

“I love them! Thanks! These are in my collection? What does that mean?”

“Marcia named the bags after you. You’ve got a Liana bag and a Marie tote from your favorite Palm Springs line. This gorgeous bag for tonight is the Marie Michael from the Hollywood line! W
e got it in both black and gold.
I figured the Durglo backpack would be your favorite.”

Mom hugged me, “I got a set for everyone! Renee
wears
hers tonight, too. I’m glad you like the bags. I’m so proud of you, Marie, so very proud.”
Mom got down to business. “Now let’s get ready!”

I sat in
a
swiveled chair in front of the bathroom mirror. Franz
’s
team had several stations throughout the hotel room. He turned the adjoining room into wardrobe and catering. Franz was working on my makeup first. Someone else would do my hair.

“Franz,
Byron
insist
s
that he’s in love with me and wants to date. He’s completely hot. I like him but
,
you
know
?”

“If you date someone, date Evan again. You two are beautiful together in every way.
Byron
doesn’t deserve you. You’re too good for him, Marie.”

“I have such a hard time. I kiss him a lot off set,
ya know
, at least a couple times a week. I…
it’
s always in response to him kissing me. I just don’t know why
..
. It’s like I don’t see it
coming and then it’s
,
‘
w
ow
’
,
and then I stop kissing him back when I remember that he’s
shallow
.
”

“
I don’t think Byron is shallow. He loves you but he’s not right for you. He’s new to this world and from what I can tell will
crash
like most of them
. Can I tell you what I see?”

“Of course, Franz. Please.”
Although I had to be careful with what I revealed about myself with him,
I could trust that he would tell me the truth.

“I’ve watched you for years on set
and at home.
All your co-stars love
you. You’
re sweet and
naturally beautiful inside and out
—
one in a billion.
But, you, my dear, are in love with only one boy and until you tell Man
ny
how you feel, you won’t be able to date anyone.”

The hairs on the back of my neck stood up and I blushed.
I shook my head, “It would hurt too much to tell Manuel. He doesn’t love me that way. He hates that I’m an act
or
. He thinks I’m his sister.”

Franz
put his hand on my shoulder and stopped applying my foundation
. He looked me in the eyes and pleaded, “You need to tell him that you’re in love with him, take the chance.”

“I kind of did. I kissed him and he pushed me away.”

One of his assistants entered the room. Franz shooed him out and closed the door. He continued,
“I hate seeing you so lonely.
I know Evan didn’t cheat on you.
You
broke up
because you loved Man
ny.
Manny thought you were mental when you kissed him and pushed you away.
Renee told me
. Nothing will change for you unless
you’re
honest with the people you love. I personally like Evan better, but you and Man
ny
have
a stronger bond
.
Manny doesn’t play games. You played a kissing game.
”

I chuckled and then explained, “I’ve kissed Manny twice, actually.
The first time was playing spin-the-bottle. The second time I pretended to demonstrate Byron’s surprise kiss
. Both
showed that he didn’t give a shit while both tore me up inside.
”

“
Manny
i
s dense
, darling
.
But he’s absolutely in love with you. I can feel it in the room when you both are together. Michelle knows. Evan knows. Beth knows. Kate knew. You two are the only ones in denial.
You need to be straight with him.
”

“I’m afraid to. He’ll reject me and then what?” I asked and then turned from him
, embarrassed that he saw through me so clearly
.

“Then you’ll have closure. I’ll be here for you,
as
is
Renee. Evan would jump at the chance to date you again. You can find some peace because then you’ll know where you stand with Man
ny
.” He giggled. “Besides, Evan is ready for commitment and is mature. Man
ny
needs to grow up and be more open-minded
. I saw him roll his eyes behind my back when I was getting you ready for the SAG awards. I kindly ask you:  never invite him to come by again while you’re in hair and makeup. Please.”