Nerd Love, page 7
* * *
The sounds of thousands of caffeinated sugar-rushed teens and adults echoed off of the concrete floors of the San Diego Conference Center into Reese Simmons’s ears. Entirely too noisily. The smell of every fried food imaginable, mixed with sweat from the cramped exhibit hall made for a nauseating experience. Reese, who had been here on several occasions, doubted she’d ever get used to the chaos that ensued.
Morning light trickled through the skylights in the ceiling, burning Reese’s eyes. The black ceiling and metal rafters reverberated the noise across the open space, bouncing into her ears painfully. Reese sat on celebrity row, where two dozen VIP guests sat at special tables, manned by volunteer security staff, waiting to sign autographs, take pictures, and talk with fans who had paid an exorbitant amount of money to see them. The large printed banner behind Reese was fastened to the blue curtain of the booth. The name Across the Universe and the shows cheesy shooting-star like logo was etched beside it. From what Reese could recall, it had gotten a bit of a makeover since last season, the font changing slightly and the logo altered. It supposedly “popped” more now, according to the producers. Whatever that meant.
Reese rested her head against the plastic table top she sat behind. Tom, to her far left, sipped on a large thermos of tea, people watching. Meanwhile, Justine Turner sat to her immediate right, shuffling a stack of papers. Reese squinted, trying to fight off her residual headache, becoming increasingly annoyed by her co-workers. “It’s so bright in here,” she grumbled, shutting her eyes again.
“It’s not that bright,” Justine argued, looking across at her. She shuffled the papers on the desk gruffly, causing loud thumps to echo into Reese’s ears. It took everything in her power not to yell. Justine let out a loud sigh.
“What, Justine?” Reese said, sitting upright again and reaching for her coffee. She took a large swig before she gave her any attention.
“So, are you going to tell me about her then?”
“Tell you about who?” Reese leaned back into the red-cushioned metal chair and twisted toward her. She could still barely keep her eyes open.
“That woman you were with,” Justine said in a ‘duh’ kind of way. When Reese didn’t answer, feeling rather confused, she elaborated. “Yesterday. On the train.”
Fuck. She knew about that. How? The news. Right. “Lucy isn’t just some woman,” Reese frowned. “And I wasn’t ‘with her.’”
“So, she has a name,” Justine retorted. “And apparently the entire country seems to think otherwise,” Justine argued. She’d taken out a rather large compact mirror from her purse, reapplying some of the god-awful lip gloss Reese hated. The sight of it nearly made her gag. “You could do better you know.”
“Do better?” Reese repeated her, feeling her face sink into a scowl at the thought of her insulting Lucy. Anyone else, she might have let it slide. But, Lucy…
“She’s just so ordinary,” Justine said, brushing her blonde hair over her shoulder. “Even a little nerdy for your tastes, Reese. I didn’t think you had it in you to stoop so low.”
“Excuse me?” Reese was feeling more than offended. Justine’s jabs were starting to feel like punches. “Lucy is my best friend,” Reese argued. “And she’s a perfectly attractive woman.” Way more attractive than you, Reese thought, but didn’t speak aloud.
“Whatever you say,” Justine rolled her eyes, turning her attention back to her compact mirror. “She must be good in bed. That’s the only reason you ever date a woman, right? To sleep with them?”
Reese’s fists clenched into tight balls on the plastic tabletop. She repressed a snarl, instead just letting her nostrils flair and force down a deep swallow. Once she’d regained her composure, she looked back to Justine. “It’s absolutely none of your business what I do with my dating life.”
“Oh no, Reese,” Justine looked back, with an equally as intense stare. It was so serious, Reese was a little surprised at first. “Your dating life is my business. Regina made that very clear to my agent and me yesterday, when she said you were ready to commit to our relationship.”
“I never once said I was committed,” Reese lied. “I said I’d think about it. But I told her this morning—I thought about it. It’s not happening. Never will I ever remotely consider dating you. Period.”
For a brief second, Reese thought she saw a flicker of anger in Justine’s eyes. She thought maybe she’d yell. Get up in her face in frustration. Instead, she remained calm, only crossing her arms over her chest. “We’ll see about that Reese. We’ll see.”
Before Reese could utter a reply, the volunteers manning the long line of anxious fans waiting for autographs and photos unraveled the ropes holding them back. Reese shot Tom a ‘brace yourself’ look, doing her best to ignore Justine, just as a swarm of people began making their way up. Reese half expected her line to be empty. For most people to be avoiding her after the internet fiasco. Instead, it was non-stop all morning. With fans that had a thousand questions about her so-called “relationship”.
And after Justine’s threats, Reese wasn’t about to let that lie go.
“Is she really your girlfriend?” A group of girls had swarmed around her, notebooks and headshots in hand for her to sign. Dressed in an array of cosplay costumes which Reese did not recognize. “How did you meet?”
Reese had done an excellent job avoiding questions for the majority of the morning. Answering with vague detail. The fans seemed to be eating it up, regardless.
“Lucy’s been my best friend since we were kids,” Reese admitted. “We finally went out one night a few months ago and she accidentally spilled her drink on me, and I realized she was just the most adorable thing I’d ever seen.” It felt so natural saying it. Like it was easier than a lie. Most of it was true. Reese had decided that she’d draw out the story for a few months, to act like they were pretty serious. The way it made the girls squeal was enough for Reese to be satisfied. And when she turned to look in Justine’s direction, the scowl on her fellow actress’s face was enough encouragement for her to keep the white lie going.
“How long have you been dating?” one of the other girls asked.
“Not long,” Reese replied, signing across the headshot she’d offered. “Just a few months.”
“What’s she like?”
Reese pondered that question for a moment. Constructing an image of her in her mind was like breathing. Reese knew everything there was to know about Lucy Parker. Down to the smallest of details. It was like describing the back of her hand. “A little shy,” Reese admitted. “But in an endearing kind of way. And very kind.” Reese smiled, thinking of her. “And nerdy. Definitely, nerdy.” The thought of nerdy Lucy with those adorable black framed glasses that she wore and was always shoving up her nose brought a smile to Reese’s face. “She’s a manager at a game store in Santa Monica.”
The entire morning seemed to be one story after another. Every single one about Lucy becoming bigger and bigger with each passing fan. Until she’d fathomed such an elaborate tale, she knew she was in above her head. And she might have held back. Might have dialed it down a notch, if it wasn’t for the fact that every time she pivoted to look at Justine Turner, she’d cast Reese a suspecting glance, a small annoyed glare, and the very act filled Reese with a sense of glee like none other. The news of her “new girlfriend” was getting to her. And Reese didn’t think she could be happier about the situation.
Now, if only she could find Lucy before her lies did.
Chapter 8
Lucy
“Dude, is that YOU?”
Everett and Tegan sat on the edge of the left-most king-sized bed in their hotel suite at the convention center, staring at the large television screen that hung from the wall. Right into a choppy cellphone video of Reese Simmons planting slobbery drunk kisses on her face and petting her in public, like they were two love-sick teenagers. Taken less than twenty-four hours ago, at San Diego’s Union Station.
Lucy Parker wanted to kill Reese Simmons with every fiber of her being. She paused, briefly, wondering if she should lie. Deny the accusation. But there it was, plain as day. There wasn’t any way to hide it. Lucy was all over the morning news. At least Lucy hadn’t ever been in the limelight long enough to be recognizable. Her father had done a good job of keeping her out of the media spotlight, in spite of his work in Hollywood. And Reese, had done the same too. Until yesterday, that was.
Her friends, however, certainly had identified her. Everett’s phone buzzed. Lucy watched him pick it up and put it to his ear. “Joshy? You saw it too?” Lucy’s face fell into her hands, unable to believe that this was reality. The minute she saw Reese again… Lucy just hoped she was enjoying her last few hours alive on planet Earth. Right now, millions of people were seeing her face. Believing that she and Reese freaking Simmons, her best friend in the universe, were an item. Just when she thought the nightmare of yesterday was over.
“When were you going to tell us about you and Reese?” Eve asked, nudging her. Lucy looked up from her hands, meeting eyes with her sister who sat next to her on the bed. “That’s a pretty big deal, Lucy. I mean, how did you not kill her after what she did the other day?”
“I thought about it,” Lucy admitted. She was still thinking about it, even now. Everett and Tegan were staring at her, which caused her to snap. “What?”
“So, are you going to explain why Reese was all over you, then? Or do I have to ask?” Tegan scooched closer to her.
“She was sick. I was just being nice and helping her off the train.”
“It looked like you were doing way more than helping,” Everett said in disbelief. “I mean, I know you guys have always been attached at the hip…but I mean, not that attached. Jesus, you guys were all over each other.”
“I was not all over Reese Simmons,” Lucy grumbled. “Besides, I’m still pretty mad about her internet shenanigans.”
“Rightfully so,” Eve agreed, running a hand over Lucy’s back. Lucy sighed, aggravated. Unsure of what to say or do.
“Well, at least they don’t know who you are,” Eve noted, getting up from the bed and walking over to fetch her jacket. “And I doubt they’ll figure it out any time soon.”
“Unless I call them and tell them!” Everett grinned and Tegan nudged him roughly in the side. “Ow!”
“Don’t even joke about that,” Tegan said, giving him a glare. Lucy shot her a gracious mouthed ‘thank you’, to which she nodded. “Come on. Let’s go. Lucy has to work this afternoon. We might as well get this show on the road.”
* * *
Lucy’s anxiety didn’t ease into the afternoon, which she spent helping Kevin at the Natural Twenty booth. The booth sat on the corner of the exhibit hall, beside a virtual reality company and a fudge vendor that Lucy had already visited since they’d arrived early that morning. The Natural Twenty sign hung on the temporary wall that divided their booth from the booth directly behind them. It was a nice sign, Lucy had always liked it. The name, with a roleplaying twenty-sided dice beside it. Kevin had designed it himself when he’d first opened the store all those years ago.
It didn’t help that Kevin had seen the news.
“Was that you with Reese?” Kevin asked her, leaning against the counter they’d set up to hold trading cards, miniatures and dice. “She’s your friend from the sci-fi show right?” Even though Kevin was big on board games, he rarely kept up with television shows, but he knew of Reese, who had occasionally come into the game store and who Lucy brought up on occasion.
“No,” Lucy said flatly. “And yes.” Another pause. “I mean yes that was me with her yesterday. But it wasn’t a big deal. We were just taking the train here like we always do. I don’t want to talk about what happened.”
“I knew I wasn’t hallucinating,” Kevin grinned as Lucy worked restocking some of the games that had been bought over the previous few hours. Hating everything about her life in that moment and wishing desperately that she was anywhere else. “Are you two together now or something? She was awfully touchy-feely.”
“I am not together with Reese Simmons!” Lucy said, loudly. Probably a little too loud. A few passersby stared. The last thing she needed was someone asking questions. Figuring out who she was. The idea made Lucy’s heart quicken in her chest. Her eyes darted across the room, making sure no one had stopped to stare. No one was approaching her. The coast was clear.
“Geez,” Kevin raised his hands in the air. “What did she do to you?”
Lucy sighed, shoving a box roughly into a spot on a rack. “Nothing. She’s just my friend. That’s all.”
“She’s the one that was on the news, right? The one that was bashing all her fans? That’s why you’re mad, aren’t you?” Lucy had finished her armful of games, and finally turned back to Kevin.
She nodded. “That’s the one.”
“Then why on earth were you helping her?” Kevin asked the obvious question. He paused for a moment, and then came up with his own answer. “Ah, bleeding heart Lucy strikes again.”
“She’s my best friend,” Lucy argued. She didn’t really understand why she’d helped her though. Reese could have somehow managed to find her way to her hotel herself. It had only resulted in more trouble than it had been worth. Her face plastered across the news. “Besides, I think she was just upset when she made that video.”
“She seemed a little more than upset,” Kevin noted.
A sigh escaped her. “I don’t know why I helped her, Kev. She was in a tough spot and she had already made an idiot out of herself once. I just felt like sparing her more trouble.”
“You’re the nicest person I know, Lu,” Kevin smirked, adjusting a stand full of dice. “You want to take a break? I gotta help this guy.” Lucy nodded, watching as he walked away towards a curly haired boy at a section of roleplaying books.
Lucy grabbed another few games to restock on shelves, deciding to finish up before she took her break. Just as she was about to shelve the last one, she saw a familiar face walking through the crowd. A familiar face she was sure she was liable to run into at some point, but hadn’t realized it would be so soon. Or the fact it was going to make her heart explode in her chest.
She felt her breath hitch in her throat, her hands get clammy wrapped around the box she was attempting to shelve, and lose her footing slightly at the sight of her: at the sight of Riley Tucker holding hands with some gorgeous tall and perky and curvy brunette. She watched as they roamed through the aisle, laughing together like they were madly in love.
That freaking rock on her finger. Jesus, it was big.
And then Lucy watched as Riley turned to kiss her, both hands planted on either side of her face. A passionate kiss. A kiss that screamed ‘let’s go have sex in the bathroom like the horny rabbits we are.’ Lucy, who still hadn’t shelved the box, dropped it abruptly, and it crashed to the ground. Its contents spilling out onto the floor. Dice, small components, cards. A giant mess. She lost her focus on Riley and her fiancée, bending down to start collecting what she’d dropped.
Can this day get any worse?
Just a few moments later another person filled her peripheral. Lucy half expected that it was Riley or her fiancée at first, and begged for it not to be. But then the obnoxious squealing that filled the room clued her in.
“OHMYGODJUSTINETURNER!”
Lucy froze. Stared at the pair of feet that were directly in front of her. Whoever it was hadn’t offered to help her. Instead, they were just staring down at her. Slowly, Lucy raised her head up to meet the gaze of the person. Sure enough, that gorgeous blonde was staring down at her.
Justine. Freaking. Turner.
“Sorry to interrupt,” Justine said, flipping her hair over her shoulder. A pair of volunteer security guards were ushering the massive crowd that had followed her away. Justine’s blue eyes were honed in on Lucy, staring at her and the mess. Lucy shuffled as much of the game together as she could, and stood up on shaky legs, holding the box to her chest.
“—I—You’re—What—” Lucy scrambled for words, but found herself unable to finish sentences. Of course, her presence in the Natural Twenty booth definitely had something to do with Reese Simmons. Without a doubt. But why, exactly, Lucy had no idea.
“You should really not gawk,” Justine said, staring her down. “It makes you look a bit ridiculous.”
Lucy snapped her mouth shut, embarrassed. Trying her best to maintain her composure. “I—Justine, what—what are you doing here?” She’d seen the news. That had to be the only explanation. This was some sort of interrogation.
“Rumor has it you and Reese are somewhat of an item now,” Justine said, raising a brow at her as she fiddled with a pack of trading cards on a rack. As if she was even remotely interested. That had settled it. She definitely had seen the news. Lucy was about to argue the accusations but Justine continued. “I thought I made myself clear to Reese about this, but I suppose you’ll have to do it. Reese will be dating me.”
“I don’t think she wants to be dating you,” Lucy said, before she could stop herself.
Justine’s face twisted into a hint of a scowl, letting go of the pack of cards she’d been toying with and turning her attention towards Lucy. “She doesn’t really have a choice in the matter. Reese has been spending her time making an idiot of herself in front of the entire world, and now she’s going to fix the damage she’s done. I certainly don’t see any benefit of her dating you.”
Lucy hesitated. A wave of guilt for Reese flooded through her. Suddenly her mouth started again, before she had a chance to think. “I don’t think Reese is going to stop dating me. So, you’re just going to have to accept that fact.”
