By the time I hit college, I had gotten my figure and some of the male undergrads started hitting on me. But I was pretty shy, thanks to my lack of experience, and most of the guys weren’t patient enough to wait for me to get comfortable with them. Once again I wound up spending most of my spare time writing. In addition to the college paper, I tried writing the Great American Novel –unsuccessfully, I might add. Although I didn’t date much, I did have one pretty intense romance, but the guy broke my heart during my senior year when he dumped me for someone else.
When I got out of college, I managed to wangle a job at my hometown newspaper. While I was there I did some reporting that earned me a good reputation. So when I applied for a job at the Times, they must have liked what I’d done because I got the job. When my boyfriend at the time dumped me, Terri took me under her wing, and that’s pretty much my story.
Alex and I hung around my apartment all afternoon, and we wound up making love again. It was every bit as good as the first time.
Finally he told me he had to get home in order to get ready for work on Monday. As he left, he gave me a little kiss and said, “I’ll call you.” I hoped he meant it, but that was the same thing my last date had said, and I never heard from him again. I was really hoping Alex was sincere, especially since in a lot of ways this had been the best weekend of my life. I wasn’t ready for this to be over.
Terri came home a little later and gave me a careful look. “Well, I’ll give you this: he’s definitely eye candy.” When I didn’t say anything, she looked at me intently. “You’ve really got it bad, haven’t you? I’ve never seen you act this way about a guy.”
“He really is special,” I admitted, “but I still have lots of doubts. It’s so weird: I’m happier than I’ve ever been, but at the same time I’m scared to death.”
She just shook her head. “If he hurts you, I’ll put a contract out on him.” I knew she was joking, but I really did appreciate her concern. She started down the hall, but then turned back. “Oh, and next time, be sure to use an air freshener – this place stinks!” I turned crimson.
On Monday evening when I got home, I had no sooner closed the door than my phone rang. It was Alex, and he was so excited I could hardly understand him. “Elle, you won’t believe what happened today! Some people from CBS called – I’m going to be on The Letterman Show tomorrow night!”
He went on about how he’d been a big fan of David for years, and that he couldn’t believe he was going to be a guest on his idol’s show.
“Is your being on Letterman going to be a problem with Mrs. Grissom?” I asked, but Alex assured me there would be no problem with the publishing house. “As far as they’re concerned, this is great publicity for them,” he enthused.
I promised him I would watch – as if I could have done anything else! – but after I’d hung up I began to have mixed feelings. On the one hand I was so pleased for Alex’s sudden good fortune and so glad he’d wanted to call me to share the news. On the other hand, a nagging voice was asking if I liked the real Alex or just the man in the suit. Now that I thought about it, I realized I’d never seen him without it – except when we’d been in bed together. Then I suddenly began to wonder if the costume had become a crutch, something he needed to get through life. I tried to brush my doubts aside, but they wouldn’t go away so easily. That’s so like me to worry about good news.