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E next to you with a directory balanced onprofound and passionate that will express how I feel So forthe feel of your ertips everywhere you touched ht of time away from you is torture I haven’t even left your rooht, we’ll talk, and I’ll tell you a story of exactly what I plan to do to you in three weeks Or perhaps you’d prefer to tell me what you want--like a list of resolutions, or a treasure hunt, or cru crumbs Or instructions, directions, entreaties…

Yours,

Graham

Reid: Are you still at the hotel?

Me: Yes, leaving for the airport soon

Reid: I’ll drive you and we can talk about the interview schedule on the way

Me: k

"Your car is really… yellow" Yellow or not, this is the fanciest non-limousine vehicle I’ve ever been in This even beats out Marcus and his Sacra

Reid’s eyes are invisible behind the sunglasses, but I can tell he’s rolling the it soon anyway"

I click the seatbelt in place and he takes off "Why? It looks brand new"

Sh, confused "But didn’t you choose it?"

Shrugging, he looks at ht at the corner, he says, "Hold on," and I’lad for the molded seat and multiple interior handles

"Were you a race car driver in a past life?" I ask after he weaves through several cars like he’s Jahing "Daotta learn to rein it in…"

Lips pressed tight, I glance at hi his speed and ear shift between us "I’ in reply, hoping we aren’t going to rehash what happened last fall, hoping he isn’t going to renew his request for another chance Everything with Graham is too new, and I’m not ready to share it, or defend it to Reid

He’s quiet for severalwith the beat of the music Finally, he clears his throat and says, "So, we have a few se scheduled every day next week"

I sigh, relieved at the change of subject "I guess I’ll be back in LA Monday, then"

He nods once "Most areat totally unacceptable ti at six"

"Six am? Crap"

He shakes his head "That word is nowhere near strong enough for anything that begins at six ah I’ll drive, or get a car, and pick you up at your hotel, so don’t worry about transportation Actually I ht as well handle that for all of the to us separately if at all possible, ith our roain, but playfully No reason for alar ill include lots of one-on-one tio I’d have been euphoric over a chance like that Now it er want a relationship with him, he’s still charismatic and curiously easy to be around--most of the time I should feel more distrustful and wary That’s the probleical cell in my body tellsat which Reid Alexander excels--faking trustworthiness

The rest of the trip is filled with se, and I ask about his upco project--an action filirl turned hot celebrity He doesn’t bring up last fall or our conversation in March When we arrive at the airport, he hops out to retrievethe handle up and out, he presses it into my hand, and before I can react, he leans in close and brushes lasses back on and getting into his car, calling, "See ya MondayThe kiss was an unexpected shock, even if it wasn’t on the mouth and seemed oh-so-casual But his mostly-harmless kiss isn’t what has me frozen

On the other side of the ate stands a girl with a camera aimed directly at me This is no cell phone, and no touristy three hundred dollar Kodak It’s a big, black, professional-looking piece of equipment Darin before she turns, too, quickly disappearing into the parking garage