Page 57 of If Ever

Wow. Now I'm picturing him with another woman and not sure how I feel about it. I've got to see this show of his. "What exactly are you wearing during this love scene?"

"Boxers."

"Really?" I can't imagine him on a huge stage strutting around in his underwear. His face turns a rosy shade of pink. "Oh my God, Mister Broadway is shy."

He shakes his head and laughs, "It's my job. Nothing more."

"Uh huh. I bet you secretly love it."

"Trust me, my pasty white British body needs a lot of time in the gym to be passable on stage." He squirms in his seat.

"Look at how uncomfortable you are. I like this side of you."

"Are you talking about me again?" Hank appears with a tumbler of bourbon.

I blurt out a laugh. "No. Tom was just admitting to performing on stage in nothing more than a pair of boxers." Tom shakes his head, probably wishing he never said anything.

"I'm more of a briefs man myself. Either way that sounds a bit chilly." Hank scoots in next to me. "Back in the day, I had a body that women clamored for."

"Is that right?" I hold back my laughter. It's hard to imagine Hank's belly ever being anything but rotund.

"No, but I always wished I did." Hank slaps the table and laughs then breaks out in a smoker's cough. When he's recovered he says, "So, Tom, having a good time in L.A.?"

"Thanks. I am, but I fly out tonight."

Hank, aghast, looks from Tom, to me, and back again. "That's just horse hockey. How the hell are you going to woo the girl, if you're flying off all the time?"

Tom laughs, and it's my turn to hide my face in embarrassment.

"Aw, relax, Sweetheart. He looks like a bright enough fella to figure it out. But let me tell you. These long distance things almost never work out. Someone's going to have make a change." He stares my direction.

"Why are you looking at me?"

"Honey, he's the one with the prospects. You can't expect him to give up everything to chase after you when you're stuck dancing with a bunch of odd ducks like me."

I pat his hand. "Hank, you might be an odd duck, but out of the whole flock, you're my favorite."

"Yeah, yeah, joke all you want, but I've been around long enough to know how these things work. You need to get yourself off to New York, or he'll find some other cute little piece of tail and forget all about you."

Tom and I burst out laughing. "Aren't you glad you made the trip?" I say.

"This is much more entertaining than a night in New York."

"Hey, Tom. Did I ever tell you about the time I went to confession and accidentally picked up a call girl?" Hank asks.

The waitress delivers our food and as we eat, Hank regales us with one crazy story after another. Our laughter attracts Sonya and Dominic, and soon our private booth is surrounded by a handful of others enjoying the show, but ruining what should be my private time with Tom.

After a while, my side aching from all the laughter, Tom says, "I hate to break up the party, but I've got to get to the airport."

My heart drops.

"Ah darn it, and here I was jabbering away when all you wanted to do was corner the girl and count her freckles."

Pavel and Sonya laugh and say their goodbyes. Hank shuffles out of the booth and whispers in my ear.

"It's always good to keep 'em wanting more." He winks at me and shakes Tom's hand. "Best of luck to you, son. You better bring your A game with this one."

"Thanks, Sir, I'll do my best." Tom and I slide out of the booth.

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