Page 26 of Out of the Gold

Chase

Mark brings hisscotch over to my wine glass. “May Doctor Manipul8 live on at least as long as Ant-Man!”

His words wring a chuckle from my mouth. “Seriously.” We clink and I savor the pinot noir as it glides down my throat.

Sitting at a corner table in the back of the restaurant bar, we don’t attract attention. Being left alone in public is a unique—and very welcome—experience. Maybe I should hang out more in small Italian towns? I settle into the cushions.

Mark asks, “So, are you joining us in Positano tomorrow?”

“I’ve been invited. I was thinking of staying in my room and sleeping, though.”

He makes a face. “Seriously? Get out to the Amalfi Coast much?”

“I’ve been here once before.” I run my finger down the stem of my wine glass. “I could fly out here anytime I choose.”

“True.” He places his glass down on the table. “But like those married couples without kids who don’t have sex on the kitchen floor, would you really be in Italy but for this movie?”

“You have a point.” While I’ve had sex on many a kitchen floor, I don’t hop into a plane and fly across the country—let alone cross the ocean—too often. If ever. “Although, granite floors are fucking cold and uncomfortable.”

He fist bumps me. “Good one, Doc.”

Our waitress stops by. After eye-fucking both my drinking buddy and me, she licks her lips. “Can I get you anything else?”

Too easy. I glance at Mark, who clearly shares my opinion. “Nah, we’re good for now,” I reply. “We’ll call you over if we need something.”

“I’m at your beck and call.”

Mark watches as she heads toward a different table. “Think her approach works around here often?”

I savor my fermented grapes. “Wasn’t doing it for me.”

“Me neither.” He picks up his glass. “What’s happening to us? We should’ve been all over her.”

“We’re not getting old, if that’s what you’re thinking.”

“I knowI’mnot. I can only take your word for it.” He swallows more of his drink. “Being on set proves I’m still in the game. Sophia’s running me in circles.”

“Still hung up on her?”

“I like to think of it as politely pursuing.”

I reach for the popcorn on the table, but instead of pulling the bowl toward me I toss it onto an empty table. Remove temptation. “It’s been a few days now. Must be some sort of record for you.”

“Hey, she passed me a soda yesterday at lunch.”

I stifle a chuckle. “That good, huh?”

He uses his glass to point at me. “Well, what about you? I haven’t seen you with anyone on set either.”

A vision of the golden beauty on her knees sewing me into the superhero costume pops into my mind. I force it to blank. “I’ve been focused on memorizing my lines and working out. No time to meet anyone other than Jessa, and I’ve already tapped that.”

“The sex scenes you two did back in Florence were smoking.”

I take another swallow. “Well, most of my relationships end on a positive note. Probably because neither one of us is too invested. The women usually are trying to see what I can do for their careers, and I simply enjoy her body until someone else turns my head.”

“Harsh.”

I rock my head to the side and back. “Nah, not harsh. Just realistic. I’ve seen my parents, who are like comfortable partners. Who needs a relationship when that’s all there is to look forward to?”

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