07

I decide to bypass the elevator and its additional cameras and take the stairs. I go down the steps slowly, smiling to myself over my accomplishment. Completing a fantasy is incredibly rewarding, it turns out. I shamelessly place my hand between my legs and apply pressure to the delicious soreness that is still there. Sorry vagina, you’re ruined now, I think.

I make it to the second floor and the door opens. Travis walks through it and my heart stops.

« Penelope ? »

I feel like I am about to have a heart attack, but I play it off the best I can. « Hey, Travis. »

« What are you doing here ? You’re not scheduled for today. »

« No, I have class today. I, uh … » I dig into my pocket and pull out my phone. « I thought I had lost my phone but I remembered I used it in here. »

He looks at me and then my phone, and can’t tell whether he believes me or not. My heart pounds nervously against my ribs. « Well, I’m glad you found it, » he says finally. I let out a relieved breath silently. « You know you could have come by the front desk and asked for help. »

« I didn’t want to bother you if I already knew where it was. »

« Okay. » He does his annoying end of conversation linger thing. I try to walk past him and he pulls me into an unsolicited hug. I return it hesitantly, not feeling too thrilled that my boss is touching me. « You smell nice. New perfume ? »

Yeah, it’s called Eau de Latex and Sweat. « No, just the hoodie I guess, » I say with a polite grin, pulling away from him.

He smiles down at me. « Well, have a great day at school. »

« I will try my hardest. See you tomorrow. »

I practically flee from him and walk quickly down the service corridor. I run out of the building to my car and jump inside. I sit and grip my steering wheel for a moment, rethinking every step I had taken over the last 24 hours. Did I get away with it ? I scrub my hands over my face, desperately hoping I did not just fuck myself for the sake of getting fucked.

Later that day, I am in lecture sitting alone because all of my friends decided to skip and not tell me. I vowed to be a good classmate and take great notes for them, but I just wasn’t feeling it today. I had other, much more enjoyable things floating through my head. I’m happy to receive a text to distract me. I get happier when I see who sent it.

Mickey : You in class ?

I stare at the message, wondering why he would have sent it. My professor is going on and on about his off-topic tangent, so I text him back.

Me : Yes. It’s super lame.

Mickey texts back almost immediately.

Mickey : I’m done with

The shoot now so I can

Eat whatever I want !

Do you know a place I

Can get legit Mexican

Food ?

Me : Yes ! It’s called

El Jefe’s. About 10

Minutes from the

Hotel

Mickey : You busy

After class ?

Come eat with me.

My stomach growls in the quiet room. I wouldn’t pass on going to my favorite place, so I reply yes. The professor ends class a few minutes early and I walk to my car.

♡♡♡

When I make it to the restaurant, the place is the complete opposite of busy. I see him sitting in a booth at the edge by the windows. He’s wearing a button-down, short-sleeved shirt and has thick-framed glasses on. Combined with his incredibly short haircut, he’s giving off a confusing mix of hipster and bad boy vibes. I wonder what kind of vibes my sweatpants give off.

He looks up at me as I walk over. « Hey, thanks for coming, » he says. He stands and gives me a quick hug. I return it happily.

« I promise this place is better than it looks, » I say as I scoot into the booth across from him.

He chuckles. « I trust you. »

We look over the menu and decide to get the spread : fajitas, enchiladas, and fully-loaded nachos. The waitress, Claudia, looks very amused as she takes our order, eyeing us both suspiciously. « Él es tu novio ? » she asks me. She’s a good enough acquaintance to be aware of my relationship status.

I chuckle. « No. »

« Qué lástima. Él es muy guapo. » Yeah, no shit he’s handsome.

« Lo sé, » I agree as I look at Mickey.

He gives me a confused look as Claudia walks away. « You know how to speak Spanish ? »

« Kind of. Half my family lives in Mexico, so I understand enough to fake it. »

His eyes go wide. « You’re Latina ? » I nod. « I had no idea. »

« I know. I’m misleadingly fair. My dad was pretty light and my mom is probably the whitest person alive. »

He smiles guiltily. « Well, now I feel racist for inviting you to eat Mexican food. »

« It’s okay. This is Tex-Mex, » I say cheekily. He laughs.

Claudia brings over some glasses of water, and I watch Mickey eye me as he takes a sip. Even though we have literally slept together, it still feels surreal to be sitting next to someone as famous as he is.

« This might be an odd question to ask now, » I start to say. « But is Mickey Vale your real name ? »

He grins. « Not technically. My real name is Michael Valentino. I’ve gone by Mickey so long, the only people who call me ‘Michael’ at this point are strangers and assholes. »

« Was Mickey a nickname ? »