Starlet's Web - #1 {Exclusive Read}

Starlet's Web - March - GETTING READY

 ~    GETTING READY

It took me forever to do my hair. I thought it would only take me a few minutes to do a simple up-do but it was not easy. The limo was coming. I needed more time. I called Manuel.

“Hey Manuel, I’m running a bit behind. Is it okay if we just drive my car? I’d be happy to still pay our share of the limo but I don’t want everybody to be late because of me.”

“Well, Marie, that would make my mom happy! She was trying to get me to bail on everybody so she could get pictures here. I already tried to pay Alan for the limo but he won’t take money from a busboy. I’ll text Alan and Mitch.”

“Good, thanks.” I responded, wanting to get off the phone so I could finish getting ready.

“Thanks again for the Vespa, even though you should never do that again.” He sighed. “Do you want me to come get you and drive your Prius back here for pictures?”

I bought Manuel a Vespa scooter for his 18th birthday, the weekend after he came to San Diego to be with me. Manuel thought it was too big of a gift and wanted me to return it. I didn’t.

“I can just drive over when I’m done.”

“Okay,” he said disappointed. “I’m ready, already, and will just sit around bored while Mom and Dad keep making eyes at each other.”

“Okay, I’ll see you in a few,” I resigned and hurried to get dressed.

Manuel lived with his mom, Liz; dad, Carlos; and sister, Janet; in an apartment south of Montana Avenue and south of Wilshire Blvd. Liz owned the apartment building, managed it, and lived “rent free” in the biggest three-bedroom unit. She inherited it from her mom. Carlos worked for a delivery company. Like Dad, he was a gorgeous man but wanted nothing to do with Hollywood.

I wasn’t completely sure of how Liz and Carlos met, but from what I understood, Manuel’s parents met when Carlos delivered a package to the same apartment Liz has now, but at that time she shared it with her mom. She thought he was the sexiest man she had ever seen and flirted with him while she slowly signed the tracking receipt. It was a very hot day and she could see that he was sweating. She asked him if he wanted a glass of water and flirted as hard as she had ever flirted before. She wanted him badly. Finally, she just told him how she felt and she was soon making a baby with her Latino heartthrob.

Liz was loving but completely irresponsible. She often made me uncomfortable when she was brutally honest, which is the norm rather than the exception. On the other hand, I respected that her marriage to Carlos had lasted so long. After nineteen years, they were still madly in love with each other and truly loved their kids.

“Knock, knock.” Manuel laughed as he opened the front door. He meant to make his voice sound sinister, but I couldn’t remember from what movie he quoted. I was an actor who rarely watched TV but enjoyed the Star Trek Next Generation DVDs with the Borg. I thought of Hollywood at the Borg.

Manuel letting himself in was no big deal to me. Mom had a strict rule about who was allowed the door code. Whoever knew the code had to sign some legal document Martin came up with. I never read the form that Manuel had to sign. I just knew that he was not supposed to give the code to anyone, including his family.