LOOSE - a Bill Hader Novel

XIII

The next morning, Emerald awoke tangled in the crisp hotel sheets, rays of sunshine peeking through the edges of the curtain. She peered over at Bill, who was sleeping on his side, his arm underneath his head. His mouth was open and he snored a little, but still, her heart swelled, overwhelmed with joy to be waking up next to him.

She tip-toed into the bathroom, brushed her teeth and rinsed her face before slipping her underwear on and climbing back into bed with Bill. She rolled onto her side, face-to-face with him. He stirred a bit, rubbing a hand over his forehead, before opening one eye, squinting at Emerald.

"Sup?" he croaked out.

"Nothin' much, dude."

"Were you watching me sleep?"

"...No,"

Bill closed his eyes and laughed. He yawned. "I'd kiss you, but, my breath is probably terrible."

"I don't really care, you know."

Bill rolled his eyes and pulled Emerald closer to him, kissing her forehead before connecting their lips, his jaw sharp and rough with a long night's stubble.

"Okay, wait," Emerald said, breaking away. "I do actually care." She pretended to gag.

Bill cracked up and threw a pillow at her before climbing out of bed, slipping on his boxers and shutting himself in the bathroom.

Emerald laid there for a blissful moment, staring at the ceiling in the dark hotel room, listening to the sink running in the bathroom. The deep pulsating pain in her heart, the awful dark rotting feeling in her brain, had relaxed a little. It wasn't gone, but playing the show last night and being desired, being touched, being really wanted by someone else, had dulled it. Just a bit. She felt lighter, looser.

"Mouth has been sterilized." Bill announced as he stepped out of the bathroom. She couldn't take her eyes off his body.

Emerald chuckled as he opened up the curtains, California sunshine spilling in. She squinted and stretched, her hair a wild, wavy mess.

Bill crawled back into bed and kissed her neck, her jaw, her lips, before mumbling, "That better?"

Emerald nodded and kissed him more, deeply and sweetly, and they made out for a good ten minutes before ordering room service and showering.

Wrapped in fluffy, luxurious hotel robes, Bill and Emerald took their breakfast of croissants and fruit and coffee out to the balcony, which overlooked the California hills. The sun was high in the sky, birds chirped, cars zoomed on the roads below.

"So where's your tour going next?" Bill asked.

"San Francisco. We're flying up there tonight."

"I can't believe you have to do that every night. It looked exhausting."

"It is, but I love it more than anything." Emerald shrugged, taking a slurp of coffee.

Bill nodded. "Well, you're definitely good at it. And like, extremely sexy. Did I mention you're ridiculously sexy on stage?"

"I think you've mentioned it once or twice," she giggled. "Are you almost done writing the new season?"

"Eh," he sighed. "We're probably three-quarters of the way there. There's this scene where—"

"Don't spoil any of it."

"You've seen Barry?" Bill smirked.

"Uhhh," Emerald bit her lip. "Well... Not yet,"

Bill pretended to be offended. "I- I can't believe I slept with you before checking you'd watched my Emmy winning HBO comedy series."

"Me neither,"

They laughed together, birds chirping from afar.

"But I do want to watch it. Really," Emerald added.

Bill blushed a little bit, which Emerald thought was adorable. The phone rang, her tour manager Riley calling.

"Oh, God, sorry, I have to take this."

Bill waved her off, busying himself by spreading a criminal amount of strawberry jam on his croissant.

"Hello?" Emerald answered.

"Hey, I've arranged for a couple vans to take us to the airport. They'll be downstairs in an hour, so be ready." Riley said, his voice stressed.

"Oh, okay." Emerald nodded, her heart suddenly thumping with nerves.

"And drink lots of water! We need you hydrated for
tonight," he added.

Emerald put down her coffee and instead picked up the ice water sitting on the table. "Got it. I'll be ready,"

She hung up, took a few heart gulps of water, looked at Bill, then heaved a heavy sigh. Touring was exhausting, and though she was happy and excited to play shows and meet her fans, grief weighed her down, making every task a big chore.

"You alright?" Bill asked.

"Yeah," she rubbed her eye. "I'm just— touring is tiring."

Bill nodded. There was something hanging there between them, a subject neither of them were ready to talk about. He respected her space, knowing whatever was making her uneasy, she wasn't comfortable opening up about it just yet.

Emerald got up, pulled her robe closed and sat on Bill's lap. He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her closer, planting a big kiss on her cheek. She nuzzled into him and pressed their lips together, tangling her hands in his hair.

"You know," she said when they broke apart. "I'm gonna miss making out with you when I'm on the road."

"Yeah... I think you should probably cancel your tour and I should put production on hold while we fly to the south of France and live on a little farm in a village and eat cheese and make out."

Emerald paused for a beat and deadpanned, "But I don't like cheese."

Bill threw his head back and laughed."You're insufferable."

"Rude."

He pressed his lips to hers again, holding her close.

"Who the hell doesn't like cheese?"

"Me, bitch."

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They dressed and Emerald packed her things for the airport, throwing a few of the little strawberry jam jars from breakfast in her bag. (You know, in case she needed jam on tour, totally not to remember her wonderful night with Bill.)

"When can I see you again?" Bill asked, putting his Dodger's cap back on.

"I'm on the road for two months, so," she sighed, zipping up her purse.

Bill stepped toward her and snaked his hands around her waist. "Maybe I could fly out and see you one night."

She blushed. "Maybe so," Emerald took the hat off his head and kissed him again. "But unfortunately I've got to get going. And we probably shouldn't be seen leaving together."

Bill nodded and smiled. "I'll talk to you later. Have fun and send me some pictures."

"Of what?"

"Of, like, the cities you visit. Or your shows or something."

"Like, that I take?"

"Oh my God, never mind."

He kissed her one last time, gave her a big hug, and left. Emerald waited ten minutes before going downstairs and hopping in the van with her team.

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