New York has always been like a second home for me. This was where I'd always have the greatest time aside from modeling, this was where I would forget about the surfing competition, and about my unfortunate past life living poorly in a trailer with my family.
"Hey, Allen! Come here you sexy hunk!"
My head quickly turned recognizing his voice, my smile was wide as I greeted them. Riley and his new Husband Jeremy were meeting me for a late lunch.
"Hey, how're the newlyweds?" I hugged Jeremy after Riley pulled me in for his signature suffocating hug.
"Wow...you look happy. Like... very happy."
"Thank you! But you look tired, why? I thought crazy rich bachelor like you are living the life?" Riley said while sitting in front of me, and Jeremy to his side.
"This player is being played at my own game Riley."
"No freaking way! I never thought I'd see the day!"
Jeremy chuckled beside him, but let us be while he was calling the waiter to order our lunch.
"So...don't leave me in suspense do tell..." He demanded while Jeremy shook his head smiling at him.
Riley has been my New York best friend, he's been my go-to guy since my first modeling gig. He knows all the right people and places, the modeling world can be a very daunting place for newbies.
Clara was a bit worried when she introduced me for the first time to Riley, saying she was not sure that I'd be comfortable with him since he's gay. But honestly, the first time I saw him he looked just like any other model out there, perfect face with a perfect manly sculpted body. I wouldn't realize unless she mentioned it, and years later we've been best friends regardless.
"Okay...so, I said I love her and... she wanted us to be casual, as in friends with benefits kind of relationship."
"Damn..."
"I know...so here I am fleeing from us, trying to contain myself from wanting to fuck her this weekend."
"Nice, playing the hard-to-get card, Riley here did that to me several times and it drove me crazy." Jeremy chimed in our conversation.
"Yeah, I don't know what I'll do when I'm back at my apartment. I'm so whipped, I couldn't stop thinking about her."
The conversation stopped for a moment, as the waiter started placing our orders on the table.
"Why don't you join us tonight? There's this new club that we've been wanting to visit..."
"You mean the one you've been nagging me to take you to?" Jeremy said smirking, but took his hand and kissed it.
Riley smiled at him, looking terribly in love with him making me jealous. Fuck. Now I'm envious of their married life. There's something wrong with me.
"You should seriously consider married life Allen, he's been following my every wants and being the nicest husband ever."
I laughed at Riley, telling him that she was the one who wanted the casual thing and that I had already told her that I love her. He gave me his sympathy hug and told me to be patient.
"But I will go with you tonight, just text me the club's detail and I'll meet you there."
We parted an hour later, and I was heading out to my apartment. I throw my overnight bag on the couch. I was heading directly from the airport to my photoshoot, then the lunch date with Riley and Jeremy.
It has been a full-packed day, but I was dreading to spend my alone time. I was about to shower when my phone buzzed from an incoming message.
Hey you...bussy? (Louise)
Looking at the message, I decided to call instead of missing her voice already.
Damn...this is going to be a very long weekend.
"Hey, missed me already? I was just about to shower. Do you want me to go live for you?" I teased seating myself on the couch, and carry on talking to her.
She laughed and asked about my day, then we talk until it was too awkward to move on with our conversation since our little talk about the Gala.
"So, I'll see you next weekend?"
"I love you Lou, but it's your show."
"Allen, I thought we've talked about this? I thought we're good?" she sounded irritated and I cursed myself on the inside, knowing that I might just make her move backward.
"Yeah, sorry we did. Next weekend of course. Alright, I really need to shower, I have a date with the boys. I'll call you tomorrow kay?" I decided to end our conversation before it turned into a fight.
"Okay, I'll go to yours next weekend." She retorted, then she ended the call after I said my goodbye.
It was less than two hours later when I arrived at the said club that Riley wanted us to visit. The club was packed, it was Saturday night and sadly for me, there were people who recognized me. I was trying to keep it cool and friendly with them, and letting them take pictures with me.
That was until minutes later when Jeremy and Riley found me, and one of the security guys ushered all of us to a VIP booth, then we finally got our privacy back. "Sorry about that."
"Hey, it's for publicity. Even I still get one or two sometimes. We're cool, well maybe not my busy hubby here." Riley started talking, while Jeremy was suddenly busy with an incoming call.
"So...wait, let us order then talk..." he called out the waiter, then we order our drinks and snacks. I was refueling myself after this morning's photoshoot, Riley was looking at me knowingly.
We were having a good time talking and laughing when a couple of hours later I saw Melinda. She was the model from my morning photo shoot, and she was drunk off her ass dancing on the dance floor. She was going to lose her contract if I don't come to her rescue soon.
"Shit! Freaking newbies. Riley, Jeremy thanks for tonight. I need to take my partner from this morning photoshoot home, or I will have to shoot another session with another model tomorrow."
Riley looked in my direction then to the dance floor and shook his head. Jeremy was waving his hand at me, telling me to hurry. I quickly got up and move swiftly to the dance floor, coming to her rescue.
I could see her careless, seemingly more drunk friends of hers were busy with their own partners. She was left to fend for herself alone on the dance floor.
She flocked to me easily and I was escorting her out of the jammed-packed dance floor. I was pulling her drunken body closer to mine, covering her from the sudden flashlights that have been waiting for us the moment we stepped out of the club.
Well...at least the ad will have a free publicity preview. Claire will certainly have a field day.
"Allen?"
"Sssh...I got you, come on I'm getting you back home."
The paparazzi were blasting us with their blinding flashlights until we were safe in the comfort of the hired public transportation. The taxi driver looked irritated when she struggled to explain her home address.
We arrived at her apartment thirty minutes later. I helped her to the bed and she sighed and thanked me.
"Don't ever go out with that same crowd, no one was looking out for you. You could lose your contract if they find your drunk pictures all over the internet."
She hummed but quickly fall asleep, so I decided to write it all out for her to read in the morning. Then I leave her apartment moments later.