With my baseball cap pulled tight to my bowed head, I bought our tickets at the electronic kiosk, avoiding as much person-to-person interaction as possible. After the pictures of Leah and me had been plastered all over the tabloids a few weeks ago, we were a bit more recognizable now.
Turning, I found Leah standing in line at the concession stand. She was bent over while talking to Connor. She had a slight smile and nodded before laughing. I couldn't help but grin. She was radiant. It didn't matter what she wore, did, or said...I always wanted her. She had me. I was a goner, and I'd never been happier. Our life was completely crazy and uncertain, and I didn't care because I knew everything would be fine with her by my side.
Jesus. I'd turned into Logan. No wonder the man walked around with cancer and still grinned like a damned fool.
This, seeing her, made me feel invincible.
Sliding my way past a few people in line, I caught up with Leah and Connor, who were talking about their favorite movies.
"I like Iron Man," he said.
"Which one?" Leah asked.
"All of them. Iron Man is way cool."
"And way hot," she shot back.
"Say what?" I asked, raising my brow.
"But not as hot as you," she amended, giving me a quick kiss on the cheek.
"Better." I slapped her on the ass as we moved up in line, causing her to yelp.
Connor looked back with a confused expression, but he just gave a shy smile.
"What's your favorite movie?" Connor asked me as we came to another stop.
It was the longest line ever. Thank God we'd gotten here early. I'd suggested skipping the concession stand altogether when we arrived, but Leah had given me the death stare, stating she would not enter the movie without Milk Duds, so we waited.
"Hmmm...that's a hard one. Someone just introduced me to The Princess Bride," I said, giving Leah a wolfish grin. "But I'd have to say Casablanca."
"What's that?" Connor asked at the same time Leah nearly shouted, "Liar!"
"What do you mean, liar?" I asked her.
"Casablanca cannot possibly be your favorite movie. That is just what you tell people to make yourself sound artsy and smart. Come on, Hotshot, what is it? It's got to be embarrassing —otherwise, you wouldn't have pulled the Casablanca card."
I seriously hated this woman sometimes. She could call me on my bullshit in two seconds flat. Casablanca was absolutely a lie. I appreciated it from a directing and film perspective, but movie favorites were not based on that. They were based on emotions and what moved someone. What made that person keep coming back time to that specific movie? It was something special.
"Twilight?" she guessed.
I choked out a laugh, "No. Hell no,"
"Weekend at Bernie's?"
With my shoulders still shaking, I shook my head.
"Austin Powers!" she nearly squealed.
"Not even close."
We got to the concession stand before she could guess again, and she ordered her Milk Duds. I got some popcorn and a Coke for Connor. We then took a right to the hallway that led to our movie. Giving our tickets over, we waited until the pimpled teenager ripped them in half and handed them back. His eyes widened a bit when he looked up at me, but I quickly turned away before he could say anything.
"Hey, I need to visit the ladies' room," Leah said.
"We'll wait for you," I said.
She disappeared into the restroom, and Connor and I wandered the hall, looking at movie posters. Connor froze in front of one, and it took me a split second to realize why.
"Is that you?" he asked.
Crap, I'd forgotten I had a movie out. How does one forget he has a movie in the theaters? Well, I had a lot of shit going on, and whether or not my movie was doing well had been the least of my worries over the last few weeks. I hadn't even taken my agent's last few calls. Moving across country and finding out I had a son kind of took precedence.
"Ah, yeah...that's me," I answered awkwardly.
"You're a movie star?"
"I don't really like to use those particular words, but I act, yes. Well, I did. I'm trying to direct now."
He looked at me then, and I didn't really know what else to say. Most kids didn't have fathers who were movie stars. Of course, most kids knew who their fathers were.
God, this situation was f**ked-up on so many levels. Would he treat me differently?
I hadn't told him what I did because I didn't want him to treat me weird or act strange around me. When I would finally tell him who I actually was, I just wanted to be his dad —not Declan James, actor. I didn't want to be anyone but someone who would love him.
"Do you know Iron Man?" he asked very matter-of-factly.
I grinned. "Yep, I've met him a few times. Pretty cool guy."
"Awesome."
And that was that. I was cool —but not as cool as Iron Man.
I could live with that.
Chapter Twenty-Three
~Leah~
"I'm seriously not going to tell you," Declan said as we lay in bed early the next morning.
Our movie adventure had been a success. The new Marvel movie was awesome. It wasn't as awesome as Iron Man according to Connor, but I was beginning to think not many things made it Iron Man cool for that particular seven-year-old.
"You know the longer you don't tell me, the worse it gets in my head," I said.
"Still not telling, so you might as well get your ass out of bed and make me breakfast."
I laughed as he pinned me beneath him. He was shirtless, and his muscles flexed as he held my arms above my head.
"How exactly am I supposed to do that when I'm like this?" I asked softly, slowly rolling my hips under his, reveling in the way my body affected him.
"I think I've changed my mind," he announced before claiming my lips in a searing kiss.
His tongue rolled with mine as our mouths fused together. His hand that had been pinning my hands slithered down my arm before cupping my breast through my tank top. My ni**les instantly pebbled at his touch.
I moaned, and then like a bucket of ice water, I remembered. "Declan, we aren't alone. Connor is across the hall! What if he wakes up?"
"Do you hear anything?" he asked.
I shook my head.
"Babe, it's barely six in the morning. I realize kids are known for waking up early, but I don't hear anything yet, and I really, really need to f**k you."
The last part was whispered seductively in my ear, and that was all it took. I was a goner. I melted against him again and kissed him frantically, like we were on borrowed time.