Expect The Unexpected - Part Fourteen
Deanna and I didn’t get a chance to talk again before the Tony awards ceremony, the night before we were to send her home. Nick doubled our rehearsal time, so between that and the show itself, all I did was work and sleep. Orlando was needed in Los Angeles for a couple days, so he and Elijah went for a boys’ trip, much to my disappointment. Of course, I just get to the point where I can be with him physically, and he had to go again. The irony of the situation was not lost on me.
Luckily, he was back in time for the Tony’s that Sunday night. Lisa, Deanna, and I spent the day at the spa, Nick’s treat, getting our hair and nails done, and all other manor of pampering. By the time we got home, I felt like a movie star, and, other than my drab jeans and t-shirt, I looked like one. My beautiful red dress was the only thing missing. The stylist at the spa had swept my hair up in a French twist on the back of my head, with a pile of curls spilling out the top, and tendrils framing my face. She’d chosen a smokier grey eye shadow for my eyes, with dark liner and black mascara. My nails were done with a French manicure, and they’d never looked so clean. The manicurist had actually gotten the green paint out from under them, which had amazed me. I felt truly beautiful, and whether I won or lost the award, I knew this would be a truly fantastic night.
The men had been banished to Elijah’s hotel suite to wait for us while we changed and got ready to go. They were picking us up at seven-thirty in a limo, which Orlando had insisted we needed. I went into my bedroom when we got home, and pulled my dress from the garment bag hanging on the back of my closet door.
“Is that it?” Deanna said, coming into the room behind me. She wasn’t made up like Lisa and I were, but she’d had a manicure and pedicure like we had, and a trim to her hair, just so she didn’t feel left out. Orlando had given me money to pay for her visit, since that wasn’t part of Nick’s spa treat.
“Yup, that’s it,” I said, grinning from ear to ear. “Isn’t it perfect?”
“Totally hot,” she said, flopping down on my bed and sorting through the pile of earrings I’d left there that morning, unable to decide which pair to wear. “I love the colour.”
“Me too,” I said, carefully working my t-shirt over my head so I didn’t mess up my hair. The Wicked medley was the closer of the show, so I got to be dressed up for the better part of the night, before having to change and paint my skin green. I’d been worried about having to do the medley before the big awards were announced, because there was no way I’d have time to get out of the green paint and back into my dress, hair and make-up before the end of the ceremony. Since ours was the most technically complicated, we got to go last, and I was more than happy about that.
Fifteen minutes later, dressed and feeling like absolute royalty, I went into the living room, with Deanna on my tail, to meet Lisa before going downstairs to the limo.
“You look sensational!” I practically squealed as Lisa pranced out of her room in her two-piece soutache lace and satin dress with the halter neckline, and bare midriff. The skirt went to the floor and had a long slit up one side, to mid-thigh, and the dress was ivory in colour, and really made her tanned skin pop. She’d gone to the tanning bed that day at the spa just to get that effect. Her hair was piled on top of her head in messy curls, without a real style, per se, but it looked fantastic.
“As do you, my dear,” she said, twirling on her ivory Manolo Blahnik sandals that she’d been so proud to buy. She loved shoes in general, and buying a pair of Manolo Blahniks was an especially thrilling experience for her. “Shall we go?” She grabbed her ivory wrap and handed me my red shawl.
“Sure,” I said. I turned to Deanna, who looked at us in awe. She had her digital camera in her hand, and I knew she was dying to ask for pictures, but she wanted to appear cool. “Okay, kiddo, you know the rules,” I said, smiling gently at her. “Stay off the phone unless it’s Aunt Tess or my dad, there’s plenty of food in the kitchen, and you’re in bed by one, okay?”
She nodded. “Charlie, can you have Orlando come up to the door so I can get a picture of you with him?” She had a mischievous smile on her face.
“You just want to see him in his tux, you little minx,” I said, chuckling at her.
As if on cue, a knock sounded on the door. Lisa and I exchanged glances as Deanna bolted around me to answer it.
Orlando and Jeremy walked in, looking too hot for their own good. Orlando had opted for a classic black suit with a black dress shirt and black tie. I was sure the suit was Armani, and entirely too expensive for the nasty pictures I was seeing in my head of how we could dispose of it later on. I flushed at the idea. Jeremy was cute, too, also in black, but with a maroon dress shirt and matching tie. Orlando’s hair was slicked back in a perfect ponytail, and Jeremy’s didn’t look any different than normal, since it was cut so short. We would definitely have two of the most handsome escorts at the Tony’s that year.
“Simply stunning, love,” Orlando breathed as he took me in his arms, careful not to dislodge anything. He kissed my cheek gently.
“You’re not so bad yourself,” I whispered, cupping his face in my hands. I pressed my lips to his briefly, so as not to ruin my lipstick. “I thought you were meeting us downstairs?”
“We’re gentlemen, Charlie,” Jeremy teased, his arm resting around Lisa. “We had to come to the door to get our dates. Where would our manners be otherwise?” He winked at me and I noticed Lisa squirm slightly as his fingers grazed the bare skin at her waist.
“I’m sure your mothers will be so proud,” Lisa joked, lightly swatting Jeremy’s chest. “Okay, let’s go before Nick’s head explodes somewhere, thinking we’re late.”
“I want a picture,” Deanna said quickly, holding the camera out slightly. “Please?”
“Of course, my dear,” Lisa said, grinning. She was always complaining she didn’t have enough pictures of her and Jeremy together, and I knew she’d never pass up one when she looked that phenomenal.
We posed for a few shots, smiling, laughing, kissing, the whole nine yards, before rushing out the door, with me calling, “Lock the deadbolt and the chain behind us,” to Deanna over my shoulder. I knew she was going to set up on the sofa bed with popcorn to watch the show, probably giggling with Aunt Tess on the phone the whole time.
When the limo pulled up in front of Radio City Music Hall a short time later, the glitz and glamour was overwhelming. I clutched Orlando’s hand as I watched some of the other Wicked company members walk the red carpet, talking to reporters and stopping for photographers on the way. I couldn’t believe how nervous, how excited, how terrified, I was, all at once. My stomach was jumping with a million butterflies, and I wanted to laugh, cry, and scream, but I didn’t know which to do first. I took a deep breath and looked to Orlando for a reassuring smile. He was used to all of this.
“How do you do this?” I said as we waited for our limo to inch forward in line, to the edge of the red carpet. “How does this not drive you absolutely crazy?”
He chuckled and squeezed my hand tighter. “I supposed you learn how to smile and answer the questions they throw at you without really thinking about it. But, remember, when this stops, you don’t have a career anymore.”
I gave a nervous laugh. “Right,” I said. “I’ll remember that.”
“You’ve seen this before, Charlie,” he said softly. “At the Elizabethtown premiere in Toronto, remember?”
“I didn’t get out of the limo when you did, though,” I said, still eyeing the crowd nervously. “I got to sneak in the back, where no one saw me.”
“And now you get to be the star.”
I sighed. Lisa had been keeping up on all the Tony speculation over the past couple of weeks, in her theatre magazines, and all the predictions seemed to be that I, the “cocky young ingénue,” would win, which made me even more nervous. I kept trying to tell myself it was just an honour to be nominated, like you’re supposed to say when you lose, but the truth was, I wanted that award so bad, I could taste it. I had a thank-you speech prepared in my purse, and I was ready to win. Our crowds at Wicked had become bigger and louder in their applause since the nominations, so I was hoping that was a good sign. I didn’t consider that I was up against more experienced performers, who’d had years to hone their craft and really work on their careers, to enhance their talents. I honestly didn’t know what I would do if I lost.
It didn’t take long for our limo to work its way forward, and before we knew it, the driver was opening Lisa’s door for her. Jeremy stepped out first, offering Lisa his hand as he did so, and the flashes went wild when she stepped out. The screams intensified, and I heard her distinctive laugh as she moved down the red carpet.
“Ready?” Orlando said to me as we slid to the door. I nodded, he kissed me quickly, and ducked out of the limo. The crowd absolutely erupted with screams, and I vaguely wondered how many of the girls were there because they knew he’d be there, rather than because they cared about the awards. He offered me his hand and gave mine a reassuring squeeze as he helped me from the car.
Instantly I was blinded by the flashes, and I plastered my smile to my face, and waved to the fans lined up along the sides of the red carpet. The noise was deafening, the energy was huge as I linked my arm through Orlando’s and he began to lead me toward the entrance. Autograph books and pictures of me in full Wicked make-up were thrust at me as I passed, and I had to stop to sign them, to give hugs and touch hands, and take pictures. I couldn’t believe these people actually knew who I was, that they were screaming my name and wanting me to sign their photos and books. Orlando kept his hand on the small of my back the whole time, but he hung back and let me enjoy the attention and the love I was getting from so many strangers.
As I was reaching for someone’s picture to sign, I noticed Adam out of the corner of my eye, and damn, did he look good. His suit was grey silk, with a black shirt and tie, and he just looked so sexy I wanted to go hug him. Things had been okay between us since I’d chosen Orlando the week before, but there were still times when I ached for him to look at me the way he used to. I couldn’t wait to go over and hug him, because I knew, on this one special night, that I could do so without feeling guilty. He was up for an award, too, and we were friends and cast mates. It was only natural, after all.
Before long, we were escorted inside, much to my disappointment. I could have stayed out there on the carpet all night with the fans, but we had a show to do, and we still had to do the necessary press inside the venue. I was taken to one side, where a backdrop had been set up with the sponsors’ logos on it, and a small stretch of red carpet had been laid on the floor, so I could have pictures done with the rest of my cast mates. I was positioned between Adam and Lisa, with Nick kneeling in front of us, and the rest of the company spreading around us, and the flashes started again, with the photographers shouting out instructions for us to follow for the pictures.
“Charlie, Lisa, stand back to back!”
“Adam, put your hands on Charlie’s waist!”
“Lisa, crouch down beside Nick!”
“Charlie, put your arms around Adam’s neck and look up at him!”
It went on and on, until we were told to go in and find our seats. Orlando offered me his arm again and we made our way to the second row of seats. We were in the second row, on the aisle, with Lisa and Jeremy beside us, Adam and his date, Daphne Ruben-Vega, a friend and original Rent cast member, on the aisle behind us, and Nick and his date, Jackie, our stage manager, on the aisle behind them. We were all on the aisles in case we won and had to go up on stage to accept. As we sat down, Orlando slipped his arm around me.
“Are you okay, love?” he whispered as the seats around us began to fill up. My eyes were darting everywhere, trying to take it all in at once, the huge cameras, the Broadway stars, the lights, the general grandeur of the room, everything.
“I can’t believe I’m here,” I said, smiling widely as tears welled in my eyes. I took a deep breath to clear them, because I didn’t want mascara streaking down my face. “It’s incredible, you know?”
“You deserve to be here, Charlie,” Orlando said, his expression serious. “You’ve worked hard, and even if you don’t win, it shows that your industry recognizes how amazing you are.” He ran a finger down my cheek slowly and kissed my lips gently. “You’re brilliant when you’re on that stage, there’s no question, and no matter what happens here tonight, that won’t change.”
I smiled. “I love you,” I said, kissing him lightly again. “You always know how to make me feel like I’m the most important person in the world, and you know I love that.” I chuckled, then sobered. “But seriously, Orlando, thank you for being here tonight, and for letting me do my thing out there on the red carpet. You have no idea how much it means to me that you can step back and let me have my moment. A lot of guys with your status wouldn’t do that.”
“It’s your night, love,” he said softly. “I wouldn’t do anything to take the focus from that. I’m here as your date, nothing more.”
“I love you,” I said again, as a wave of emotion swept over me. “I love you so much.”
“I know you do, love,” he whispered, reaching out to gently smooth the single tear that had dripped from my eye off my face. “And I love you.” His eyes were slightly shiny as he looked at me.
Our attention was drawn from each other by the dimming of the lights, signaling the ceremony was about to start. Hugh Jackman, the host for the evening, came out in his stunning black tuxedo, to applause from the audience. I squeezed Orlando’s hand as the opening music played and the lights began to flash.
Over the next hour or so, awards were presented and some of the biggest names in our industry made their way to the stage, either as winners or as presenters. I was so star-struck I could hardly breathe at some points. The music was fabulous, the air was charged with anticipation, and I felt like I was in heaven. Every once in a while, I’d glance over at Orlando, to see him watching me with the sweetest smile on his face, and I couldn’t resist leaning over to kiss him briefly before turning my head forward again.
When Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick, previous nominees for The Producers, came out on the stage, Nick leaned toward me and whispered in my ear from behind, “This is your award, Charlotte.”
Orlando immediately squeezed my hand, and Lisa glanced over and me and gave me the thumbs up. I held my breath as I felt Nick’s hands on my shoulders. I forced myself to stay calm and pay attention.
“This year’s ‘Leading Actress in a Musical’ category was a tough one for the Tony voters,” Nathan was saying, reading from the teleprompter. “We have a wide range of talent, from young ingénues to feature film stars, to hardened performers who’ve been working the stage for years. Each in their own right deserves the award, but it can only go to one.”
He and Matthew Broderick went back and forth for a few more seconds as my stomach twisted further and further into a giant knot. My hands were sweating, my knees were trembling, and I just wished they would get it over with and announce the winner. The suspense was worse than a loss could ever be. I glanced over at Orlando again and he smiled, his expression so confident and proud, my nerves eased a little.
“Okay, without further ado, let’s announce the nominees,” Matthew Broderick said, and the screen behind him lit up with the first nominee. “Christina Applegate, Sweet Charity.” The screen changed. “Victoria Clark, The Light In The Piazza.” Another face appeared on the screen. “Sutton Foster, Little Women.” The screen changed again. “Sherie Rene Scott, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels.” And then the screen showed my face, smiling, eyes glistening, trying not to look at the camera that was almost right beside me now. “And Charlotte Madison, Wicked.”
The screen changed again, and this time it was split with the five nominees, each of us trying to appear detached and cool, like it didn’t matter if we won or lost. I clutched at Orlando, thankful for the strong squeeze I got in return. I didn’t want to close my eyes while the camera was on me, but if it hadn’t been, that’s what I would have done. I was aware of every passing second as the envelope was opened that would reveal the winner. I swear my heartbeat sped up as time seemed to slow down, and I took a deep breath to clear my head, to make the unreal tension go away. I tried to tell myself that it didn’t matter if I won or lost, I would still be starring in a Broadway show, and I still had a whole career ahead of me. There were other shows I could win an award for, and in the end, the Tony was only plastic anyway, it didn’t guarantee I’d get any better roles or be more in-demand for other shows.
But in those few seconds of waiting, I couldn’t help but admit how much I wanted it. I’d known it all along, and I silently cursed Lisa for keeping me informed that all the hype pointed in my direction, because it had made me really care whether or not I won. I kept my calm smile plastered to my face as we waited with baited breath for the results, but inside, I was a wreck, a complete and utter mess, and I was glad no one knew it. That is, no one but Orlando. The way his thumb was circling over the back of my hand let me know that he understood how nervous I was, and that he was there for me. It was comforting in those few seconds of absolute torture.
“And the Tony goes to…” Nathan trailed off as he took the card from Matthew. His face split into a big grin. “Charlotte Madison, Wicked!!”
I sat there for a second, stunned, unable to believe that I’d heard right, that I’d actually won the Tony award. Everyone around me was on their feet, and Orlando pulled me up and into his arms for a quick embrace. He stuck my speech into my hand as he hugged me, knowing I’d be too shocked to remember it myself.
“Charlotte, go,” Nick urged from behind me, pushing me forward gently. Everything seemed to move in suspended reality, like a dream, as I kissed Orlando again, and vaguely noticed the tears in his eyes, then made my way to the stage.
When I got there, my whole body was shaking, and I was grinning like an idiot as it began to sink in, the fact that I was now a Tony winner. I accepted the statue from Matthew, hugged him and Nathan, and stood in front of the podium. I set the statue down and looked at my speech.
“Wow,” I breathed, my body relaxing for the first time as I looked out over the crowd. This wasn’t an audience who’d paid to see a show, this was a group of my peers, of people who knew how hard the business truly was, and how much tenacity and perseverance, not to mention talent, it took to make it in our world. The idea that they were clapping for me, that they’d chosen to give one of their highest honours to me, was mind-blowing, and at that moment, facing them, I felt I could do no wrong.
“Okay, I have a few people to thank,” I said, blinking rapidly to clear my tears so I could read the index card in my hand. “First and foremost, I need to thank God for giving me my voice, and for the opportunities to use it. I want to thank the Tony voters for deeming me worthy to receive this award, and to tell the other nominees how much of an inspiration you all are to me. I need to thank my dad, Paul Madison, my aunt, Tessa Madison, and the rest of my family, for supporting me and making sure I knew which end was up, no matter how far-fetched my dreams seemed. To Nick Gabriel, our fabulous director, for giving me the chance to be part of such an amazing show, and to my friends, the Wicked company, especially Adam Pascal and Lisa Montgomery, for making each night new and challenging, and for being the best friends I could ever ask for. Lisa, you made a strange city home, and you’ve become like the sister I never had. I love you for that, and for so much more.” I paused a second and looked over to where Orlando was sitting. “And last, but certainly not least, to Orlando, for being my rock, for loving me even when I don’t deserve it, and for letting me be who I am, no matter what that means. I love you, my darling, for everything you are, and for everything you’ve been, always. Thank you.”
I grabbed my Tony, turned, and followed Nathan and Matthew off the stage to thunderous applause. I watched from backstage as the next couple awards were announced, including ‘Best Director of a Musical,’ which Nick won. He came backstage, grinning from ear-to-ear, and hugged me so fiercely I was afraid he’d rip my dress.
At the next available commercial break, we were led back to our seats briefly, so we’d be there for the announcement of Adam’s award, then I had to go and get ready to perform, with Lisa, Adam, and the rest of the cast that was included.
When I got near where we were sitting, I broke away from Nick and ran as best I could in my heels toward Orlando. He was standing in the aisle, waiting for me, and I was just about to him when Adam stepped out and grabbed me instead.
“Congratulations, beautiful,” he said, squeezing me against him. “It looks as though you’ve started us on a streak.” He kissed my cheek quickly, and let me go.
I barely nodded at him before launching myself at Orlando. It didn’t matter that everyone was watching, I just wanted to be in his arms, to share my joy and excitement with him. He accepted me greedily and I crushed him to me with all of my strength.
“You did it, love,” he whispered in my ear before we sat down again. “I’m so proud of you.”
I clung to his arm as we settled ourselves back in our seats. Lisa leaned over and hugged me, offering her congratulations.
“That was quite the speech,” she said, playfully swatting my arm over Orlando. “You made me cry, you jerk.” We laughed.
“I could have told the truth,” I teased. “That you were more than willing to throw me to the wolves and let me fend for myself until Nick told you to watch out for me.”
“That’s not true,” she pouted, pretending to be offended. “You love me, you know you do.”
“I believe I already said that in front of millions of people,” I said, laughing.
We were shushed as the show began again, and Anne Hathaway and Keri Russell came to the podium. They were presenting Adam’s award, ‘Featured Actor in a Musical.’ He won, like we knew he would, and he hugged me on his way to accept the award. He made his speech, and at the end, he caught my eyes.
“And of course, I can’t forget Charlie,” he said, his tone softening noticeably. “You made being the new guy in the show easy, and I want to thank you for being my friend.”
I nodded at him, tears in my eyes, and mouthed, “You’re welcome,” whether he saw me or not. He winked once, and was taken backstage.
“That was painless,” Orlando whispered as the clapping died down and the show moved to the next award. “I was worried when he mentioned you.”
“So was I,” I whispered back, squeezing his fingers lightly. “But he knows we’re just friends.”
At the next commercial, I was whisked away into the back to get ready for the medley. I was sad to take off the beautiful red dress, and pull my hair down to put the wig on, but it was okay, because I’d be able to get dressed up again after the show for the after-parties. Plus, I was about to perform live for millions of people. A little green paint was a small concession.
The medley Nick had worked out with Barrie was beautiful and simple, yet it highlighted the key moments of the show. It started with a few lines of our opener, “No One Mourns The Wicked,” then moved to a verse of one of my songs, “The Wizard and I,” then Adam’s big solo, “Dancing Through Life,” Lisa’s cute little number, “Popular,” and then we changed the order of the show. “As Long As You’re Mine” was one of our second act songs, but we put it in the medley right after “Popular” so we could close with “Defying Gravity,” our powerhouse song. As per usual, I would be lifted above the stage, and I only hoped that in the excitement of the night my voice could sustain the notes I needed to hit while I was up there. I just kept telling myself I had the Tony award, it didn’t matter now what I did, which seemed to help where the nerves were concerned.
The medley went well, and we were given a standing ovation that lasted well into the commercial break that followed. There was only one award left, ‘Best Musical,’ and if our streak held out, we were a lock to win. There was no time to change, so we would be accepting the award, if we won, in our costumes and make-up. I didn’t care, I’d already gotten to be glamourous that night.
Julie Andrews and Bernadette Peters, two of Broadway’s most beloved stars, were presenting the award, and we all waited backstage for their banter to end. The shows that were nominated that year were all fabulous, and any one could be the winner, and we knew it.
“And the nominees are,” Bernadette said, smiling at the crowd. “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, The Light In The Piazza, Monty Python’s Spamalot, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, and Wicked.”
“The winner is,” Julie said, opening the envelope, “Wicked!!!”
A cheer went up from all of us, huddled backstage, as we ran out to accept the award. Nick took it, beaming with pride, and a few of our producers came up from the audience as well. We’d done it. We’d swept the Tony’s, and we’d established ourselves as one of the most successful shows on Broadway at the time. Nick’s speech was entirely too long, but no one cared. We were done for the night, and we could really go and celebrate. I smiled until my face hurt, but I couldn’t stop even then. It was definitely my night.
An hour later, de-greenified and back in my fabulous red dress, I met Orlando again and we were swept away in the limo to the after-party Nick was throwing in his loft. We didn’t want to go to the more public parties, where there’d be more press than partying, we just wanted to have a good time with our friends. For Nick, that meant 200 people or so, but no one cared. I’d left my hair down, and was ready to kick off my shoes and dance the night away with the people who had become my family over the past eight months.
When we arrived, the champagne was opened and we were all handed a glass. The music was loud, the beat was pounding, and we were hugging and laughing and letting the adrenaline of the evening take over.
“Okay, no ties in here,” Nick called, taking his own tie off and throwing it to the floor. “We don’t need penguin suits to party!” He had a beer in his free hand, and once the tie was on the floor, a glass of champagne quickly replaced it. I knew that within half an hour, he’d be wasted, but given the accomplishments of the night, no one cared. We all wanted to be carefree, and no one would stop us.
“What now?” I called to Orlando as we made our way through the dancing couples in the middle of Nick’s huge living room. All of his furniture was gone, and there was a bar in one corner, with a bartender, and he’d brought in caterers, too. The food was in the kitchen, if anyone wanted it.
“Whatever you want, love,” Orlando called back, not letting go of my hand. “It’s your night.”
I downed the rest of my champagne and grinned at him. “I want to dance,” I said, setting my empty glass down on the bar. The club music Nick’s DJ was playing was infectious, and I wanted to move to it.
“Give me a beer and I’m up for anything,” Orlando said, downing his own champagne and taking a beer from the bartender. He took a few swigs and set it down. “Okay, let’s go.”
I laughed as I led him out onto the floor, stopping only to kick my shoes off. Pink’s “Trouble” started blasting and I couldn’t help but laugh again. Something about the adrenaline of the song just made me giddy. Orlando kept up with me surprisingly well as I moved around the floor. Before long, Lisa jumped over to me and we began yelling along to the song at the top of our lungs.
“I’m trouble, yeah trouble now,” we screamed, not really caring if we were on-key. “I’m trouble, ya’ll, I disturb my town. I’m trouble, yeah trouble now. I’m trouble, ya’ll, I got trouble in my town.”
Before long, Orlando gave up and went to grab another beer and sit with Jeremy, who was watching us with an amused expression from one side of the room. The bass on the song was heavy and I loved the way I could feel the music under my feet, the pulsing, the power. Lisa looked so stunning as she danced, so lost in it, that I couldn’t help but watch her and marvel at her grace and rhythm. I felt like a clod in comparison, but that didn’t stop me.
When the song ended, I went to the bar and got a bottle of water and a beer. I downed the water quickly, just to replenish my fluids, then started on my beer. Another song was pounding strong, and I went back to dancing with my friends, oblivious to everything else.
After awhile, the music stopped, and Nick, pretty much fully drunk, made a very loud request.
“I wanna hear Santana,” he slurred, swaying where he stood. “And that guy.”
“What guy?” the DJ asked, puzzled. “Rob Thomas?”
“No, the other guy,” Nick said, gesturing so wildly he almost knocked himself over. “The change guy.”
“What?”
“You mean the guy from Nickelback?” Jeremy called, through his chuckles. Of course the music executive would know.
“Yeah, that guy,” Nick said, his eyes lighting up like a child’s on Christmas morning. “Play that song.”
The DJ rolled his eyes as he set up the track, and before long, “Why Don’t You And I” by Santana and Chad Kroeger started to play. It wasn’t as fast as some of the other stuff that had been played, so I went over to Orlando and grabbed his hands.
“You’re dancing with me,” I told him, pulling him up. He handed Jeremy his beer. I felt like I was at a high school dance all of a sudden, trying to get my boyfriend to dance with me.
“I thought we decided before that I don’t have rhythm,” he whined over the music as I faced him and began to move.
“It doesn’t matter,” I called, pressing myself up against him in time to the music. I slipped my arms around his neck and he started to keep pace with me. He wasn’t bad, either.
“You keep doing that, and we’re leaving early,” he said into my ear, his hands moving to my hips. I ground against him again, my hands in his hair.
“Why don’t you and I get together, and take on the world, be together forever,” I purred with the music, “Why don’t you and I hold each other, fly to the moon and straight on to heaven. ‘Cause without you they’re never gonna let me in.” I turned around and pressed my backside against him, moving my hips to the music.
“Seriously, Charlie,” he almost growled over my shoulder, holding me back against him. “I think it’s time to go.”
I laughed and pulled away, never losing time with the music. “Oh no, not yet,” I called, dancing alone now. He’d stopped moving altogether. “I want to dance some more.” I winked.
“You’re a tease,” he said, grabbing my arm and snapping me against him. He kissed me then, a hard, passionate kiss that made my toes curl. The alcohol made me forget that I was in the middle of a room full of people, and I wrapped one leg around him, moving against him as we kissed.
“Get a room!” Lisa called as she danced past us.
Breathlessly we broke apart. Everyone around us was either too drunk or too into what they were doing to care that we’d just been in the advanced stages of foreplay on the dance floor.
“Okay, we should get home,” I said, realizing for the first time how truly tipsy I was. Orlando looked so sexy with his dress shirt open at the collar, his tie having been discarded earlier, and I wanted to take advantage of that. My dress, which was fairly revealing to begin with, was starting to feel like a nun’s habit, and I had to get it off.
I grabbed my shoes and my purse, and we hurried out of Nick’s apartment, to the limo that was waiting downstairs. We fell into the back in a heap of limbs, and slammed the door. The driver put the partition up as he pulled away from the curb, and I settled myself on Orlando’s lap. The beer and champagne, combined with the headiness of my Tony win made me uninhibited, and we ended up having sex, fully clothed, in the back of the limo. I couldn’t help it, I needed him, I needed to top off what was already a fabulous night and I didn’t want to wait.
Afterwards, as the limo pulled up in front of my apartment building and our breathing returned to normal, we couldn’t help but laugh as we rearranged our clothes.
“Wow,” Orlando said, tucking his shirt back into his pants. “That was intense. I should get you drunk more often, love.” He grinned at me.
I straightened my dress and smiled, the hazy smile of the well-satisfied. “Mmmm,” was all I could manage.
We made sure we didn’t look like we’d just had sex in a limo, and then got out of the car. Orlando kept his arm around me as we climbed the stairs to the apartment slowly, lazily, like we didn’t have a care in the world. And at that point in time, I really didn’t.