“Filming started on a new project. It’s been a hectic pain. My character’s not the main character and I’m not sure if that’s good enough. Judy is keeping me out of the public eye still but dammit I want to get back to work.”
Owen nodded quickly.
“I feel like I’ve been getting out of shape. Haven’t had a coach in a while. Been hitting the gym but even then, it doesn’t feel like enough.”
Owen nodded again, a little slower.
“Hey Owen me and Judy are having an affair. It’s been going on for years and I think we’re gonna get married.”
Owen nodded again, barely one dip up and down.
Gen glared and kicked him in the shin. He jumped, hitting his knee against the table and his eyes went wide. He looked back and forth quickly raising his fists ready for a fight but then looked at Gen. He blinked slowly and then realized what was going on and scratched his head lightly.
The pair of them were at a small café in the city. They were sitting together at a circular table with an umbrella above their heads. The air outside wasn’t that bad, especially for this early into the summer. Gen had on thick sunglasses on her face and a simple baseball cap. The agreement she made to be out here right now.
“Sorry Gen. What were you saying?” He smiled a bandage over his eye and a few more bruises and scratches on his fists.
“The hell Owen. You’re barely awake right now.”
“I’m totally awake,” he yawned rubbing his eyes but doing that made him doze for a second and he jerked his head upwards. “Okay. Maybe not.”
“When did you get in last night?”
“Uh. I think Marco teleported us back home at like four? We were on some alien asteroid thing getting parts to hide the crystal. And then I had to help my siblings get ready for school around six. My grandparents do what they can but,” he shrugged. “And then I had class at like nine.”
“So, you got all of two hours of sleep?”
“That sounds right,” he smiled and yawned again. “But I’m okay. Definitely okay.”
“Bullshit.”
“What?”
“Bullshit Owen,” she folded her arms across her chest. She got up quickly and motioned with her fingers. “Come on.”
“Come on?”
“Up. We’re leaving.”
“But we haven’t eaten yet.”
“No and we’re not going to,” she walked across the table taking his hand and dragged him up to his feet. Owen barely grabbed his bag in time before he was pulled along. She walked him down the street to which he managed to catch up once he was actually able to walk. But Gen was not letting go off his hand as she led him around.
“Where are you taking me?”
Rather than answer this time she just kept pulling. People ended up parting around them and Owen made hasty apologies for them. When they finally stopped though she pulled him through a revolving door and through all the excitement he was definitely awake at this point.
The lobby of where ever they were was nice. A plush couch with a coffee table of magazines. A man in uniform pushed a cart of luggage pass them. He heard the ding of an elevator nearby and watched a man in a full suit and tie with a briefcase walk out while talking into what he assumed was a Bluetooth. Suddenly Owen felt very underdressed.
“What are we doing here?”
Instead of answering she walked to the front counter where a woman answered, looking between the two of them slowly and then smiling. “Hello. How can I help you today?”
“Need a room for the day. We’ll be out by the evening,” she reached into her bag and pulled out a card. “Charge it once and only once. Or there’ll be hell.”
The woman behind the counter looked at the card then at her incredulously. But then Gen lowered her glasses and the woman blinked suddenly very panicked and nodded quickly. “Yes of course. Right away miss Fang.”
She was handed a card and then she was pulling Owen with her toward the elevator. At this point Owen knew to just go with the flow and was fine with that. He stifled another yawn and then caught the glare he received from Gen. “Are we in a hotel?”
“Yes.”
“Why are we in a hotel?” he asked and then blushed brightly. “Wait you’re not.”
Gen looked at him and even her cheeks warmed slightly but she glared, “Not even. We’re here because I’m tired of looking at you half passed out.”
She found their room, slid the card through the reader and walked in. Tossing her bag onto one of the tables she pointed at the single bed. “Lay down.”
“What?”
“You need sleep. And God knows you’re not going to do it on your own. So I’m forcing you. Lay down.”
“What about you?”
“I’m going to watch you and make sure you actually sleep. Don’t get any dumb ideas.”
He smiled, starting to say something but he yawned again and his eyes drooped. “Okay. Okay. I won’t argue.”
“Good. You wouldn’t win anyway.”
He started to object again but was shoved onto the bed by her this time. He fell onto his back laughing but it wasn’t long. His eyes fluttered once and then he was out like a light. When he was definitely gone she sat in the chair at the desk and sighed.
She stared at him for a moment and shook her head, “You’re a moron Owen. Out here fighting aliens and running yourself into the ground. But I guess I like that about you. Go figure.”
The Harlequin Library 