Author's note; this story should've appeared after Part 5 as it takes place soon after the events in that story.
*
I drifted through my work that day, we did some prep work for a photo shoot somewhere, I really didn't think about who or what the subject was. My thoughts kept drifting back to the night before. When our work day was over we spilt up as we usually did. Chris went back to Red Light. But not before trying to get me to go along.
"Uh-uh! Not this time pal!" I said firmly.
"You realize what you missed out on last night?" Chris replied.
"Yes, I do. But I still appreciate your getting me to go in the first place." I responded as I went out the door.
That evening, as I settled in for a night with Smokie and a college football game, I surfed around the TV dial as was the norm. I was getting my football munchies together in the kitchen when out of earshot I got the surprise of my life!
I heard the lead story on "Entertainment Tonight";
"Who is Lindsay Lohan's Mystery Man?" wondered Mary Hart.
I poked my head out and looked at the TV and lo and behold, there was grainy security footage of my rendezvous at Burger King with Lindsay! And I could be seen, buying her dinner and as the TV voices said; "sweet talking the sexy starlet". Who it was additionally revealed, had had a rough night at a hot club called The Red Light District.
It was the same story on the other entertainment shows.
I was everywhere!
Suddenly my phone rang.
It was Chris.
"Jim...Are you watching TV now?" he asked slowly. I can't recall the last time he called me by my real name.
"Yes." I said.
"You know what's on?" he asked
"Uh-huh." I said, too stunned to say any more.
"This will either be the best of times for you or the worst." Chris said calmly.
Oh, brother was he right!
The next few days were touch and go. I kept as low a profile as I could. It was actually easy. Since I wasn't a club maven like Chris I wasn't in the 24/7 sights of press people. After a while, I faded into the unknown. To the general public, and to enquiring minds, Lindsay's "mystery man" remained that.
Just lucky, I guess.
Our work continued to be steady. I drifted back into my nightly routines. I didn't miss the clubs, although Chris kept trying to get me back. He dragged me out to another one, this one called "The Eagle".
The Eagle was a slightly better experience than Red Light had been. But I still felt out of my element there. Chris found two willing models for us to hang around with. I still can't remember their names. Or any other details about the club.
Not long after, I was able to split from the club. I just needed some quiet in my life right now.
I started to drive away and found one of my old homemade Pink Floyd CD's and immediately started playing it as I drove, somewhere, anywhere. Just to clear my head. But that didn't work. So I headed home and went straight to bed.
But even sleep was eluding me. I started looking for long-delayed projects to work on. In the course of this, I found a business card in my desk I'd forgotten about from some talent agency. Probably someone looking for a photo deal. I tossed it aside but suddenly noticed writing on the back.
It was a phone number and the name "Lindsay" on the top.
Well, I'll be darned. I still had the little card she'd given me when we met that night.
But calling her was a pretty dumb idea. The number probably doesn't work anymore.
There was only one way to find out.
I felt like a petrified high school kid when I called it. Too many bad memories came rushing back as I heard the phone ring.
It went to voicemail, but the voice was familiar.
"Hi, it's Lindsay, leave a message." The recording said.
I froze for a few seconds, and then hesitantly spoke;
"Uh, hi Lindsay, uh it's Jim. We, uh, met in the Burger King. I just wanted to see how you were, uh, I don't know what else to say. I'm rambling here, I know."
The next words I said came spontaneously, from where I don't know;
"Um, Smokie misses you. Bye."
And I hung up the phone. And now wished I could crawl into a hole and die.
I fell onto my couch and turned on the TV, hoping that would make me forget what I'd just done.
Apparently it did as I fell asleep.
How long I slept I don't know but I heard a car pull into my driveway and the sounds of someone getting out.
It was raining too, that's odd.
There was a knock on the door, now I didn't know what to do. I cautiously looked through the peephole.
It was someone in a grey hooded jacket, the hood was pushed back slightly and I could see a flash of red hair. It looked like a girl.
I turned on the outside light and looked through the peephole again.
"Oh, my god." I said slowly as I opened the door a crack.
It was Lindsay.
"Hi, I miss Smokie too." She said with a smile that seemed to say she missed someone more.
She came inside and shook off the raindrops from her jacket. When she took it off, she had on a white t-shirt and black jogging pants. Her hair was the same flaming red I remembered.
"There you are! Hi baby!" she saw Smokie the cat lying on a chair looking at her with curious eyes, as if he recognized her too. She crouched down and started to pet him.
She stood up and we embraced.
"Hi, Jim." She said with a smile.
"Hi, beautiful." I replied.
"I got your message and came right over, I hope it's not too late for you."
"Not at all, it's great to see you again." I said, with a big smile.
And we kissed.
All the emotions we'd felt last time came rushing back.
"Let me get you something to warm you up." I said
"Thanks. I could use that." She replied
I went and got some coffee brewing for us.
Lindsay followed me into the kitchen and stood next to me as I got the coffee going. She came up from behind and held me saying;
"I really missed you."
I turned around.
"I missed you too."
The rain was falling steadily outside as we sat and drank our coffees.
"So you're my mystery man, huh?" she said before dissolving into laughter.
"Looks like it!" I said
"I can't believe how all that came out. When I saw that story I thought it was a gag!" Lindsay said still laughing.
"Oh! You should've been here when I saw ET that night." I said between laughs.