Chapter Three

Chapter Three

Mike tried to remember, without success, the last time he had laughed at a live performance. The show had far surpassed his expectations with its humor, memorable songs and intricate dance routines. He thought the entire cast had been excellent, but James Vicksburg was nothing short of incredible.

Each cast member played a character from two eras. Vicksburg played a gay American soldier who seduced a hypocritical Nazi commander and stole information to help the allies win the war. Prior to being awarded a medal by the American president, his homosexuality was discovered and he was imprisoned instead. In current times, he played the American president himself—one who capitalized on the hatred of his ignorant base until he accomplished what Hitler had not—world-dominance for neo-Nazis. The show ended with the victors singing and dancing in the White House as the audience witnessed the outside world burning. Despite the show’s many one-liners and pratfalls, the comedy was dark, to say the least.

Mike had to admit to himself that the leading man’s beauty was another reason he enjoyed the show. There had been a scene where Vicksburg wore a white undershirt, a pair of very short boxers and a pair of black nylon socks with garters. He danced and sang a provocative number for the Nazi soldier, and Mike was mesmerized by Vicksburg’s gorgeous arms and legs throughout the sexy routine. Mike could appreciate an athlete’s build because he knew how hard it was to achieve. Unlike fellow baseball players, though, where certain muscles were over-developed compared to others—like a pitcher’s arm or a catcher’s legs—Vicksburg’s body was proportioned like a Greek statue. Although he had the slenderness of a dancer, each time he flexed an arm or put pressure on a leg, well-pronounced muscles showed off under glistening skin.

“Mr. Cooper?” Maria interrupted his train of thought as he continued standing and clapping after the final curtain-call concluded. “Will you still be joining us backstage?”

Mike had almost forgotten the promise. Now, the chance to meet James Vicksburg was like a gift. “Yes! Lead the way.”

“What?” Jessica pouted. “We need to go backstage? I want to go home and lie down.”

Mike knew the right thing to do would be to take Jessica home, but he had promised the group he would take pictures, hadn’t he?

“Jessica, I’ll take you home in a few minutes, okay? I promised to take selfies with these folks. They’re related to the star, so they want me to meet him. It won’t be long. Maybe you can sit here and relax.”

“Did it look like I was relaxing the dozen times I got up to go to the ladies’ room during the show?” Jessica griped.

Mike was beginning to wish he had broken up with her before the musical started. “Well, maybe you could visit the toilet again before we leave. Why don’t you go take care of business, and I’ll meet you in the lobby?”

Jessica huffed and reached for her stomach, obviously thinking it wasn’t a bad suggestion. “Fine. Don’t take forever.”

“Mr. Cooper?” Billy pressed.

“Um, yes, I’m coming,” Mike affirmed. Turning back to Jessica, he added, “See you in the lobby in a few.”

* * * *

Mike hung back in the doorway of the dressing room, watching Maria, Nadia and Billy rush to James to hug him and shower him with praise. James was still wearing the business suit costume he had donned for the last scene as the president, though he had removed the jacket, loosened the tie and unfastened the first few shirt buttons. Mike tried not to be obvious he was staring, but his gaze was drawn to the soft hollow of flesh right above James’ rib cage. It looked a little wet from the earlier exertion, and Mike had a desire to lick the smooth skin. When James moved his arms while speaking, it opened his shirt a bit, revealing a light dusting of chest hair that Mike yearned to touch.

“Look who came to visit,” Billy interrupted his brother, pointing over to Mike. Mike realized they had turned to see him and he had been gawking at James’ exposed skin. Although he reasoned they were unaware of what he’d been eyeing, Mike blushed from his internalized guilt.

“Oh my God,” James exclaimed while grinning. “Mike Cooper? Come on, is this a joke?”

Mike regained his composure, smiling in return. “I hope you don’t mind. Your brother and friends said it would be okay. I just wanted to tell you that I thought you were amazing in the show. I was blown away.”

James nodded, but bowed his head with some humility. “That’s nice of you to say. Thank you.”

“Well, get over here,” Maria ordered.

Mike’s face reddened again as he was certain his awkwardness was belying his attraction. He walked to James, extending his hand to shake. James grabbed it and pulled Mike into a brotherly side-hug. Mike could smell the faintest amount of sweat as well as fragrances from whatever James used for shampoo and soap. James pulled away too quickly for Mike’s taste, leaving Mike looking into the prettiest, most expressive green eyes he had ever seen.

“Sorry,” James uttered. “The show is a workout. I’m wet and I’m sure I stink.”

“No, not at all,” Mike assured him. “You smell great.” Realizing he sounded flirtatious, Mike tried to backpedal by adding, “I’ve been around guys after a ballgame. Trust me, you smell nothing like that.”

James laughed. “Okay. Well, I think I’ll still shower before we go to dinner anyway. If you don’t mind waiting around, you’re welcome to join us.”

At first, Mike was delighted by the invite, but his obligation to Jessica soured his mood. “Oh, I would have loved to. I’m afraid that my date and I have already dined, and now she is ill. I need to take her home.”

James’ eyes clouded for a second. “Oh, sure. I guess that was weird for me to ask anyway. Sorry. It’s just such an honor to meet you.”

Nadia piped in. “Mike has a mission to complete. He’s going to break up with his girlfriend tonight.”

Mike and James looked at her with shock. “Um, I don’t know if that’s the right thing to do, under the circumstances,” Mike mumbled.

“Don’t string her along,” Nadia pressed. “If it were me, I’d just want to know whether I was sick or not.”

Mike looked to Maria, and she nodded, agreeing with Nadia. He was still surprised by the forwardness of the trio he had met earlier. “Yes, well, we’ll see.”

James looked back to Mike with bewilderment. “Uh, okay. I have no idea how they know any of this, but I won’t keep you from…whatever you need to do. Thanks for stopping by. It was a dream-come-true.”

“Wait!” Billy protested. “He promised selfies.”

Mike huffed a nervous laugh. “Yes, I guess I did. Who has a phone?”

Billy retrieved one from his pocket and handed it to Nadia, then rushed to Mike’s side. “Nadia, take a couple of us.”

Mike put his arm behind Billy so he could place his hand on the young man’s shoulder. He gave the camera his poster-ready smile as Nadia snapped multiple shots. Billy then instructed Nadia to hand the phone to Maria so Nadia could join them in the pictures. Mike was surprised to see Nadia smile—he hadn’t seen her do so yet. She was stunning.

“Okay, puppies, I must get a photo with this handsome man,” Maria complained.

Billy laughed and took the camera from her, instructing her to stand next to Mike. Maria put her right arm around Mike, then leaned into him and placed her left hand on his chest. Mike thought her infatuation was sweet, and he almost laughed more than smiled for the series of photos.

“Maria, let James get some with Mike,” Billy suggested.

Mike looked over to James, noticing there was a shyness and something else that was unreadable in his expression. He thought James’ eyes were asking if Mike would mind. To answer the unasked question, Mike walked to James and pulled him to his side. James rested his hand on Mike’s back, and Mike loved that it was a strong, confident grip.

After several more shots were taken, Mike pulled away from James’ grasp with some reluctance. “I should go. My date is waiting.” Upon his announcement, James affected the same cloudy-eyed expression Mike had noticed earlier.

“Well, thanks again for stopping by,” James said. “I’ve always been a huge fan. You made my night.”

Mike didn’t want to walk away without a reason to communicate with James in the future. “It was my pleasure. Hey, would you mind sending me those pics of us?” James’ face transformed from polite pleasantness to incredulity.

“You’d want the pictures?” James asked.

Mike shrugged, trying to act casual. “Sure. You’re going to be famous when you win the Tony Award for best actor. Imagine how jealous my friends will be when they see that I met you.”

James chuckled. “I doubt I’ll win a Tony, and I doubt your friends would be jealous even if I did. I’m sure you’ve hung out with far more famous people than me.”

Mike pulled out his phone anyway. “What’s your cell phone number? That way, when the text with pictures comes through, I’ll know it’s you.”

James shot Mike a skeptical look but recited his phone number. Then Mike instructed James to retrieve his own cell so he could type in Mike’s number. James did so, starting to smile with a bit of giddiness. “I can’t believe you want the photos.”

“I do. I will be very disappointed if you don’t send them to me,” Mike assured him. He looked to the others in the room and he could tell they were each reaching their own conclusions about why Mike was insisting on the photos. He didn’t care. In some ways, he hoped they suspected he was interested in James. The actor was just as beautiful up close as he had been on stage, and Mike would relish the chance to get to know him better.

“Good luck tonight,” Nadia offered.

“Uh, thanks, Nadia,” Mike replied, turning to Billy to shake his hand.

Maria pulled Mike in for a hug and whispered in his ear, “Remember, I’m here to help.”

Mike pulled back, surprised he was surprised at this point. “Uh, okay. Thanks Maria.”

He then turned to James, wondering how someone could be so masculine-looking and yet so pretty. He wished he could lean in to kiss James’ perfect lips. Instead, he clapped a hand on his shoulder and smiled. “I mean it. Send me a text. Congratulations again on your show. You’re incredible.”

“Thanks,” James whispered.

As Mike was ready to exit the doorway, a young woman he recognized from the show was passing the dressing room. She had taken a moment to pause so she could shout to James, “Hey stud, you left your undershirt in my apartment the other night. You’re welcome to come retrieve it whenever you want.” From her smile and lascivious tone, Mike could tell that her encounter with James had been sexual.

Once she was out of eyesight, Mike rushed out the door, silently cursing his foolishness. Billy’s comment about James gratifying himself while looking at his poster must have been a joke, and James was involved with a female cast member. He prayed that none of the people in the dressing room realized how he’d swooned like an infatuated teenager. He imagined they would joke about him once they went to the restaurant. He never thought he’d be in such a hurry to find Jessica so he could leave the premises.