Caught You Looking

Clarke

I fidgeted nervously with the hem of my jacket. Who wears corduroy jackets? Hello, the seventies are calling and they want their clothes back. At least my olive-coloured shirt, with the semi-normal looking collar, didn’t scream I don’t know how to dress for a date!

Too late. Too goddamn late. When I’d left home this morning, I’d been convinced I’d chosen the perfect clothes to impress the adventurous soul who’d agreed to go on a date with me. Because hookup apps were all the rage.

He’d used an avatar of a koala bear, which he’d claimed was his own artwork. Given copyright rules, I didn’t blame him. Attribution was everything. Only…the koala bear hadn’t been grey. The adorable thing had been rainbow striped. Like the guy was making it clear he was happy about his sexuality. Which was great, since we were using a gay hookup app. My photo was of me. I couldn’t stand pictures of body parts. Looking at someone’s abs was, well, interesting. Being ACE, that didn’t really turn me on. And, as an asexual, the dating pool wasn’t all that deep. I wanted a guy like me.

Ellis assured me he was.

Truthfully, I couldn’t fathom it. Because after we started messaging, he’d sent a picture of himself. Stunning. All dark skin, deep-brown eyes, and a killer smile.

Oh, and he was the Ellis Greenhorn. Terrible lastname for a well-known actor. In passing, I’d asked why he hadn’t changed it. He’d gone on to explain how a long-distant relative had escaped slavery from the southern US before the Civil War. How the guy had made it to Canada. How he’d found a wife and moved west.

Hell, Ellis’s family had been in British Columbia longer than my family had.

My family had come to escape the potato famine in Ireland.

“Clarke?”

I pivoted to find Ellis standing about a metre away from me. I’d known he was taller than me. With his entire life available to me from my handy search engine—and yes, I’d searched—his height of over six feet wasn’t a surprise. No, what struck me was how delicate I felt.

Right. Stop staring and approach him like a normal human being.

“Yeah, I’m Clarke. Obviously. Because, like, I wouldn’t have turned otherwise.”

He grinned. “If I tell you I’m nervous, does that help? My mama always said honesty was the best. Hence me telling you just about everything about me.”

“Which I did as well.” Truthfully, I was stunned how honest I’d been with him. Twenty-four years on this earth and I’d finally found someone I could share everything with. “I’m glad you were able to get a day off.”

He scratched his shorn head.

So different from my shaggy light-brown mop.

“They do allow me off the set sometimes.” He chuckled.

“Can you tell me the super secret project you’re working on?” As soon as I asked the question, though, I winced. He’d made it clear he couldn’t talk about work. Something he was doing which no one was supposed to know about.

He held his hand out.

Wow, that takes guts. Clearly not worried about rejection. Except I wasn’t going to reject him. I took his hand because that felt as natural as breathing. We knew each other. Sharing this little intimacy—which we’d both admitted to liking—felt…special.

“I’m glad you agreed to come to the art gallery with me today.” Ellis grinned. “A date in public?”

I snickered. “You think I was going to cram you into my studio condo in Yaletown? No.”

“You’re assuming I’d judge you for living your dream. A downtown condo in a nice neighborhood. That you can afford a studio is cool. Vancouver’s so expensive.”

“You grew up here.”

“I did.” Another easy grin. “Near Collingwood. Very middle-class. Veery boring.”

“Yet you became an actor.”

We strolled toward the art gallery.

He chuckled. “My kindergarten teacher informed my parents that my antics were some of the most…creative…he’d ever seen. His husband was a casting director for a major studio and, although he’d never done this before, could he give them his card?”

“Bold move.”

“You have no idea. He probably could’ve gotten into a lot of trouble. But my parents were looking for a productive way for them to channel my energy. The husband loved my fearlessness mixed with my ability to take direction. Six weeks later, I was cast in a big movie. My parents were shocked. My dad took a sabbatical from his job as a maintenance supervisor for the city and escorted me to the set every day.

“I fell in love. Dad never went back to the job. He learned how to home school me—no easy feat. He’d studied engineering in college—English was not his strong suit. Neither was French, but he learned.”

Together, we walked up the imposing stairs to the equally imposing structure. I loved that the old courthouse had been converted to house the gallery more than forty years ago.

“No tutors?”

“Not until I started high school. We travelled the world. My agent was amazing in landing me parts, big and small, everywhere. Mom stayed home with my three sisters—” He grabbed his phone from his back pocket as we approached the door. He swiped a couple of times. “I bought the tickets online.”

Moments later, we were in.

I’d never been to the Vancouver Art Gallery, but I’d done my homework. I liked to go to a place before I actually showed up. My little neuroticism. My therapist in high school assured me that I was okay.

“Emily Carr has always been a favorite of mine.” Ellis squeezed my hand, which he’d retaken after pocketing his phone. “I was so damn excited about the exhibit.”

I arched an eyebrow. “Don’t they always have an Emily Carr exhibit? I mean, I didn’t look it up, but I’d think they would have the largest collection in the country—if not the world. Right?”

“No idea. Although there’s some logic in that. Can you imagine having the job of curating an exhibit, though? Selecting the theme and which paintings fit?”

“Navigating an Impenetrable Landscape sounds daunting to me.”

“And yet you agreed to come with me.” Ellis grinned. “We even wore the same color shirt.”

I wasn’t going to be so gauche as to mention it. Truly, what were the odds we’d both pick olive-green for our shirts? His collar was white, which also could’ve been a look out of the mid-twentieth century, and yet it wasn’t. The look was super cool. Oh, and his short sleeves revealed really nice biceps and strong forearms. He was as gorgeous in person as he was on the big screen. Focus. You’re here for the inanimate art—not the gorgeous guy who invited you here. Right. “Same shirt just means we’re on the same wavelength.”

“And people will think we planned it. Cutesy, you know. And since I’m holding your hand, no one will question I’m on a date.”

Ellis had been out of the closet since he’d started high school. Was that why he stopped tutoring? Did the acting jobs dry up? I couldn’t remember there being a gap in his acting work history, but I hadn’t looked closely. Having watched many award shows—because I was obsessed with movies and television—I was aware how few Black actors got the top awards. In my heart, I believed Ellis had the talent to one day win a big prize. “You want people to think you’re on a date?”

“Yeah.” He squeezed my hand. “I don’t hide whom I am.” The smile faded. “Are you okay with this? Because I should’ve asked—”

“I knew who you were when I agreed to this date. I happily took your hand. We got to know each other before you told me your real name and confirmed you were the Ellis Greenhorn. So yeah, I’m okay with this. I’m not with you because of your celebrity. I’m here with you because I want to get to know you better. DMs aren’t enough anymore.”

He blinked several times. “Yes. That. That was…eloquent.”

We both knew my words hadn’t been anything of the sort…but I’d made my point. I’d liked him long before knowing the truth. His humour, his quiet humbleness, his generosity…his quirkiness. Mostly, his nonjudgmental attitude. He was asexual. And had felt he could be honest with me about that. I hadn’t had much luck in the romance department. Several guys had come into the relationship believing I just needed to get laid and then my asexuality would disappear. Like I had a disease they could cure with their dicks.

Uh, no. Obviously, those attempts at something romantic had ended painfully and abruptly. No magic dick was going to change who I was. The thought of being intimate with someone left me cold. Top or bottom wouldn’t make a difference. I wasn’t into sex.

But I wanted a real relationship. Could that be with Ellis? I just didn’t know.

“This way.”

Clearly, he took my lack of response as a response.

I’d been honest with him. I didn’t care who the world perceived him as. They didn’t know him the way I did. I believed the person he showed me in those messages as the real Ellis.

And so we headed into the room that held the phenomenal paintings. The portrayal of the rugged Canadian landscape took my breath away. I’d gone hiking a few times in the mountains. Had driven through the Rockies with my family to visit Calgary. I’d been to the ocean while visiting Gold River once. So I felt that I knew the beauty that was British Columbia.

Carr’s perspective was very different.

And ten times more stunning.

She captured the world in a way I’d never seen before.

Post Impressionism. Modernism.

Whatever word one chose, fantastic was the one I’d select. Yet even that felt…inadequate.

We wandered together, holding hands, taking in the amazing exhibit.

By the end, excitement and enervation rivaled within me.

I wanted to take a nap.

Ellis tucked me in against him as we exited the room.

He sees me. He gets it. He understands what a powerful experience that was, and he’s not judging me.

“How about grabbing something to eat at The Georgian Hotel? I really like their restaurant. My treat?” He cocked his head. “Unless you’re ready to call it a day.”

We’d agreed to meet mid-afternoon. So we’d see how we felt after the museum. A no pressure date. If I said I wanted to leave alone, he’d happily see me on my way. If we decided to grab something afterward, that was low stress as well.

I’d figured Starbucks or a hot dog at the cart.

Ellis was proposing something fancier.

I picked at my shirt.

“Hey, we’re not wearing jeans and you’re even wearing a jacket. Plus,” he cleared his throat. “They’re never going to turn me away. And I hate that I just said that.”

I giggled. “I love that you can be honest about your fame. The Georgian Hotel sounds lovely.” Hand-in-hand, we crossed Robson Square and headed toward one of the nicest dining establishments in Vancouver. Although Ellis had paid for the entry to the museum, I wasn’t going to argue with him paying for dinner. I did okay in my accounting job, but I didn’t have my CPA designation yet…so I still had to be careful with my finances.

The Maître D’ was happy to escort us to the best table. Or best as far as I was concerned—near the back and out of view of most people. The evening rush had yet to begin, but I wasn’t surprised Ellis chose the chair that faced me and put his back to the rest of the diners.

Outside the gallery, several people had recognized him and one very brave young woman had asked for an autograph.

Ellis had been…amazing. So generous, kind, and down-to-earth. He’d even posed for a selfie.

Then he’d asked the young woman to take a picture of him and me with his phone.

I was shocked.

He later pointed out that although selfies were cute, a nice photograph taken of the two of us together made it more…formal. Like… He’d grappled for the word.

I’d offered special.

He’d agreed.

And now we sat, perusing our menus. In the end, he opted for the kuterra salmon while I chose the wild mushroom and barley risotto.

All through the meal, he entertained me with stories of being on sets around the world. Of his antics and pranks—never to hurt anyone or to make them feel bad. No, he’d just been a scamp and solemnly maintained that, at twenty-six, he’d outgrown his silliness.

Or so he swore.

That twinkle in those mesmerizing dark-brown eyes told me otherwise.

Dessert was a lychee & strawberry petit gâteau.

Scrumptious.

Hours had passed.

I might’ve also talked about growing up in Mission City, a small town about an hour east of Vancouver. How small-town living worked for some people, but I’d felt constrained. Hemmed in. How moving to Vancouver had been my dream.

Eventually, after high school, I’d escaped to Simon Fraser University in Burnaby—a suburb of Vancouver and very metropolitan compared to Mission City—and had attended the Beddie School of Business. How close I was to completing my CPA. How being an only child hadn’t been lonely because I’d had nineteen first cousins—including one family with eight sisters and no brothers—all in Mission City, and all very much in each other’s business.

“Ellis, is that you?” The voice came from behind my date.

Who stiffened.

I was ready to defend him until the speaker came into focus.

Holy shit, that’s Cole freaking Hamilton. Only one of the most famous actors in all of Vancouver. Hell, all of Canada. Oh, hell, after winning the Golden Globe earlier this year, he was the biggest everywhere.

Ellis leapt out of this chair and turned.

Did he recognize Cole’s voice? That low timbre is distinctive.

“I, uh, Cole. I didn’t know you’d be here.”

Cole chuckled, amusement in his light-blue eyes. His midnight black hair was as long as he wore it on television and some movies—giving him a roguish appearance.

Then I noticed his companions. A raven-haired woman with stunning blue eyes and a noticeable baby bump. Also, a blond man, almost as tall as Cole and almost as handsome.

Truly, Cole was in a class by himself.

Although Ellis, in his own way, was damn sexy and attractive as well.

“Of course you didn’t know we’d be here. Hell, we didn’t know we’d be here. You remember Caressa and Michael, of course.” Cole held Michael’s hand while he had a protective hand at Caressa’s back.

Right. Triad. All over the internet when they came out. I wonder who the father of the…doesn’t matter!

“Yes. Lovely to see you again. You’re all looking well.”

Certainly, Cole, who’d been shot earlier in the year, looked amazing. Like he hadn’t almost died.

“Just wanted to say I’d see you tomorrow. We’re taking advantage of our day off as well.” He nodded to me.

“Oh, this is my date, Clarke.” He reached for my hand.

I took it. Cold and clammy? Is he really that intimidated? I probably should’ve been…but I wasn’t. “Nice to meet you.”

Cole grinned. “I take it you know who we are?”

“Well…” I grinned. “Yes. And I’m going to remember this night forever. My first date with an awesome man and meeting a famous family.” Family’s the right term, right? Because saying ménage would be tacky.

Michael moved a little closer to Cole.

Caressa sighed. A contented sigh.

“We’ll let you go. See you tomorrow.” Cole, still holding his companions, departed.

Once they were out of sight, Ellis flopped into his chair.

I did as well. Although maybe more lowering my ass rather than dropping like a stone. “So that happened.”

“Yeah.”

I snagged his hand. “Why are you shaking? You’re almost as famous as he is.”

“Yes, but he’s…the star of the show. It’s called Vigilante Justice…and he’s Justice.”

“Yeah…” Technically, Cole’s character was Montgomery Daley—corporate raider by day, vigilante by night. Always coming up against his nemesis, Lyric. Played by the super sexy Julie Reyes. “Oh. Why’d he say he’d see you on set? Are you in the show?”

He leaned closer. “It’s supposed to be a surprise. Fans know someone important is going to be in the next season, but no one knows who. We’re trying to keep it under wraps.”

“I don’t think anyone heard you. Would be normal for one famous person to meet another famous person. They looked really happy.”

“They are. And on set? Cole’s the nicest guy. So genuine and always cheerful. He knows everyone’s name—even the crew. He makes sure everyone’s taken care of.”

“Including you.”

“Yeah, including me.”

I nearly bounced in my seat. I hadn’t missed a single episode in the many seasons of the show. Rumours were, the end was in sight. “Does Justice get together with Lyric?”

He laughed. “The question everyone wants an answer to.”

“And you’re not going to give it.”

“Nope.” He squeezed my hand. “But I am going to escort you home and while we walk off this amazing meal, I’m going to convince you to agree to another date with me.”

“And I’m going to say yes.”

“Lovely.”

He walked me home.

I said yes.