Home > When Darkness Ends (Moments in Boston #3)(8)

When Darkness Ends (Moments in Boston #3)(8)
Author: Marni Mann

The internet had given me the rest of the information I needed.

Pearl was starring in BU’s rendition of Rent, and I was able to score a ticket to one of the shows. I even paid extra for a better view.

I knew nothing about the play or how large her role was, nor did I expect the auditorium to be packed, but there wasn’t an opening to be found. I located my seat at the end of a long row, only three back from the stage, and the lights dimmed immediately. Within the first scene, Pearl was standing almost in front of me, dressed in the sexiest outfit, similar to what she had worn to the bar—tights with large holes and a dress that hugged every one of her curves, barely covering her tits. She was wearing much more makeup than normal, her hair wild around her head.

The scene was a strip club, and she was pretending to inject heroin into her arm, showing the high from the drug before she climbed on the pole.

I couldn’t take my eyes off her; she was fucking breathtaking.

And she was so natural up there that I couldn’t tell that she was acting. She had become the character she was playing, and I was a fly on the wall, watching the chaos of her story unfold, a life she was fighting so hard for.

I never once glanced at my watch, nor did my hands ever release the armrests. Every time she went backstage, I found myself anticipating her return, counting the seconds until my eyes found her again. Within a few scenes, I learned she had the lead role, and not a single actor she shared the stage with could even compare to her talent.

Pearl had been born a star.

In the little time we’d spent together, I had known she had a beautiful voice, a quiet presence that absorbed all of my attention. But not during any of our encounters had I expected anything like what I was witnessing now. And when the lights turned off at the end of the final act, the curtain opening to show the full cast onstage, taking their bow, I was disappointed it was over.

Pearl was standing in the middle, and the long line of actors parted, all of them facing her, applauding. The whole audience then got on their feet, clapping and shouting for her.

Including myself.

She gave a long-drawn-out bow, her smile sparkling, her hand on her heart, showing her appreciation before the stage cleared. As everyone ushered out of the auditorium, I found one of the stagehands, and he told me the actors exited through the back, so I made my way outside and around the large brick building. Two guys were walking out when I arrived, and I recognized them from the play.

“Excellent job tonight,” I told them.

“Thank you,” one responded, and the other nodded.

I waited by the bottom of the stairs, watching the door open every few seconds, scanning the faces that came out. I only had to wait a couple of minutes before I caught sight of her, rushing down the steps, her arms in the air as she reached the bottom, like she was getting ready to run.

Knowing she hadn’t seen me, I gently clasped my fingers around her elbow and said, “Hey.”

She instantly halted, a look of surprise filling her eyes. “Ashe. Hi.” Clouds of white filled the cold air, showing how hard she was breathing. “What are you doing here?”

“I came to see your play. Pearl”—I paused, the awe still so present in my chest—“you were phenomenal.”

“You …” Her voice trailed off for a moment. “You just saw me onstage?”

“I was in the third row. I thought for sure that you had seen me a few times. At least, it’d felt like your eyes were on me.”

She led us over to the side, clearing the path for the other actors who were trying to leave. “The stage lights are too bright,” she said. “There’s a wicked glare, and it’s hard to see the audience.” As she stared at me, her mouth stayed open, as though she was thinking about what to say. “Are you into theater? I’m just trying to understand why you came tonight.”

She had tied her hair back, and a few pieces had loosened, the wind causing them to stick to her lipstick. I wanted so badly to pull them away, but I shoved my hands into my pockets instead.

“This is the first play I’ve ever been to. Well, aside from the ones we were forced to watch in school.”

“And you came to mine?”

I want to be close to you.

That was the thought in my head along with a desire to pull her body against mine and ravish that gorgeous mouth.

Her lips teased me every time she licked them.

But if I did anything like that, Pearl would wiggle away. I knew that even though I knew nothing about her.

“I wanted to watch you perform.”

She stayed silent, shaking her head, like she was trying to stop my confession from sinking in.

“I’m certainly no expert,” I continued, “but what you did on that stage didn’t look like a performance. It looked like you had transformed into that character. I’ve seen enough movies to know many people are cast because of their looks and they hold no talent at all. That’s not you. My God, Pearl, you have something I’ve never seen before.”

“Wow … I don’t even know what to say.” Her chest was rising and falling so fast. “Ashe, thank you. So, so much.” She was humble—I heard it in her voice, saw it in her eyes. That response wasn’t from someone who had stumbled upon this major to get an easy degree. It was from someone who had worked their ass off, and tonight showed that. “And thank you for coming to support the cast and our department and—”

“I came for you.”

The streetlamps showed her cheeks were turning flushed, and I had a feeling it wasn’t due to the cold.

“I really appreciate that.” She took in my eyes, and when it seemed like they became too much, she glanced to the road. “I’m sorry … I have to go.”

I had known she was going to run—that had become her pattern—so I had come prepared. “Let me buy you a coffee.”

“I can’t.”

“Are you headed to the bar? I’ll walk with you.”

She sighed before she replied, “I wish I were going to work.”

“I don’t think I’ve ever heard anyone say that before.”

When she spread her lips, it wasn’t a smile, more like a sign that she was in agreement.

I put my hand on her shoulder, drawing her attention back to me. “Fifteen minutes, Pearl. That’s all I’m asking for.” Once her eyes were on mine, they didn’t move, and I could feel her wavering. “You shouldn’t go home and study after the performance you just had. You deserve to celebrate … with me.”

She took her time in answering. “Why do I get the feeling you’re not going to stop until I say yes?” Only then did her lips finally tug into a smile.

I laughed, feeling accomplished as hell, and moved my hand to her lower back. “Come on. I know the perfect place.”

 

 

Ten

 

 

Before


Pearl

 

 

Ashe had watched my performance. As we walked to get coffee, I tried to wrap my head around that.

Aside from Gran, he was the only other person who had ever come to see me onstage. A man who had appeared in my life, completely out of nowhere, and now, every time I was around him, my chest tingled. My hands wanted to link with his just to feel the warmth of his skin.

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