Today, I hit "publish" instead of breaking up my kids' morning fight over who gets what cereal bowl. I hit "publish" while my husband took over my job coaxing our dogs to use the restroom outside when it's freezing cold and raining. More importantly, I pushed aside the huge knot in the pit of my stomach and clicked on the singular word that gives you, my loyal readers, the heart - the crux - of Charlie and Colin's story. I'm scared to death that I've let you down. I'm scared that the book is too real - not enough fantasy. In the end, though, this is their story. This has been their story for longer than I've been a wife and a mother. I hope you love Colin and Charlie even more for their faults and failures. I also hope you appreciate their journey and feel, when you're finished, you caught up with an old friend over an amazing dinner and bottle of wine. And you look forward to the next time you meet again.
Click here (http://amzn.com/B00GWNJK14) to purchase a copy.
Monday, November 25, 2013
Sunday, November 24, 2013
"Finding Infinity" Teaser - Part Nine
Here's your last teaser... "Finding Infinity" will be live on Tuesday, November 26!
With
that, he takes my hand, and leads me back to the lobby where our friends are
waiting. They all wish Colin good luck, and head off to find their seats in the
upper levels of the theater.
Colin
and I make our way into the auditorium with our game faces on. My arm is laced
around his elbow. I have a pageant-ready smile on my face. I glance up at
Colin. He appears to not have a care in the world. His camera-ready smile is plastered
on and his jaw is relaxed. We’re good. Real good.
After
being stopped numerous times, and going through lots of introductions to people
that I’ll never remember, we find our seats.
Once
we’re seated, Colin leans over and breathlessly whispers in my ear, “Every man
in here wants you, but I’m the one getting to take that dress off tonight.”
Why
does he do this to me? I’ve been so good. Game face is on. Then, when he whispers
dirty words, I dissolve into a puddle of goo. “You’re a bad boy McKinney,” I
whisper.
He
gives me a discreet lick behind my ear. “Your bad boy.”
I
pull back, so he can see me blushing.
He
laughs, his loud, gorgeous laugh that starts at his toes. “God, I love you.” He
takes my hand and gently rubs his thumb on my palm.
The
lights dim, the director counts us down, letting us know that we’re about to be
live on television, and the host comes out on stage. I’m sure that Brad knows
exactly who this guy is, but I haven’t a clue.
He
starts his opening monologue. I guess he’s funny enough. I politely laugh at
his jokes, because everyone else is. That is, until he starts shooting zingers
at the athletes in the audience. I know that a joke is going to be hurled
Colin’s way. He’s been too high-profile lately to be passed over. I mentally
prepare myself to laugh at it, no matter what the comedian says. I refuse to
let the world see that whatever the joke is bothers me.
Then
it comes.
“No
wonder Colin McKinney takes painkillers. If I had to endure that many
heartbreaking seasons, I’d be an addict, too. And what about his doctor
girlfriend, or should we call her his dealer? Convenient to be engaged to a
doctor. Rather convenient, huh?” he says, tapping his forehead, as if he’s
really thought this out.
I
glance over at Colin, expecting his jaw to be set in that terribly pained way, and
the lines around his eyes to have deepened. That’s not the case. His face is
relaxed, and determined.
He
stands up, offering me his hand. Dear God,
what is Colin doing? I take it, blindly, not having an idea what’s going
on. Then, I soon realize that we’re standing, and walking up the center aisle of
the auditorium, headed for the three sets of closed double doors in the back. I
see everyone staring at us in shock, surprise, amazement and confusion. We’re
the car accident, and everyone is rubbernecking. My eyes lock on Liza’s. Her
hands go to her mouth as she stares at me.
The
audience is silent. The comedian is silent.
Colin’s
grip on my hand is painful. He’s walking, more determinedly than I’ve ever seen
him. He has his eyes fixed on the exit sign. I feel like I’m almost running to stay
by his side. I follow him, not saying a word until we’re out the auditorium
doors. They slam behind us, which reminds me just how eerily quiet it really
is.
Colin’s
drops my hand, and blood returns to it in a gush of painful prickles. He runs
his hands through his hair, and begins pacing back and forth. I recognize this
for what it is. Colin just reached his breaking point. He’s me, seeing Alice
iron my underwear. It’s something small. What the comedian said was not
something new or original. It’s not something that hasn’t been theorized in the
press for the previous weeks. But, hearing the words come out of the comedian’s
mouth while I was sitting next to him, was the last straw for Colin.
Some
producer, or director, or someone who seems to have an important job rushes
over to us, apologizing like crazy for the comedian’s remarks. I’m too stunned
to fully register what he’s saying, but he’s definitely trying to talk us out
of leaving. Next, we’re joined by Brad, Aiden, and Jenny. They start chiming in
on the conversation, trying to calm Colin down.
I
feel my blood pressure rising, and it’s not from the inappropriate remarks made
by the comedian. How dare they? How can our friends be blind to what I see so clearly?
Colin might be a super athlete. He might be one of the most recognizable men in
the world. But he’s still just a man. He has feelings too. His heart beats with
the same red blood as everyone else’s. He feels pain and anger. He’s not a
robot, and he shouldn’t have to take abuse from anyone, especially someone who
makes mean remarks about people for a living.
I finally snap out of my shock and say, just
to Colin, ignoring the large group of people that have now surrounded us, “You
don’t have to stay if you don’t want to. I love you. We can leave and go back
to our hotel.” I take his hands in mine, and look into his green eyes. “You.
Don’t. Have. To. Stay. Colin.”
That’s
all the permission he needs. Without an explanation to the group that is still chirping
at him, trying to convince him to go back inside and have a seat, or our
friends who are desperately trying to calm him down, we walk out the side
entrance of the theater, hand in hand. One boy who’s hurting, that’s loved
infinitely by his one girl.
We
leave the limo for Brad, Jenny, and Aiden. Colin hails a cab, and asks the
driver to pull in at In and Out Burger.
Friday, November 22, 2013
"Finding Infinity" Teaser - Part Eight
Tuesday is the big day :-)
As
I see him finally make his way to the auditorium doors, I grab Brad and head
for the area where he will be entering.
I’m waiting as he steps inside, and out of the firing line of the
reporters. Jenny and Aiden follow him in. The lobby is filled with the chaos of
arriving athletes, PR people, guests, and producers.
But
I ignore them all, because the look on Aiden’s face says it all. Colin’s going
to have to answer the media’s questions. He can’t spend the rest of his career
ignoring them. But that’s a tomorrow problem. Right now, Colin and I need some
privacy.
I
turn to our little group. “If you’ll excuse Colin and I for a minute. We need
to talk.”
I
grab his hand, ignoring his face, and lead him back to the secure area where I’d
watched him walk the red carpet. Once I’m confident that we’re alone, I pull
him to me and wrap my arms around his chest. I look up into his shell-shocked
green eyes. I would do anything to make sure that he never looks like this
again.
“I’m
going to have to do something aren’t I,” he states, rather than asks me.
“Yeah,
baby. I think you are,” I say, as calmly as possible, as I continue to hold him
to me. There is nothing I want more than to make this better for him, but I
know that I can do nothing but love him and support him through it. This is the
first time that his name has been tarnished, and it’s killing him.
He
clings to me, pulling me tighter to him. We stand there, holding on to each
other, until I finally break his grasp on me. “You handled Sasha well,” I say,
looking in his eyes, hoping that I don’t see anything other than relief.
“Yeah,”
he confirms, rubbing his hand through his waves. “I did.” I get the reassurance
that I need. “I guess we should go inside, and hope that the host isn’t some
comedian looking for his five minutes who’s going to drag this on longer than
it has to.”
These
are the words that come out of his mouth, but neither one of us actually moves.
Once we’re inside the theater, the cameras will find us. I’m not naïve enough
to believe that there won’t be multiple shots of us sitting next to each other.
It’s three hours of being perfectly on point. They’re hoping to catch Colin and
me during an intimate touch or a warm embrace. They want to see my reaction
when the winners of the awards that Colin’s up for are announced. This is our
last unguarded moment.
I
reach down, and grab his left hand. I bring his ring, with its secret meaning,
up to my lips, and kiss it. “It’s you and me, baby. That’s it. I’m just a girl
who loves a boy.”
He
smiles the half smile that I live for. “You’re right. I’m just a boy who’s
crazy in love with a girl. Fuck the rest of the world.” He smirks. “We’ll add
all of them to my I Don’t Give A Fuck list.”
Wednesday, November 20, 2013
"Finding Infinity" Teaser - Part Seven
November 26 is so close that I can taste it...
As
soon as Brad and I are inside the lobby, security walks me over to a bank of
televisions so we can watch Colin walk the red carpet. It’s amazing to see how
carefree he looks. He’s walking along the line of fans, shaking hands, signing
autographs, and posing for pictures. I see him grab a fangirl’s camera and take
a photo of the two of them together. She nearly passes out. He acknowledges all
the kids and gives them an extra half-second of his time.
The
producers of the various networks that have sent reporters to cover the red
carpet arrivals are trying to get Colin’s attention. I see them finally giving
up, and pleading their cases to Jenny and Aiden.
I
can tell when Colin spots Tyler and Liza, because his smile finally reaches his
eyes. He walks over to them and greets them both. They pose for pictures
together. I’ve grown to really like them. Liza, being a music stylist, has them
dressed as if they’re going to the Grammys. However, I have to laugh out loud
when I see the tie that Tyler is wearing. He has on all black: black pants,
jacket, and shirt. All of his tattoos are appropriately covered. However, the tie
that he’s wearing is the ultimate in tacky. It’s a Dallas Cowboys tie from the
1980's that probably came complimentary with the purchase of a bottle of
cologne. It’s hideously perfect for the rocker/football player. His hair is a
crazy shade of blue. The fans love him, and scream for his attention.
Aiden
and Jenny direct Colin to the line of reporters covering the red carpet
arrivals. That’s when I see her. Sasha Stone is holding a microphone, and
trying desperately to get Colin’s attention. I turn to the security person
standing next to me. “Please turn up the volume,” I ask, trying to keep the fear
out of my voice. The ever present knot is growing in my stomach.
I
watch Colin’s body language, trying to predict what he’s going to do. As he
approaches her, his face is unreadable. He’s slipped the game day mask on. He
could stab you in the heart, and you wouldn’t see it coming.
I’ll
give Sasha credit. She looks gorgeous. Her dress is lime sorbet green, which
sounds ugly, but looks fantastic against her tan complexion, light blonde hair
and bright blue eyes. It skims her body, revealing every curve without showing
much skin.
When
Colin reaches her, he bends down and places a kiss on her cheek. I’m sure that
it’s friendly, but it makes me crazy. Those lips will not touch me until
they’ve been sanitized . . . with Lysol. Their body language is friendly. I
reach down and feel my engagement ring with my finger. I know that
Colin wants me and not her, but I still hate seeing them together. Her beauty
rivals his.
She
single-handedly sunk my career by granting that awful interview. Because of her,
Colin and I had to open our lives up for public viewing. I hate her. How can he
be so friendly to her? She pushed the pebble down the mountain, creating our
avalanche.
Then,
I notice what Colin’s doing. He’s rubbing his thumb back and forth over his
engagement ring. It’s a very small gesture, but I’ve noticed that he does it
frequently. My first impression is that it’s become the equivalent of a child’s
safety blanket for him, or a much-loved teddy bear. The ring, that he
complained so much about wearing, is bringing him comfort. That loosens the
knot in my stomach.
Sasha
keeps her questions focused on football, which is smart, on her part. Colin
gives the same rehearsed, tired answers that he always gives. Yes! He’s looking
forward to the season. This is one of the best teams that Dallas has ever had.
Blah . . . blah . . . blah . . .
Then,
to my surprise, she asks him if he can confirm the rumors that he’s ending his
endorsement deal with the underwear company. Colin flashes his “Aw, shucks”
grin and replies, “You know, I’m almost in my mid-thirties. I think it’s time
to hang up the briefs.”
Sasha
jumps on the news, like white on rice. “So, you’re confirming that your famous
underwear campaign will be coming to an end?”
“Yup.
That’s what I’m confirming,” he says, still smiling his good ol’ boy grin.
“I
noticed a wedding ring on your left hand. Can you also confirm that you’re
married?” I’ll give Sasha credit. She asks the question without a hint of
malice or jealousy in her voice. She’s either a great reporter, or she never
really loved Colin, like her interview led everyone to believe.
Colin’s
jaw sets in the rigid stance that I’ve become familiar with when he’s angry,
and I see him thumbing his ring even faster. “Sasha, I do not comment on my private
life.” As he says this, the camera zooms in on his left hand. His emphasis on
the word “my” clearly has a double meaning. He’s telling her that it’s his life,
not hers, and also letting her know that he didn’t appreciate the tell-all
interview that she granted. “My” is one hell of a powerful word.
He
turns and walks away from Sasha, without an ounce of pleasantries. I can hear
the questions being shouted at him. Reporters are asking where I am. They want
to know when the baby is due. But, most disconcertingly, they want him to
answer questions about the rumors of his addiction to painkillers and other
narcotics. He’s doing a wonderful job of ignoring all the noise, and going back
to interact with the crowd of fans.
I
want to run down and rescue him. I feel my blood pressure rising. How dare
they? I’ve never seen someone who takes as good care of their body as Colin
does. Yes. He admitted only to me that he had a problem, but that was very
early in his career, and he’s moved on. Damn the media, for building him up
just to tear him down.
Tuesday, November 19, 2013
"Finding Infinity" Teaser - Part Six
A week from today... "Finding Infinity" will be live on November 26.
Then
Brad slightly gestures his head toward Colin. I look up at the man standing
next to me. He’s staring down at me with a look that I can’t place.
When
the elevator reaches the ground floor, I ask everyone to get off. I hit the
elevator’s close-door button, and turn to Colin. It’s the first time that we’ve
been truly alone without others hanging around in earshot since we got up this
morning.
“What’s
wrong?” I ask, in my sweetest, most non-accusing voice possible.
His
eyes are wide, and Colin has a light sheen on his forehead. “Nothing’s wrong,
Caroline. Let’s go.”
I’m
only Caroline when I’m in trouble, or he’s serious. Even when we’re playing his
favorite game in bed, I’m Caroline McKinney. Not just Caroline. He moves to hit
the open-door button, but I block it. I’ve got all night.
He
moves his hand up to start running it through his waves, but I grab his wrist,
and ask again. “What’s wrong?”
Colin
looks down, as if the elevator floor is going to give him the answer. Finally,
he says, “I’m not ready to give them what they want.”
“Who?”
“Them.
The public. The fans. Everyone there. I don’t want to let them see us together,
exposing ourselves to their shitty comments. To see what we have between us.
They don’t deserve to have their morbid curiosity fed.” He tightens his grip on
my hand.
Caroline
of a couple of months ago would analyze Colin’s words to death. What if he’s ashamed of me? What if there
are other women? Is it because I’m not pretty enough, like a model, or actress,
or a certain entertainment reporter? However, I know exactly what he means,
without asking him to explain. He doesn’t want to share our relationship with
the world yet. The interview taught us that we’re much more private people than
even we realized.
“How
about I don’t walk the red carpet with you? I’ll just meet you inside.” It
seems like a great compromise. He can interact with his fans and the reporters
without worrying about me, but I can still be his date during the actual awards
ceremony.
I
watch his face pass through a variety of emotions. There’s confusion, angst,
nervousness and, finally, agreement. “It’s not because I’m not proud of you,
Charlie. You are so beautiful. And lovely. And sexy.” He whispers to me as if
these are the most important words ever spoken.
I
place my perfectly manicured finger on his lips, silencing him. “I know what
your reasons are. Let’s get out of this elevator. It’s getting stuffy.”
I
press the button to open, take Colin’s hand once more and lead him out of the
elevator, through the lobby, and into the limo that’s already filled with our
friends.
I
slide in first—as gracefully as possible—and Colin folds his body in behind me.
When the limo starts moving, Colin turns to Jenny and says in an authoritative
voice, “Find out how Caroline can enter the theater without walking the red
carpet.”
Aiden
and Brad both shoot me a look. I smile brightly and say, “I don’t feel
comfortable walking the red carpet, and Colin isn’t going to make me.”
Jenny
jumps into action, and whips out her phone making the necessary calls.
Colin
squeezes my hand, acknowledging and thanking me for my small lie. I’ve come to
understand some things about Colin. He might be strong and tough as nails on
the outside. He might be cocky and self-assured to the world, but I think that
I’m the only person who gets to see the other side of him. His tender side. His
blinding need to protect our relationship. Us.
Him and I. I get it. We’ve been through too much together to take a chance
on anyone taking it away from us.
After
Jenny hangs up with whomever she was speaking with, a new plan is hatched.
Jenny, Aiden, and Colin will get out of the limo together, and walk the red carpet.
Jenny and Aiden will field reporters’ questions.
The
limo will pull up to a side entrance for Brad and me. I’ll meet Colin in the
lobby after he’s given himself to everyone who expects so much out of him.
When
the limo stops, Colin leans over and whispers in my ear, “Don’t go all Charlie
on me.”
I
brush my lips against his cheek so I don’t leave lipstick. “Same for you,
mister.”
We
break hands only when he steps out of the limo. I can hear the roar of the
crowd screaming his name. There are cheers and shrill screams. I can see him
smiling his winning smile, and waving to his fans as he buttons his black
tuxedo jacket.
Next
out of the car is Jenny, and then Aiden. As the door is shutting, I hear
someone yell. “Where’s Charlie?”
The
limo pulls away before I can hear his answer, or if he even does.
Sunday, November 17, 2013
"Finding Infinity" Teaser - Part Five
He
turns away from me, breaking our image together in the mirror and reaches back
grabbing my offered hand. He leads me into the living room of the suite where
my beauty team, and Brad, Jenny, and Aiden are waiting for us.
Everyone
but Jenny and Aiden swarm me, like they’re in a pack of locusts. Someone’s
touching up my lipstick. Someone else is fussing over the hem of my dress. I
hear the makeup artist say to the hair stylist, “She certainly doesn’t need
more blush, does she?” That makes me smile, which earns me a reprimand from the
makeup person.
Jenny
and Aiden are surrounding Colin, whispering like middle school girls with a big
secret. I try very hard to hear what they’re saying, but all I can make out are
a few syllables. I glance at Brad, asking him for a clue with my eyes.
The
best assistant in the world mouths, “Security.”
Oh!
I give Brad a small head nod. Even though there will be heavy security tonight,
Colin has been anxious about today. Every week since the interview aired with
Allison Katz, the amount of interest in Colin has increased to an even more
frenzied pitch, if that was possible. The public is clamoring for answers to
the world’s most important questions. When is our wedding? Is he a drug abuser?
A painkiller addict? As he has told me
numerous times, “I created the Colin McKinney brand monster, and now we’re
suffering the consequences.”
Jenny
thankfully announces that it’s time to head to the Nokia Theater. That makes
the little mice working on me move that much faster, until they’re finally
convinced that I’m as pretty as I’m going to get. Brad grabs my purse, if it
could be called that. It’s not even large enough to hold a phone. And Jenny
(whose hair is bright red), Aiden, Brad, Colin and I head downstairs to our
waiting limo.
Brad
mouths at me when in the elevator, “You look fabulous.”
I
mouth back, “I feel like a clown.”
"Finding Infinity" will be available on November 26!
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