The Tiger Catcher

“Don’t know what you mean.”

“What I don’t get is why you were rude to her friend. What did she do?”

“I wasn’t rude, I was making small talk. What else were we going to talk about, you?”

They finished their beers.

“Have you lovebirds discussed where you’re going to live?” Ashton said. “Is she going to move to L.A.? What about her career? Theatre is my life and all that? Or are you the one making other plans, like a relocation to New York, perhaps?”

“I’m not going anywhere, Ash,” Julian said. “I promise.” Affection crept into his voice. “Is that what you’re worried about?”

“Who’s worried? But why the rush? To keep her from returning east? Is her visa expiring? You do know New York is still the United States of America,” Ashton said. “You can travel freely from coast to coast.”

Julian peered into his friend’s face. “Dude, what’s going on with you?”

Ashton stared into his empty beer glass. “I don’t know. I have a bad feeling, that’s all,” he said. “Even at Cherry Lane when I saw her perform, there was something about her that wasn’t right. And I’m not the only one who thought so. Look at Gwen and Riley’s reaction to her. Everybody’s but yours, frankly. I can’t explain it. Something’s off. Maybe she’s not the girl you think she is. Maybe what you’ve found is the Hollywood version of what you think you want. You think you’ve found day, but what you’ve really found is night.”

“You’re wrong,” Julian said. “She is the most open, heart on sleeve girl I’ve ever met. She lives her life out loud.”

“Yeah, okay.”

“She’s like a female you. Are you telling me you’re not the guy I think you are?”

Ashton didn’t answer. “She is trouble,” he said. “I can’t help it. That’s what I feel.”

“You’re wrong.”

“For your sake, I hope so.”

The men fell quiet, focusing on other patrons’ conversation, on the song playing on the jukebox, “Burn it Blue.”

“I know how you are,” Ashton said. “Quiet but ruthless. I know you won’t be talked out of anything unless you want to be talked out of it. When are you planning on popping the question?”

“Soon. Waiting for the right time,” Julian said.

“Oh, that’s wise.”

“I don’t have much of it, though.”

“Wisdom?”

“Time.” Julian leaned in. “The Brentwood Country Club has a cancellation four weeks from Friday!”

At first Ashton didn’t react. “Four weeks from which Friday?”

“Don’t be like that.” Julian rocked on his seat.

“You want to marry a girl you met five minutes ago, four weeks from this Friday?” Ashton’s stunned expression was priceless.

“I’m not crazy, Ashton.”