Page 28 of Ravaged By Lust

After all these years, that man can still wound me with a single look.

8

CHLOE

The cab drops me off at a car rental place, just where I need to go. Even I’m not dumb enough to know that you need a car to get around Los Angeles. It’s another reason why I don’t take a liking to this city. Everything’s just so spread out like it’s purposely designed to make you feel like nothing but a tiny ant. Meaningless. Ready to be chewed up and spat out by any one of the massive entertainment industry factories here. It makes LA one hell of a scary place, that’s for sure.

I hand over my practically last dollars to hire a car. It burns me up to sign the forms at the rental place.

This is it. Risking everything for this viral video.

Make or break.

I’m old and mature enough to wise up to the fact that sometimes in life you only get one opportunity at cracking something, and this is mine. This upcoming meeting with Mickey Miller is that opportunity.

The woman behind the desk hands me the keys to the rental and I try not to let my fingers shake with nerves as I take them from her.

* * *

“Holy shit, I know you.”

It’s the immediate reaction I get when the door to the apartment I’m renting opens.

“Um, hi.”

“Where do I know you from? Where? Wait, don’t tell me. Let me think… Oh, right. Holy shit. That song, yeah? The one everyone’s obsessed with that’s doing the rounds on Instagram? That’s you. Yep. Definitely you. Hello!”

Standing before me is a very large man, I’m guessing probably in his early thirties, who has the bushiest beard this side of a ye olde pirate ship. His expressive voice loudly echoes out into the hallway like a trained opera singer. In the single minute I’ve spent with him, I can already tell he’s bombastic, super friendly, and incredibly flamboyant.

A guy that makes me instantly laugh.

“Yep. I’m Chloe Stoll. I’m the girl from that song. Gosh, that’s weird saying that.”

“Gary Seal, at your service,” my host replies with a theatrical bow. “Web designer and rental host by day, raging queer by night.”

“I guess this is the right address, then,” I say.

“Let me tell you, I did not know that a freaking starlet was staying at my place,” Gary says. “I would’ve actually cleaned it properly if I knew it was you coming. I absolutely adore your voice, Chloe. I’m going to have to make you sing for me before you leave. It’s now part of your rental contract.”

I giggle again. “Please, don’t.”

He’s warmed me up after that insane experience with Bishop. It’s nice to meet someone so gregarious and extroverted as Gary, especially in such a cutthroat city as Los Angeles. I’m already happy with my choice of rental apartment if he’s the owner.

“Come in,” he says. “Don’t be shy. Welcome to my little abode here in the City of Angels. I’ll show you around. Come on, come on. In you pop.”

Gary practically pulls me inside. It’s a very neat place. The wall is full of hanging framed photos of Gary with friends and family. The man must have a buzzing social life and it’s pretty evident why. He’s like a whirlwind of fun.

“I don’t know what you’re saying about not being clean, Gary,” I exclaim. “Your place is spotless. There’s no need to scrub down anything. I wish my place back home was like this.”

“Thank you. You can stay, Chloe Stoll.”

“I think I will.”

“Tell me, whereabouts are you from? You’re too nice to be from this town.”

“A small town on the other side of the country.”

“Ah. A small town girl in the big city with a gay roommate. It’s like the start of a sitcom. I love it. Is that your guitar?”