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I shake my head. Tom's like a thirteen year old girl going gaga over Alex.
Alex smiles and thanks him.
I clear my throat again, hoping Tom takes the hint and gives us the good news.
"Oh, right," he says, and I swear he's blushing. "When you signed this contract, you were only fifteen. Contracts signed by minors can be voided after the minor turns eighteen if they so choose."
"Wha—?" Alex's pretty mouth hangs open.
"You can get out of this contract any time. You just need to say the word and I'll notify the production company that you no longer wish to be bound by this contract. In addition, I plan to file a grievance with the bar against the attorneys who drafted this contract because it's clearly designed to take advantage of your naivete and youth."
"Wha—?" Alex repeats.
"You can get out of the contract. You can live your life the way you want."
Alex is dumbstruck. She stares from Tom to me and back again. "No more lavender hair?"
"Only if you want to."
"No more dropping onto the stage from a guide wire?"
"Only if you join the circus."
Slowly, realization sets in for her and a look of sheer joy crosses her face. She jumps up from her chair and hugs me then runs around the table and wraps her arms around Tom and kisses him on the cheek.
Now Tom is the one who is speechless.
* * *
ALEX
I practically skip through the office as Caleb and I leave the meeting with Tom. Free. I'm free. I don't even know what to think or do, but a sense of overwhelming happiness fills me and I hold back from laughing hysterically, at least until we're out of the office.
In the elevator, I grab Caleb as soon as the door closes, and I squeeze him as hard as I can. "I can't believe it. It's a miracle. Thank you, thank you. You've made everything in my life better."
He lifts me up and I wrap my legs around his waist. "You make everything in my life better too, sweetheart. I never knew I could be this happy."
His lips cover mine and we share a kiss that's sweet and tender and full of promise. When it ends, he looks at me with eyes full of love. So much love it’s almost overwhelming. I don’t even know what to say so I just rest my head on his chest and absorb it all.
When the elevator reaches the ground floor, Caleb sets me on my feet and takes my hand. “I’ve got something else to show you,” he says, dragging me down the sidewalk.
We stop in front of The Hamilton Hotel. It’s an impressive building, and when Caleb leads me inside, I’m a little curious. Does he have a room reserved for some celebratory sex?
“Good afternoon, Mr. Starr,” the receptionist says.
“Wow,” I say. “Do you come here often?”
Others on the staff nod and greet him. He’s getting the star treatment that I usually get. Or is it the Starr treatment?
We go down a long hall and stop in front of a big set of double doors. Caleb pauses and turns to me. “Now, this is just an idea. A suggestion. And if you hate it, you just say so. You won’t hurt my feelings. I just want you to be happy. But only if it’s what you want. I know you’ve had everyone else telling you how to live and I don’t want to be like that.”
I glance up at him. He’s actually nervous. It’s cute as hell. I reach up and touch his cheek. “Okay,” I say. “Thanks for saying that.”
He opens the door and it’s a performance area with a small stage and circular tables scattered around the room. It’s the sort of place I used to play back before I made it big.
Over the stage there’s a banner made from a huge sheet of paper. It says, “The Alex Starr Showroom.”
I stop dead in my tracks and stare at it. “What? How?”
