Free Stranded by Andrew Grey Page B

no use in me coming out if I’m not going to be able to see you. I’ll only end up sitting around waiting for you to come home.”
    “It just feels wrong being apart like this,” Kendall said.
    “It’s not going to be forever, and when you’re done, you’ll come back here. We’ve been together for a long time, and yes, this will be the longest we’ve been apart, but you’ll make it, and so will I.” Johnny paused. “I do miss you. This place just isn’t the same without your clothes falling on the floor of the closet and shoes left everywhere.”
    “Okay, I get it,” Kendall said as he felt the tender moment slip away. “I’ll let you get back to work.”
    “Call and let me know how it goes,” Johnny asked, and Kendall agreed before hanging up. He noticed there was no “I love you” or any other sentiment at the end of the call, and he tried to remember when those had disappeared, but he couldn’t. He’d just now realized they were gone and had been gone for quite a while. Kendall missed them. He also knew it wasn’t Johnny’s fault any more than it was his. They’d let those things slip away, along with some of the intimacy in their relationship, and Kendall wondered if it was too late to get them back.
    Lyman finally hung up, and their small group rode in near silence until they got close to the gas station where they’d started their trip. The limousine was waiting, and when they stopped, Kendall got out and shook hands with both men. “Thank you,” he told Lyman. “This was an eye-opening experience, and I think it helped me build the character in my mind.”
    “Very good. We’ll talk later this week or early next week about how you see your character and how I see your character. Then we’ll come to an understanding going forward,” Lyman said with as much camaraderie as Kendall had heard all day. “Let me know if you have any trouble getting everything done tomorrow. I know there’s a lot going on, but we’re crunched for time.”
    “It’s fine. I’ve been through this before,” Kendall said. “Not with a movie, but I understand the urgency.” Lyman nodded a bit, and Kendall thought he might be seeing the beginnings of a touch of respect from him. When he didn’t say anything more, Kendall walked toward the limousine and found it blessedly empty. He climbed into the back and asked the driver to take him to the hotel. As he rode he called Juan.
    “I need some help,” he said after they’d exchanged greetings. “I’m going to need a small place to live while I’m here as well as a car of my own. Can you help me?”
    “Of course,” Juan said. “Let me make some phone calls to see what I can find.”
    “Thanks. I don’t want some huge showy place; just a small secure apartment for a few months will do.” He was used to making do with a small space and that suited him.
    “But what if you decide to stay?” Juan asked, and Kendall paused. Leaving New York had never occurred to him. “Okay, I’ll see what I can do.”
    “Thank you, I appreciate the help,” Kendall said.
    “No problem. I’ll see you in the morning and help you get to all your appointments,” Juan said.
    “Thanks.” Kendall hung up the phone and slid it into his pocket. He was exhausted, and tomorrow promised to be long, as did most of the days ahead. He was used to long days, but he was also used to coming home to Johnny every night, and he really missed that, especially once the driver had dropped him off and he took the elevator to his solitary hotel room.

Chapter 4

     
     
    K ENDALL never knew four weeks could fly by so damned fast. Juan had found him a nice furnished apartment through his studio connections. A car proved more problematic, but he finally managed to lease one for six months. Granted, he wasn’t expecting to need it that long, but it was the shortest duration he could find. “They’re ready for you on the set,” a runner said, and Kendall didn’t even get a chance to turn