Read Online Michael's Secrets by Milton Stern - Free Book Online Page B

Michael ordered a Diet Coke and paid for both and tipped the bartender. Michael noticed that people were staring at him as he sat there with Steve. “Why are people looking at me?” he asked.
    Steve looked around and said, “Oh, I’m sort of a celebrity here, and my boyfriend and I are on a break, but they don’t know, so they probably think I’m cheating on him. And, you are new meat.”
    “You have a boyfriend?” Michael asked, looking at Steve.
    “We’re on a break. It’s OK,” Steve said.
    “I know it’s OK; we’re just sitting here talking,” Michael said as he sipped his drink.
    “So, where did you move here from?” Steve asked as he turned in his stool to face Michael, brushing his leg.
    “Santa Monica,” Michael answered. “I’m just here for a year working on a project.”
    “Really? What kind of project?” Steve asked as he put the bottled water to his mouth.
    Michael studied him and wondered if he should answer his question or remain vague about it. He decided to go ahead and tell him. “I’m co-writing a screenplay with a friend of mine.”
    “Wow, that’s cool,” Steve said. “You ever done anything like that before?”
    “Yeah,” Michael said, offering nothing else. “What do you do when you aren’t Mr. D.C. Falcon?”
    Steve laughed at Michael’s question and took another sip of his water. He didn’t answer the question and ordered another bottled water, while Michael gave him a puzzled look.
    “Is it something illegal?” Michael asked.
    Steve paid the bartender, set the bottle down, opened it and took another sip. “I’m a security consultant for a government agency. Really boring, but it pays the bills,” Steve said, finally answering the question. “So, what else have you written?”
    Michael reached back for his wallet and handed Steve his card. Steve looked at it and raised his eyebrows. “You’re the head writer of Los Angeles Live ?” he asked, looking up at Michael.
    “Was,” Michael said, looking at the bottles on the bar. “The show was cancelled.”
    “Wow, for how long?” Steve asked obviously impressed.
    “Eighteen seasons, I was there from the beginning to the bitter end,” he answered as he sipped his soda.
    “That’s so cool,” Steve said. “And now you write screenplays full-time?”
    Michael looked at Steve. “For the moment. A movie I wrote will be released in January, and after I’m finished here, who knows.”
    Steve patted Michael on the back and said, “I’m sure you’ll find something.”
    Michael leaned back and looked at him, saying, “Yeah, I should be able to scrape up some kind of living when I return in a year.”
    Steve smiled at him and said, “Is money tight now that the show was cancelled?”
    Michael thought this was an awfully personal question and looked at him disapprovingly.
    “Oh, was that inappropriate?” Steve asked.
    “Kind of,” Michael said.
    “Well, it’s just that you were trying to hail a cab, and I figured you can’t afford a car right now, and you moved here to write a screenplay …”
    “You should never assume anything,” Michael interrupted, tilting his head down to look at Steve. “I own a house in Santa Monica and a car. I just figured I wouldn’t need one here, and in case you’re worried about my eating noodles every night, I could retire today if I wanted to.” Steve’s eyes opened wide, and Michael took another sip of his drink. “Well, Steve, it was great meeting you and thanks for getting me in, but I think I better go home. Who can call me a cab, here?” Michael asked.
    “I can drive you home,” Steve offered.
    “No, I don’t want to put you to any trouble,” he said as he got up from his seat.
    “It would be no trouble,” Steve said as he also got up. “Besides, I can see how a big Hollywood writer lives.”
    “You won’t be impressed. I’m subletting an apartment from a friend of a friend,” Michael said as he walked to the door. “So, can the bouncer get a