Mack

Mack is the hero of Luna Beach. Is it wrong to be in love with him even though I made him up?

On Friday night, I was at the cinema at 7.30 (the film was showing at 8) and it was still light. I bought a coke and a bucket of sweet popcorn[1]. A canopy had been raised above the screen, shading it so it was still visible despite the sun. Chairs were set out in rows and there was a grassy area in front. I sat there and leaned back on my elbows. I was the only person there. The film started and I leaned back against a chair until my entire field of vision was filled by the screen. It was a great way to watch a film.

Gene Kelly had just started espousing his motto, “Dignity, always dignity”, when I heard “Aw crap!”

I looked up. It was Mack. Oh good grief. He was wearing jeans, a denim shirt, bike boots and – yes – a cowboy hat. Could he be any more American[2]. He flopped down next to me. ‘Hi! I just walked into a chair there.’

I smiled and tried to control my stomach, which was flip-flopping so violently I thought I was about to have an Alien-type incident.

‘You haven’t missed much,’ I said.

‘It doesn’t really matter. I’ve seen it hundreds of times. It was my Grandma’s favourite film.’

‘How come there’s no-one here?’

He laughed. God, he was gorgeous when he laughed – all gleaming white American teeth and crinkly eyes.

‘They show it every week. Have done for about – ooh – ten years. Every so often we have a special and everyone comes and they get a liquor license and we barbecue and all sing along … but usually it’s quiet.’

I laughed. ‘That sounds great.’

‘It is. This is a great town.’

‘So everyone keeps telling me. I’m starting to think there’s something funny about it.’

‘How so?’

‘You know, X-Files or Twilight Zone. Everyone wants me to stay and, if I do, you’ll all eat me or something.’

He raised his eyebrows. What? Oh, Christ. I said “eat me”. I blushed. Violently.

He laughed again. ‘I wouldn’t worry. No-one’s going to eat you.’

No? Shame.

He settled back and watched the film for a while then I asked, ‘So where are you from?’

‘Originally, Phoenix, Arizona. But I’ve spent more time in LA.’

‘Really? You haven’t lost the accent though.’

‘Nah. I don’t think you do. Unless you really try. Southern’s a state of mind.’

‘And what state is that?’

‘Arizona’s different than most people imagine. It’s very relaxed – has to be it’s so damn hot – very spiritual. I love it there.’

‘So why do you live here?’

‘Oh, I love it here too. And it’s home now, you know? I still sometimes think of Arizona as home, but I haven’t lived there since I was seventeen. I’ve been away longer than I was there.’

‘So what were you doing in LA?’

I was an ac-torr.’ Again with the English accent.

‘An actor?’

‘Yes. On the silver screen.’ It was a quote from the film.

We both laughed.

‘What happened?’

‘I fell in love. Moved up here. Never left.’

Ooh. I watched the film, but my mind was whirring. She couldn’t still be around. It had to be over. I was just going to believe it was over. There.

When the movie finished we smiled at each other.

‘That is one great film,’ Mack said.

I nodded. He stood, took my hands, and pulled me to my feet. Easily. Now, I loved that. I’m not a big girl, but I’m not small either. Have you seen the video for Build Me Up Buttercup from There’s Something About Mary? Various actors[3] are picking Cameron Diaz up and swinging her around like she weighs nothing (which, to be fair, she probably does). I was so envious when I saw that. No man has ever picked me up, not since my dad when I was a kid. Jim used to pretend to try occasionally and then act like he’d put his back out and roll around groaning[4]. But Mack pulled me to my feel like I weighed nothing at all. He could have had me there and then.

‘So,’ he grinned. ‘Walk you home?’

As we walked down Main Street I said, ‘So. An actor. What kind of acting did you do?'

‘Ah. Some stage. Couple of films. Mostly I was in a soap.’

‘Days of our Lives?’ I squealed.

He laughed. ‘No. As the World Turns. I played Travis Walker - “a drifter who rolled up out of the blue, broke all the women’s hearts and left like the wind”.’

I laughed. ‘Like The Littlest Hobo.’

‘Yep. But without the fleas.’

‘Did you do any musicals?’

‘I did. Grease.’

‘Really? Were you Danny?’

‘No. I was …’

‘Kenickie,’ we said together and laughed.

‘A hickey from Kenickie,’ I said automatically and then blushed, again.

We turned onto the seafront and we were in front of the Seaside Inn.

‘So. You leavin’ now you’ve seen Singin’ in the Rain?’

I sighed and looked out to sea.

‘Ye-es. I’ve got to get the car back.’ I looked up at him. He had a fantastic nose. Straight. Classical, it would probably be called. I didn’t want to leave.

‘You don’t want to leave,’ he said.

‘You’re right. I don’t.’

‘I don’t want you to leave.’ My stomach flipped like Cameron Diaz. ‘We’re only just getting to know each other.’

I sighed again. I hadn’t wanted to leave since the minute I arrived. It was weird. I felt at home here. My New Year’s Resolution had been not to do anything I didn’t want to do. But I had to take the bloody car back and I wanted to visit Brian.

‘Here. Do what I do.’ Mack pulled a quarter out of his pocket. ‘You flip a coin, but you don’t have to be bound by the answer. You’ll know the answer by how you feel.’

‘Okay. Heads I stay, tails I go.’

Mack tossed the coin high in the air and we both watched it rise and fall. He caught it and slapped it on his arm. God, his forearms were beautiful – muscled, tanned, covered in light blond hair. I already had my answer, really, didn’t I.

He lifted his hand. ‘Tails.’ He looked at me. My stomach contracted. I knew.

‘I’m staying.’

‘Ha!’ He grabbed me and hugged me and we laughed. ‘I knew it! And you know you can get the hire company to come and collect the car?’

‘Can you?’ I smacked his arm. ‘Why didn’t you just tell me that in the first place?’

He grinned. ‘I’m glad you’re staying.’

‘Me too.’

He leaned down and kissed me on the cheek. He smelled of lemon. As I watched him walk away I had to fight the urge to put my fingers to my cheek like a moony teenager.