Chapter 35
I’m lying in bed with Sully’s oversized white t-shirt on, scrolling through different travel blogs on my laptop to get an idea of unique things to do in Europe.
I made a list of all the restaurants we should try and which beaches I want for my photoshoots.
It’ll take some time, but I have a list of photographers to contact.
The only issue is finding a good and reliable mer-handler.
Sully might have to pull double duty if I can’t find one.
Sully pads into the bedroom with a pink box of doughnuts and two cups of coffee. I close the laptop and move the pillows around to make room for him to sit beside me.
“You’re my hero,” I say to the coffee, taking a loving sip.
Sully chuckles, biting into a chocolate-glazed doughnut. “Should I be offended you’re saying that to your coffee and not me?”
“A good man knows when to accept defeat,” I tease, grabbing a strawberry doughnut with rainbow sprinkles and taking a giant bite.
He swipes crumbs off my lips and licks his thumb. “You know—”
His phone rings. He pushes ignore, but it rings again.
“It’s fine. You can answer it.”
“Just one second.” He grabs the phone and hits the speaker. “What do you want?”
“You were supposed to meet me an hour ago!” a woman screams.
He rolls his eyes and bites his doughnut. “Told you last night, Gigi. I’m not coming to the studio today.”
Shame creeps into my veins. I run my fingers along the list of places I wanted to see in Paris. How could we run around Europe without answering to anyone? He’d be too busy to do half the things we discussed. I close the notebook and kill the dream of us traveling across the ocean.
“It’s okay, Sully. I should get going.” I gather my clothing and walk toward the bathroom.
“Who are you with?” Gigi demands, venom dripping from her words.
Sully places his hand over the phone’s mic. “Veronica. Please stay.”
“I have to go to work anyway,” I lie, locking myself in the bathroom to get dressed and brush my hair.
“I’m not going to make it, and if you call me again, I’ll turn my phone off. Goodbye.” Sully hangs up.
He knocks on the bathroom door. I open it and slide past him. The warmth of his chest is almost enough to tempt me back into bed and to forget that phone call.
Sully runs a hand through his hair. “Sorry about that. I don’t know why she wants to meet at the studio. We’re done recording. I think Amy’s filled her head with lies.”
“Amy’s looking out for the band, I guess. Thinks it will hype the tour if you’re dating.”
He nods. “I thought being single meant independence, not having a matchmaker. Especially when I found someone I like spending time with.” His hands cup my hips, pulling me closer to his chest.
“Oh?” I gasp as his hands squeeze my ass.
Sully’s lips brush against my cheekbone to my ear. He nips at my throat and hikes me up. I wrap my legs around his hips. He kisses me as my back meets the wall.
I claw his shoulder blades as he pins my arms above my head. His other hand works my buttons. My black lace bra peeks through, and his hips rock against mine. I can feel he’s ready to throw me onto the bed and screw my brains out.
“Can we put a pin in this?” I ask, between breaths.
He pauses, lips still on my chest. “Why?”
“Because I need to go home and make up with Alice, and you need to deal with this Gigi issue.”
“Do I?”
“Yes. She’s not going to…” My sentence fades as Sully frees my left breast, teasing the nipple into a hard pebble.
Desire builds in my core, and I’m about to tell him to forget it and rip his pants off when he releases me. My swollen lips ache for his as I tuck myself back into my bra and fix my shirt.
“We’ll resume later tonight.” He glances around and finds his shirt. “Don’t worry about the tour, and keep that notebook close. I told you before, and I’ll say it again, I’m not going anywhere if you’re not with me.”
He moves closer, and I press two fingers to his lips. “If we kiss again, I’m afraid we’ll end up on the bed, and we’ll never leave this room.”
Sully laughs, kissing each finger before walking over to pull on his shoes. “Don’t you find anyone else while I’m gone.”
“No promises.” I toss my hair over my shoulder. “You know how many men I beat off with my tail?” I joke.
His gaze darkens as his jaw clenches. “Don’t say shit like that. It makes me never want to let you out of my sight.”
“Don’t worry about me. I’ve taken care of myself this long. I think I can handle one more day.”
I’m not ready to face Alice yet, so I head down to Santa Monica to walk along the beach and clear my head. It’s a weekday, so there are only a few people lying on the sand or hanging out in the water. I spot a handful of surfers out catching waves.
This time of day, no shells wash up on shore to collect. Instead, I walk in ankle-deep water, listening to the waves crash while the seagulls cry out.
“Veronica!” a male voice shouts behind me.
I ignore it. There must be some other girl here by that name. Maybe a child who ran off from her dad.
“Hey!” a breathy voice says as a hand grabs my shoulder.
I whirl around and choke on my tongue. My ex stands with a smile like we’re old friends who haven’t seen each other in ten years. He opens his arms to hug me, and I stumble back, shoving my hands in front of me to keep him at bay.
“What are you doing here, Teddy?” I rasp. My voice isn’t as strong as I want it to be. Saying his name feels like I activated a terrible curse.
He smirks, placing his hands on his hips. He’s wearing a surf shirt and black swim trunks. “Saw you walk by and wanted to talk. I’ve been texting you.”
“Yeah…” And I’ve been ignoring you. Hoping you’d fade away like the horrible memory you are.
“Please. Can I buy you a cup of coffee? I want to talk.” He holds his hands up in surrender. “That’s it.”
He gestures to the little coffee cart past the sand parked on the sidewalk.
“I guess,” I sigh, following him to the cart.
I’m so going to regret this.