CHAPTER 8
“I don’t have a hobby,” I said, flicking through the phone, bored out of my mind. Loran’s House was on spring break, so for the next six weeks, I didn’t have work. I was still getting paid—barely, but money wasn’t really a concern because Jay wouldn’t let me spend a dime.
“Yes, you don’t,” he mumbled, intensely writing something in his notebook as he slid his guitar aside. “But you usually write.”
Jay and I were spread out on his massive terrace over the fake grass that was so soft that it felt like butter against my skin.
I was on my stomach, hunched up on my forearms while he sat opposite me writing a song. “Hmm, I don’t feel like writing. I’ve actually never felt that way before,” I replied, my eyes still on the phone. Well, his phone actually because mine had no battery. It almost always never did, and something about using a celebrity’s phone was exhilarating.
“Well…”
I looked up only to find his eyes zeroed in on the creamy tops of my breasts spilling out of my dress.
“Eyes up here,” I commanded, mustering a stern voice .
His eyes averted to mine. “Well, what I was trying to say was that they say the best way to get over writer’s block is to distract yourself.” He raised a brow, a grin tugging in the corner of his lips. “And lucky for you, I can be the best distraction.”
“I don’t doubt that, but this isn’t like an actual writer’s block. I’ve had that before. Now, I just don’t really feel like writing at all.”
“Is this because of your querying responses?”
“Maybe.” I shrugged.
“So it is.”
“I said maybe.”
“When a girl says maybe, it’s usually a yes.”
I rolled my eyes. “When did you get so fluent in the language of women?”
“Since I’ve been dealing with an overthinking woman for the past ten years.”
“Haha, not funny. More like four-ish, not ten.”
“But it is true.”
“Only because my boyfriend is an actual child.”
“A child who has to clean up behind you.”
“I’m the cleanest person I know.”
“Say that to the mountain of cookie wrappers you left on the floor.”
“I did no such thing.” I totally did, but I wasn’t admitting it now.
He shook his head, his eyes soft. “Don’t let those responses get to your head. I would say fuck them.”
“I know,” I groaned, pressing my cheek on the grass .
“People love to criticize, Evelyn. They also love to be mean when they do it. I’ve had my fair share throughout the years. I know it doesn’t make what I put out less valuable. I don’t know much about novels, but I love your words. It goes straight to my heart, and that’s something not everyone can do.”
My heart flared with a bit of life. His opinion mattered to me more than anyone else’s. “Thank you,” I whispered, sliding my eyes to him.
“Maybe you should pick up a hobby since you have time off.”
“And do what?”
“Well, you could help me write this song.” He gestured to the crumpled papers in front of him.
I scoffed. “I told you I’m never doing that.”
“Why not?”
I scrambled up, leaning over to peer at the papers. “I don’t know. It always felt weird to me.”
“It’s not.” He smiled, holding out a hand. “Come here.”
I set aside his phone, grinning as I took a seat in his lap with my back flush to his chest. He immediately buried his nose in my hair, mumbling how good I smelled.
I fished out his notebook from the mass of papers and read the lyrics he had already written.
My cheeks felt like they were being licked by the flames with each word I read. “Wait, is this a song about oral sex? With me ?” I shrieked, looking over my shoulder at the smirk on his beautiful face. God, I love the way his blue eyes shined in the sun. That was the only thing I loved about summers .
“Yes.” His lips brushed the tips of my ear, emitting a shiver out of me.
“I really don’t think this should be out in the world,” I mumbled, embarrassed as I read through them more and shoved the note back to him. “Here, I want no part in this.”
He squeezed me tight. “But you could be credited as my co-writer and that would make you famous and earn you some extra cash.”
My eyes widened as I switched my shocked gaze to him. “You mean I just have to dot the i’s and cross the t’s and earn probably thousands of dollars?”
“Yep.” He rolled the ‘p’ between his lips.
“Why didn’t you say anything before?” I joked, playfully marking the punctuation on his lyrics, and handed it back to him. “Here, now you can name me as your co-writer, though I would need a pen name.” I tapped the edge of the pen on my chin.
“And what would that be, Ms. Evelyn May?” he asked, his face buried in my neck.
“Shush, I’m thinking.” I playfully drummed his exploring hands.
“Fine with me.” His hands moved over the curve of my body, holding me hostage in his lap as he felt me up, his lips tracing over the length of my neck.
“Oh, I know,” I rasped through a moan under his strong hands. “It’s going to be Pink Empress.” I grinned widely at my childish name.
His head snapped from my neck, and he eyed me with bright eyes before he burst out laughing. “Of course it is. ”
A pout formed its way up my lips as I watched that ass laugh like it was the funniest thing that he had heard in a while. “Stop laughing. I liked the name,” I said, scurrying out of his lap and landing next to his guitar. The deep red glittered in the morning sun as my finger traced over the initials I had etched on the fretboard. A faint sound hit the air as the bumps of the different strings shook under my touch.
“Whoa.” He stopped laughing and turned his full attention to me. “Careful, she’s precious,” he said, lifting it to him. His soft eyes dragged over Firebird, his precious guitar that I brought him.
I eyed him with a narrowed gaze. His obsession with that guitar was getting out of hand.
As if feeling my heavy stare on him, he looked up with soft eyes, yet somehow, they softened more when they peered at me.
“I could teach you,” he said, still looking at me with those molten eyes that somehow made my heart skip a beat.
It took me a moment to register what he was saying, and my eyes widened. Hmm, maybe I could learn to play the guitar and keep myself occupied while I sit at home with nothing to do. Perhaps it would spark my desire to write again.
“Okay,” I mumbled, an excited smile coating my face.
“Then come back here.” He gestured to his lap.
I rolled my eyes as I situated myself in my previous spot, feeling a hard, smooth ridge of his body against mine. “I didn’t realize that guitar teachers expected you to be in their lap when they taught you a lesson.” I sneakily wiggled my ass over his hardness, knowing it would get him .
And just as I thought, a low groan rumbled out of him. “Stop wiggling,” he said in a low whisper before he brought his guitar over.
The exposed skin of my dress caressed the heat of his skin peeking from the tank he wore as the weight of his guitar settled on my lap.
A soft pinch formed between his brows as he went ahead in full concentration to explain the basic parts of the guitar. His words were a jumble as they flowed through my ears. I could hardly pay any attention because I couldn’t stop looking at him. He was so fucking gorgeous.
“Now here.” He raised the index and middle finger of my left hand to the strings he called A and D. “Press these strings through the tips of your fingers. A soft curve but a firm pressure.”
The strings bit hard on my tips, but I held tight.
“Good, and now.” He folded a pick between my thumb and my index finger. “You strum.” The pick smoothed over the strings. A wonky sound emitted from the guitar, sounding nothing like the way when he did it.
“That is an E minor. The sound must be clear. Try pressing harder.”
I couldn’t take it anymore. Was a guitar lesson from a rock star supposed to make you this wet and horny?
I dropped my hands from the guitar and locked my eyes with him.
The confusion in his eyes vanished as soon as he saw the look in mine. “Jay, I want you, please,” I whispered, licking my lips .
The air sizzled, but only for a second before his mouth captured mine.
And he did just what I asked on that open terrace floor as the sun burned my body. But not more than he did; every inch of my skin.
I was still bored out of my mind a couple of days later.
With a heavy sigh, I jumped off the couch, wanting to get out of here.
Jay and the boys were currently recording their first single for their new album. I thought the band was taking it slow, but they couldn’t wait. They were more excited than ever to get this one out because they would be the sole producers and had full creative control. So they could do whatever they wanted, and those boys loved to do whatever they wanted.
Strawberry was fast asleep, so I left her in her new favorite cozy dog bed that Jay had upgraded. I gave her a quick kiss and tightened the laces on my shoes. I already had on one of Jay’s hoodies and soft black leggings, so I didn’t bother with a jacket.
A small smile played on my lips the instant I stepped out. The fresh air and the bustle of the city always got to me. It was a cloudy day, the sun hiding behind the fluffy gray clouds with a bearable chilly air sweeping my skin.
I plugged in my earphones as I started to walk down the familiar streets. I tried hard to keep my mind blank and focused on the music flowing to my ears. And it worked. After a few blocks, I could feel my steps getting lighter, and my heart felt like it was floating on air.
I probably looked like a fool smiling to myself as I walked. My knee was a lot better after going to the clinic that Jay suggested. They gave me a new prescription, and I was taking an advanced form of physiotherapy to help with the pain. It was still stiff at times, but the pain was almost nonexistent, and it felt like a blessing to actually walk without struggle again.
About thirty minutes in, I felt a whole lot better as I ended up right outside a grocery store. Thinking I could pick up some of the ingredients for the cake that I was craving—the one that Jay loved.
The cool air from the store washed over the beads of sweat sticking to my back.
I picked up the metal basket and went straight to the baking section since I was familiar with the store from my days as a Manhattan maid.
But before I could make my way there, my eyes caught an array of strawberry milk lined on the shelf. My heart fluttered when I saw that it was the same brand Jay used to drink when we were kids. I couldn’t help but grab a few and place them in my basket. Jay was going to love it.
After picking up all the basics, I stopped dead at the sprinkles section.
I’d been standing here for five minutes contemplating the traditional rainbow sprinkles and glittery gold ones. But then there were also the sparkly silver ones in the shape of hearts and the pink confetti ones. Why were there so many? It wasn’t helping my indecisiveness one bit .
I picked up the pink ones, eyeing the different shapes, sizes, and colors. Do I need all different shapes or are they all similar? A frustrated sigh left my lips, and I put the pink back on the shelf and went to grab the gold ones when I felt someone’s gaze zero in on the back of my neck.
A weird feeling swept through my gut as I twisted to scan behind me. The aisle was empty, but somehow, my gut told me someone was watching me, and it was different from the last time.
Feeling a sudden rush of trepidation, I threw all four of the sprinkles in the basket and rushed out of there.
My anxiety faded a bit as I entered the crowded dairy section, where everyone was minding their own business. I went over to pick the butter. Thankfully, I already had a favorite brand, so I didn’t stand there like a fool deciding for hours. Just as I exited the aisle, I felt a presence behind me.
I rotated so quickly that I almost lost my balance, but I caught myself at the last minute. My eyes immediately landed on the man with eager eyes behind his wire glasses.
“Are you Ms. Evelyn May?” he asked curiously, almost as if knowing my name was going to win him an Olympic medal.
But how the hell did he know it?
“Yes,” I said without thinking.
The gleam in his eyes was almost sinister. “Are you J.J.’s girlfriend?”
My eyes almost bugged out of my head as my heart thudded loudly.
Only then did I notice the huge camera in his left hand .
I quickly realized who the hell it was, I mumbled a quick no and rushed out of there. I noticed a few people following me as I went by the cashier.
And they all had their cameras clutched in their hands. Some even had them trained on me.
I tried to act nonchalant to their presence as I paid for the groceries and quickly shot a text to Jay and Tyler because his call wasn’t going through. The apartment was a good thirty minutes’ walk from here, and getting a taxi at this hour would be like winding a thread through a needle.
My arms tightened around the brown bags. The only thought in my head was that I had to get out of there. I counted about six of them. I could easily evade them if I got out and mixed in with the crowd on the street.
My ears buzzed with a low ring as I stepped outside. It was only then I realized my mistake. A bundle of paparazzi was lined up on the curb, all waiting for me to leave. My feet took an automatic step back, but the first flash went off, shooting a tingle at the back of my neck.
The sound was almost blaring, like a sharp snap cutting straight through me.
My panicked eyes met the paps that followed me to the store, crowding the entrance.
I was screwed.
Only a moment of silence before all the flashes went off in rapid succession, blinding me. I willed my feet to move, but I was rooted on the spot as they closed in on me.
Then the questions started, each one of them so twisted that it pierced through my soul.
“Ms. May, any comment on your relationship with Mr. Jameson? ”
“Evelyn, how does it feel to be a cheater?”
“Ms. May, there are claims that you ruined J.J. and Cece’s relationship?”
“Ms. May, is it true that you’re only with Mr. Jameson for his money?”
“Evelyn, how did you seduce J.J.? Aren’t you ashamed of breaking a loving relationship?”
“Ms. May, do you have anything to add on how you met Mr. Jameson?”
Tears welled up in my eyes, and I couldn’t move an inch as the name-calling started. I couldn’t take it anymore. I wanted out of here. It was smothering me, like a heavyweight trapped over my heart.
I could see nothing through the flashes and the pain of their questions flooded like burning fire through my veins.
I had to get out.
I had to get out.
I had to get out.
Through the flashes, I could see a gap in the far corner, a street sign peeking out. It was so close, yet it felt so far away, but I had to get there.
I stumbled my first step forward, clashing with the man who thrust the camera at my face. Their voices screaming in my ears, their breaths on the back of my neck, and the sting of their touch on my skin were all getting too much for me.
The only thing on my mind was to get to the gap, crashing with all the bodies as I squeezed to find my way out. Latching onto the grocery bags as my lifeline, I held them like a shield over my chest. I was almost at the end when someone pushed, and my clumsy self went hard on the ground with a thud. My knees folded over, and my chin hit the gravel, rattling my teeth .
That hurt.
But they didn’t stop crowding in on me with their shutter of white flashes or their jarring questions.
A packet of strawberry milk from the bag rolled over, spilling like blood on the ground. I bit through the pain on my chin and wrists as I shot off to my feet and fought through the bodies; the gap drawing nearby.
A gasp of breath left my lips as I squashed my way out. But they were still looming behind me.
I didn’t think as I ran, but so did they, chasing me around like hounds chasing their prey.
“Ms. May, since you haven’t said anything, are the allegations against you true?”
“Evelyn, are you running because you’re ashamed?”
“Is it true that you’ve been Mr. Jameson’s mistress for two years?”
“How can a woman destroy the life of another?”
Tears were freely flowing out of my eyes now. It was like I couldn’t breathe. Why the hell were they asking me all these questions? How the hell did they find me? And why the hell were they running behind me like this?
My vision was blurry as I pushed past everyone, and I couldn’t see fucking shit. But I could hear the flurry of flashes snapping behind me.
Suddenly, out of nowhere, a hand grasped mine, pulling me away. “Ms. May, this way,” said a familiar voice before forming a solid barrier around me, keeping them away from me. It only lasted a second before I was shoved inside a big black car. The cool air hit my face as the soft leather molded my back, and the outside commotion was shut out when the door slammed shut .
My wide eyes took in all the cameras that were trying to get a glimpse through the tinted windows. Even though I couldn’t hear them anymore, their voices kept playing in my head like a broken record.
I could still hear it all loud and clear.
“Ms. May, are you alright?”
My eyes flew from the window as the car leaped forward. Only then did I notice Tyler’s alarmed eyes peering at me through the rearview mirror.
I nodded, licking my dry lips. “I’m fine, Tyler. Thank you,” I said in a shaky voice.
Shivers wrecked my body the whole way to the apartment. My mind was still reeling through it all. I’ve never experienced anything like that before, and I certainly wasn’t expecting it. I could still feel it all even though they were far away from me now.
Like insects crawling over my skin.
I could feel it all.