CHAPTER 31
“Move in with me,” Jay pleaded for the tenth time this week.
“No.” I cuddled closer to Strawberry.
“But you’re here most of the time. Even she likes it here.” He pointed at my best friend, who was whining happily down my lap.
“It’s been only two weeks, Jay. I’m not jinxing shit by taking this too fast. Remember all the times we disagreed and separated in a matter of months? Plus, you’re not yet my boyfriend. And…” I held up my pointer finger. “The only reason I’m here all the time is because you keep kidnapping us and bringing us here.”
“It’s not kidnapping. You consensually packed your bags for the weekend.” He slouched over the couch, bouncing a tennis ball in his hand.
“Well, imagine if I didn’t agree.” I scratched Strawberry behind her ears. “Daddy would’ve kidnapped us kicking and screaming, right baby?”
Her response was a cute bark like she was agreeing with me.
“I’m her daddy but not your boyfriend?” He raised a brow in question.
“Well, you can be my daddy too.”
His eyes darkened as he mumbled something under his breath. “Strawberry, fetch.” He threw the tennis ball down the hallway. And she immediately ran off to complete her task.
In the next second, he was all over me. “I have to fuck you for that. Maybe you can call me daddy, that might be sexy.”
I rolled my eyes as he placed slow kisses across my collarbone. “Jay, don’t be ridiculous.” I knitted my fingers through his soft locks.
A sudden shrill cut through the apartment followed by Strawberry’s barks, making my heart almost jump out of my chest. “What the fuck was that?” I asked, clutching my heart.
“The doorbell.” He frowned, unwinding himself from me.
“You have a doorbell?” I questioned.
“Of course, I do. Although, no one can actually get on this floor. I’ll go check, I swear it’s Mikey just fucking with me.”
I nodded, as I watched him walk away.
My baby dutifully brought her toy back to me. “You found it.” I clapped as I petted her. “You’re such a good girl, aren’t you?”
“Get the fuck out of here.” I almost jumped out of my skin when I heard Jay’s loud voice echo through the apartment.
Who was it? His voice only got louder and louder as I hurried through the hallway.
“Well, I don’t.” Jay steeled almost slamming the door closed before a palm held it open.
“Please, J.J., we are not here to argue. If you could just spare a few minutes, we’ll be out of your hair, forever,” said a voice I didn’t recognize.
Who the fuck was it?
My question was soon answered as I came to a halt beside Jay. My shocked eyes took in the people standing at the front door.
White. A very broken, desolate-looking White. Gone was her impeccable makeup and always put-together hair and her immaculate dress, she looked worn out in a pair of old jeans and a sweater that wasn’t the color white. Her nose looked a lot better, the swelling and the redness completely gone, and the slight slant at the bridge gave away the proof of my act.
The odd familiarity of the older-looking man beside her struck my mind. It was her father.
Dorian White.
What did they want? And why were they here?
“Evy,” Jay mumbled, sighing as he laced his fingers with mine before he shot a sharp glance their way. “Like I said, I have nothing to say to you. Please leave before I ask security to personally escort you out.”
“J.J.” Mr. Dorian’s eyes cast a helpless look. “Please, we just want to talk. This won’t take long.”
“I don’t think you fucking understand,” Jay thundered.
But I squeezed his hand, trying to calm him down. “It’s okay. They just want to talk.”
“Fine,” Jay bit out. “Come on in.”
A cruel tension slithered through the air as we all settled in the living room.
“So?” Jay questioned, an impatient look creeping over his face.
Mr. Dorian’s eyes flashed to me.
“She stays,” Jay said firmly while he dragged his thumb over the hand that he still hadn’t let go.
I was actually curious about what he had to say.
I was no longer scared, though. In fact, I didn’t feel an ounce of nervousness or fear in her presence because I had my man with me.
My intrigued gaze was focused on White, who hadn’t once looked up at us. Her eyes remained downcast as she fiddled with a thread on her pants.
I’d never seen her like this. I didn’t want to say it, but it almost looked sad to see her this way. Though, she was a cunning, manipulative bitch, so who knew what she had up her sleeve. Maybe this was all an act.
“My daughter and I wanted to apologize to you, J.J., and to you, Ms. May.”
My eyes shifted to him.
His forehead wrinkled further as he gave us a small smile. “You know the condition that we have succumbed. Although I knew our wrongdoings were going to come around to us one day, I knew the rest was because of a tip from you, J.J.”
Jay stared at him, not giving anything away.
Mr. Dorian continued, “I can’t seem to find the reason until my daughter confessed everything that went down between her and Ms. May.” He swallowed, casting his daughter a sad look. “My Cece’s been sick for a long time. She was fine, a beautiful kind daughter who was the light of my life. But she changed the day her mother left her. She couldn’t cope with it, and it destroyed her. She started creating personas in her head and playing make-believe to help her deal with it. She would go through phases of fixation, and I let her have it and gave her everything she asked for.”
Jay raised a brow as his lips thinned. “Quite a tale you’re spinning. But I’m not so dumb to believe all this bullshit.”
“I’m not lying. I’m sure it only takes a phone call for you to get my daughter’s entire medical history and the numerous hospital visits. Honestly, I didn’t know about any of this. The label decided to sign with you guys long before my daughter came into the picture. It had nothing to do with Cece. One day, Cece asked me to appoint her as your creative manager. I didn’t even know she was creating all this ruse to deny you guys from recording. It never got to my ears. I thought things were moving great when you started your recordings a month later and went on to release the debut. That was our original plan.”
I froze, trying to make sense of what he said.
Jay leaned forward, his eyes turning to slits. “So you’re telling me it was one of her tricks? That even if Evy had stayed, we had the deal.”
Mr. Dorian nodded. “Yes.”
“It’s true,” White spoke out in a meek voice that was so unlike her while her eyes remained on the floor. “I wanted him from the moment I saw him, but I didn’t realize that he would already have someone in his life. So I thought I’d threaten her to leave him by holding his album over her head. She didn’t relent, I panicked not knowing what to do. Luckily, I was able to convince a few of the higher-ups to help me delay the album a bit, and she fell for it, thinking it was real. And I went with it, making her sign a fake contract so she would leave him and she did. I had this whole plan mapped out, but nothing I did ever seem to work on you, Emmie. You were always in love with her.”
My heart hammered as I realized what she had said. “You’re lying! How can it all be a lie? You made me leave him for nothing?” My voice broke, I couldn’t control the burning sting hiking its way up my sinuses.
“I have nothing left to lose, Evelyn.” Her eyes finally landed on me, still coating a forlorn glow. “I’m sorry, but it’s the truth. I apologize for everything I’ve done to you in the past.”
The weight of her statement dropped heavy on my shoulders.
“That’s enough, Cece. I refuse to believe you suddenly became this martyr overnight when you were making absurd promises only three weeks ago. You can shove your apology to yourself. You’ve done the damage and ruined our lives. And I will never forgive you for taking my girl away from me,” Jay declared, pulling me closer to him.
I knew she was lying and that it was all an act. Underneath her morose eyes, I knew the gleam was hiding, like a snake lunging on its prey in the dead of the night.
But learning that everything I went through was based on a lie noosed a heavy chain around my gut. I ruined my sanity because I was gullible and young.
Mr. Dorian heaved out a heavy breath. “We are not here to cause any trouble.”
Jay’s gaze turned to cold slits. “That still doesn’t explain why you’re here.”
Mr. Dorian swallowed while Whtie averted her gaze back to the floor. “We plan to leave LA and settle down South.” He scratched his head. “But I’ve stroked the feather of one man whom I can’t seem to shake off.”
“Who?” Jay lifted his brow in question.
“Julian.”
A sardonic laughter spurts out of Jay’s lips. “Good luck with that. Now if that’s all, you can leave. And make sure you don’t invite yourself back again. You’re not welcome here anymore.”
Mr. Dorian cleared his throat. “I know you’re Mr. Stormhold’s close friend. If you could speak to him and get him off our back, it would really help us. I know we have a lot to be sorry about, but I hope you can do this for us, J.J., for old times’ sake.” He chuckled, leaning back. “I promise you that my daughter won’t stir anything up and leave you both alone.”
“How Julian does his business is something I cannot interfere in, Dorian. Even if I did, what makes you think I would even help you?”
The sorry look on Mr. Dorian’s face dimmed as his eyes narrowed. “I made you who you are, J.J. You fucking owe me for that. If I hadn’t given you the chance, you would’ve been rotting in an empty bar playing to a bunch of drunkards.”
Fuck. It was like he had changed in an instant.
Mr. Dorian shot to his feet. “This is all because of you.” He pointed a furious finger at a somber White. “If you weren’t so fucked in the head and played all your little games, I wouldn’t have lost everything that I’ve built my entire life. I told that fucker to keep you on a leash and not feed your delusions. Look what you did to us.”
White sniffled. “I’m sorry, Pappa.”
“Please have your family drama elsewhere and not in my home.” Jay’s icy voice slithered through the room. “Tyler will escort you out.”
Mr. Dorian fumed. “You’re going to regret this, J.J. I can’t believe you would fuck me over like this.”
Tyler magically appeared out of thin air and dragged a protesting Mr. Dorian out. White remained, casting us one last glance before she followed them out.
A look that I couldn’t decipher.
“Fucking hell. This is certainly not how I planned to spend my Saturday morning. I can’t believe people are just waltzing up to my house.” Jay cursed, gathering me in his lap.
I looped my arms around him and buried my face in his neck.
“You okay?” He kissed the side of my head.
“Yeah, I think so. I hadn’t expected that.” I needed some time to sit with all that transpired. I didn’t know how to feel about it all. This time, my emotions were all over the place. It wasn’t anger or hatred I felt this time, so that was easier.
Now I just felt weird.
“I’m sorry.” He tucked a loose strand of hair behind my ears. “You didn’t deserve to be put through all that again.”
“It’s just I never regretted doing what I did all those years ago, but maybe now I do. We wouldn't have wasted six years if I’d just been smart and talked to you. I wouldn’t have been so alone,” I whispered. I could feel my throat starting to burn from the impending sob waiting to burst out of me.
He sighed. “It wasn’t your fault. None of this was. You had no way of knowing and did what felt right to you. I don’t want you to dwell on it and worry yourself about it. Because I’m here now, and you’ll never be alone, ever again, I promise you that.” He softly brushed his lips over mine.
“You promise?” I grazed my fingers over his jaw while his blues shined for me.
“Yes, I promise, I’m never leaving you. Even when I’m a ghost, I’m going to haunt you,” he joked, pulling a laugh out of me.
“I love you and don’t ever want to be away from you.” I kissed him softly, which soon turned into a heavy make-out session that ended up in his bedroom with both of us naked under the sheets.
The constant rhythm of his heart thumped through my ears as I drew lazy circles on his chest.
His fingers stroked my scalp, emitting sporadic moans from me.
I loved the heat of his bare skin radiating to mine. I loved every single moment of it.
I sighed as I watched the dark gray clouds cry outside. The trickle of water drops glided down the expansive window as it poured.
“Do you know why I like this room?”
“No.” His fingers continued to stroke my hair.
“Because there is not an ounce of white in here.”
His laugh vibrated through my skin. “Maybe my subconscious tried to keep me far away from that color because my girl hated it. I think it’s too gray, though. It definitely need some pink in here.”
“Should I bring my pink bunny sheets?” I joked.
“How about you bring yourself here?” He rolled us over until I was lying flat on my back as he sprawled over me. “I can make you turn a few shades of pink that would look lovely on my bed.” The tips of his long hair tickled my nose as he grinned.
A deep, heated flush sprinted its way through my entire body. “Shut up,” I mumbled.
“There it is.” He kissed my nose. “One shade achieved already.”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah.” My eyes rolled upward. “Now get off me.” I pushed him away. “You’re too heavy.”
“I’m pure muscle, baby.” He shifted himself to my left, leaving a heavy tatted hand around my neck and his leg tangled with mine.
“That was so cheesy.” I ran my hand through his massive forearm, resting on my chest. “I can’t believe I settled for a man who says things like that.”
He raised a brow. “Do you know how many girls want me? I’ve been named the hottest man in the planet several times.”
I scoffed. “That’s because real hot men don’t try to be celebrities.”
“Didn’t realize my ego was going to be murdered today?” He latched on the flesh of my shoulder, giving it a sharp bite.
Long moments of silent bliss passed while the dancing curve on my lips never dissipated.
A heavy sigh broke out of my lips. “I love you so much like I’m in love with you. Fuck…” I squeezed my eyes. “What am I saying?” I mumbled. “I’ve always loved you when we were apart, but I never had hope, and now I do, and that scares the fuck out of me.”
He glided his finger under my chin and twisted me toward him. And it doesn’t matter how many times I peered into those blue eyes; I always got lost in how beautiful they were. “What is it that scares you the most?”
I swallowed, whispering, “That I’ll end up being alone again.”
“I’m not going anywhere, and I’m never leaving you alone again, sweetheart. I love you so much, and I promise that nothing or no one will ever tear us apart again. I’ll take care of that, trust me.”
“Okay,” I mumbled, grinning. “And, Jay, who’s your favorite person in the whole wide world?”
“You.” His lips tugged into the most beautiful smile that made his eyes shine bluer. He stole my breath away.
Our lips met in the slowest, softest kiss, it wasn’t hurried or harsh it was like we had all the time in the world to savor each other. It was a kiss of complete trust, a testament to the love that we both had for each other, the fire like it was all those years ago.
God, I just loved this man a little too much.
“Where are you going?” I moaned sleepily as I felt Jay’s heat slipping away.
I groaned as his warmth returned, pressing soft kisses on my skin. “Damn, you’re too beautiful,” he mumbled, “but I gotta go. It’s one in the afternoon, Ms. Sleeping Princess.”
“What?” I ripped my eyes open, immediately locking onto those bright blues.
His chest rumbled with a laugh. “Yes, it’s time to wake up. How about you take a shower and have some coffee and wait for me? I’ll quickly head downstairs to see the boys. We have a few discussions about Matty’s label, and then I need to talk with Tyler.”
I frowned. “Talk with Tyler about what?” My voice was still groggy and thick from sleep.
He sighed, pressing a brief kiss on my nose. “I need to make sure we don’t have any more uninvited guests.”
“Oh.” I nodded. “I thought this floor was off-limits. How the hell did she get in?”
“I forgot to take her off the list of approved visitors, and she knows the code to the elevator. I’ve asked Tyler to change it and make sure she has no way of getting inside the building.”
“I’m not worried, though. She seemed so unlike herself yesterday. I almost felt pity before I remembered all the shit that she pulled. But it was pretty apparent why she ended up the way she did. It was almost as if she was stuck with a father she could never please.”
“That still doesn’t excuse everything that bitch did,” he pointed out.
“Yeah,” I muttered before my face transformed into a huge smile. “List of approved guests, huh? Am I on that exclusive list?” I looped my arms around his neck.
A hint of a smile played over his lips. “You are THE list, Evelyn.”
My heart stilled. “I don’t know why, but being a list is making me very happy now.”
He shook his head. “Or you can just move in and be the owner so that we won’t need any lists.”
“Nope,” I rolled my lips. “We are not moving in. You’re not even my boyfriend.”
“Fuck,” he groaned. “Fine, I have to go. But trust me, I’m not giving up.”
“Promises, promises.” I laughed, watching him leave groaning louder.
After a few more minutes of stretching the kinks out of my body, I finally slid out of bed. A creak sounded through the door. I twisted my head to see Strawberry poking her nose through the door and run to me.
“Aw, my baby girl. Did you miss me?” I scrambled my fingers through her soft fur. “I love you so much.” I kissed her head. “Why don’t I go shower? Then we’ll eat and go out for a walk, okay?” I ruffled her up and kissed her one last time before I trotted down to the bathroom.
The girl staring back at me in the mirror was so different from the one a few months ago.
The flush of natural pink returned to my cheeks, the grayness under my eyes wasn’t so stark anymore, and my eyes had an amber glow to them. My lips were plucked and scarlet from his kisses.
My hair, though, was a complete mess. Brown strands all over the place that needed to be tamed.
I peeled Jay’s T-shirt away from me, and the pinks in my cheeks tainted deeper.
I peered at the plethora of marks tattooed on my pale skin. Red, purples, and fading yellows. I could feel the phantom touch of his lips and teeth as I traced through them. Thank God, I could hide them under my dress.
I jumped into the steaming shower, packed with a built-in sauna, body jet, and rainforest showerhead. Fuck, it felt so good. I think I might move in here just for this.
I sighed happily as I toweled my hair, slipping into one of Jay’s hoodies and my own soft sweatpants that I loved so much.
Strawberry followed me like a good little girl as we made our way downstairs. After setting her bowl, I made myself a steaming mug of coffee.
As I waited, I suddenly realized that I hadn’t checked my phone at all.
Fuck when did I last see it?
My brain did a little rewind. The last time I recalled seeing it was when I dropped it into my purse when Jay picked me up from my apartment yesterday.
I need to find my purse.
I scanned the living room, and it was sitting on the floor by the couch. I walked two steps before crouching on the floor and dove my hand inside, searching. I slid through my wallet, coin purse, makeup bag, notebook, and numerous pens, and still no phone.
I swear the shit inside my purse just kept adding on.
My fingertips caught onto the edge of something sharp, and a hiss escaped through my lips from the sting as I drew my hand out. Fuck, a grimace overtook my face.
A thin crimson line grew over at the end of my fingers.
Paper cut.
The muscles on my forehead creased with confusion. What the fuck gave me a paper cut?
I peered down into my bag and saw a small white card hidden in the depths.
I retrieved the white note.
It was plain and glossy, the light forming beams of glare on it. Was this some sort of flyer I misplaced in my purse?
Frowning, I turned it over, and my heart froze.
The fuck.
The hold in my heart gave away as it pounded a loud beat that echoed to my ears.
Written in a long, shaky stroke was a message for me; You made a mistake.
I swallowed the fear as shivers trembled down the length of my spine.
What the fuck?
How the hell did this end up in my purse, and what the fuck did this message mean? It made no sense. You made a mistake . What mistake did I make? Did White have something to do with this? But that’s highly unlikely. She was in the apartment, but I was there the whole time. There was no way she could have placed this.
That only made my fear heighten.
The big unanswered question.
If not her, then who?
To be continued…