Chapter Ten #2
My eyes flutter closed, and his lips touch mine, so gently it brings tears to my eyes. He prolongs the kiss, but it doesn’t grow hot, heavy, or hungry. Instead it is an honest, genuine expression of feelings. Feelings he holds inside and doesn’t express with words.
Emotions I feel building and growing inside me every day and wish I could set free, but I refrain. Given the constraints of the time we have together and the earlier promises I made, it is better to hold the words close to my heart.
“Hey, how about I win you that stuffed animal you wanted?” he offers.
I grin and place my hand in his, determined to focus on the here and now. Not the uncertain future.
* * *
Ben
I drive us home an hour later, a huge stuffed animal in the back seat. I am uncharacteristically relaxed, having enjoyed today more than any in recent memory. We order in dinner and pass out early, only to be awakened by the incessant buzzing of a phone. Mine sits quietly on the nightstand.
Yawning, Summer reaches for hers. “It’s Anna. She’s texting me,” she murmurs. “Something about me is blowing up on social media.” She opens her phone and begins to scroll through Instagram. “Oh, wow. Ummm… yeah.”
“What?” I ask, nerves suddenly awake and aware.
She glances up at me with a hesitant expression. “I’m not sure you’re going to like this.”
I push myself back against the headboard. “What is it?”
“A photo … actually a video of us at the carnival went viral. And we’re not just kissing.” She wrinkles her nose and turns the phone my way.
My eyes open wide as I watch myself lick cotton candy off her finger in what looks like a very seductive act.
Even watching it causes my dick to harden as the memory of the moment comes back to me, my tongue wound around her finger, wishing I could take it further and suck at her nipples, visibly tight beneath her shirt.
I mutter a curse as humiliation and frustration fills me at being caught out in public. “Fuck.”
She turns toward me, sitting up in the bed. “I’m sorry. I know this is the last thing you need. I can talk to Dan myself if you want…”
“It’s fine.” It is actually embarrassing as hell, but hopefully I’ll live it down and it won’t affect me professionally.
I don’t think Dan will be pissed, and my position at Alpha Security is secure. Dan is more understanding than hard-ass when it comes to his people. We had the conversation when he hired me on and spoke about my past, but would clients care?
“My name isn’t mentioned, is it?” I ask, shoulders tight.
“No,” she murmurs. “At least not yet.”
“What does that mean?”
“Well…” she says hesitantly. “I was thinking that if Tawny wanted to get involved and stir up trouble for us, she could possibly post who the mystery man in the video is. Because that’s who you are right now. My mystery man.”
I wince, really not wanting to be outed by name in Tawny’s search for success.
“I’m sorry. I know it’s a low point of being with me,” Summer murmurs, her gaze and expression sad. “If you’d kept your distance like you wanted to in the beginning, this wouldn’t have happened.”
And I wouldn’t have had such a great day with her, nor would I have memories built and stored away.
Do I like the fact that we were caught? No.
I prize anonymity, and I deliberately don’t have a social media profile.
But I knew who she was when I got involved, even if I didn’t think through this kind of consequence.
* * *
Ben
Summer spends the morning liking messages, talking to fans she didn’t know she had, and thanking well-wishers who want her to win the position as opening act. I watch her cheeks flush and her anticipation build as she realizes people want her to win this competition and open for a major pop star.
She finally pulls herself out of bed and is going to shower when her doorbell rings. It’s been awhile since she’s had company other than Ivy, and I beat her to the door.
“Who is it?” I ask. Although things have been quiet since the attempted drugging, I won’t let down my guard.
“Summer? Who is that?” a female voice calls from the hall. “Ira, I think it’s a man,” I hear the woman say.
“Oh my God. It’s my mom!” Summer grabs for the handle.
“Summer?” a male voice joins in from outside.
“And my dad!” She pulls open the door. “I didn’t know you were in town!” Ushering them in, she grabs first her mother, then her father in a hug. “I’m so glad to see you!”
“Who is this?” Her father glares up at me; I am, for him, an unfamiliar man in his daughter’s apartment.
“Ben Hollander,” I say, extending my hand. Despite me having worked on Star Power, having been on the set, and having slept with Summer, I never officially met them.
“Ben is my bodyguard,” Summer says, explaining my presence in her apartment. Something I think they ought to already know, and would have if they showed any interest in Summer at all.
“Bodyguard? Why would you need a bodyguard?” Ira, a tall man with gray hair, asks as he shakes my hand.
“That’s a long story,” Summer says. “But basically it’s a precaution. Something Jade Glow’s people put in place for both me and Tawny.” She shoots me a look, which I interpret to mean not to give them details about the specifics of someone wanting to hurt her.
“Come in!” She settles her parents on the sofa. “Can I get you anything?”
Her mother shakes her head. “We wanted to talk to you.” She shoots a glance at me.
I take the hint that they want privacy for their conversation. “I can make myself scarce.” I’ll go to the bedroom or the kitchen.
In this small apartment, I’ll hear everything, but I’m not leaving her unprotected. Anyone watching would know I left the building and see opportunity.
I am staying put.
* * *
Summer
I don’t know what to make of my parents’ visit, but I am glad they are here. So much has happened lately that I’d normally talk to my mother about, and I hope today means we can make inroads toward regaining our once-close relationship.
I glance at my folks. My mom looks as fit in person as she did on the video chat, wearing a striped dress with a belt and ballet flats. My dad, too, is tanned and healthy.
“So, you two look great,” I say as an icebreaker.
“Thank you. So do you.” My mom meets my gaze, the same golden-brown eyes I see in the mirror staring back at me.
My mother squirms in her seat. “Honey, I know when I came back I was still on a high from exploring the world, but really, when I think about that conversation, I just cringe.”
Before I can reply, my mother rushes on.
“We had our neighbors DVR your Morning Show appearance and your whole childhood came rushing back.” She sniffs and wipes a tear.
“I’m so proud of you. You could have fallen apart or walked off the stage, but my God, you stepped up.
” Her voice cracks with feeling. “I couldn’t imagine what you were going through, alone there, dealing with things. ”
My eyes glaze, emotion clogging my throat.
“I wasn’t alone. I had…” I was about to say Ben, but then I’d have to explain to my parents that I am sleeping with my bodyguard while he is no doubt listening from the other room.
“I was okay,” I say over the lump in my throat.
“But I did wish you were there. Or at least watching.”
My father nods. “That’s why we’re here. Seeing the performance was a wakeup call to how selfish we’ve been, only thinking about our feelings and not yours.
We were hurt,” he says. “And angry that after all we’d done to help you get to where you were, you didn’t think we are good enough to keep around. ”
I shake my head. I never wanted them to feel that way.
“That wasn’t it. Honestly. It really came down to experience in how to negotiate with people who’ve been in the industry for years.
” I tried to explain the situation at the time, but they were too hurt to hear.
“You were great when I was younger, but things got so crazy during and after Star Power, and I needed qualified people in my corner. But I never wanted you to all but disappear.”
“That was mostly my fault,” my father says in a gruff tone. “My ego took a hit, and I decided if you didn’t want us managing your career, then you could handle things on your own.”
“It was petty and juvenile,” my mother says, eyes still watering.
I no longer care about what they did or why. I am just grateful they had an epiphany. I really miss having my parents in my life in any meaningful way. “I’m just happy you’re here now.”
My mother pulls me into a hug, and my father follows. My parents’ loving, strong arms reassuring me I have them in my corner.
“Now what’s this about a bodyguard?” my father asks. “I wish I’d known about it. You could have told us.” He attempts to scold me, but I’m not going to let him.
“No, I couldn’t have.” I purse my lips, waving a chiding finger at him. “And you know now.” Time for a change of subject, I think. “Want to stay for lunch?”
“We’d love to, but we have show tickets for later today. How about tomorrow? We’re here for a few days, and we hope you’ll make time for us.”
“You know I will.” I am fine with them not being able to stay. I got all I could have wanted from them today anyway. “I’ll walk you out.”
Ben is out of the kitchen in an instant, taking the lead and opening the door. “Nice to meet you,” he says, holding the door open as my father leaves first.
“Take care of my little girl,” Dad says in a protective tone.
Ben inclines his head. “Count on it.”
“He’s hot,” my mom leans down and whispers in my ear.
I can’t help but laugh. And for the first time in a long time, everything feels right.