Chapter 3
“Girl, I still don’t know why the hell you didn’t hire someone to come here and help you.” Jessa complained.
I shrugged with a soft smile. “Because I have you to help me with all the manual labor. I don’t need some stranger walking all through here. We got it. I want this place to be just right. It’s been a long time since I’ve been able to put more of a homey touch to my place.”
Aubree smiled as Jessa dramatically fell back onto the couch and wiped her brow.
“Right. Well, I’m going to need some sort of payment for all this work. The best payment would be if you would finally come to Chrome with me. It’s not super wild in there and we could use a good drink with even better music playing.”
I stilled at the thought of visiting the local bar. It wasn’t far from my shop—I’d seen the steady flow of drunk people coming in and out.
It looked like a good time, but I was already drawing enough attention by opening the bakery. I didn’t need any more than that.
I walked around the corner and looked around to find anything else I could do other than go out. I had run out of excuses for the girls. I knew they were going to be tired of my shit at some point, but I couldn’t come out and say I didn’t want anyone to find me from my past life. Or could I?
“I’m sure I have more than enough to get done around here. Y’all can go without me. I don’t want to stop your fun.”
Jessa looked at Aubree, then back at me. I could tell from the look they gave each other they’d spoken about me never wanting to go out.
Jessa crossed her arms, and Aubree leaned against the counter.
“We don’t want to be pushy, but you not going has nothing to do with this shop, and you know it. What’s going on Solana?” Aubree asked.
I turned my back to them and grabbed the broom leaning against the wall. I needed my hands to be on something. They needed to be busy. Jessa and Aubree had proven to be trustworthy; not to mention there for me as a friend.
But the real question was, could they hold a secret this big? This moment could signify the end of my peace. Still, I had to take a chance. I needed some relief from the anxiety that plagued me every time I walked out of those doors.
I released a sigh, then looked back at them.
They hadn’t said a word. I’m sure they could tell they had finally broken me down.
I leaned the broom back against the wall and waved them towards the kitchen.
They followed with no push back, then stood silently in the kitchen as I went into the fridge to grab the two bottles of wine I’d purchased earlier.
I didn’t need to tell them this story was going to be groundbreaking. They just knew. Jessa had gone into the cabinet and grabbed three wine glasses. By the time I walked back over to place the wine bottles on the counter. Aubree grabbed the bottles from my hand and waved me off.
“Talk. I got this.” She told me.
I nodded and wiped my now moist hands against my jean shorts.
“I’m just going to say it. I’m Amore, the famous actress.” I rushed out.
I looked around for shocked expressions, but they never came. Aubree had finished filling our glasses when she slid them over to Jessa and I. She’d filled them to the brim with wine. I picked mine up and took it to the head, not coming up for air until Jessa spoke first.
“Girl, I knew you looked too familiar. The cut suits you. I can’t imagine leaving all of that behind and for small ass Rose Haven no less.”
I shrugged. “Is that the pot calling the kettle black?” I asked her.
“Touché, bitch.” Jessa responded.
“Wait, so why leave it all behind?” Aubree asked.
I released a sigh, then went on to tell them about the constant stalkers, death threats, and the reality of being a sex symbol in Hollywood.
It wasn’t all glitz and glamour. There was shit that came with being famous—things that should’ve come with a warning label.
“Now, do you see why I can’t go out tonight?”
Aubree stood up from leaning against the counter, then gripped her hips.
“Actually, no, I don’t. You can’t allow those things to stop you from living.
I can get why you left from the life. But what I can’t do is sit by and allow you to lose your happiness and freedom.
You’re going to take your ass in the room and get dressed, then we’re going to go out and shake our ass.
Oh, and get a few fine ass men to buy us drinks. ”
I stood still for a minute, unable to hold back my smile. I felt so much lighter knowing I had them to confide in. I just hoped my secrets were safe with them. Only time would tell, but something told me I could.
“Let’s go. We don’t have all night, and I want to be able to sit down.” Jessa urged.
I started towards the door, then stopped to look back at them.
“Wait, so I need this to stay between us.”
Aubree and Jessa looked at me with a smile, then rolled their eyes.
“I almost want to be offended, but I get why you’re saying it,” Jessa said.
“Me too. Either way, we got you, girl.” Aubree added.
I nodded and turned, heading into my bedroom to get changed. I wasn’t planning to do too much—I just wanted to look like I cared.
I was doing this to appease them, not to have every eye in the place on me.
At least, that’s what I told myself.
CHROME: GIRL’S NIGHT OUT
We stood in the line that seemed to grow quickly outside of Chrome.
I adjusted the jacket Jessa and Aubree had assured me looked good with the outfit.
This was new for me. I rarely ever wore anything leather, let alone a jacket.
I put on a pair of black jeans with a fitted white tank top and Converse sneakers.
I wanted to be comfortable, but still cute.
Twenty minutes after being in that long ass line, we were able to go inside. We went to find a place to sit before there weren’t any left. The line outside was so long, it shocked me we found a place to sit at all.
Chrome was very spacious inside, with different booths and sections. They took advantage of every corner of this bar. I felt like my head was on the constant swivel taking in every section of the place.
We stopped by the bar, scanning the room, when a booth tucked in the back caught my eye. I pointed toward it, but Jessa had already claimed one right in the center of it all.
Someone had to have been sitting there before, then moved to join someone else. It was too perfect of a spot—exactly the kind you’d take if you wanted all eyes on you.
“Jessa, no, I would prefer the booth over there.” I pointed toward the one in the opposite direction.
She waved her hand and continued walking towards the one she wanted. It was as if everything I’d told her went in and out of her ear. But, I couldn’t bring it up here so I just followed behind them. I kept my eyes focused on the ground, not wanting to make contact with anyone.
Once we made it to the booth, I settled onto the leather seat with Aubree sitting along with me. Jessa stood beside us.
“I’ll grab our drinks. Y’all know what you want?” Jessa asked.
“I’ll take water.”
“Water? Solana, you’re in a bar and all you want is water.”
I nodded, then turned to look at Aubree, who looked to be in deep thought before answering.
“Uh, I’ll have a sex on the beach.” She told Jessa.
Jessa rolled her eyes and made her way to the bar.
That’s when my eyes landed on him—the man I’d seen earlier. He tossed back a few Skittles, listening closely to whatever the two guys beside him were saying.
He looked just as good as he had at the food trucks… if not better.
I hadn’t realized how long I’d been staring until he turned and looked in my direction with a smirk. I turned my head quickly in the opposite direction. I wasn’t looking for any kind of attention he could bring.
“Is he still looking?” I asked Aubree.
She lifted a brow and glanced around me in confusion until a smirk arose. Then she looked back at me.
“He’s coming over here.”
My eyes widened as I brought a hand to my forehead, closing my eyes and counting to ten.
This was not the purpose of tonight.
Men like him came with obsessed exes or one-night-only intentions. I wasn’t in any position to entertain either of those options. And I definitely couldn’t involve anyone in my life.
I wasn’t crazy enough to believe I could run forever.
A tap against my shoulder and the expensive smell of his cologne let me know I had company. I released a breath and then glanced up in his direction. His smirk was intact while he held out a cup towards me. I looked over his shoulder at Jessa, who was smiling big as hell.
“I’m okay. Jessa, where is my drink?” I asked her, looking around him.
His chuckle brought me back to him. He still held his hand out for me to take the cup from his outreached hand.
“You ordered the water, right?” he asked.
I nodded and looked down at the glass, then back at Jessa.
“Your friends’ hands are full, I offered a hand—” he paused, as if he was waiting for me to give him my name.
Aubree nudged my shoulder and cleared her throat. I rolled my eyes and took the drink from his outreached hand.
“Thank you. My name is Solana,” I said, trying to keep things short.
He gave a brief nod before stepping away from the table. I stood abruptly—I didn’t give myself enough time to think.
“Wait, you’re just going to leave without giving me your name?” I asked.
I don’t know why it mattered if he gave me his name. Jessa had already given it to me the last time I ran into him. But it felt necessary, like knowing him or of him wouldn’t make a difference unless he gave it to me.
He glanced over his shoulder with a smirk, pulling a pack of Skittles from his back pocket and tossing a few into his mouth before responding.
The way he looked at me had me crossing my legs, trying to ease the tension settling between my thighs.
“Duke. You have a good time and enjoy your water, love. I’ll catch you around.”
I nodded, unable to say a word. I slowly sunk down onto the leather seat while Jessa took up the spot next to me.
“And you said you didn’t want his or anyone else’s attention,” Jessa said, causing Aubree to giggle.
I shook my head and brought my water to my lips. I didn’t plan to waste my time responding. It wasn’t like I had an answer for her, anyway. All I knew was this had to be my last time in Chrome.
Jessa and Aubree would be coming here alone from now on.
That man was nothing but trouble—and I didn’t need a damn thing from him.