Bottle It Up: (A Between the Pines Novel)

by Lisa Shelby

  “See. Be nice. Besides, I’m not that bad.” I stick my tongue out at him. “We’ve also been to the Eiffel Tower during the day and at night. Oh, and Josh we can see it from our terrace in our room. She watches over us every night when we go to sleep. It's the most magnificent thing I’ve ever seen. Did I mention how romantic this week has been?”

  “You did.” He chuckles, and Jace cuddles up next to him and gives me a wave.

  I wave back and carry on, unable to contain my excitement.

  “Let’s see...we’ve had croissants and macaroons, and they really are better here. We went to a cheesy dinner show at the Moulin Rouge, and we shopped on the Champs-Elysees after going to the Arc de Triomphe earlier today, and now we're gonna go take a break somewhere and have a bite to eat.”

  I feel something cold land on my bare hand holding up the phone and notice small snowflakes beginning to fall around us and can’t help but look to Max who is smiling back at me because he feels it too. The trip just keeps getting better and better.

  “Hello...where’d you go?”

  When I hear Josh looking for my attention, I realize I’ve lowered my hand to gaze at Max. I lift on my tiptoes and press a kiss to the round scar on his cheek before returning my attention to Josh.

  “Sorry, it started snowing, and I got a little distracted.”

  “Emmy, I couldn’t be happier that you’re distracted and in love. It’s all I’ve ever wanted for you, babe. I’m so sorry we’re in this situation and the three of us will have to sit down and talk about things when you get home. We’ll figure this out, Emmy.”

  “Thank you, Josh. I know what I signed up for, though, and I don’t want to let you down.”

  “I don’t want you to give any of that another thought until we’re both back in LA, okay? Just enjoy yourself and have an amazing New Year.”

  I’m glad I have these big sunglasses on and he can’t see that his words and the possibility of more with Max has me misty eyed.

  “Talk to you later.”

  “Have fun, Emmy.”

  With that, he ends the call and I put my phone in my pocket.

  When I sniffle, Max pulls me into his side because he knows me well enough by now to know I’m tearing up. My arms wrap around his waist and his arm is around my shoulders when he speaks into my hair. “He’s right. Don’t think about it now. We’ll figure it all out when we get home. Right now, it’s just you and me. Can you just think about here and now, for me?”

  He’s right. When are we going to be somewhere so romantic, just the two of us again in the near future. I would be a fool to waste another second thinking about anything else.

  “I can do that. Now, how about a drink.”

  He turns so we’re facing each other still holding me in his arms and kisses me sweetly. “I love you.”

  “I love you too.”

  “Good, now that that’s settled, let’s get you a glass of red wine and me a Kronenbourg 1664.”

  Chapter 26

  “Baby, wake up.”

  As I stretch myself awake, it feels much too early to be getting up. “What time is it?”

  “It’s early, but babe we need to get ready to head out.”

  “What do you mean? It’s New Year’s Eve, head out where?”

  “I’m sorry, we’re gonna have to miss New Year’s Eve. I have a car picking us up in fifteen minutes.”

  It’s then I hear the anxiety in his voice and I spring up to a sitting position. Pulling the covers up to my chest thinking the worst, I wait for him to tell me who’s died, but instead, he hands me his phone.

  My body begins to shake even though I’m covered in a fevered heat as my world begins to crumble, and the bliss I’ve been living in the past five days vanishes without a trace.

  GOLD DIGGER, EMMETT FORD, CHEATS ON JOSH WEST WITH BODYGUARD!

  JOSH WEST CHEATED ON WHILE ON THE PHONE WITH FIANCÉE!

  FIANCÉE CHEATS ON HOLLYWOOD HEARTTHROB

  Along with all of the bold proclamations there are pictures of me Facetiming with Josh on the steps of the Opera House while Max stands to the side holding my hand. There are pictures from every angle but of course no pictures of Max also talking to Josh, or Max kissing me on the cheek in front of him. From every angle, it looks like I’m cheating on him while on the phone with him.

  Not behind his back but right in front of him!

  I look like an evil, conniving whore, and Max looks like he’s cheating with his employer's fiancée. This could ruin him.

  “Oh, Max. This is terrible. I’m so sorry.”

  He stops throwing his clothes in his suitcase frozen mid-motion. “You’re sorry? Why in the world are you sorry?”

  “Because this affects your business. Your clients trust you with their lives, and this could destroy that trust.”

  He sits on the bed next to me. “Baby, it’s my job to keep you safe. I’m the one who should be sorry. I was too wrapped in you and what we’ve had this week, and I let my guard down. This is all on me.”

  Leaning forward onto my hands and knees, I crawl to him. “This has been the best week of my life. Can’t we just stay in here and not venture out anymore? We can order room service and stay a little longer.”

  “Emmett, as much as I’d love to do exactly that, it’s just not possible. Besides, I don’t think the hotel would be too happy with that decision since the front of the hotel is covered with a mob of people.”

  Throwing my robe on, I sail out of bed. “Are they kicking us out because of the press?”

  “No, but paparazzi from all over Europe are waiting for us at the entrance of the hotel. I’ve arranged for a car to pick us up around back.”

  “Shit.”

  “Yep. That about sums it up.”

  My phone vibrates, and I jump at it thinking it must be Josh, but it’s not. It’s my mother, and I drop the phone as if it’s on fire and let it fall to the bed, staring at it until she hangs up. Once the phone stops ringing, the screen is left filled with text messages. Forty-eight messages, to be exact. I think the entire population of Eastlyn has texted me. The only person who hasn’t is Josh.

  “What have I done?”

  “Hey, hey. Don’t do that. This isn’t your fault.”

  “The whole world thinks I’m a lying whore. And poor Josh. He looks like a fool who got screwed over by his gold-digging friend. I can’t even believe what my family must think of me.” I gasp when another person crosses my mind. “Oh, my God, Max! What about Nicholas? He’s going to think I’m a monster.”

  Strong arms engulf me from behind, and I turn, burying my face in his chest, and begin to sob. Sobs of regret for ever agreeing to lie to my family, but if I had never done that, I wouldn’t be in Max’s arms right now, even if it’s under these circumstances.

  “Nick is not going to think you’re a monster and we are going to figure this out. Sibby will work her magic, and we’ll make this right. I love you, baby. I got you. No matter what happens.”

  His words help enough for me to take a deep, cleansing breath. I knew this was the risk, and I took it. Now, I need to suffer the consequences.

  Hating to step out of his arms, I do, then take two seconds to gather myself before rushing to the already open closet to grab my clothes.

  “Have you already talked to Josh?”

  “No, just Sibby. She’s already working on things and reaching out to Josh. Luckily, he’s out of town and working so he should be out of the spotlight for now.”

  I empty my drawers and set out a few things to change into before grabbing my phone off the bed and dial Josh’s number.

  He doesn’t answer, so I text him.

  Emmett: I am so sorry.

  Josh: ...

  Oh, thank goodness he’s replying. Max sets my bag on the bed, and I put the phone in my robe pocket and begin haphazardly shoving everything inside.

  I check my phone and there’s no reply from Josh. Then the dancing dots start again, and the knots tightening in my stoma
ch ease up a bit, but then they disappear again without a reply.

  I try calling him again, but it rings once, and he sends me to his voicemail.

  “Josh won’t answer, and he keeps starting to reply to my texts and then stops. He hates me.”

  “Emmett, give him a minute to digest it all. It’s a lot, and I’m sure he’s busy and just hasn’t gotten to finish his text or can’t answer. Now, the car is gonna be here in a few minutes, and as much as I hate to say it, I really need you to change out of that robe and get dressed, baby.”

  Somehow, I manage to throw myself together while shoving all my toiletries in their case. I do a quick search running around the room like a crazy person. Looking under the bed, in the closet, and in every drawer in the room making sure we didn’t forget anything in our haste, and as I check the last bedside table, there is a light knock on the door.

  My heart stops, wondering who it could possibly be.

  “Don’t worry, it’s the hotel manager. He’s going to take us the back way.”

  “Oh, okay.”

  Wow, he really took care of a lot while I was asleep.

  “Bonjour. Right this way, please.”

  Max and I follow an older gentleman, possibly in his late sixties—dressed superbly in his blue suit even at this time of the morning—who has taken our bags and put them on a cart. He leads us to a hidden staff-only elevator in a little alcove in the hallway that I had never even noticed.

  Max holds my hand, and his thumb subconsciously moves back and forth over the back of it while we glide deeper into the belly of the hotel. When the doors open, we exit into a beige concrete hallway where our rack of luggage is passed to another hotel employee who heads off ahead of us. Ten feet later, we take a left into the hustle and bustle of the kitchen where they’re preparing for the breakfast rush. We maneuver around the confused yet discreet employees. None of them makes eye contact with us, and it feels like I’m living a scene out of a movie. Finally reaching the back door, the gentleman assisting us steps out into the alleyway for a few moments before returning.

  “Sir. Madame. Your bags are in the vehicle, and the street is clear.”

  “Merci,” Max says, shaking his hand that looked a little padded with a very special way of saying thank you for your help.

  The driver has the door held open, and we only have to take three steps from the back door of the hotel to the waiting car. Max is practically pressed against me as I climb in, trying to shelter me from any prying eyes.

  He confirms with the driver that we’re headed to the airport, and I check my phone yet again. Still no reply from Josh. I text him to let him know we’re on our way to the airport.

  Max sits back in his seat, and I can feel the tension radiating from him. “So, this was really last minute, and Sibby was able to make some calls and get us a plane, but because of the late notice, there may not be provisions.”

  “That’s fine. I appreciate everything the two of you did to make this happen. I’m still just so sorry it ended this way. I had a great week.”

  Neither one of us took the time to put our seat belts on, so he pulls me onto his lap, wrapping his arms around me, and quietly speaks into my ear. “We’ll have many more great weeks, baby. We just need to get through what lies ahead. But I promise there are endless great weeks to be had.”

  “Even with all of this, I’m so glad I met you.”

  “Me too.”

  Sinking deeper into him, I rest my head on his shoulder, remembering every touch, every word, every laugh, and every single moment of our time in Paris. Bottling it up in case I need it in the days, weeks, or very possibly months that follow.

  About twenty minutes later, the airport is in sight when my phone vibrates, and I see Josh’s name light up my screen.

  “Oh, Josh. I’m so glad you called. We’re just getting to the airport right now. I am so sorry about all of this, Josh. Just tell me what I can do to make it better.”

  “Not now, Emmett. The pilot has instructions to fly you home. I would call Miles or someone to pick you up.”

  “Miles? What do you mean?”

  “Emmett, go back to Eastlyn. I’ll send your things. I won’t need you in LA anymore. I spoke to the pilot. You’ll fly to New York and then from there to Pendleton. Like I said, you’ll need a ride I’m done. I’ll contact the lawyers and deal with the contract. With the holiday, you more than likely won’t hear anything from them until the 2nd.”

  “Josh, talk to me. Please.”

  “What’s there to talk about? You’ve just made me look like a fool in front of the entire world. I never would have thought you could be so selfish, but I guess I was wrong. Apparently, getting laid was more important than our friendship.”

  “That’s not true, and you know it!”

  “Thanks a whole fucking lot.”

  The line goes dead, but I continue to sit with the phone to my ear in shock at Josh’s reaction to the situation. What happened to the man who let us borrow the plane to fly to Paris? The man who was happy I had found love, who encouraged us to spend time together. I don’t know who that was on the other end of the line, but it wasn’t my best friend.

  Moments later, Max takes the phone from my hand. “We’re here.”

  “He’s having me sent home to Eastlyn.” I stare straight ahead, not believing the words coming out of my mouth. “He’s contacting the lawyers, and he’ll be sending me my things home from California. I’ve ruined our friendship.”

  “Give him time. He just needs to work through this. We all do.”

  Chapter 27

  Through the small rectangular window on the plane, I see Amelia and her Mini Cooper waiting for us on the tarmac. In a single moment, I feel relief and shame flood through me, if that’s even possible. Relief to see my friend but the shame that I have to face all of those I know and love and admit to them that I’ve been lying.

  My first instinct was to call Miles because he’s always been the go-to for all of who are a part of The Crew. He always seems to know what to do, but he’ll also keep it real and put you in your place, and I’m not ready for that. Not just yet.

  So I called Amelia. She’s the only person outside of Josh’s inner circle who knows what’s going on, and I know she isn’t going to lecture me, at least not yet. We’ll get there, I’m sure.

  As I step off the plane stairs, Amelia gets out of her car, bundled up to fight the cold winter breeze biting at us like some sort of punishment. She hurries to the back of the Mini to open it up for our bags. I rush to the car and embrace of my friend.

  “Hey, girl, you okay?”

  “Been better.”

  “It’s gonna be okay, especially if we get in the car to talk about it.”

  She lets go of me and runs back to the driver's seat of the car. Blinded by my hair when the icy wind blows it into my face, I can barely see Max when I hear his voice in my ear. “Get in the car, baby. I got this.”

  The warmth of his voice momentarily calms me, but as soon as I take a step toward the car, it vanishes into the frigid air, and I can’t tell if I’m shaking from the cold or my nerves. When I crawl into the back seat of the car, Amelia has the heat blasting, and I start to thaw instantly, but the shakes remain.

  “Dang, Emmy. He’s huge.” I look out the front passenger window of her little car where he’s standing, and it barely comes up to his waist.

  I don’t say anything because what is there to say? Yes, he is a big man, but he’s also the man I love. I’ve spent the past week in his arms experiencing the most romantic moments of my life, and now...now, I have no idea what’s in store.

  Will I have to choose between the man I love and my friend? If we do work this out, how do Max and I make it work if I’m in Eastlyn and he’s in LA with Nick? Will my family ever look at me the same way? Will Josh and I ever be the same? Will he ever get to live a life where he gets to be his authentic self? Will I still have a job after this? I mean, the entire world thinks I’m a lying, cheatin
g bitch. Not exactly corporate management material.

  A wave of cold air fills the car when Max gets in the front passenger seat. The right side of the car leans ever so slightly from his weight.

  “Thanks for picking us up, Amelia.”

  “It’s no problem. Glad to do it.”

  There’s a heavy silence blanketing us as Amelia navigates the car off the airport property. But I know my friend, and she has a lot to say. I’m not sure if she’s just being nice or maybe she isn’t comfortable around Max yet, but it’s not like her to be so quiet.

  Once she’s on I-84, she pulls off her beanie and shakes her red locks free and the Melly I know and love lets loose but not quite how I expected.

  “So, Max. What are your intentions with our sweet little Emmy?”

  “Excuse me?” he says, looking at our driver with a raised eyebrow.

  He finds the humor intended in her question if the smirk on his face is any indication.

  Chiming in, I try to help him from the back seat. Leaning as close as I can to the front seat with my seat belt, I don’t hide the annoyance in my voice. “You don’t have to answer that.”

  But Amelia is relentless and pushes her questioning to the next level. “Do you love her?”

  “I do. With all my heart.”

  His honesty and lack of hesitancy takes my breath away and has me falling in love with him all over again.

  “Good. Because she’s about to be put through the wringer, and she’s gonna need you.”

  Her words ring true.

  Things are about to go from bad to worse.

  What I wouldn’t give to be back in our hotel room in Paris right now.

  “Emmett, I know you love Max, so I’m not even gonna ask.” Max’s huge body moves just enough in his seat to give me a little smile and a look that says he knows I love him too. “I just hope you two know what you’ve gotten yourself into. The whole world is watching, and Em, I know you love Josh, we all do, but that doesn’t mean you should sacrifice yourself. You deserve better than being the fall guy for him.”