“I don’t drink!” I say offended.
“Just drink it,” he says, encouragingly.
“I can’t. I don’t drink.” I’m adamant.
“Why, are you pregnant?”
I huff, offended. “What? No, of course not. I don’t like how it makes me feel.” I push the little bottle back to him.
He pushes it back in front of me. “Trust me. It will help. Unless you have Valium.”
“No.”
“Then drink it. It will help you calm down. I don’t think I can listen to thirteen plus hours of you chanting.”
“Fine.” I grab the bottle.
I shake my head and grin at Lesley. I still can’t believe how it all went down. “I have nothing to lose at this point. I’ve already embarrassed myself to the max. So, I chug the little bottle. After about three little bottles, I’m loose and relaxed. Okay, I was drunk,” I laugh as does everyone in the audience.
“Go on,” Lesley encourages, enthralled.
I blow out a breath and continue with my tale. “So I kind of lull my head to the side and say, ‘Hey’.”
“Yeah?” Elijah answers with a smile.
I look at him then down to the tray in his lap. “That’s my book.” He looks at me puzzled and picks the book up, examining it.
“Um, no. I’m pretty sure this is mine. I bought it in the airport bookstore.”
I laugh. “No, silly. I wrote it.”
“You’re Sophia Parker?”
“Yep!” I pop my ‘P’ dramatically. “But call me Sophie. Sophia is too formal. Makes me think of my grandparents when they’d yell at me.”
He puts his hand out to shake mine. “Nice to meet you, Sophie. Hey, would you mind signing this?” he asks.
I shrug. “Sure, I guess.”
He laughs. “I don’t mean to put you out.”
I wave him off. “No, it’s nothing. I don’t understand why an autograph is so important. I mean, yeah, to sign checks and stuff, but to sign something for a stranger is weird to me.” I have his book on my tray and it’s open to the first blank page. I sign my name as I sarcastically say, “You want my phone number too?”
“Yeah.” I can hear the laughter in his voice as I write not only my phone number but my address, parents, brothers, and animals’ names. My height, weight, and measurements, and a little blurb about how I think autographing is ridiculous. I close the book and hand it back to him. He’s amused by my antics.
“There you go, tiger,” I say with a wink. “What do I get for my troubles? You gonna sign something for me?”
His eyes crinkle with laughter. “I thought you said it was ridiculous?”
“I did, but, you know, tit for tat and all that.” My words may slur, but I still know who he is.
“Why would you want my signature?” he asks.
“You’re famous. Why not?”
“So you know who I am?” I nod, but with exaggerated movements.
“’Course, I do, everyone does. That’s you on the screen, right?” I point to the in-flight movie.
I can’t help but grin. It’s the movie that sent him to stardom, ‘Shift’. He plays a high school student with the ability to shift his form into anything he touches. He’s kept his family secret his whole life, but when he meets someone, that all changes. She has secrets of her own, and soon chaos breaks loose. He was good and people everywhere loved it and him. He’s been a household name since.
“Yeah,” he groans.
“Doesn’t it annoy you? I mean, all the fans and paparazzi hounding you? It must be exhausting. I don’t know how you handle people prying into your life. You know, the other day I was on social media and there were like ten posts about you in a row. It gets old. I don’t know how you do it. And to top it all off, they pry into your private life. I mean, come on, how many times are they going to post the same pictures and speculate about something they know nothing about? I feel so bad for you.” I ramble. He sits there amused as he listens to my slurry mantra.
“It gets old, but I signed up for this job. I knew what could happen.” I notice he has a faint Scottish accent. I’d noticed it on TV interviews, but in person, it’s different. He hands me a signed napkin, and I lay it on my tray.
“Yeah, but I bet you didn’t realize it’d be like this, though.”
“No, not really. I never expected to make it as well as I have. I’m grateful,” he tells me.
I sit up, with great effort, and look at him. “You know what? I think you’re an all right person. Not a stuck-up jerk like others I’ve met.”
He laughs. “Thanks. I think.”
“Hey,” a voice comes from beside us, and I look up.
“Crap on a cracker, you’re big,” I say to the man, looming over us. He’s very tall, with dark blonde hair and the bluest eyes I’ve ever seen. His muscles look like they’re trying to rip their way out of his shirt.
He looks down at me and smiles. “You want to trade seats?” the big guy asks Elijah.
“No. I’m good. Thanks, Hutch.”
“Okay, boss. Just let me know.”
“Sure,” Elijah says as Hutch leaves us.
My head lulls back over to Elijah. “Does he think I’m harassing you?” I ask.
“Probably. But you’re not. It’s refreshing to find someone honest for a change. Most people try to suck up to me. I like someone who seems to view me on borderline hatred.” He laughs.
“I don’t hate you. I told you I felt bad for you,” I defend myself.
“But not bad enough to want my signature.” He points to the napkin he’s signed. The condensation from my drink has ruined it.
I laugh. “Oops, I guess my napkin’s worth went down.” I take an exaggerated breath. “Isn’t it stupid if we sign something, it makes the value of the item increase?”
He nods. “It’s pretty crazy.”
“Do you use a fake signature?” I ask him in a conspiratorially low voice.
His amusement grows as he laughs again. “I do. How about you?”
“No, not really. I’m pretty lazy about signing my name, anyway. It never looks the same twice,” I say with a wink.
I chuckle again and grin at Lesley. “At some point, I drift off to sleep, only waking when the flight attendant informs me that I need to buckle up. I also realize I’ve been asleep on Elijah’s shoulder and drooled down his shirt. Now sober, I’m absolutely horrified.” I shake my head as the laughter echoes in the studio. “After assuring me it’s all right and signing a new napkin for me, Elijah and I depart the plane.”
“So, do you still have the napkin?” Lesley asks excitedly.
I smile. I haven’t told Elijah this before. “Um, no. I don’t,” I confess.
Elijah snorts and Lesley gasps.
“Did you throw it away?” she asks in shock, putting her hand over her heart, with an exaggerated pout.
I shake my head. “No. As I was waiting on my bags, he and his group walked by. A little girl, maybe ten, started freaking out, saying he was her favorite actor. So, I gave her his signed napkin, and told her I sat by him on the plane. I thought she’d faint, she was so happy.” Lesley gushes about how sweet that was, and Elijah squeezes my hand.
“So the rest is history and you guys are in love and getting married,” she says laughing. We both chuckle but say nothing. She holds up her hands in surrender and continues, “I know, not on topic. So, we all know Mr. Stone here is notoriously private. Have you adopted the same philosophy?”
“I don’t know if I’d call it a philosophy, but I think your personal life, to a certain point, should be separate from your work life.”
“So you wouldn’t tell us if you had a boyfriend or who he was?” she tries.
“Probably not. Not that I’d be ashamed or anything. I, like I said, think work and home should be separate.”
“Oh, honey. I totally understand. So let’s talk about this new movie! Where are you in the process?”
I glance at Elijah, hoping he’ll
take it from here. He moves his left arm to rest on the seat behind me. He’s still not touching me, but I feel like he’s wrapping himself around me. I wish I could sink into his side.
“We’re still in the early stages. We have the studio in the works, and Sophia and I will be producers. Once the studio is secured, we’ll start the rest of the process.”
“Any preferences on what actors you’d like to play the parts of Marshall and Alyx, Sophia?” Lesley asks.
I pause for a moment to gather my thoughts. “No, not really. I’d like to have someone who’s relatively new, or maybe on TV at the moment. I like the idea of helping someone further their career.”
“A pay-it-forward effect?” Lesley says.
I nod. “Exactly! I am so incredibly lucky to have this opportunity, and I don’t know if I’d have it had I not been on that plane to Australia at the right time.”
“Nah, you’d still have it. Your work is awesome,” Elijah tells me. The audience ‘awes’. I blush, but thank him for the compliment.
“You guys are so sweet together! Aren’t they the sweetest?” Lesley asks the audience, they agree, clapping and cheering.
Elijah pulls me closer to him and kisses my hair, causing the spectators to go off again. I peek up at him and shake my head, smirking. Even though it was a gesture any good friend might have done, to the viewers, it’s as good as outing our relationship status.
“So, how has it been working together so far?” Lesley asks as the crowd settles.
“It’s been great. I’ve learned a lot about the business. I couldn’t do this without him.” I point to Elijah.
She smiles. “What about you, Elijah?”
He chuckles and scratches his chin. “It’s been … an experience,” he says teasingly. I elbow him in the ribs lightly, sending the audience into laughter again. “Okay, okay.” He holds his hands up in surrender. “Seriously, it’s been great. She has a brilliant mind. Even though she doesn’t have formal experience in the movie business, she has incredible ideas I expect will translate to film well.”
I smile and mouth ‘thank you’ to him. He winks at me before looking back at Lesley.
“Do you think all of your books will be made into films?” she asks.
“I hope so. It is a series. I think my fans would love to see them all put to film, but there’s always a chance it won’t translate well enough.” I shrug. It is a big worry, but Elijah is confident they’ll do well.
“I have every intention to see they are all put to film. The series is great and will make a spectacular movie franchise,” Elijah says.
“Wonderful. Thank you both so much for being here. Good luck on your projects. I can’t wait to see Marshall and Alyx brought to life. Thank you, viewers, for tuning in and please be back here tomorrow to see the cast-off from Teen Idol and the cast of the new hit movie Turbulence. Have a blessed day, America!” She blows a huge kiss and we’re off the air. She turns to us as stagehands rush over to take our mics. “Thanks, guys. This was great,” Lesley says, her voice returning to her normal pitch.
“Thanks for having us,” Elijah replies. His microphone is off so he stands and offers me his hand. As soon as my microphone is off, I take it and stand. He kisses my cheek. “You did great, sweetheart.”
“You guys are so stinking cute together. You’re quickly becoming America’s new ‘it’ couple. Even if you refuse to admit you’re together.” Lesley finishes with a wink.
I cringe. “I hope not.” We don’t need any more unwanted attention.
Elijah chuckles. “I’m afraid they’ll be disappointed once they realize how utterly boring we are.” I nod my head in agreement. We exit the stage, gather our things, and head to our waiting limo.
2 College Friend
“W here to, boss?” Mike Hutchins, or Hutch as he is often called, asks as he opens the limo door. He is Elijah’s driver and bodyguard
“The Dave Hartley Show, lot 24,” Elijah replies. Mike nods and closes the door behind us.
“Little Miss, do you need to be dropped off somewhere?” Hutch asks as he takes his seat behind the wheel. He always calls me Little Miss, but I don’t mind. Mike is really sweet, he has a dry sense of humor, which reminds me of my brother Liam.
“No, thank you. I’m going with Eli today.” I wink at my boyfriend. Most people call Elijah, Stone, but his mom and I call him Eli. He absolutely hates it. He would prefer I call him Stone, but I just can’t do that unless I’m goofing around, or when he calls me Parker. I’m not completely sure what this group’s thing is with calling people by their last names, but it seems to be the trend.
Elijah leans in and kisses me right behind my ear, a spot he knows drives me crazy. “Missed you,” he whispers.
I turn to face him slightly. “I’ve been with you all morning.” I playfully roll my eyes.
My overly affectionate boyfriend sighs, pulling me close to him, and says in a low husky voice, “You know what I mean. We’ve had no time for us.” He kisses behind my ear again.
I blush and my breathing deepens. “Whose fault is that?” I tease.
“My incompetent manager’s.” He chuckles huskily. “He sent me to New York for a whole week. I only needed to be there for two days.”
“Hmm, well let’s fire the creep and run off to a private island; then no one can bother us,” I murmur, before turning in the seat some to catch his lips with mine.
“Baby.” He pulls me closer to him, his fingers tickle the back of my bent knee.
“Close the partition,” I whisper. There’s a faint chuckle from Hutch as the window rises.
“You were so confident and in control out there talking to Lesley, baby. Just thinking about when we met … You drove me crazy on that flight. I didn’t know whether to kiss you or have your feisty little behind thrown off the plane.” I trail kisses from his lips down his jaw and neck.
“You like me feisty,” I tease, biting his ear lobe lightly.
“No, honey, I love you feisty. I love you in every way.” Suddenly the teasing atmosphere changes to a soft but serious one.
“I love you so much, Eli.” I cut off his response as I press my mouth to his in a heated kiss. His hand trails up my thigh, grabbing my waist, and pulling me sideways into his lap, grabbing the hair at the back of my neck and deepening our kiss.
“Baby, we need to stop.” His breathing is ragged as he pulls away.
“No, just a little more,” I say. He kisses me again, but I know it won’t go any farther, the control this man has is unreal. I huff as he pulls back.
He smiles at my reaction. “I have to be on set in twenty minutes.” I can see the regret in his eyes, but I huff again and flop back in my place and right my skirt. “I’m sorry.”
I wave him off. “No, you’re right. This isn’t appropriate behavior for the car, anyway. Plus, we agreed on our boundaries. You just make me push them.” I’m teasing, and he knows this.
He chuckles. “Someone has to make sure your virtue is maintained.” I cross my arms petulantly, which makes him laugh. He takes my hand in his and kisses the back of it. “I’ll make it up to you.” He brushes my hair from my eyes and kisses my lips softly.
We pull up to the curb and Hutch exits the car. He taps on the window and Elijah lowers it about three inches. “The crowd has already started to gather. Let me get security to handle them and then we can enter.”
“Okay. Take Soph through the back,” Elijah orders.
“Yes, sir.”
Hutch disappears through the crowd. I peek out the window and notice Daniel Brody, Elijah’s other bodyguard, stationed toward the back of the car. I hadn’t realized he had been following behind us, but I shouldn’t be surprised. Daniel, or Brody as everyone calls him, is almost the same build as Hutch, but where Hutch has thick blonde hair and blue eyes. Brody is bald with dark brown eyes and skin. He’s handsome, but the permanent scowl on his face and the tattoo on his head makes him appear a little intimidating. He’s a sweetheart, though, an
d loves me to death. I’m not being conceited, he’s actually told me that I’m as close to a little sister as he’s ever had.
Elijah squeezes my hand, and my eyes trail back to him. “Are you staring at Brody again?”
I blush. “No. Of course not.” I object defensively.
He laughs. “You so were. I’m going to fire him just so I can get more of your attention.”
“Mr. Stone, my attention is yours more than anyone else.” I lean in and plant a sweet kiss to his lips.
“I love you, Miss Parker.” He kisses me again. “Will you be all right waiting for me?”
“Of course! I told you my college roommate works here. It’ll be nice to catch up.”
“That’s right. What’s her name?”
“Krystal Whitaker.”
“Makeup artist?”
“Right. Remember I told you we lived in an apartment together in college?” He nods. “We’ve been in touch on and off through the years. I’ve been trying to see her since I moved to Los Angeles., but everything’s been so crazy,” I explain.
Krystal’s a lively, energetic person who talks way too much and has one too many tattoos on her body. She’s not like anyone I’ve ever met. Up until her, I hadn’t really had any girlfriends to speak of. I never cared for the drama they seem to bring. We were and are complete opposites, but we somehow made a great pair of friends that has lasted through the years. We used to talk almost every day, but it’s gotten less and less over the last couple of years, because of how busy I’ve been. I’m looking forward to being in the same place for a little while.
“Crazy because of me,” Elijah teases, bringing me out of my thoughts. I can see that he really believes this.
“Eli, my life would be boring without you,” I tell him. He opens his mouth to reply, but the car door swinging open stops him.
“We’re ready,” Hutch tells him.
“Good luck. See you in a few.” I smile and give him a little wave. I watch as Hutch escorts him into the building. He stops to sign a few autographs and greet his fans. He’s such a good guy, his fans absolutely adore him.
Fame & Consequences Page 2
