Becoming tired of Elijah’s pacing, I walk over to him. He doesn’t stop speaking to the person he’s cursing out on the phone, but his pacing stops as he wraps his arm around my shoulders and kisses my head. I stand kind of awkwardly in his embrace, but at least he’s not making me dizzy with his pacing.
“You’re incompetent. That’s what bothers me.” He hangs up and wraps his other arm around me. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t apologize. What happened?”
He sighs and plops down on the sofa. “They have no leads, and absolutely no clue on who could have done this to you.” He takes my hand, tugging me to the sofa.
“What about the dressing room thing, do you think they are connected?” He’d told me about photos being leaked of us before my accident at the Dave Hartley show. Which they had no leads on either.
“I'm not sure. We’ll figure it out. I’ve hired a private detective. I’ve used him before, when I was being stalked. He’s really good.”
“I trust you.”
He beams at that. “Thank you. That means more than you know.” He kisses the back of my hand.
Carter comes over and sits in the chair opposite from us. “So, what now?”
I hadn’t realized that Carter was in the room or that he was listening to our conversation. Elijah must have known he was there, because he doesn’t seem upset or surprised.
“I guess we stick to the plan and drive across country.”
Hutch and Danny come back into the room. “We’re ready, boss,” Hutch says.
“Great.” Elijah turns to me. “We’re taking the service elevator down to the parking garage. There’s less chance of anyone seeing us, but wear these.” He leans forward and grabs a pair of large darkly tinted sunglasses. “And keep my hand the whole time. If at any time you become uncomfortable or afraid, just tell me.”
“I’m not uncomfortable or afraid.”
It’s the truth. No one except the hotel manager and this team knows we are leaving. I’m sure things can slip by, but I’m confident it’ll be fine. I was wrong. It’s not fine. Somehow our departure was leaked, and the parking garage is covered in paparazzi and fans. How they got in here, I’m not sure, but the security guards and hotel management are trying to force the crowd back. Sirens wail in the distance as the police come to escort us out of here. Elijah keeps me close to his body, and Carter flanks my other side, it’s a Sophie sandwich. Not at all comfortable. Both men have one of my hands, I hold on for dear life as we hurry back inside.
“I don’t trust that bus now.” Elijah’s anger is high. I haven’t heard him speak like this to his guys, especially Hutch. “Get something else. A car or SUV to get us out of here and find another damn bus!”
“On it, boss!” Hutch turns to Danny and the other guys, giving them each their orders.
“Who leaked our departure?” Elijah yells as he pulls me into the manager’s office.
My nerves are completely shot. I’m terrified. My world seems to be crashing in on me. It’s claustrophobia. As soon as the crowd and all the noise came into my view, it scared me. I’m shaking from it, and much to my dismay, I’m crying again. Elijah bends down in front of me as I sit on the sofa in the office.
“Baby.” He moves hair from my face. “It’s all right. You’re okay.” He runs his hands down my shoulders and arms, comforting me, without being forward or assuming. He cares so much for me.
I shake my head back and forth. “What if we can’t get out of here?”
Sobs burst out of me. Elijah hands me his fancy handkerchief and I almost want to smile. Carter sits beside me and starts to rub my back. I lean into him. Elijah makes a disapproving face but says nothing. Elijah cups my cheek in his palm.
“We will. Don’t worry. Are you okay with Carter for a few minutes while I check on some things?”
I nod my head. He leans in like he’s going to kiss me, but at the last moment moves to my cheek. He looks a little confused and sad. I wonder if it’s because he thought he couldn’t kiss me like he wanted to.
“Is it always like this?” I ask Carter after Elijah and the manager have left the room.
“Nah, this is just because of the accident, and the mess with Elijah and me. Now they’re saying we’re gay lovers.”
I side-eye him. “Why would they think that?”
He shrugs. “It’s Hollywood. They don’t need a reason. Just whatever sells their magazines or fills their slots on TV.”
“I guess that fist fight the two of you got into was really a lover’s spat then.”
He laughs. “Probably. You’re our beard.”
I shove him playful. “Shut up. He’s mine and you can’t have him.”
Carter smiles broadly. “Hey, you said that like you actually remember.”
I shake my head. “No, but I think my heart does.” I rub my head and pull out my pill bottle from my purse.
“Head bothering you?”
“Yeah. Right above my left eye. It’s been on and off all day, but I think the crying made it worse.”
He wraps his arm around me. “I’m sorry.” I lean my head against him. Carter is my rock.
I jump when the door opens and a yelling Elijah storms through.
“Mr. Stone, if you’d allow us to explain,” the manager implores.
Elijah shakes his head and turns around to face the man. “She’s my fiancé, and I will stop at nothing to protect her. Do you understand that? You swore to me that only you and one other person knew. Now, you’re telling me that someone let it slip and then suddenly all of damn New York knows that we are leaving and what we are leaving in? It’s inexcusable!”
“You’re right and the responsible parties will be dealt with harshly. As for your leaving now, I assure you that you have my utmost cooperation, and I will personally handle your needs.” The manager wrings his hands nervously.
Elijah is still fuming. “I almost lost her once. I won’t go through that again. If something goes wrong, I’ll hold you personally responsible.”
Is it wrong that I find him completely irresistible right now? He reminds me of one of the characters he played in a crime drama a few years ago. He was the tough as nails detective, scruffy and brash. He was so handsome and dare I say, sexy.
“Dang, Peaches. Loosen up.”
I turn to Carter and he motions to his hand. I hadn’t realized I was squeezing it so tightly. Elijah notices our exchange, and though he scowls at our joined hands, he walks over and kneels in front of me, taking my hand from Carter’s and holding it in his. It would have scared me if his demeanor hadn’t completely flipped to someone caring.
“I didn’t mean to scare you.”
His eyes search mine. My face may appear as if I’m scared, maybe I was a little bit, but the fact of the matter is, I am insanely attracted to him right now. I swallow harshly and stuttering, “I … I’m not. You … you didn’t scare me.”
His eyes furrow. “You’re stuttering again. Are you sure I didn’t scare you?”
Carter covers his mouth as he stifles a laugh, then mumbles. “She’s freaking turned on.” I hate that he knows me so well sometimes.
Elijah looks over at him and shakes his head, rolling his eyes, before turning back to me. “Are you sure you’re okay?”
“I’m fine.”
He kisses my knuckles, then stands, turning back to the manager. I punch Carter in the leg as hard as I can. He rubs the spot but can’t stop laughing. He leans into me.
“You so are, aren’t you? You think his anger is sexy.”
I pinch him, he yelps satisfactorily. He knows I don’t talk about stuff like that. I watch Elijah and the guys for a long time as they plan our departure, wanting to leave as soon as possible.
“Carter?”
“Yeah?” He leans in toward me. I’m not sure why we are whispering, but the atmosphere seems thick and a little stifling.
“Elijah didn’t scare me, but I am afraid.”
Now that my hormones have settled, I
’m a little shaky. Carter notices and takes off his over shirt, unrolls the sleeves, and wraps it around me before, pulling me against him. He kisses my temple.
“You’ll be okay. We won’t let anyone get near you. The boys are packing some heavy heat.”
“It didn’t help last time.” I don’t mean it hurtfully, but Elijah hears me and frowns. I can’t look at him.
Carter lifts my chin to face him. “Maybe not, but we are on high alert now. Elijah has been on the phone with his lawyer and the private investigator since the accident happened. He’s going to find who did this. Try not to worry.”
After the guys go about whatever it was they were assigned to do, Elijah comes over and sits beside me on the sofa. “I’m sorry.”
I turn to him and smile. “Don’t be sorry. This is all my fault, anyway.”
“Hardly. You didn’t ask some lunatic to fire a boulder at your head.”
“It wasn’t a boulder, but that’s beside the point. You wouldn’t have to be going through all this if it wasn’t for me. If I wasn’t in your life, you wouldn’t have this hassle.”
He picks up my hand and kisses the back of it. Something he’s done quite a lot since I woke up. “Don’t talk like that. I don’t want to live without you in my life. You make my life worth living.”
“I don’t understand why you’d want to be with me. I’m nobody special.” I stare down at my hands. It’s the truth. Why would he want a nobody like me when he could literally have anyone in Hollywood?
He clears his throat and looks around the room. “Can you give us a minute?” he says to the guys. They nod and leave immediately. Carter gives me a questioning glance to be sure I’m okay with this. I nod and he leaves as well.
Elijah looks back to me. “Sophie, you can’t remember our life together, you don’t understand choices that you made prior to the accident, but we’ve been together a year. In that time, we’ve both changed in different ways. It’s what people do as they age and grow. I’m not saying your standards or moral code have changed, but in a relationship there’s always a compromise. You feel lost, and I can tell you’re getting depressed. This is overwhelming, and I think those feelings are normal, but please don’t shut me out, or have thoughts of leaving me. You will remember. Even if it’s not for a while yet, you’ll remember me, and all this will make sense.”
I think about his words. He’s right. It will make sense. I’ll probably think some things I thought or how I acted was ridiculous, because I’d remember what my life was truly like, but the fact is, that right now I don’t remember. I hate this so much. But he’s right, I can’t just leave. For one, I think it would be counterproductive to my recovery, which seems completely selfish, but there’s also the fact that even though I don’t remember him, I feel connected to him in a strange and inexplicable way.
“I don’t want to leave you.”
“Good ‘cause I’m selfish and I need you.” He leans over. “Can I steal a kiss?”
“No, but you can have one.”
He presses his lips to mine in a sweet kiss. I don’t know what will happen when we finally get out on the road, but whatever happens, we’ll face it together.
16 The Journey Begins
I t seems like it takes forever to get everything organized, but, in reality, it’s only a few hours. The new plan is to leave after dark in two separate rental cars, that the hotel took care of for us, then get an RV or something similar once we are out of the state of New York. There should be no way to track that to us.
“Ready to go? Elijah slings his backpack over his shoulder. I nod, and he takes my hand and leads me to the back service door, where the hotel manager has assured us is one-hundred percent clear. “You okay?” Elijah jiggles my hand a bit, giving me a smile as he opens the door with his free hand.
I return his smile though I’m slightly hesitant. “I’m okay.”
Elijah has thoroughly explained what is to happen as we leave. He, Jared, Mike, and I will be riding in one car, the rest of the guys in the other. It doesn't escape my notice that Carter is not in the car with us. We’ll drive as long as possible before stopping for the night and figure out our best means of transportation from that point on. Now, when I say thoroughly, I mean it. He, Hutch, and Danny have done nothing but explain this trip for the past forty-five minutes. That alone has been exhausting.
We get loaded up with no problem and are on our way without any further delay. Elijah and I are in the backseat, and I’m lost in my own thoughts, staring out the window. Everything is so surreal. To me, I should be at a book signing in Sydney. I continually have this sense that I’m late or missing something. My internal clock is completely screwed up.
“Sweetheart?” Elijah touches my arm, making me jump. “Sorry. Are you okay? You’ve been staring out that window for over an hour.”
I clear my throat. “Yeah. I get a little overwhelmed. It’s like I’m in someone else’s life. I mean, it’s mine, but with the huge chunk missing, things don’t add up. Sometimes I just can't shake that feeling.”
“I’m sorry. I get it though. Do you need a pain pill? You’ve been rubbing at your head quite a bit.”
Grumbling, I let my head thump back on the headrest. “I hate taking them. They make me foggy.”
Elijah is obviously not concerned with my reasons because he’s already grabbing a bottle of water and dispensing a pill for me. “I know you don’t like them, but the doctor said it was very important to take them until you see the doctor in San Fran. You don’t want swelling.”
I roll my eyes. “No, wouldn’t want that.” I am not typically a sarcastic person, but I’m tired.
“Baby.” Elijah starts, but I take the pill from him and swallow it quickly, before turning back to the window. After a few minutes of silence, Elijah gently touches my forearm with his fingertip. “Are you upset with me?”
“No, I’m tired and cranky. I’m sorry for taking it out on you.”
He readjusts himself in his seat, putting my pillow on his thighs. “You can lie down in my lap if you want.”
I think about it for a few long moments before moving to lie down. He keeps his left arm along the back of the seat as I lie my head in his lap. He seems super uncomfortable, but I don’t say anything until he starts to fidget. Well, I don’t say anything either, I simply take his hand in mine and pull it over me, kissing his knuckles.
“Better?”
“Yeah, thanks. Are you comfortable?”
“Yep. You?”
“Perfect.” He winks at me. I wink back, making him chuckle.
The guys start to talk about some football game, and since I have zero interest in the sport, I let the conversation lull me into sleep. I jerk awake as the car comes to a stop.
“It’s all right, Sophie. We’ve stopped for the evening.” Elijah’s grip tightens on me.
He has a weird smirk on his face that makes me self-conscious as I touch my face thinking I’ve drooled. “What?”
“You said my name in your sleep.” He seems way too pleased about that.
Jared laughs. “Yeah, and you also said Carter.”
Elijah huffs. “At least my name didn’t sound exasperated.” He glares at my brother before turning to me. “Do you remember your dream?”
“No. I don’t remember dreaming at all.” He looks a little disappointed, but there’s still a great deal of smugness coming off him.
I gaze around at my surroundings. “Uh, why are we at a chain hotel?”
“You too good for a Holiday Express, little sister?” Jared asks.
“Of course not, I’m surprised is all.”
Elijah chuckles. “Do you think celebrities always stay in luxury resorts?”
I shrug. “Well, yeah.”
He takes my hand and kisses above my engagement ring. “I’ve stayed in some craptastic places, Sophie. This place isn’t that bad. It has a five star reviewer rating, but if you want something fancier, I’m sure we can find it.”
“Wha
t? No. Seriously, this place is great. I really want to shower and go back to bed.”
Hutch knocks on Elijah’s window. “I got the rooms. It’s inside only access.”
“I figured.” Elijah turns to me. “Ready?”
“Yep.” We get out of the car and Elijah pulls up the hood of my sweatshirt.
“Just in case.” He tugs the strings on my hoodie a little, tightening it up. “There, perfect.”
We head, hand in hand, into the hotel and straight to the elevator up to the third floor. Once we exit the elevator, Hutch hands Elijah and me room cards.
“We were able to get two adjoining rooms. I figured you guys would want those. Carter and Jared, you’re with Elijah. Sophie, your room has one bed, so you’re on your own.”
I’m so relieved. “Thank you.” He winks.
We continue toward our rooms. As I reach my door, Elijah touches my elbow. “Hey, you going to be okay?”
I squeeze his hand, hoping it’s enough to reassure him. “I’ll be fine.”
“Can we leave the adjoining door unlocked? If you need us?” He walks into my room and places my bags on the bed.
I give him a smile. I think he may be a little uncomfortable with the separation. “Sure. That’s a good idea. Thanks.” He walks back to the door.
Elijah kisses my cheek. “Goodnight. Love you.” He lingers for a moment. It’s so awkward, but I try not to show it as I wrap my arms around him, and kiss his cheek in return.
“Night.”
Jared waves after opening their half of the adjoining door, yawning widely.
“Night, Peaches.” Carter salutes me.
I shake my head at him as I close the door on my side. I notice that the guys do not shut theirs. “Overprotective, boys,” I mutter.
Fame & Consequences Page 19
