by J. L. Paul
He held up his hand, ticking off points on his fingers. “First of all, when we were freshmen, Cole and RJ were sophomores and everyone already knew who their parents were so when we started hanging out with them, they figured out who our parents were.”
She inclined her head slightly in agreement.
“Second,” he said, holding up another finger. “The college campus is much larger than Meridian Valley and I doubt seriously if we’ll know anyone. No one I knew at Meridian Valley was planning to attend Starkeman.”
“Okay, but what about our names?” she asked.
“Jones is a common name,” he said. “Yeah, I know Winston is not so much but no one particularly noticed the similarity at football camp -which brings me to my third point, cuz. Our dads were still playing and touring when we started Meridian Valley. Now they’re not and not so much on the radar so chances are, people aren’t going to remember them so easily.”
Ally’s eyes grew and she dropped to the floor in front of him. “That’s sort of sad. All that hard work – all those years of playing…”
“Ally,” Jamie said, taking her hand. “They’re not forgotten, it’s just college is a younger crowd and they’ll be listening to younger music. Oh, I’m sure there are still quite a few Tight Control fans out there and one or two of them might recognize our names, but I don’t really think it will be a problem.”
She nodded, still nibbling on her lip. He was probably right and while it cheered her to think that she might actually be able to attend college without people mobbing her about her dad, it still saddened her to think that most of her classmates might not even know who he is.
“Okay, so maybe we’ll be okay,” she said.
Jamie pulled her into a hug and kissed the top of her head. “They were an amazing band – still are – and they’ll never be forgotten. Don’t worry.”
“You’re right, as much as I hate to admit that,” she said, resting her cheek against his chest. “Just, don’t let it go to your head.”
He chuckled and it vibrated her ear. “Now, Cole and RJ are another story.”
Ally pulled out of his embrace to frown in confusion. “What do you mean?”
“They’re becoming more and more popular, especially after this tour,” he said. “And RJ told me that they shot a lot of footage on this tour for a video and it will be released soon.”
“I don’t see what that has to do with us?” she asked.
“Nothing, really,” Jamie shrugged. “We just have to be careful if they come on campus. They weren’t so recognizable last year, right? But I bet by the time the tour ends and the new video comes out, they will be. RJ said more and more people are recognizing them when they go out anywhere.”
“I see your point,” Ally said. “Jeez.”
“And I’m betting if people find out that RJ and Cole are our friends, it might be twice as bad. People will be bugging us to introduce them, get them concert tickets, backstage passes – you know.”
“Wonderful,” she groaned. Just when she thought life might smile on her and send her a ray of sunshine, the storm clouds gathered. She had hoped that with her new college independence, she’d be able to spend more time with Cole when he finished his tour. But it wasn’t looking like he’d be able to show his face around the campus. Or anywhere within a five mile radius of the school, either, as she was certain students hung out at the local restaurants, malls, and bars. It looked like if she wanted to spend any time at all with Cole and with RJ, she’d have to do it on the weekends and it would have to be in the tiny little town they all lived in on the outskirts of Chicago. That was a thirty minute drive one way.
She pushed the thoughts from her head, deciding that she’d discuss the matter with Cole. Maybe he had an idea or a solution. Maybe he’d already figured things out and just hadn’t told her yet. She smacked her knees and stood. “Let’s finish and then go grab some burgers, okay?”
“Sure,” he said as he disappeared back into the closet. He started tossing football pants, cleats, and pads out as his cell phone, which was resting on his desk, started to ring.
“Grab that, will you?” he shouted from the depths of his closet.
She snatched the phone and her eyes widened at the name on the screen. She flipped the phone open. “Hello?”
“Oh, um, who is this?” the girl asked.
“Hey, Stephanie,” Ally said, her teeth clenched. She managed to insert the right amount of friendliness in her voice, but she wasn’t exactly crazy about her boyfriend’s stepsister.
“Oh, hi Ally,” Stephanie said. “I was trying to reach Jamie. I did call the right number, didn’t I?”
“Yes, but he’s in his closet somewhere, looking for sports equipment to pack for school. Hang on and I’ll get him for you,” Ally offered. She stepped inside the closet and handed him the phone, rolling her eyes.
“Hey, Steph,” Jamie said as Ally left the closet, not in the least interested in eavesdropping on that conversation.
At first, she hadn’t minded a whole lot when Jamie and Stephanie dated during their junior year but when they called things off after only a few short weeks, she’d been relieved. Try as she might, she’d never really warmed up to Stephanie and she hadn’t liked seeing Jamie with that girl. Plus, she’d secretly feared that Jamie and Cole’s friendship wouldn’t have survived a horrid breakup.
She busied herself with packing his clothes in the suitcases while his voice droned on and on in the closet. She couldn’t make out the exact words and frankly, she hadn’t wanted to, either. She was pretty sure that Jamie had no romantic interest in Stephanie but that didn’t mean the same rang true for the girl. For all Ally knew, Stephanie could still be harboring feelings for Jamie and perhaps that was why the girl was still calling him.
Ally paused and wiped her brow. For all she knew, Jamie could be harboring secret feelings for Stephanie, afraid to let his feelings be known because of his friendship with Cole. Maybe they were carrying on in private – a sort of secret love affair. The thought caused Ally’s stomach to curdle.
She returned to her task as she heard Jamie end his conversation, rejoining her near his heaping luggage. She lifted a questioning brow as he tossed his phone on the bed.
“It’s nothing, cuz,” he said, holding his hands up in mock surrender. “I swear. She just calls every once in awhile to see how things are going.”
Ally’s brow furrowed as she pushed the suitcases aside and sat on the edge of Jamie’s bed. “Please tell me that you’re not lying, Jamie,” she begged. “Please tell me you and her aren’t messing around behind Cole’s back.”
Jamie chuckled and mussed her hair. “I promise you that there is nothing going on with me and Stephanie. She’s all right, I guess, but I don’t like her that way at all. When I went out with her before, she was way too clingy and possessive and we’d only dated a short time. I can’t deal with that,” he said with a shudder. “You have absolutely nothing to worry about. Besides, I wouldn’t go behind Cole’s back like that – you should know that.”
“I do,” she said, properly ashamed. “Sorry.”
“Don’t worry about it,” he said with a wink.
“She’ll be home soon, won’t she? I thought she just went to her dad’s for the summer?”
“Yeah, she will be,” Jamie said. “She’s going to school here so she’ll still be living with Nate and Stacy.”
“Things aren’t so great with her though, are they?” Ally prodded. “Cole doesn’t like to talk about it a lot but I always get the feeling that things are strained.”
“I don’t know,” Jamie said, pushing the hair off his forehead. “I don’t know what goes through that girl’s head half the time. She’s determined to drive Stacy nuts, I think.”
“I think you’re right,” Ally concurred. “She’s sort of a sore subject with Cole. He doesn’t talk about her much.”
Just as Jamie was about to respond, his phone rang again. He groaned and rolled his eyes, making
Ally smile. She reached across the bed and grabbed the phone, her smile widening as Cole’s name appeared on the screen.
“I’ll answer this for you,” she said. She flipped the phone open. “Hey, handsome.”
“Jeez, James, what’s up with your voice? You’re sounding a little high pitched,” Cole teased.
“Well,” Ally said, winking at Jamie. “I’m not as masculine as you think. As a matter of fact, I’m rather girly.”
Jamie shook his head and reached for the phone but Ally jerked her head back out of his reach.
“How are you, princess?” Cole asked. “Helping Jamie pack I assume.”
“Don’t call me that,” she chastised. “And yes, I’m helping Jamie pack – somebody has to. Where are you guys?”
“Somewhere in Utah. Listen, Al, I’d love to sit and talk to you all night but I only have a couple minutes and I really need to speak to Jamie.”
“Sure,” she said, her bottom lip protruding. “But call me later – no matter the time.”
“I will,” he promised as she handed the phone to Jamie.
She sat on the bed and watched her cousin warily, straining to eavesdrop on this particular conversation. Jamie’s eyes kept darting to her as he answered Cole carefully and she knew without a doubt that they were talking about her.
“I’ll do that,” Jamie said, turning away from her. “I’ll get back with you on what I find out.”
He closed the phone and once again tossed it to the bed. He stood, gathered his sports equipment, and dumped it in a box. He pushed everything down and shut the lid, a ghost of a smile flitting across his lips.
“What was that all about?” she asked.
“What?” he asked, not looking at her.
“You know what,” she said. She crossed her arms over her chest and tapped a foot. “What did Cole want?”
“A favor,” Jamie said as he dug a black marker out of his desk drawer and scribbled on the box he’d just packed. “A favor I’m not allowed to discuss with you so drop it. You can pester him about it later when he calls you but I’d rather not have the headache.”
She dropped her arms with a groan and whipped around to finish packing, using less care than she’d originally started. She shoved his shirts in the suitcase and crammed his socks in the open spaces.
“All right, that’s enough for now,” he said, knowing she’d pout until she spoke to Cole. “Let’s get some food. I can finish the rest of this later.”
Chapter Seven
Ally greeted Deanna, the receptionist, as she waited for the security door to be unlocked. She waved as she dashed down the hall to the elevator, catching it before it could be called away to another floor. She rode it patiently and when the doors opened, she grinned as she practically skipped down the hall. She paused momentarily in front of Nate’s open office, deciding she’d offer him the opportunity to take her to lunch along with her father, but the office was empty.
She frowned but figured he was probably hanging out in her dad’s office. She turned quickly and ran into a hard body.
“Oh, sorry,” she said, raising her blazing cheeks to the handsome face smirking at her. “Oh! Robby! What are you doing here?”
He grinned and squeezed her arm. “I’m working here now.”
Her heart thumped rapidly in her chest and a smile took over her face. “Really? Why?”
His smirk widened as he leaned his tall frame against the wall. “I sort of thought you’d be happy to see me again. But I guess you were just being polite.” He released an over dramatic sigh and made her giggle.
“I’m very happy to see you, Robby. I just meant why are you here? Don’t you work in L.A. anymore?” she asked, forgetting all about her mission to find her father.
“Your dad and Nate asked me if I’d be interested in coming to Chicago to work with them,” he said with a nonchalant shrug. “I thought it would be a good idea.”
Her brow crinkled as her frown returned. She’d always thought that Robby and his father had an excellent relationship – both in the familial and professional aspects. But maybe she was wrong. Maybe there were hard feelings between the two. Maybe they just couldn’t get along together.
“Is there something the matter?” she asked, her voice a mere whisper.
“No,” he chuckled, his dimples jumping out on his face. “Not in the least. But, as you probably know from Nate and Cole, sometimes it can get a little taxing working with your father. And, I was ready for a change of scenery. I like Nate and Jay and I highly respect them. I jumped at the chance to work with them.”
“Good,” she said, grinning broadly. “Speaking of Nate and Jay, have you seen them today?”
“Yes, a few minutes ago. They had a lunch meeting with a new group they’re interested in signing.” He touched her arm lightly. “Why? Do you need something?”
“Yeah – lunch,” she said. “And since you were kind enough to show me around L.A., maybe I can return the favor. Well, if you’re not too busy.”
“I was thinking of grabbing some lunch myself,” he said. “Let me let Deanna know and we can get out of here.”
She refused his offer to drive and insisted that they walk instead. The late August breeze was warm on their faces and the hustle and bustle of the city was something she was sure she’d miss when she was away at school. She wanted to suck in as much of the city as she could before she immersed herself in her studies.
She pointed out various landmarks and popular stores as she led him through the city streets. She explained as much history as she could remember and beamed when he told her how impressed he was with her knowledge.
She saved the lake for last, wanting to impress him further with the huge size of it. Sure, she knew it was nowhere near as vast at the ocean, but she still loved it. She loved visiting the beaches in the summer when she could roll up her pant legs and wade in the cool waters. She loved the cries of the gulls as they soared overhead, waiting for a picnicker to drop a morsel of food in the sand. She loved the laughter of the children as they splashed in the waves.
“It is rather large,” he agreed as he leaned on a rail and watched a mother chastise her son for throwing sand. “But it’s not as large as the ocean.”
“Whatever,” she snorted. “They don’t call Lake Michigan a Great Lake for nothing.”
“Okay, so Chicago has skyscrapers, beaches, and a large body of water. L.A. has all that, too.”
“Chicago style pizza,” Ally grinned clutching his arm. “L.A. doesn’t have that!”
He laughed, his dimples making an appearance. “There’s a pizza place two blocks from my L.A. condo that serves Chicago style pizza.”
“Not the real thing,” she argued. “I’ll take you to get the real thing.”
He offered his arm and shrugged. “Lead the way.”
She hailed a taxi and gave her destination. She sat smug in the cab for the ten minutes it took to drop them on a busy corner. After she paid the cabbie, she hopped out and pointed at a tiny pizzeria tucked between two department stores. She tugged on the door with a huge grin on her face and a shine in her eyes.
“I love this place,” she said as they stepped inside, the rich, Italian aromas teasing and taunting their rumbling stomachs. “Best Chicago style pizza around, in my humble opinion.”
“Well, then it must be,” Robby said with a wink.
They took a seat at a round table decked out with a standard red and white checked table cloth and Robby allowed her to order. After the waitress served them their drinks, Ally sipped at her straw, watching Robby carefully. Her heart had been a mess, thumping wildly each time he touched her then cowering in guilt at the joy it had felt. She knew she loved Cole with a surety so deep but she couldn’t deny that she did feel a tiny attraction to Robby.
