I touched the bun lightly a few times and then looked over as the door to the restroom opened. My heart skipped a beat when I saw Chloe enter the room.
“Logan,” she said, all too cheerful, when she saw me. “I should have known you were here. I saw your guy outside talking to Thomas McMillan.”
The way she said ‘your guy’ made my skin crawl.
“Hey Chloe,” I said, and I desperately wanted to leave, but she was blocking the door, so unless I was planning to elbow my way past her, which in the shoes I was wearing would probably land me on my ass, I wasn’t getting away.
“How are you?” she asked, her tone all butter.
“I’m great.”
I figured short answers were the best defense I could take.
“That’s great. And how’s Jase feeling? He was so hung over this morning. We were all out a little late last night.”
I knew exactly what she was doing, and I wasn’t going to let her get to me. Jase had told me he was hung over when he called me from the airport at five in the morning, L.A. time. But he’d slept on the plane, so he’d arrived home with enough energy to spend a few hours in bed with me.
“Jase is fine, Chloe. You just saw him. Did he look like he was still hung over?”
She shrugged. “He looked a little tired, but that’s probably because he’s wrestling with such a big decision right now.”
“What do you mean?” I asked, completely falling into her trap, but I couldn’t help it. She’d baited me in just the right way.
She chuckled lightly. “It’s not really my place to say, but let’s just say he’s been confiding in me a lot lately.”
Yeah right.
“Whatever,” I said, looking down at my manicured nails. I’d gone with a sheer gloss that complimented my dress well, and if I kept my focus on my nails I wouldn’t have to look at Chloe. I was afraid she was like Medusa, and if I looked her in the eye I would turn to stone.
She apparently didn’t like that I’d stopped playing her game, so she stepped closer to me. “Let’s just say that Jase has some things to figure out, but I think he’s leaning toward making a decision.” She smiled wickedly at me, and I noticed her cell phone was gripped in her hand. “Did he show you this picture?”
She shoved her cell phone in my face so I could see a picture of her kissing Jase on the cheek. Then, when I’m sure she knew I’d gotten an eyeful, she pulled the phone back and looked wistfully at it.
“I’ll be so glad when we’re officially back together.”
I so wanted to slap her, but one of the words she said caught me by surprise. “What do you mean ‘officially’?”
She looked up at me innocently. “Oh, sorry. I guess he hasn’t told you, but we sort of kissed the other night.” The she shrugged. “We were drunk, but it happened. Sorry about that. But it was a really good kiss.”
My mouth dropped open, but before I could say anything she ducked into a stall. Then the door opened and two actresses who were fixtures in Hollywood came in, so the last thing I could do was make a scene. Instead, I wordlessly headed back out to Jase, but my blood was boiling and my fists were clenched. Tears were pricking the backs of my eyes, but I wasn’t going to let them fall.
When I rejoined him he was still talking to Thomas, so I let him take my hand to introduce me and then stood there silently as he finished up his conversation. Thomas was an idiot who thought the world of himself and was pandering for compliments. It made an annoying situation even more frustrating. When he finally walked away, Jase put his arm around me and pulled me to him. I felt like crying and drew in a ragged breath to keep from losing it on the spot.
Jase pulled back and looked at me. “Logan, what’s wrong?”
I shook my head, fighting like hell not to make a scene and start crying. I was not going to break down at the fucking Oscars. “Nothing. I’m fine.”
“No, you’re not,” he said, as he drug me away from where everyone was congregated.
We huddled in a corner, and I let one tear streak down my face. His thumb darted out and swept it away, as his eyes searched mine frantically.
“Logan, what’s wrong? You were fine ten minutes ago.”
His hands were on either side of my upper arms, gripping me tightly as if he was afraid I was suddenly going to run away.
“Did you kiss Chloe?” I asked, my lower lip trembling.
“No!” he said instantly. “Why the hell would you think that?”
I hated that I was trying to read his facial expression to see if he was lying. I wanted to believe him, to trust him, but that bitch had gotten my head all twisted around, and I was actually doubting his quick denial.
“She told me,” I said, and I saw fire in his eyes.
“She did what?!” he hissed, trying to keep his voice down for obvious reasons.
I took a deep, shaky breath. “She told me you were drunk on Friday night, and she was drunk, and you kissed, and she alluded that you were thinking about getting back together with her.”
“Like hell I am,” he growled, his eyes boring into mine. “I am so fucking sick and tired of her games. Logan, you can’t believe her. She’s trying to get to you. She’s making shit up. I didn’t kiss her, I wouldn’t. I won’t.”
I shook my head. “She had a picture, Jase – on her phone. You looked drunk, and she was kissing your cheek.”
He sighed. “Yeah, I’ll admit to that, but it only happened because she surprised me and her hairstylist took the picture. I wasn’t anywhere near her. She just appeared when I was laughing at something Sloane was saying, and suddenly she kissed me. Then she took off. It’s a bullshit picture.”
I believed him. I really did.
He ran his hand back through his hair. “Lo, she’s trying to come between us. She wants to get back together, and I don’t want that. I want you. You can’t let her do this. You can’t let her get to you, to us, okay?”
He had so much conviction in his voice that I reached for his hand and squeezed it. “I won’t let her, Jase. I love you, and it’s frustrating as hell to be dealing with her crap, but I do trust you, and I believe you. Just . . . don’t let me down.”
He looked taken aback by my statement, but I felt like I had to say something. I had to say what had been on my mind since Chloe had first cornered me at the Golden Globes a month earlier. I just didn’t trust her.
Jase took my other hand in his and looked down at me, his eyes ablaze. “I would never, ever, do anything like that to you, do you hear me?”
I nodded. “Yes.”
And I think I just needed to hear him say it, because I was starting to spiral.
“Shit, I’m starting to think I should just quit the film. It’s stressing me out, and it’s not helping things between us.”
My eyes went wide. “No! Jase,” I said, shaking my head. “No, you can’t do that. This film is so right for you, and you’re so right for the part. You can’t do that to Sloane.”
He stepped closer to me, so close we were almost nose to nose. “I’ll do anything to keep from losing you, Logan. Anything.”
And then I felt like crying for a completely different reason. “You’re not going to lose me, Jase,” I said quietly, as I shook my head. “Never.”
His forehead touched mine, and he nodded a few times. Then he pulled back and took a few deep breaths.
“I so want to go find Chloe and tell her off,” he said, squeezing my hand harder.
I squeezed it back as much as I could. “No, Jase, don’t. You can’t let her ruin your night. You’re nominated – for an Oscar. That’s so incredible, and she doesn’t deserve your attention.”
He nodded. “I know. I know.”
The lights flashed twice at that moment, alerting us that we needed to take our seats. Jase looked up at the dispersing crowd for a few seconds before he leaned down to kiss me, letting his lips linger for a few seconds, and he never let go of my hand as we walked into the theater.
Chapter Sixteen
>
Ethan
“Where are we going?” Nora asked, when she hopped into my car on Sunday morning.
She was wearing a bright pink sundress that showed off her long tan legs and a denim jacket. I leaned over and kissed her, something I never seemed to tire of, running my hand up her thigh as I did. She smacked it away, and I grinned at her.
It had been three weeks since she’d officially become my girlfriend, and we’d spent very little time apart since then. I was happy, but I was happier when I was with her.
“So, I wasn’t sure if you’d be cool with it, but I sort of told my mom we’d come over for brunch,” I said then, and she smacked my forearm again.
“Ethan!”
“What?” I asked, not sure why she’d hit me. I hoped she didn’t do it again. “Are you not cool with brunch?”
She laughed a short, almost mocking laugh. “Ethan, I don’t know whether to kiss you or yell at you.”
I looked at her skeptically as I backed out of the parking space. “I’d much prefer you to kiss me if there’s a choice.”
She rolled her eyes. “You want me to meet your parents?”
“Sure,” I said, shrugging. My mom was going to love her, and my dad would think she was hot.
“Ethan, that is a huge deal! Why didn’t you tell me?”
It was a huge deal?
It was just brunch. Then again I’d never brought a girl home to meet my family before, so, yeah, maybe this was a bigger deal than I’d thought. Is that why my mom had been so excited? Damn, I was a moron.
“I don’t know,” I said, because I really didn’t. “You’re my first girlfriend. I wasn’t sure how this was supposed to work, so I thought I’d surprise you? Was that wrong?”
She groaned. “I swear, if you weren’t so adorable and clueless, I’d pummel you.”
I grinned at her, a wide, cheesy grin. “You think I’m adorable.” Then I blew her a kiss.
“Ugh,” she groaned. “You’re exhausting. That’s what you are.”
“I’m adorable,” I echoed.
“Am I dressed okay?” she asked, suddenly self-conscious as she smoothed her dress over her thighs. “I’m just wearing sandals. Is that alright?”
“Yeah, it’s fine. I’m wearing flip flops. My family’s really laid back, and they’re going to love you. Garrett already likes you, and Kelly will think you’re cool.”
Her eyes got wide. “Kelly’s going to be there?!”
I’d told her all about my family, and she’d seen pictures, but she’d never met my older sister.
“Yeah, it’s the whole reason we’re doing brunch. She and Devin, her fiancé, are in town for the weekend.”
“Okay then,” she said, almost as if she was steeling herself.
I reached over and took her hand in mind, hoping it would relax her. “They’ll love you. You’re sweet and incredible and perfect. Just be yourself.”
She offered me a weak smile. “Yeah, it’s just that simple,” she said sarcastically.
“Yeah, it is,” I said casually.
My family was totally cool. I loved hanging out with them.
“Fine,” she challenged. “But next weekend, we’re having dinner with my parents, and I’m going to invite Tara and Mia.”
I looked over at her and smiled. “Ooh, your sisters. I’m so scared. Dude, chicks love me.”
She raised an eyebrow at me. “Did you just call me dude?”
I shrugged. “Yeah,” I said, aiming for adorable again.
“I’m not sure I’m okay with that,” she said, shaking her head. “Or with the fact that you think my sisters will like you because you’re hot, which they actually might.” I grinned at her, and she shot me a look that said ‘not so fast’. “However, keep in mind that my dad will also be there.”
“Oh, okay. What’s he like?”
“He’s very protective of his daughters.”
Shit.
I squeezed her hand tighter. Just by the way she said that, I suddenly was freaked out as hell to meet her dad, but I wasn’t going to tell her that.
“Well then I say, bring it on. I’ll just tell him how wonderful and perfect his daughter is, and he’ll think I’m the greatest thing ever.”
She laughed. “Keep in mind that I’m the baby of the family, and he’s met many guys over the years that my sisters and I have dated. He can see through bullshit at first sight.”
I shrugged. “Good thing I’m not bullshitting. It’s how I feel.”
I looked over to see her smile as her cheeks flushed.
“Well, in that case, maybe he will like you.”
We pulled up to my parents’ house ten minutes later. Garrett’s Jeep was out front, so it seemed we were the last to arrive, but that was because Nora made me stop so she could buy flowers. She said she wasn’t meeting my parents without a hostess gift, whatever that was, so I stopped. Then I realized that I’d probably have to get something to bring when I met her parents the following weekend and made a mental note to ask my brother about that since he’d met parents before.
And I was calling Logan as soon as I got home. She’d met the Brady’s, so she could tell me all about Nora’s scary dad.
I held Nora’s hand as we walked around the side of the house and up the stairs to the large wooden deck that overlooked the backyard. If she thought it was odd that I didn’t use the front door, she didn’t say anything. I was just used to heading right to the deck since that was usually where my mom spent her time, writing the romance novels she was famous for and drinking gallons of iced tea.
“Ethan!” my sister called out as soon as our heads cleared the deck. She was up and out of her chair, engulfing me in a hug within seconds. She was so tiny. I’d been bigger than her for years, even though I was seven years younger. “It’s so good to see you, little bro.”
I’d seen her at Christmas, but that had been a few months ago. Devin stood behind her, so I gave him a handshake/hug combo. He was a cool guy, and they’d been together for years, so it was like he was already part of the family.
“You got new ink,” I said, as I took in the decorative cross on the inside of his forearm.
He nodded. “Yeah, Harper hooked me up last week. I’d been wanting to fill this space for a while, and when she suggested this, I jumped on it.”
Devin was all tatted up, and he had a few piercings which was a complete contrast to my sister who would never think of getting inked.
“It’s badass, dude,” I said, and as I did, I remembered Nora standing next to me, her hand in mine. “Oh, uh, Kelly, Devin, this is my . . . girlfriend, Nora.”
Kelly laughed as she reached out to hug Nora. “Could you have been more uncomfortable using that word, E?” she teased. “It’s nice to meet you, Nora. You’ve accomplished something many girls tried and failed to achieve.”
Nora just laughed and smiled at me. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. He practically fell at my feet.”
“Respect,” Devin said, as he reached out to give her a hug. “It’s nice to meet the first girl to ever tame this player.”
He’d said it jokingly, but he was right. And so was Nora. I wasn’t sure what it was about her, but I’d fallen hard.
Nora laughed. “Yeah, I take pride in that fact.”
“You guys and your jokes. You’ll all freakin’ hilarious,” I grumbled.
“Aww, E, we only joke because we love you,” Kelly said, putting her arm around me and squeezing my waist. “And because you’re so cute.” She’d said that last part in a baby voice.
“Bite me,” I told her, and Devin dead-armed me.
I looked up in surprise.
“Don’t talk to my woman that way,” he said, defending her honor.
“What’d you do now, you idiot?” Garrett asked, sidling up to us with Ellie, who hugged Nora. They’d gotten to be close friends since they were both at our house most nights.
“Fuck you, douchebag,” I responded playfully.
Garr
ett just smiled.
“Where are Mom and Dad?” I asked, looking around the deck. My parents were nowhere in sight.
“They’re inside getting the food. Mom made pancakes,” Kelly told me.
I smiled. I loved my mom’s pancakes.
“Should we go help?” Nora asked, and Garrett, Kelly, Devin and I just looked at her because none of us had even thought to suggest that.
We were so used to our mom doing everything for us, that the thought didn’t cross our minds. We were bad kids.
“Yeah, let’s do that,” I said, as I tugged Nora behind me into the house. “Hey Mom.”
My mom turned around and smiled widely when she heard me, so I walked Nora into the kitchen.
“Ethan! Hi baby,” my mom said, as she wiped her hands on a dishtowel and pulled me into a hug. “Tom, can you finish up with that bacon?”
“Hey Dad,” I called out as my dad stepped in front of the stove and started flipping the bacon around like he was a chef at a Japanese restaurant.
“How are you son and girl I haven’t met yet?” he called over his shoulder.
“Hi, I’m Nora, Ethan’s girlfriend,” Nora said, and my mother smiled at her. Then Nora handed my mother the flowers she’d purchased. “These are for you. Thank you so much for having me over.”
“Ethan’s girlfriend,” my mother gushed, her cheeks flushing in excitement. “I really like the sound of that. And these are beautiful.” She inhaled the scent of the flowers. “Thank you. I’m Carol.”
She looked downright giddy as she dug a vase out from under the sink and started to fill it with water. But I guess that was to be expected. My mother had almost fainted when I’d told her I had a girlfriend a few weeks earlier. She’d started pestering me immediately to meet Nora, but I wanted to wait until it felt right, and now it did.
“Hello, Nora. I’m Tom,” my dad said. “I’d shake your hand, but I’m a little busy at the moment. These former pigs are meeting my wrath.”
He made a sound like a karate chop and landed the spatula in the middle of the frying pan with a whack.
“Dad,” I groaned, rolling my eyes.
Gravity Happens (Forcing Gravity) Page 18
