And now that Syd was back from her tour, life was as normal as possible. I went to class and studied a lot during the day, and at night, I spent my time with her. Truthfully, I was a little concerned that she might be bored in a city like Gainesville where there wasn’t much to do outside of things having to do with UF. It definitely wasn’t L.A., but that wasn’t the case. She’d worked out her own routine with a personal trainer who came to the house, she’d found a yoga studio that offered private lessons, and she was even working on her own clothing line. In addition to that, she had a few sponsorships going on with different companies that kept her busy. She still traveled for different things like photo shoots and interviews and film festivals, and at times she was truthfully busier than I was. When I could, I accompanied her to different events, especially if they were on a weekend, but if not, she went by herself or went with Dillon.
It had become quite the ironic situation, as Dillon had finally convinced his management team to let him be with his girlfriend, Meredith. But she was in a situation similar to mine as a sophomore at Michigan, so she wasn’t always available to pick up and go to the different events that Dillon went to. I’d met her in August at the fundraiser Sydney and Westside had hosted for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, and we realized we had a lot in common. We’d spent the show backstage talking and swapping stories of what it was like to date someone famous.
At the time, I hadn’t been exposed to what it would be like to have my friends – or just random people I went to school with – know who I was because of who I was dating. Meredith had been a freshman in college when Dillon had been chosen for Westside and had started to become more well-known. She gave me tips on what to do and what not to do when people asked for me autographs – which for some reason they did, along with wanting to take my picture. She also told me how to react when someone made an off-handed comment about your significant other, since everyone and their brother felt like they actually knew the person, and how to handle the paparazzi.
Thankfully by the time I’d gotten back to school, the media attention around Sydney and me had dwindled, but I was asked to be interviewed for the school paper. I’d politely declined. The national and local media were excited to learn that Sydney had bought a house near where I went to school, and when we did venture out for dinner or a movie, we were usually followed. I felt bad for the other patrons who had to put up with our uninvited entourage.
At first, Syd had wondered if she’d even need security, but we soon learned that if we went out, it was just easier. Now we had Nate, an ex-Marine, who she kept on retainer to use whenever she went to the grocery store alone or to the mall. It was the normal things she did that people usually wanted to capture on camera.
“So did you have a good day?” I asked Sydney.
She turned and smiled at me. “Amazing! I got asked to provide a song for the soundtrack of a new rom-com. I’m kind of excited. They want to fly me out to L.A. for a screening in a few weeks so I can see what direction they want me to take.”
“That’s awesome, babe.”
She shrugged, and then she smiled. “Yeah, it’s pretty cool. You’ll come to the premiere, right?”
“When is it?”
“March, I think.”
“Sure,” I said not sure what I’d be doing in March outside of school, so I was game.
Then her gaze drifted to our backyard which was relatively small if you didn’t count the lake. Beyond it were eight acres of woods that gave us the privacy we both wanted and needed.
“You okay?” I asked her, and she looked up at me and smiled.
“Yeah, I’m great. I was just thinking back to what I was doing this time last year and how much my life has changed since then.”
“Oh yeah? And what exactly were you doing?”
She stepped between my legs and ran her hands up my denim-clad thighs. “You know, it doesn’t even matter, because I wasn’t doing it with you.”
“Aww, good answer, babe.”
“Have I told you today that I love you, Ry?” she asked, looking up at me with those big brown eyes.
I shook my head. “No, you were asleep when I left for class.”
She smiled. “Well, then I love you. And thank you.”
“For what?”
“For being the guy I always dreamed about falling in love with. For being you. I’m glad I got to you before another girl could steal you away.”
I laughed. “I told you, there was never another girl for me. It was always you. Ever since I hit puberty and realized you had boobs, I was hooked.”
She smacked my leg. “Hey now.”
“Hey, I’m just being honest. I was always in love with you. Your boobs just made it that much cooler.”
“Aww, you probably say that to all the girls,” she teased.
I shook my head. “Nope, only you get this charming side of me. Only you.”
She leaned up and kissed me then, letting her lips linger for a few seconds. “Consider me lucky then, because I wouldn’t trade you for anything, Ryder Thompson.”
I could say the exact same thing. I was right where I wanted to be with the girl of my dreams. Life was pretty much perfect if you asked me, even with all its little imperfections, I was convinced it didn’t get any better than this.
About the Author
Thanks so much for reading Only With You, my tenth full-length novel. I really hope you enjoyed it as much as I loved writing it and developing the characters that helped bring the story to life. If you are interested in reading my other novels, they are also available in e-book format online.
Books have always had a big part in my life, and I probably spend way more time reading than I should, engrossed in the stories that keep me captivated. I am a total sucker for romantic comedies in all forms, because at the end of the day I just want to laugh and see some really great people fall in love. When those stories are mixed with an awesome soundtrack, it just doesn’t get much better than that.
In addition to books, I have a serious love for the Florida Gators and the Boston Red Sox, I am addicted to fashion, and I never go anywhere without my iPod. Give me a grande non-fat vanilla latte from Starbucks and chips and queso from Tijuana Flats, and I am a happy girl.
You can read more about me online at: http://www.goodreads.com/monicaalexander
Or follow me on Twitter: @MonMichelle6
Books by Monica Alexander
Just Watch the Fireworks
Aftershocks
Broken Fairytales
Buried Castles (Broken Fairytales #2)
Shattered Crowns (Broken Fairytales #3)
Forcing Gravity
Gravity Happens (Forcing Gravity #2)
Searching for Neverland
Work of Art
Only With You
Playlist
I listen to music constantly, so inevitably songs have a way of working themselves into my stories. Below is a playlist of the songs I hear when I read this book. Some songs I referenced in the book itself, and others are just ones that I felt fit in nicely with the story. Of course some of these songs are by Sydney Chase, who isn’t a real pop star, much to my dismay, but I included her songs anyway since they were a big part of this story. Enjoy!
When I Look at You – Miley Cyrus
Nobody Compares – One Direction
Heart Attack – Demi Lovato
I Would – One Direction
Invisible – Taylor Swift
Bulletproof – Sydney Chase
The Story of Us – Taylor Swift
Punching in a Dream – The Naked and Famous
1000 Times – Sara Bareilles
Hurricane – Parachute
I Choose You – Sara Bareilles
Little Things – One Direction
The Sound of Falling in Love – Matt Hires
Forever – Matt Hires
Teenage Dirtbag – Wheatus
Struck by Lightning – Frankmusik
Stay With You �
� The Goo Goo Dolls
The Other Side – Jason Derulo
The Other Side – Parachute
When You Fall in Love – Andrew Ripp
The Funeral – Band of Horses
All Night – Icona Pop
Young Blood – The Naked and Famous
What You Wanted – One Republic
They Don’t Know About Us – One Direction
Endgame – Rise Against
You Hear a Song – Cassadee Pope
Skyscraper – Demi Lovato
Only With You – Sydney Chase
Heart Starts – Matt Nathanson
Catch My Breath – Kelly Clarkson
Ours – Taylor Swift
Only With You Page 33
