by India Lee
“Seriously?” Gemma sighed, rushing to a nearby mirror. Damian wasn’t exaggerating. She had a giant multi-color clump in her hair. She groaned. “Oh my God.”
“I don’t think shampoo’s going to do the job,” Damian said, pulling up her painted hair. “You’re going to need paint thinner. Or a weed whacker.”
“Shut up,” Gemma laughed, turning to return to her nook. “I was having such a good day and you came and ruined everything.”
“It’s only noon. It can still turn around.”
“Why are you being so mean?” she frowned, leaning back against her desk. Damian ducked under the stairwell, sitting himself beside her.
“Why were you being so mean?” he asked, looking hard at her.
“What are you talking about?” Gemma asked, knowing full well what he was referring to.
“I could barely function for like, six hours after you left last night,” Damian sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. “It was kind of rough.”
“What? Why?” Gemma asked, blinking her eyes with continued mock innocence. Damian paused for a moment, biting his lips before laughing.
“Don’t make me recall that now,” he groaned. “I’m about to get on a plane in a couple of hours and I only just got myself feeling sort of normal again.”
“Where are you going?” Gemma asked with knit eyebrows. She had hoped to see him again sooner rather than later, but she hadn’t expected the surprise visit nor had she expected the idea of him leaving the city anytime soon.
“Just back to my old place to pack up some of my stuff. And so I have a bed at my new place to sleep in. I’ll be back soon.” He tucked a hand under Gemma’s chin, brushing a thumb over her lip to stop her pouting.
And without warning, he leaned forward, pressing his lips gently to hers. He held still for a moment, waiting for her to kiss him back. She laughed softly before slipping her hands behind his neck, encouraging him to continue.
Gemma thought about the last time they had kissed – that quick goodbye before his drive across the country, five years ago. So much had changed since, in both their lives, in ways that she could have never predicted when she watched his car disappear down the road. She had held back then, not wanting to get attached when he was about to be so far away. Gemma sighed, happy. She let herself be engulfed by the moment. She delighted in the touch of his fingers, savored the taste of his lips. Here she was, saying goodbye again. Thankfully, this time it was temporary.
WHAT THE HELL KINDA PARTIES IS THAT MAN THROWING?
Celeb-O-Matic
July 22nd
Damian Evans was photographed in JFK today sporting a well worn-in outfit that was streaked in multi-colored paint.
Crowd-sourced reports say that Evans threw his first party since moving into the city and that things got rather wild, perhaps explaining why he arrived at the airport looking as if he had been rolling around on the floors of some avant-garde art studio.
“Thank you, Mr. Evans – party of the century,” tweeted Yankees star, Aaron Brewer, who attached a selfie at Evans’ party sitting among some of New York’s most sought-after models. Other athletes who were reportedly in attendance took to social media to express similar sentiments about their excitement for Evans’ arrival to the city. One unnamed source was quoted as saying, “If this party is any indication of what it’ll be like to have Damian in New York, we should probably clear all our calendars and pray to God for an invite.”
Chapter 7
SPECIAL EVENT AZURA CONCERT FEATURING TYLER CHASE
The Pop Source
July 29th
Years ago, up-and-comer, Azura, was the opening act for Tyler Chase at a special event concert gone wrong. After a horde of teenage fans stormed the stage, the infamous Connecticut show was promptly put to a halt and canceled, causing chaos resulting in multiple injuries.
Now, it’s reported that Chase, who has been on hiatus from his singing career, will be the one opening for the new It girl Azura at a one-time Vegas concert celebrating her upcoming album, Ancient History. Chase has been reported as saying that he looks forward to supporting his friend in her endeavor and that her lovesick album had meant a great deal to him in his time of need.
Rumor has it that Azura has commissioned Chase’s ex-girlfriend, Gemma Hunter, to design wardrobe for the event, though the statement could not be confirmed.
Gemma was looking forward to seeing Azura again. She wondered if Damian had mentioned to her how everything had turned out the day after the party. She was flattered that Azura had kept her word of having Gemma design her next high-profile outfit, which happened to be for a special event concert held in Las Vegas about a week before Fashion Week. Though her calendar was tight, she figured she was ahead of schedule enough to take on a small project, especially one for someone as fun as Azura.
Azura had suggested they meet in a private room in Lilac since she would be coming off of a plane “hungry as all hell.” As the hostess led Gemma into their reserved room, she sent Azura a text to alert her of her arrival.
runnin little late, hun, stuck in traffic, she had texted back.
Gemma shrugged, figuring she’d have a little time to go over her proposed sketches before presenting them to Azura. No worries, she texted back, stepping into the private dining room as the hostess held the door open for her.
“Hey!” a voice said, prompting her to look up from her phone. What… the?
Sitting at a table set for four was a familiar frame in a well-fitted, white button-down and dark wash jeans.
Tyler.
He set his glass of wine down as he looked up at Gemma from his phone. I… what is going on? Gemma wondered just as her hand buzzed. Another text from Azura.
btw, Tyler’s gonna be at the meeting – don’t want you being surprised or anything
It was unfortunately a second too late for that. “Hi,” Gemma finally returned the greeting, standing awkwardly at the door.
“You weren’t expecting me,” Tyler nodded. “Sorry about that, I told Azura to tell you.”
“She technically did,” Gemma said, holding up her phone. “But she didn’t tell me why you’d be here.” She took a seat at the round table, across from Tyler as he poured her a glass of wine.
“I’m opening for her concert,” Tyler laughed. “It’s our record label’s way of trying to optimize the crowd that comes in for a single performance. But being that this is, first and foremost, still Azura’s performance, she decided she has some say over what I wear. So here I am.”
“I’m not great with menswear…”
“But you did Damian’s suit for the ball.”
“I did.”
Tyler’s eyes gleamed. “And that was fantastic, so…” He smiled. “Think you can do it again?”
“I suppose,” Gemma replied, sitting stiffly in her seat. She hadn’t been alone with Tyler since the day they broke up. It was hard not to think about that as she sat there with him. It was hard not to note how bizarre it was to see Tyler wearing a smile, looking breezy when the last time she’d seen him, he’d been laying beside her in their bed with tears in his eyes. Because he said ‘we should break up.’ How was I supposed to know it was a test? Gemma thought, trying not to wince at the memory.
“I guess I should have made sure that you’d be okay working with me again,” Tyler said, a hint of an apology in his voice. “It’s a quick job, so I figured it would be fine when Azura told me who she wanted outfitting the team. But I’m sensing maybe that’s not the case.”
“Oh no, that’s not true,” Gemma said, shaking her head. “I just need a moment to adjust. To seeing you now and in this context. Especially because I’d only seen you that one time last week since, you know, everything happened.” She exhaled, surprising herself a bit with her honesty. It just seemed like the best way to get rid of the giant elephant in the room. She hoped Tyler agreed, though she could tell from his expression that he was just as surprised as she was by her straight-forward answer.
“Oh,” he said, raising his eyebrows. “You know, maybe it’s better if we just get it all out there before everyone else gets here. If there’s anything to get out.”
“It’s been awhile,” Gemma started. “Everything was forever ago. I don’t know that there’s anything to ‘get out.’ So much has happened since. You’re engaged now. Which is crazy and wonderful and congratulations again.”
“Thank you,” Tyler smiled, looking truly happy. “You know, I kind of thought I’d never run into you again since we’ve already gone this long.”
“I guess it’s not possible,” Gemma laughed quietly. “The world’s too small.”
“You sound disappointed,” Tyler said, pressing his lips together.
“No,” Gemma said, startled. Her eyes widened, studying Tyler’s slightly tense body language. “I was just talking… saying things. This is all a little strange for me right now and seeing you the other day and seeing just how much everything has changed while I was holed up in Armand’s studio trying to start a new life for myself – it’s all been kind of crazy. I guess I forgot everyone else was doing the same and I thought I’d come out and step right back into the world that I had left behind and it would be just as I left it.” Gemma bit back both lips and nodded. “But I was wrong. And that’s not a bad thing, I just need some time to adjust. You know what I mean, right?”
“Of course,” Tyler nodded, letting out an awkward laugh. “It’s been so long since the last time we really… talked. I’m having trouble remembering if we left anything unfinished, unsaid, whatever. If maybe there were things we wanted to say after we were done.” Gemma continued to watch Tyler, listening to his voice echo within their empty room. The truth was that as difficult as their breakup was in the year that followed, she gave Tyler very little thought when she started working full-fledged as a designer. But she had also given Damian little thought, and just about everyone around her. Like she said, she had effectively disappeared from the rest of the world as she threw herself into her work.
“Do you have anything?” she asked.
“Not really,” Tyler shrugged. “Though I have to admit I was really excited to see you the other day at The Gotham Ball. I didn’t know you’d be there so it was like a pleasant surprise. I don’t know if you can say the same, but that’s how it was for me. It made me realize I missed you.”
“You missed me,” Gemma repeated, a slight knot of concern stirring in her stomach.
“Don’t worry,” he replied, as if he read her mind. He smiled. “It’s not like that. It’s just that you were such a big part of my life and then suddenly, you weren’t. We didn’t exactly have closure after we ended. We were just done. Like that.”
“You ran off, you just left before I could say anything.”
“I know,” Tyler said. “But in my mind, at that moment, that was the only thing I could do. And to be fair, you never came after me.”
“I know.”
“But it’s all in the past,” Tyler continued. “And we are who we are now. And we’re about to do some work together, so I hope we’re on the same page of leaving whatever negative feelings we might have behind and making this a new chapter.”
“That sounds great,” Gemma nodded. Tyler raised his glass, tilting it just enough to reach Gemma’s across the table. She smiled, toasting him. It was a genuine smile.
“To new beginnings all around,” Tyler said.
~
“This might be the proudest moment of my life,” Gavin whispered.
“I have no doubt,” Zoe snorted, watching her boyfriend gawk at Damian as he fielded questions from the crowd. Gemma sat beside Zoe, ducking her head slightly so she could also get a glimpse of Gavin’s face. He looked appropriately awestruck as Damian stood with his new orange and blue jersey, proudly showing it off to the crowd.
“My little man,” Gavin nodded, a serious hand over his heart. Zoe and Gemma snorted, shaking their heads.
“I’m glad Damian doesn’t embarrass too easily,” Zoe said. “Or I’m pretty sure he’d be having someone escort you out right about now.” Gemma looked up at Damian as he held up the jersey, posing for pictures with the various news groups that had their cameras set up upfront. He was too focused on them to take any notice of Gavin’s antics. They had gotten in a little late, so it was possible that Damian didn’t even know where in the press conference at all.
The room buzzed but Gemma knew that Gavin was particularly proud and excited. Having once been Damian’s teammate, the two had played together numerous times before parting ways for college. There were days where Gemma worried that Gavin’s lack of relative success as a player would bother him, but he had quickly learned that a certain level of discipline was necessary to be a professional athlete. Gavin’s personality didn’t lend well to a lifestyle that required early alarms and constant practices.
But either way, there was never a doubt as to just how proud and excited Gavin would be when Damian ended up in the big leagues, and eventually on their favorite team. Though he had been playing professionally for years now, the reality of the moment was somehow that much heavier now that he was playing for the team he had grown up cheering for. It was hard not to get wrapped up in the moment as she looked at where he stood now while remembering their moments in high school – watching his games as a Beauford Bobcat and helping him practice, laying at halfcourt afterwards and listening to him talk about how he dreamed of playing for the Knicks.
You’re finally here, Gemma smiled as she watched him.
At ease in his fitted light grey suit and lapis button-down, Damian looked more like a model than he did an athlete. His smile was almost flirtatious as he turned to the individual cameras, politely answering the questions they threw at him. Gemma could feel the slight heat in her cheeks as she watched him, dying for the press to be done so she could get her chance with him.
“Doin’ alright?” Zoe teased, poking at Gemma’s shoulders. Her hands flew to cover her cheeks, instinctively. Zoe laughed.
“Am I that obvious?” Gemma whispered.
“No, don’t worry, I just know you,” Zoe replied. “Besides, it’ll get better once the two of you actually get to it, you know what I mean?” Gemma laughed. How could I not know what you mean?
“Oh shit, Louis and Helen are here!” Gavin exclaimed, under his breath, as if he had spotted celebrities. “I haven’t seen them since graduation!” Gemma looked over to see the crowd making room for Damian’s parents to join him in the press photos. She hadn’t seen them since Damian and Gavin’s graduation either. Gavin knew the two much better and for longer than Gemma did, but there was no doubt that Louis and Helen would remember their son’s high school girlfriend, and perhaps current girlfriend. She shook her head, trying to shake away the seemingly permanent blush that had set into her cheeks.
With the more official portions of the press conference ending, the attendees were now moving freely about the room. There weren’t many people there – just about two-dozen or so outside of the media. With everyone standing, Gemma had lost sight of Damian.
“We should go say hi to them, right?” Gemma asked Gavin. “Do you think they’ll remember us?”
“They’ll definitely remember me,” Gavin laughed. “If for no other reason than the fact that I routinely emptied their snack cabinet back in the day.” He narrowed his eyes at Gemma, giving her an incredulous look. “And I’m sure they’ll remember you. Why would you even ask?”
“You guys go say hi,” Zoe said, holding up her phone. “I’m going to make some arrangements for tonight.”
Gemma could feel a slight tremor in her hands as she followed Gavin through the crowd. She wasn’t sure why she was as nervous as she was to say hi to Damian’s parents. It wasn’t as if they hadn’t met before. In fact, they had done that whole meet-the-parents dinner when they had first started dating and Gemma had spent more than her fair share of time at their house. She found it odd and just a little bit embarrassing that she woul
d have the same reaction she had the first time she had met them.
“Gavin Hunter, oh my goodness!” Gemma could hear Helen’s voice as she spotted him come through the crowd. Gemma cursed herself for not wearing heels, managing only to peer over some shoulders to get a good look at where everyone was standing. As she stepped up beside Gavin, she brushed down the fabric of her shift dress to make herself look less rumpled.
“And Gemma!” Helen gasped as she caught sight of her. Gemma looked up to see Helen’s arms wrap around her.
“Hi, Mrs. Evans,” Gemma said, hugging Helen back.
“Hello, my dear,” Helen laughed, sounding merry as she held onto Gemma tight. “It has been far too long!”
“Let me get in there too,” Louis said, putting his arms around both Helen and Gemma. She was engulfed in their embrace, happy to remember the kindness and warmth that they had always shown her. As they pulled away, Gemma realized that Damian wasn’t with them. Standing where Damian had been was just Gavin.
“I’m so excited to see you here,” Helen said. She clasped her hands over her heart as she looked at Gemma. “You look beautiful, my dear!”
“Do you two ever come back to visit Beauford?” Louis asked. “Damian just helped us install a new grill in our backyard and we have been dying to show it off.”
“If there’s food, you don’t have to ask me twice,” Gavin replied. Louis and Helen laughed, hugging Gavin once again, seemingly charmed by his forever-monstrous appetite. Gemma watched as Helen’s eyes met hers. She smiled.
“We miss you Hunters,” Helen said. She kept her gaze on Gemma. “You two are easily the most important things in Damian’s lives, you hear me? So we’re expecting to see more of you now that he’s home.” Gavin and Gemma nodded.
