by R H Tucker
She nods with a smile. “It’s my fave. How’d the rest of the signing go?”
I shrug. “Eh, same as all the others. What’d you end up doing?”
“Well, I was going to check out the M&M store but decided to just see the new art installations in the Mirage. I was on my way here when you texted me. So … I was thinking.”
Her delay earns a worried stare from me. Wiping my mouth from the salmon I just ate, I wait for the other shoe to drop. Maybe she saw something during the signing that made her change her mind. Perhaps she doesn’t think I can pull this off.
“For this to work, EJ, I need to see what I’m working with.” I stay frozen, unsure what that means. “You flinched when I kissed you.”
“Yeah, but I didn’t know you were going to kiss me.”
She giggles, taking a sip of the soda in front of her. “Right, but if we’re going to make everyone believe we’re going out, you need to actually act like a boyfriend. I think I can make everyone believe I’ve fallen in love with you but giving you a little bad boy flair might be slightly harder.”
Okay, she doesn’t sound like she’s calling it quits yet. I just need to step it up. “Okay. The only problem is, I don’t really know how to do that.”
“What about Maddox? Or your brother? Maybe you can tell them and get some tips?”
“No. No way. I’m not telling them I’m in a fake relationship. They’ll never let me live it down.”
She frowns, leaning on her elbow, with her hand under her chin. “Okay, well, if you don’t want to do that …” She scans the table, seemingly searching for answers among the raw fish and napkins. Looking back up at me, her eyes pass over my shoulder. “How do you feel about hitting on girls?”
My eyes narrow. “I don’t.”
“Well, let’s do a little experiment.”
“Skye, what’s the point? Am I supposed to hit on girls while I’m going out with you?”
She laughs. “It would help, especially if you want to be a bad boy.”
I throw my head back, groaning. “I don’t want to be a bad boy. I just want to shake the stupid ‘cute and nice’ thing.”
“Okay, okay,” she says, lowering her voice, and reaching over to hold my hand. “Look.” She nods, staring past me again.
Glancing over my shoulder, I see a girl sitting at the bar. I turn back to Skye, confused. “Yeah?”
“I want you to go over there and hit on her.”
“Excuse me?”
“Go over there and make a move. Ask her out or ask for her number. Something.”
“Why?”
“I’m going to watch. It’ll give me a hint of what I’m working with.”
“This is crazy. First of all, she’s at the bar, so she’s at least twenty-one.”
“Yeah, and you’re a freaking rock star. Confidence, EJ.” I can’t help but smirk at her command, the same one Jade’s always telling me. “There you go. Now go over there.”
Letting out a deep breath, I get up from my chair and stand by the table. Turning around, I see the girl whose back is to us, wearing a form-fitting red dress with the back open. Her black hair has slight curls in it but is lying over her right shoulder, leaving her back bare. Yeah, she’s definitely over twenty-one.
Wiping the front of my shirt down, I proceed to walk over to her, unsure what my first move is going to be. I sit at a barstool on her left, and from the corner of my eye I can see her scrolling her phone. Taking another deep breath, I glance back at Skye. Her eyes widen, nodding for me to say something.
I clear my throat. “Uh … hey.” Hey? I roll my eyes at myself.
Her gaze jumps over to me for a brief moment, then back to her phone, not saying a word.
Glancing back at Skye, I watch as she nods harder. I let out a long sigh. I don’t have anything to lose except more pride, right?
“Uh, how you doing?”
Looking over at me again, she almost rolls her eyes when they pop open. “Ohmygod.” She brings a hand to her mouth. “You’re … you’re …”
“EJ,” I respond, feeling a little more confident.
“One of the Kings of Karmichael. Wow!”
“How are you?”
“Good, good.” A small giggle bubbles out of her.
Okay. Yeah, I can do this.
“I was just waiting for some friends. We went to the festival this past weekend. Tonight’s our last night in town before we fly out.”
“Cool.”
“Is your brother coming? Or Maddox?”
“What?”
“Maddox is so hot. I know I’m older than you guys, but I’m not like, a cougar or anything. Is he coming? I’d love it if you could introduce us.”
An unbelieving chuckle drifts out from me. Of course. “No, it’s just me tonight.”
Her excitement instantly vanishes. “Oh.”
“Yeah.” I nod, feeling completely deflated. “Well, have a nice flight home.”
She doesn’t respond, though she does give me another smile. So that’s something, I guess. Utterly dejected, I walk back to the table, drop to my seat, and shove a piece of sushi into my mouth.
“That looked like it was going good, what happened?” Just the fact that Skye seems excited for me makes me feel worse.
“Yeah, it was going great.” I wash down the sushi with a drink of water. “Until she asked if Maddox was showing up. Also, I now know that just because the girl is older, it doesn’t make her a cougar. Maddox would’ve loved that.” Skye frowns, but a sympathetic giggle comes out of her. “Yeah, that’s right. Laugh it up.”
“EJ,” she says through more giggles, “I’m sorry. Okay, you’re not the ‘cheating on your girlfriend’ kind of bad boy. It’s good we learned that early.”
“Maybe this was a mistake. Sure, you’ll be able to make people think you’re in love, but there’s no way I can get the stink of cuteness off of me. I’ll always be the King of Nice.”
“Don’t say that.” Getting up from her chair, she slides into one next to me, hugging my arm. “What about what happened that day in the store?”
“What do you mean?”
“That day you were running for your life. You seemed confident then.”
“I didn’t want to die, Skye,” I reply, with a little laughter of my own.
“That’s fair. So, we’ll just have to get into trouble together, then. I can totally defile you.” With a wide grin, she wiggles her eyebrows, making me laugh even more. “This is going to work, EJ.”
10
Skye
It’s enlightening to see EJ how he usually is, how his fans view him compared to the rest of his band, and how he gets around trying to talk to girls. I think the most enlightening thing was something I didn’t push him on.
The day we met, he wasn’t shy or reserved or timid. Yes, he was running for his life, but I believe it was more than that. He was calmer and even a little assertive, and I’m pretty sure that’s because he wasn’t thinking about trying to be something he’s not. When he gets in his own head about trying to be like Derrik or Maddox, he gets antsy. He’s reminded that he’s the King of Nice, something he can’t stand. But when he lets all of that go, he’s just EJ. Laid-back and himself. So when we get back to the hotel, I use the rest of the night to think about what we can do so he’ll benefit from this deal as much as I hopefully will.
One of the hottest new acts that have been taking the Las Vegas Strip by storm is The Bucket Squad. It’s a group of four guys who’ve put together a fantastic show making music out of plastic and metal buckets. It’s truly a spectacle, with explosions of paint flying over the stage as they pound on the container making melodies that could hold their ground against anything on Broadway.
Since EJ and I have decided to embark on this adventure, I told him we should probably do as much stuff as we can together, and The Bucket Squad is our first “date.” We use the VIP entrance and take a few pictures, find our box seats in the hotel theatre, and enjoy the show
. Afterward, it’s late enough that we can walk around, and we end up at Paris Live. It’s a specialized café that features jazz musicians and offers authentic French appetizers and drinks.
“So this was pretty fun,” EJ says, sipping on his café au lait. “What else you got lined up?”
I pinch my lips to the side, scrolling through the phone. “There’s only a couple snapshots of us on Hollywood Gossip.”
“Is that not good?”
I lift my shoulders and take a sip of my iced latte, turning my phone off. “I mean, it’s okay. It could be better, though. This is why I think we should spend a lot of time together. The more pictures out there of us, the better. Especially by the time we end this. What should we do tomorrow?”
I’m happily surprised at how well EJ is taking all of this. He nods, raising his eyebrows. “That makes sense, but I can’t do anything tomorrow. We’re flying to L.A. for the night.”
“Oh.”
“Yeah, it’s not for us.” He breaks off a piece of butter cookie he’s been snacking on. “We have a song on the soundtrack for that new Strausberg movie. We’re just popping in for the red carpet event, and then we’ll be flying back after the movie.”
My mind is already racing. If we showed up at the movie premiere together, there would be reporters and paparazzi everywhere. “Do you think … I could come?”
His mouth stays open, little crumbs of cookie falling out. “Huh?”
“Sorry, never mind. I don’t want to be like a fifth wheel or anything.”
“No, no.” He adjusts himself in his chair, seeming to grow a bit nervous. “It’d probably be great, but … I still haven’t told the guys.”
“Oh.”
Silence floats around us. We’ve had fun tonight; at the show and even while we’ve been sitting here. I watch him as he fidgets with the small plate on the table, seeing the metamorphosis take over him. When it’s just us, and we aren’t talking about the fake relationship, he’s fine. No, he’s more than fine—he’s fun, proactive, and confident. But whenever anything comes up about our deal, he gets nervous. Actually, no. It’s not about our relationship, its relationships in general.
Reaching over the table and taking my hand, he smiles, surprising me. “You know what? Screw it. Let’s go.”
“Really? What will you tell them?”
He lifts his shoulders. “That I’m bringing my girlfriend to the movie premiere.”
I’m a little stunned by how relaxed EJ’s band is. Jade sits in front of us, and we make small talk as we take the hour flight on the private plane to LAX. Since we’re both bass players, we chat about different songs, bands, and even cities we’ve visited. It almost makes me want to tell her what’s going on with EJ and me. I think she’d be totally supportive of our plan, but I know he doesn’t want any of them to know.
I asked him what I should wear, and he said he wasn’t getting dressed up, so I didn’t either. Well, not much. I’m still wearing my ripped, black skinny jeans, but I chose a light gray blouse that hangs off my shoulder. I also made sure my hair is somewhat styled. Nothing fancy, but Leah said I should add some curls to it, so I did.
EJ stayed true to his words and is wearing a pair of jeans, his navy blue Vans shoes, and a similar T-shirt like he had yesterday. This one is a mixture of light mocha and peach color that fits him a little snug. I have to say, I’ve noticed he’s more muscular than I thought he’d be. Not like a bodybuilder or anything like that, but he’s defined. His shirt is just small enough that it stretches across his shoulders and chest, which my eyes keep gravitating toward. It also reveals the Kings’ logo, as I’ve been calling it. A tattoo of a guitar with wings and a crown that all of them have.
We take a limo from the airport directly to the red carpet event. An actress whose name I can’t remember sees Maddox and waves at him, then joins him on the red carpet, giving him a kiss. Derrik’s girlfriend couldn’t make it, so he walks with Jade, and they also wave to the crowd of onlookers.
EJ rubs his hands on his legs, then offers a wave to the photographers.
“EJ,” I whisper, taking his hand.
Glancing back at me, I watch as he takes a deep breath. His eyes jump around from me to the crowd around us, then down at the red carpet.
Taking his hand, I lean closer. “We got this,” I let out in a hushed tone against his ear.
He gives my hand a squeeze, and a small smirk crosses his lips. The clicking of cameras, the flashing of lights, and the calling out of EJ’s name in the background blends together. I follow his lead, smiling along with him.
He slides his free arm around my waist, and I let go of his hand, running it up his back and around his neck. Everything starts to fade. With both of his arms now around my waist, he leans closer, and our noses graze. I feel his breath across my lips, then they connect, and there’s nothing left but us.
It’s like the day we were on the run in the hotel. I feel his lips over mine, and a warmth spreads inside, drawing me even closer to him. His hands come up, cradling the back of my neck, and his kiss goes deeper. For someone who says he has hardly any experience with girls, his mouth and hands seem like they know exactly what they’re doing.
“EJ,” someone unleashes a sharp hiss behind him. He breaks away but keeps his eyes on me, our mouths still so close I feel his breath over mine. Glancing over his shoulder, I bite my lip in embarrassment. Jade stands there, half in shock.
EJ chuckles. “I guess I got a little carried away.”
“It’s okay,” I reply. “Feel free to get carried away more often.”
An adorable pink splashes across his face. Taking his hand, we turn around and head into the theatre. I can’t help but notice Jade’s confused but amused expression.
Sitting in the theatre, the seats aren’t like ordinary chairs, but luxury recliners with arms in the middle that can be pushed back to form love-seat-type sofas.
“Here,” Derrik whispers, reaching over and handing us a bag of popcorn.
“You got popcorn?” EJ asks, almost laughing. “At a red carpet premiere?”
Derrik chuckles. “We’re rock stars. We can do what we want.”
Taking the bag, EJ laughs and offers me some. I stare at the snack, then back at him, taking in our setting. It feels like a date. I know that’s what it’s supposed to look like, and that’s what we’re putting out there for everyone to see, but sitting next to him feels like an actual date. Lifting the armrest up between us, I bend my legs under me and snuggle closer to him. I sense him tense up, the same way he gets when he seems like he’s overthinking things.
Grabbing his free hand, I move it over my shoulders and lean closer to him. “We’re just watching a movie, EJ,” I whisper to him.
He stares at me, letting out a nervous laugh. “Yeah, I know that. It’s just a movie. Duh.”
I reach over, grab some popcorn, and try to force-feed him, laughing. Seeming to finally calm his nerves, he sets the popcorn bag between us, then grabs a popped kernel, throwing it at me. Nestling closer, he keeps his arm around me, then munches on a couple of pieces.
His eyes turn to the screen as the film starts to play, but mine stay on him. When he doesn’t cram his own mind with what he thinks he should be doing or saying, he’s exactly what I thought he’d be like. Relaxed and easygoing. And I really like that about him.
However, watching him as he eats another piece of popcorn, I’m drawn to more than just his demeanor. Why does it feel so good being next to him? That time we kissed outside of the small Italian restaurant in the hotel, I was completely drawn to him. I didn’t want that kiss to end, but I thought it was because of the situation. He was hiding. I was helping him escape. But now I think it was more than that, especially after that red carpet kiss.
As I’m staring at him, he grabs another piece of popcorn and looks over at me, smiling. I return the expression, but I can’t stop gazing at his lips.
11
EJ
After the movie premiere, we tak
e the SUV we have back to the airport, but before we get there, we stop for some burgers. Ever since I settled into the seat next to Skye in the theatre, my nerves calmed down. And they were really amped up for a minute, especially after that amazing kiss with her on the red carpet.
There have been a few times since our makeshift-escape make-out session that I’ve thought about it. Like the time in the elevator, where I couldn’t stop staring at her lips. Finally being able to kiss her again, I was nervous at first. Not about the kiss. Okay, a little about the kiss. But everything around us; the reporters, the cameras, the shouting. It’s fine when I’m on stage, there I expect it and I’m used to it. But off stage, it’s not so much that I wouldn’t mind the adoration, even though that’s definitely not why I love being a King. It’s that I’m so used to it always going to Derrik, Jade, and Maddox.
All the calling, combined with trying to act like I’m Skye’s boyfriend, I was more than on edge. And then when she kissed me, all of the feelings from the first time I kissed her, I felt again. Doesn’t that only happen in movies?
Sitting next to her in the theatre, she stayed close to me, snacking on popcorn from time to time. There was a moment I wanted to lean over and start kissing her but thought better of it. Not that I wouldn’t want to make out with her in a dark theatre, but a red carpet movie premiere with some Hollywood big shots in attendance might not be the best place to make out. I was definitely thinking about it, though.
Getting to the tarmac where our private plane is, I’m glad Jade has seemed to take a liking to Skye. It almost makes me feel bad about keeping this from her. I still don’t want to tell my brother or Maddox, but I feel like Jade could know. Maddox and Derrik would never do anything to belittle me. However, I still feel lame having a fake relationship to finally get some credit as not the nice guy in the band. Jade’s never treated me like that, and I think she could even have pointers and tips on some things we might be able to do.
