“Drew, I have no idea what the hell is going on except for what Jane told me, which isn’t much. The media has been relentless trying to get any bit of information from me that they can. I was briefly interviewed by the police, but since I didn’t see anything, they wouldn’t tell me a thing.”
“Shit,” I mutter, dragging my hand down my face then wincing when it runs over my bruised cheek.
“Why don’t you tell me what the doctors’ said about the wounds and her recovery? Let’s start there.” Great, Rhys is going to try and hold my hand? I don’t think so.
“Here’s what I want you to say. Just put it in better words. Sydney was attacked by a fucking psycho who stalked her as a kid.”
“What?” Rhys yells.
“Don’t fucking interrupt, Rhys. This shit isn’t easy for me,” I bark at him.
“Okay, sorry Drew. I just didn’t know,” he admits.
“So put that in there about the crazy fuck,” I continue. “He stabbed her and hit her liver, which was repaired surgically. He missed her diaphragm and lung. Ummmm, they said we could go home tomorrow if nothing goes wrong, but tell them it’ll be a few days to throw them off. And the asshole was arrested. I guess that’s it.” Sighing, I close my eyes and wait for Rhys to respond.
“Alright, I got it. I’ll polish it up and release it to the media. Are you going back to New York?”
“Yes. I already have it all set up. We’re going back with Leah in Eva’s jet.”
“Eva?” Rhys asks.
“Sydney’s mom.”
“Oh yeah. I forgot. Sorry Drew, this is just…” he stops, too choked up to continue.
“Yeah, I know. Hey, I gotta go.” I have to get off the phone before I go back to being a fucked up mess.
“Okay. Bye.”
I hang up and decide that Adam has had long enough with my girl. Walking back into the room, I see that Sydney is already off of the phone and she’s speaking to the doctor.
“What’s going on?” I ask, pissed that they would discuss her care without me.
“I was just telling Miss Tannen that she can go home. Today if you like,” he says with a giant smile on his face.
“Today?” I look down at Sydney. “You want to get out of here?” I can’t help but grin.
She smiles back, a genuine smile. She wants to leave this fucking place as much as I do. “Yes.”
“Done.”
CHAPTER 35
“Just get down here and clear out the sidewalk. It’s unbelievable out there. Cars can’t even get through.” I stare out the living room windows of Sydney’s loft at the huge crowd of paparazzi and media outlet vans lining the street in front of her building as I bark out orders into the phone.
“We’re sending someone now, sir,” the police dispatcher responds.
“Good. Thanks.” Ending the call, I take a deep breath. Sydney and I have been back in New York for a week and a half. She’s getting better, physically and mentally, but I can tell that she’s scared to death to leave the building. Hell, I’m scared for her to leave the building. How do you know who the next psycho is? How am I supposed to keep her safe from someone who may or may not exist?
I pull myself from my dark thoughts and decide it’s time to discuss my work commitments with Sydney. I’ve been getting a lot of pressure from Quentin and Rhys and this can’t be put off any longer. Worn-out, I shove the phone in my pocket, walk into the bedroom and freeze. She’s not in bed.
Where the fuck is she?
I scan the room and find her in one of the chairs near the wall of windows.
“Sydney, you shouldn’t be out of bed.” I take the seat across from her and sink back into the comfortable cushions.
“I’m fine, Drew. I can’t be in bed anymore. I need to get out of here. I’m going crazy.” I watch her carefully, studying her face to make sure she knows what she’s asking for.
It’s now or never.
I sigh and drag my hand through my too-long hair. “I have to be at three more premieres for A Soldier’s Burden this week and on the set in two weeks to start production on Downtrodden Masses in Vancouver.” I lean forward and put my elbows on my knees. “One of the premieres is here in New York, but one is in Chicago and the other is in Miami. I’ve pushed them back as far as I can. It’s in my contract, Syd. I have to be there. It’s a limited release independent film, not a huge blockbuster. I can’t leave the people who financed it hanging.”
I feel like such a dick for having to abandon her. Thank God I had Jane hire Steve to be here while I’m gone. I wouldn’t even think of leaving without someone here to watch over her and keep her safe.
Sydney reaches across the gap between us and takes my hand. “I know you have to be there. I’ll have Leah stay with me while you go to Miami and Chicago.” Wait, she wants me to go? “Go Drew, walk the carpet, answer the questions. We have to be normal again.”
Is she fucking kidding me? Normal? What does that even look like?
After seeing the sour face I’m making, she continues. “Okay, as normal as we can be. Then when you have to start filming in Vancouver, I’ll go with you. Maybe getting out of here would be good for us.”
I’m so confused. I thought she’d be done with that, would want to be as far away from the Hollywood bullshit as she could get.
“You’ll come with me? I didn’t think you’d want to go. I thought you’d be done with that part of my life after what happened at the premiere.”
Her face softens and she clasps my hands tighter. “I want to be with you, Drew. I love every part of you, even your work. Your film was beautiful, you have to continue to act and I have to be with you. What happened was not because of your job. It was because of a crazy man who was obsessed with me. He knew me long before I met you, Drew.”
Sydney runs her lips across my knuckles. “Besides, I don’t think time apart would be great for us right now. I need you to get through this, and you’re too nervous about me being alone. So, can I come with you to Vancouver?”
God she’s so fucking strong. I love her so much. All the shit she’s been through and she still wants to be with me. I untangle our hands and open my arms for her. She quickly climbs up into my lap so I can hold her tight. I missed the feel of her, being close like this. Burying my nose in her hair, I inhale her sweet fragrance.
“Please come with me babe, I’d go crazy with you thousands of miles away. I need to know that we’re okay.” I kiss her head and pull her closer. I can’t be apart from her, ever.
“We’re definitely okay,” Sydney says as I tilt her chin up and kiss her gorgeous mouth. “I haven’t been to Vancouver in a long time; I wonder what I should pack?”
Her statement is so unexpected that I can’t help but smile at her. She grins back.
Who would have thought? Me, Andrew Forrester. Hollywood’s ultimate bachelor, head over heels in love with a girl.
Loving Sydney makes me irrational, emotional, and confused as fuck… and I am thankful for every single feeling she inspires, good and bad. It means I’m finally fucking living. With her. Always with her.
Plus, with all of the downtime in Vancouver, I’ll be able to work on controlling my temper.
Acknowledgements
First, I have to say how much I appreciate the fans of the Famous series. The people who love Drew and Sydney just as much as I do. It’s going to be so hard to let them go, after writing four books about them. They’re like family to me.
Next, as always, I have to thank my husband, Brian. He stood by me as I took the leap on this crazy road, not once thinking it was strange that a pharmacist decided she wanted to write romance novels.
Of course, I need to thank my awesome Betas again, Heather DeLuca, Amy Woods, and Krystal Wiles-Austin. Thanks ladies for laying it down truthfully and keeping it real.
To Deborah at Tugboat Design, thanks for giving my books the face that they deserve. Your covers are brilliant and you always seem to know exactly what I want.
I
have to give my bloggers their shout outs! Thanks to Erin at MeReadALot, DK at A Book Lovin’ Junkie, the girls at After Dark Book Lovers, Shannon at Cocktails and Books, Jennifer and Natalie at Love Between the Sheets, Toni at Promiscuous Book Blog, Chantale at Canadian Book Addict, and especially everyone at The Rock Stars of Romance who started this whole thing for me. Whew, if I missed you, I’m so sorry! I love you all!
Lastly, I want to thank my girls at the Georgia Romance Writers. Thanks for being my proofreaders, my pals, and for helping me navigate the crazy world of writing.
About the Author
After growing up in New England, Heather Leigh lives just outside of Atlanta, GA with her husband and two children. Her favorite things include traveling, chocolate and of course, the Boston Red Sox.
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