Fame & Consequences

by Reese A. Stephens

  “Then that’s what we’ll do.”

  ~*~

  The following week, Carter and I are sitting on my bedroom floor looking through wedding magazines and planning for two weeks from now. I can’t believe in a little more than two weeks Elijah and I will be married. I wanted to marry this weekend, but with all the stuff happening with the media and Krystal, Elijah thought it best to wait another couple of weeks.

  “What about this?” I take the magazine Carter hands me.

  My eyes bug out. “This dress is one-hundred-thousand dollars!”

  He shrugs. “You can afford it.”

  I throw it down, and lean against my bed, gripping my head. “That’s not the point, Car. This is so overwhelming. I’ve gotten back most of my memories, but there’s this part of me, that still feels lost. I’m having a hard time coming to terms with my reality.”

  “That you have money, or that you are marrying Lij?”

  I cut my eyes to him. “You know he hates when you call him that.” Carter grins. That’s why he does it. “You’re so immature.” He shrugs. “To answer your question, both.” I sit up and turn to him. “I never pictured myself marrying a famous person or having money.”

  “Why not embrace both? You only marry once … well for the first time. You should have what you want.”

  “I want to get married at home, by the watering hole. I want to wear my mom’s dress. I don’t want all this …” I wave my hands at all the crap on the floor.

  Carter gets up on his knees, grabs all the catalogs and magazines and scoops them up in his muscular arms, then dumps them in the trash can. “There, problem solved.” I give him an exasperated look. He kneels down in front of me and takes my hands in his. “Who’s this wedding for?”

  “Eli and me.”

  “Then it only matters what you and he want. Does he want a big to-do?” I shake my head no. “Then have the wedding at the watering hole, and ride ole’ Charlie down the aisle.”

  I laugh. “I’m sure a donkey is not the best animal to cooperate.”

  He laughs sitting beside me and wrapping his arm around me. “It worked for Jesus.” I slap his chest as I lay my head against him.

  “Do you think Elijah would mind?”

  “Mind what?” He asks, walking into the room.

  “If I make out with your girl.” Carter doesn’t miss a beat. He grabs me and shoves me down against the rug, leaning over me.

  “Carter!” I squeal, shoving against him.

  Elijah laughs and sits cross legged in front of us. “Get off my girl, Ter.”

  Carter laughs. “That’s so dumb, man.” He sits up and moves over.

  Elijah pulls me onto his lap, wrapping his arms around me. “So, is Lij,” he says to Carter before turning to me. “Have I told you how much I love you today?”

  “I don’t think so.”

  He cups my face. “I do.”

  He presses his lips to mine, and my world melts away. I distantly hear a groan, and the bedroom door shut as Carter leaves. Our kiss deepens, as it generally does, and our hands roam until we are both panting and lying on the floor side by side.

  “We should stop,” I whisper to Elijah.

  “I know. I can’t wait until next weekend. Nothing to stop us then.” He kisses me again. “I want you so badly, baby.”

  “Me too.” I wrap my arms around him, pulling him closer to me.

  He pulls back this time. “I’m not taking you on the floor. I want our wedding night to be special.” He kisses me once more then pulls us to sit up.

  “It’ll be special no matter when or where it happens.”

  He bops my nose. “We’re waiting.”

  I sigh. “Okay.”

  His mood darkens as he combs through his hair and sits up straighter. “I came up here to tell you something.”

  “What’s wrong?”

  “Nothing, it’s good news, but I’m not sure how you’ll take it.”

  “Just tell me.”

  “Krystal’s been arrested.”

  He’s right. I’m not sure how to react. It is good news, but I also feel bad for her. I’d like to say she doesn’t deserve this, but she’s actively tried to ruin my life for obviously a long time. I need to talk to her. This will never be settled with me until I do.

  “What happened?” I finally ask.

  “Craig found out she was sleeping with the Bookie. He actually walked in on them.” He makes a shuddering motion. “The cops had a plant in the Bookie’s organization. They were working on taking him down. The take down happened this morning. Craig was there too, so he grabbed Krystal. He said drugs and money were everywhere.”

  “What are her charges?”

  “Stalking, conspiracy to commit murder, and theft. Maybe some other stuff, but I don’t know anything else.”

  “Oh,” I say with a nod. “Where are they holding her?”

  “I’m not sure. You want me to find out?” I nod my head. “Sophie, I don’t want you seeing her.”

  I take his hand. “But, I need to do this.”

  He starts to say something but then simply nods. I can tell he’s disappointed, but I have to see her. I have to talk to her and try to figure out why she would do this to me. Elijah and I have talked about this and he’s opposed but I think he is realizing how stubborn I can be.

  “Promise me you’ll take guards with you.”

  I grin sadly. “Of course, but she can’t hurt me anymore.”

  We find our way into the kitchen, and I make dinner for us, Carter, and Jared. Both are regulars in our kitchen with Hutch, Danny, and Josh rotating around their guarding schedules. Elijah has two of them in the guard house at a time, so one can do a perimeter search as the other is at the gate. Jared is assigned to my person. Elijah felt I’d be more comfortable with that, which I was, but still feel it’s unnecessary.

  “So, now that she’s behind bars you can ease up on the guards and let these guys find some normal,” I tell Elijah as I pop a green bean into my mouth.

  He stares at me with a scrunched-up expression. “No. I think we’ll have a new normal. Threats are always going to be out there as long as I’m an actor and you’re a big-time author. It’s part of the norm.”

  “It sounds stifling.” I groan.

  He reaches over and squeezes my arm. “It won’t be. We’ll find a way to keep you protected, without you feeling trapped.”

  “Hanging out with your bro and best friend can’t be that horrible,” Jared adds, kicking me under the table.

  I harden my eyes and kick him back, hard. “It is, when they are constantly ganging up on me.”

  Carter holds his hands up. “I’ve done no such thing! I haven’t even pinched your butt in months!”

  I roll my eyes at him. “It was a slap and it was yesterday.”

  Elijah punches his shoulder. “Hands off my stuff, dude.”

  Jared punches Elijah’s shoulder. “Dude, my sister isn’t stuff.”

  I roll my eyes at the lot of them, picking up my plate. “You’re all insane and all way too protective. That’s why, in the morning I’m going to see Krystal and I’m going alone. If I hear anything out of you, you’ll regret it.” I turn and leave the room, calling over my shoulder. “Clean the kitchen, Neanderthals!”

  ~*~

  The next morning, I’m dressed and heading to the front door when Elijah pops up in front of me, startling me. “Hear me out.” I open my mouth, but he presses a finger to my lips. “Please.” I nod. “Let Josh and Jared follow you. Take Carter for moral support, or better yet, me.”

  I think about it for a few minutes. I don’t want him to worry, but at the same time. I want to drive my flipping car! “Fine, but you stay with them. I’ll be fine.”

  “Fine.” He relents unpleased.

  “I’m going too, as your lawyer,” Carter comes around the corner, straightening his tie. He’s dressed in a suit and carrying a brief case.

  I narrow my eyes. “Car, if you go, she won’t talk t
o me. She hates you.”

  “It’ll be fine.” He kisses my cheek as he grabs the keys out of my hand.

  I run after him. “Hey! I’m driving.”

  Obviously, no one got the memo on the driving because Carter does indeed slip behind the wheel, while Elijah and I sit in the back. Once again, I am being chauffeured. I stare out the window the entire ride, lost in thought, so much so that I am surprised when Carter parks in the parking lot at the correctional center.

  He glances at me over the seat. “You ready?”

  “Yeah. I still think it’s a bad idea that you’re here.”

  “I’ll just stay in the observance room. She won’t know, but if she says anything to you that could be used in court I’ll hear it.”

  “I’ve already had them confirm they record all meetings,” Elijah pipes in. “Since you are famous, you’ll be in an interrogation type of room, instead of the normal meeting room with everyone.

  “Okay.”

  I take a deep breath and open the car door. Elijah waves to the car where Jared, Josh, and Danny are. I thought for sure Elijah would fire him, but he came to his senses, thankfully. I give them a little wave. Elijah takes my hand in his as the officer leads me to a room, one that looks exactly like I described in my Alyx and Marshall books. It’s grey, with no outside windows, but a large glass two-way window. A steel cold looking table sits in the middle of the room, with two chairs on either side, one with a bar for handcuffs.

  I give Carter a final wave, and kiss Elijah on the cheek before I enter the room and take a seat. They bring Krystal in moments later, her feet and hands cuffed liked she’s some hardened criminal. I’m not sure why they’ve cuffed her feet, but I suspect Elijah has something to do with this level of security. The officer cuffs her to the table then leaves the room. Krystal and I sit in silence for a long while. She stares at her lap. She looks so different from the foul mouthed, tattooed sassy girl I used to know. Her multi colored hair hangs limp around her lifeless no makeup face.

  “How long?” I ask, when I can’t take it any longer.

  She finally looks up. She licks her lips. Not in a creepy way, more like nervousness. “Freshman year, first day.”

  My eyes widen. “How?”

  She smiles sardonically. “You’re so naïve.”

  I huff. “I didn’t come here to debate my naïveté. I came here to find out how long you’ve been stalking me, and trying to ruin my life!”

  “You’re gorgeous when you’re angry. Does that get Elijah going? Does he take you when you’re angry?”

  I suck in a deep breath, hardening my features. “I’m not talking about him or what we do. Why were you stalking me? Why pretend to be my friend?”

  “I never pretended, Soph. I was your friend. I love you. I’ll always love you. You just couldn’t see that. You friend zoned me right away.”

  “I’m not gay.”

  “I’m not either,” she replies with a knowing smile. “There’s nothing wrong with being bisexual, Sophie. At the very least you could have tried it, you might have liked it, and… liked me, hell, even loved me.”

  “So, because I had a boyfriend whom I loved and didn’t want you like that you stalked me and tried to have me killed?”

  “I never wanted you to die. I just wanted you scared, so you’d come back to me.” She leans forward as much as she can, reaching her hand towards me.

  I stare at her. “I almost died twice! I lost my memory!” I stand and start to pace. “Why would I run to you? We’ve not been in contact other than email for years, Krystal.”

  “You hadn’t, but I’d followed you.” She stares at my shocked expression and then smiles. “I was on that plane when you met Elijah. I was there when you went on your first date. That album in my backpack is only one of many. I know you better than anyone.”

  “No, you don’t.”

  She laughs so hard she actually pushes the chair back. After a moment she rights herself and quirks her head slightly, all serious. “I know that you don’t really want Elijah. You want Carter. I bet you a million dollars that Carter is who came here today, and he’s watching on the other side of that glass.” She gestures to the mirror.

  I turn to look at it even though I know I can’t see him, then back to her. “He’s my friend, and for the record, Elijah is here as well. You don’t know me at all.”

  She laughs again. “That boy, Carter that is,” she adds with a wink, “is as in love with you as I am. That’s what you do. It’s like some kind of sick super power. You draw all these people in with your sweet southern charm and your drop dead gorgeous body, then you keep them at arm’s length after they fall in love with you. You ruin people’s lives, not me.”

  “Okay, that’s enough.” Carter busts through the door, with Elijah, Danny, and Jared on his heels.

  “Oh, so I was right. Carter is here to rescue you again. You’ve got all these saps falling all over you.”

  The officer comes in and uncuffs her from the table. As she does, Krystal head butts her and lunges over the table to me, grabbing my shirt and pulling me to her, kissing me. I shove her off and punch her in the face as hard as I can. I’m in Elijah’s arms, and Carter and Jared have Krystal pinned to the wall within the next few seconds. Josh pulls the cop to her feet. I look up at Elijah, then turn to stare at Krystal.

  “See you love me and you know it! You felt it!” She screams, as the officer locks her cuffs and pulls her roughly out the door.

  “Are you okay?” Elijah asks me. I can’t look at him. I just keep staring at where Krystal disappeared.

  “Soph, are you okay?” Carter kneels to meet my gaze, waving a hand in my face.

  “I’m not in love with you,” I tell him.

  “I know, honey.” He stands full height. “Nothing she said was true. She was just trying to get under your skin. Seems like it worked.”

  I shake my head. “No, it didn’t. I don’t love her. I don’t love anyone except Elijah.” I turn to him. “I’m marrying you because I love you. I want you.”

  He smiles crookedly at me. “I’m marrying you for the same reasons. Sophie, are you okay?” Tears pool in my eyes. Why did I think confronting her was a good idea? She’s clearly deranged. Elijah pulls me to him. “Let’s get you home.”

  I can only nod against him. Krystal was never my friend. She’s always been a deranged psychopath. How I could have trusted her. What else does she have of mine?

  “I want the other albums.”

  “What?” Elijah asks.

  “She said she had other photo albums of me. It’s my life. I want them.”

  He nods. “Of course, baby. I’ll see what we can do.” I nod, mollified.

  I stare out the car window on the way home. How did I end up here with someone like Krystal in my life? My life feels so complicated. I sigh heavily, trying to gain some perspective. I offer Elijah a smile and then see Carter driving and grin again. At least I have the people who actually care about me around me. For that I’m truly grateful.

  Epilogue

  I ’m sitting on my bed in the guest room, working on the final chapter for my last Marshall and Alyx novel. I can’t believe this is the end of their journey, our journey together. What a ride it’s been. Everything came to a head last week when Krystal was arrested. I still can’t believe how obsessed she was with me and for how long. It’s so strange that anyone would feel that strongly for me that they’d want to hurt me. I’m startled out of my thoughts when a soft tap hits my door.

  “Come in,” I call, setting my laptop to the side.

  Elijah enters carrying a mug of something steamy. “Hot chocolate?”

  I rub my hands together, letting a smile spread over my face as I reach for the proffered cup. “You know it. Did you use marshmallow cream?”

  He scoffs. “Of course, I did. You act like I don’t know you at all. You’re the one who forgot, not me.” He winks.

  I laugh with a small shake of my head. “Oh, so we’re joking about my
messed-up brain now, are we?” I give him a little shove with my sock covered foot as he sits at the end of my bed.

  “You know I’m only teasing. I love your messed-up brain.” He grins a little too broad, like he’s super pleased with himself.

  We’re silent for a moment before I continue. “I want us to find our normal. Whatever that is.”

  “We will, sweetheart.” He picks up my foot and sets it on his thigh. He rubs his hand up my calf, massaging me. It fantastic. “How’s the book coming along?”

  “Meh. I’m a little sad that it’s coming to an end. It’s time, but I’m attached to these guys. It’ll be hard to start writing something new.”

  “I get that,” he states with a knowing nod. “When I do a movie, I go through that sometimes at the end of filming. Good thing is you’re not done with these guys. We still have the movies to do.” He’s right. I hadn’t thought about it that way.

  I sit up, setting my hot cocoa on my night table. I crawl over to Elijah and sit sideways in his lap, wrapping my hand into his hair. “Have I told you how perfect you are for me?”

  He pretends to think about it. “Not today.”

  I pull him to me, pressing my lips to his. His hands immediately wrap around my waist, pressing me tighter to him as he deepens the kiss. We break for breath and I murmur, “You’re perfect for me.”

  He pushes me back, until I’m lying against my pillows, he moves my laptop to the floor, all while keeping his lips to mine. He settles between my legs, but keeps his body hovering slightly above mine. Normally, this would be what I want, but so much has happened in our lives from the comas, stalking, death threats, memory loss, regaining my memory, and especially, since I know Krystal is behind bars, I'm free.

  All right, maybe that’s not exactly how I should explain it. It’s like I have a second chance at everything. I don’t want to let insecurities stop me from loving him like I want. Yes, I still have my convictions and beliefs. I won’t compromise that, but I love this man, I’m marrying him, and I’m human. So, with that thought in mind. I wrap my legs around him and pull him flush against me.

  He groans. “Sophie?” He pulls back, staring down at me with lust filled eyes.