Common Ground

by Wendy Smith

  “I came in the limo yesterday from the airport. Travelled with Mac Brown?”

  He rolls his eyes and points across the road. “Pull the other one. You think you’re the first person who’s tried this today? That group over there all saw Mr. Brown arrive yesterday, and you were definitely not in the car.”

  “Yeah, I was. Now could you please give Josh a call, as I don’t have my phone on me, and let him know I’m here. He’ll want you to let me in.”

  “I wasn’t born yesterday.”

  “Please. I’m not feeling well, and I need to get inside.”

  He crosses his arms. “That’s not going to happen. You give me some ID to show who you are, and I’ll think about it.”

  My stomach rolls.

  “All my ID is inside the house. Please, can you just call Josh and tell him I’m back?”

  The guard literally rolls his eyes.

  I swallow hard. The last thing I need is to lose it. It’s just going to make the situation worse.

  “Stand back from the gate. I won’t warn you again.”

  Hot tears spill down my face. My head is thumping already, and it feels like I’m burning up from the inside out. “Please, just call Josh.”

  “I’ll be calling the police if you don’t leave.”

  I puff out my chest. “Go on then. At least then I’ll get a phone call and be able to talk to Josh.”

  He laughs, turning away. My cheeks blaze in a combination of sunburn and humiliation. I need to lie down, but I have nowhere to go.

  At least the spot across the road where the others seem to have camped out has some shade.

  I walk toward them. My heart thuds in time with my pounding head.

  A cheer goes up, and a woman near the front chants, “Josh, Josh, Josh.”

  Well, I guess I know why they’re here. I knew he had fans, but this is crazy.

  As I reach a large rock to lean on, I stumble.

  “Hey, are you okay?” The young woman who chanted for Josh looks at me with a concerned expression.

  “I’ve got a pounding headache, and I feel …”

  Turning back toward the bush, I lose the contents of my stomach. It almost immediately lightens my headache a little, but I still feel gross.

  “Want some water?”

  I nod. “Please.”

  She hands me a water bottle. The cap’s a little chewed, but I’m past the point of caring about someone else’s germs.

  “Have the whole thing. I haven’t had anything out of this one yet. I filled a ton of bottles this morning with ice and water.”

  “Thank you.”

  “You’re welcome. First day here?”

  I nod, and take a long drink from the bottle. It’s not ice-cold, but it makes me feel a little better.

  “I’ve been here for the past three days. Ever since I heard Josh Carter was staying.”

  “Three days?” I croak.

  “I’m his biggest fan. Although, I’m sure you want to argue that with me.”

  “No, I think you’ve got that over me right now.” I look back over my shoulder and glower at the guard.

  “I’m not sure about that. Your accent tells me you’re not from around here.” She smiles. I’m sure she wouldn’t smile if she knew who I was.

  “I’m from New Zealand.”

  “New Zealand? I’ve always wanted to go there. I’m Becky.”

  “Delaney.”

  “You’re not looking too good. Are you staying far from here?”

  At her question, my eyes sting with tears. I can’t take much more.

  The pressure in my head builds again. I hold my hand to my forehead, as if it makes any difference. What I need are painkillers and a long sleep.

  “Delaney?”

  I look up to see two Beckys in front of me.

  “I … I …”

  She’s shouting as my legs go out from underneath me, and the last thing I’m aware of is hitting the gravel at the side of the road.

  Hard.

  Thirty-Five

  Josh

  Delaney’s been gone for hours, and the longer she’s away, the more anxious I become.

  She said she needed some space, and I’ve been happy to give it to her. I never meant to make her think I doubted her word; it was the shock of hearing what Mac had done that hit me hard.

  I love her. I trust her.

  And now I have to make sure she knows that.

  I toy with my phone for about the fiftieth time since she went for her walk, and finally take a deep breath and dial.

  Her shrill ringtone echoes through the quiet room, and I spin in the direction it’s coming from.

  I lift a cushion on the chair in the corner of the room. The jacket she wore yesterday sits underneath it, and through the fabric, the glow of the ringing phone tells me I’m wasting my time calling.

  Fuck.

  She had a bag when she left. I guess she didn’t transfer her things to it.

  Picking up the jacket, I search the pockets. Inside are her phone, her purse, and her passport.

  My stomach sinks.

  What on earth has she been doing all this time with no money and no phone?

  Where are you, Delaney?

  Running my fingers through my hair, I look down at the bed. Think, Josh.

  I need to go looking for her. She said something about the markets, and maybe she got a little lost on the way back.

  Making my way downstairs, I find Bradley, Reece’s driver.

  “Could you help me please, Bradley?” I ask.

  “Of course, sir.”

  “Delaney’s not back, and I’m worried about her. She’s left her things behind by accident. I need to borrow one of Reece’s cars to go and look for her.”

  He nods. “Of course, sir. I’m happy to help.”

  “We can cover more ground with two of us.”

  “Come this way, and I’ll find you what you need.”

  I follow him down to the kitchen.

  There’s a locked cupboard on the wall, and he retrieves a key from his pocket to open it. The cabinet’s full of keys as Reece is a lover of cars. He’s got a few in the garage.

  While I’m waiting, one of the security guards walks in. I hate needing security, but it’s a no-brainer to keep Delaney safe.

  What a joke. Then I let her walk off by herself.

  When I find her, I owe her the biggest grovel ever.

  “Sit down and I’ll make you a drink,” Leilani says to the guard. “It’s hot work out there today.”

  He nods as he sits at the table beside a couple of others from the security team. “Tell me about it. Big drama down at the gate. One of the girls out there fainted and someone called an ambulance for her.”

  “An ambulance?” One of the others asks.

  “Pretty sure she had heatstroke. She looked quite pink, and threw up before she fainted.”

  One of the other men at the table laughs. “Damn. It was only a matter of time before it happened to one of them.”

  “This was a new one. She tried the whole ‘Josh Carter is my boyfriend’ line to get in the gate. Gave up when I made it clear she wasn’t getting in.”

  I freeze. The way they’re talking pisses me off. I’m aware there’s a small group who have camped outside the gate, but Delaney’s my priority. I’ve done a shitty job of that, and it sounds like the situation outside the gate isn’t much better.

  “What did you say?” I ask.

  The guard turns toward me. “Just one of those fans trying to get in to see you, sir. I took care of it.”

  “What was her name?” Prickly heat runs up the back of my spine.

  He shrugs. “No idea. Pretty little thing she was, but I wasn’t born yesterday. Looked sweet, but I’m sure that’s just another tactic to get inside. Tried to tell me she came in with Mr. Brown yesterday.”

  For a moment, I stare at him. He turns back toward his friend.

  “What did she look like?”

  “Curvy little
brunette.”

  “Was she wearing a dress? White with big blue flowers?”

  When he turns back around, his wide eyes tell me everything.

  “You fucking idiot.” Anger swells within me.

  “Josh,” Bradley says. “We know where she is now. I’ll get the car and pick you up out front.”

  My jaw tics, but I have more important places to be. My girl is ill and I need to know she’s okay. I give him a curt nod. “This isn’t finished.”

  I storm from the room. I’ll deal with the guard later. Right now my focus has to be on Delaney and cleaning up this mess I’ve made with her. As it is, I’m on the back foot, and I need to make things right.

  How the fuck do I convince her she belongs in my world when she can’t even get back into the house we’re staying in?

  I’m not sure I’m worth forgiving.

  She’s so convinced that there’s this gulf between us and this has just amplified it.

  Fuck.

  The receptionist at the emergency room looks up as I approach.

  “I’m looking for my girlfriend. She was brought in with heatstroke.”

  She nods. “What was her name?”

  “Delaney Carruthers.”

  “If you’d like to take a seat, sir …”

  “No, I want to see her. Now.”

  She raises an eyebrow like she’s heard this shit a million times. “It’ll just take me a moment to find someone who can help you.”

  “Thanks.”

  I’m way too wound up to sit, so instead I lean on the desk while she picks up the phone. Without even thinking about it, I tap my fingers on the hard surface of the desk until a man in a suit approaches me.

  “You’re looking for Ms. Carruthers. Are you her next of kin?”

  “Boyfriend. Why?”

  “There were questions she couldn’t answer when she arrived. Mostly about insurance.”

  I roll my eyes. “Who gives a fuck? I’ll pay for any expenses if she doesn’t have any.”

  “So you don’t know either?”

  “I didn’t book her tickets, so I’m not sure about travel insurance, which I’m guessing this would fall under? Either way, she’s covered. Now, can I please see her?”

  He nods. “Sure. Someone will be in to sort it all out with you.”

  “Whatever it takes. Please, just get me to Delaney.”

  She’s lying in the bed, her eyes closed. I follow the cannula in the back of her hand up to an IV drip beside the bed.

  “Delaney.”

  “We gave her something for the migraine, and it’s made her drowsy. It’ll pass.”

  I turn to the doctor. “When can I take her home?”

  “She should be okay to go when she wakes up. There’s no damage, but she was dehydrated. She’ll need to rest and keep out of the sun for a couple of days.”

  I nod. “That’s no problem.”

  If I have to wrap her up in cotton wool, I will. I’ll do whatever it takes to show her how much she means to me.

  After approaching the bed, I sit in the chair beside it and take her hand in mine. I’ve already lost Delaney once, and it caused us to be apart for six years. I don’t want to spend another minute without her.

  The minutes tick by—the only sound in the room is the analogue clock on the wall. But I sit and wait because it’s all I can do.

  “Josh?” she croaks.

  “Hey.”

  “You found me.”

  “I’m so sorry, baby. I’m sorry for everything.”

  “I want to go home,” she whispers.

  I nod. “I’m getting you out of here.”

  “No. I want to go home to Melly.” She blinks, but tears still escape her eyes and roll down her cheeks.

  “Let’s just get you out of hospital first. Then we’ll talk.”

  “I don’t belong here.” Her sad tone hits me square in the chest. This is the very thing I’m trying to get past, but now …

  “You belong with me. I’m going to prove it to you.”

  “How?”

  “I’m not sure yet, but I promise you nothing like this will ever happen again. It shouldn’t have happened this time.”

  She sniffs. “He wouldn’t even call you. And he threatened me with the police. I was already feeling sick, but this was just humiliating, Josh.”

  I reach over and stroke her cheek. “I’m so sorry, babe. And I’m sorry about our argument. I never once thought you were lying about Mac. It was just such a slap in the face from him.”

  She says nothing else for the moment, but closes her eyes at my touch. I love this woman so damn much, and I’ve been the cause of her misery. If I’d handled everything better this morning, she would never have ended up here.

  “I love you, Delaney. And our family is my priority. I got rid of Mac.”

  Her eyes fly open. “What?”

  “We were in the middle of contract renegotiations anyway. We already fought over me doing the movie in New Zealand, and Reece has never liked him. What he did to you was the last straw.”

  She seems to search my expression, her eyes so full of sadness that it breaks my heart. “You said he got you your big break.”

  I shrug. “Maybe he did. Maybe I would have gone down the same path with someone else. But no one disrespects my lady and gets away with it. I’ve got another agent in mind, and I think she’ll be good at finding the balance for me.”

  “As long as you’re happy.” She looks around the bed. “Can you help me up?”

  I look for the bed control and press the button to raise it until she’s sitting up. Delaney gives me a weak smile. “That’s better.”

  Reaching for her, I wrap my arms around her neck and close my eyes as I hold her tight. “I’m so glad you’re okay. I’d be lost without you.”

  She sighs, sliding her arms around my waist. “I love you.”

  For a moment, we’re stuck in place, just holding each other. I’d stay here forever if I could, with Delaney in my arms, safe and sound.

  There’s a knock on the door, and I look up to see a nurse standing in the doorway.

  “Mr. Carter, there are some papers for you to sign.”

  I nod and let go of Delaney. “Of course.”

  She approaches with a clipboard, and I look them over before signing at the bottom. With a warm smile, she addresses Delaney. “I’ll just free you of the IV, and you can go home any time.”

  “Thank you,” Delaney says. Exhaustion haunts her voice, and I’m not sure I’ll ever forget that. I need to take her home to rest.

  It only takes a moment for the nurse to remove the cannula. “I’ll go and get a wheelchair.”

  “I’m sure I can walk.”

  She wags her finger at Delaney. “Hospital policy. Besides, he can push you.”

  Delaney’s laughter is music to my ears. “That sounds good to me. Although you are risking me running him over.”

  Her eyes dart between Delaney and I as if she’s not sure about how serious Delaney is.

  “Oh, she’s serious. I probably deserve it too.”

  She disappears without really reacting, but I’m sure our exchange will turn up on social media at some point. Things like this usually do.

  “Mac messed with the flight booking too. I asked Mindy to change it, and I’ve got the new ticket. No one will be blocking your seat on the way home, and you’ll get fed.”

  Her smile is weak, but it’s what I need to tell me things might just be okay.

  Once I get her to the limo, I hold her in my arms again and close my eyes. Nothing has ever felt so good.

  “You scared me,” I whisper.

  “I scared myself. I’m sorry for getting shitty with you this morning.”

  I shake my head. “I’m sorry for my reaction. You know I believe you. Always.”

  She nods.

  “It might take a while, but we’ll get this right, Delaney. Together.”

  She curls in tighter. “As if I’m ever letting go now.”<
br />
  I laugh and kiss her on the forehead. I lean my head against hers as the concrete high-rises of the city spread into sprawling mansions and hedged estates.

  A sense of relief settles on me when we go through the gates.

  Outside the car, I scoop her into my arms despite her protests, and just like the night before, carry her up the stairs to the bedroom. At some point, she slumps and rests her head in my neck. After all she’s been through, this is the least I can do.

  Leilani fusses, and I love her all the more for it. She’s become more like Reece’s second mother than just the housekeeper, and her care for him appears to extend to us.

  “The bed’s freshly made, and I’ll bring in some cool face cloths. I’ve had a dash of heatstroke before, and that’ll help make Delaney feel better.”

  “Thank you.”

  Delaney reaches for Leilani’s arm. “Thank you so much. I’m sorry to be a burden.”

  “No such thing. It’s wonderful to have you two to look after. I told you that you should have gone by car.” She wags her finger at Delaney and I chuckle.

  “Lesson learned,” Delaney says.

  I’ve learned a big lesson from this too.

  I can’t let anything like this happen to her again.

  Thirty-Six

  Delaney

  I’m not going to lie. Being pampered makes me feel so much better. My body still feels like it’s on fire, but at least my headache has faded, and I am no longer queasy.

  What a mess.

  My pride is wounded more than anything. I understand the guard not believing me, especially when I had no ID on me, but what I don’t get is why anyone would find being such an arsehole so funny.

  Josh has been back and forth, getting me drinks and making sure I’m okay. I’m just happy to be inside with the air-conditioning cranked and getting some of that cool air.

  He sits on the bed.

  “There’s one more thing I want you to do,” I say as the golden rays of the afternoon stretch into the bedroom.

  His hand in mine gives me comfort. “Anything.”

  “You need to go out and see your fans.”

  His dark eyes focus on mine. “I don’t want to leave you.”