by Maree Green
“Fuck!” My body twitched, straining and releasing, pouring the tension of the last few weeks inside her.
Pressing my mouth against her shoulder, I struggled to catch my breath. I swore she had the ability to make me forget my own name, and that was saying something.
As she sagged against me, I drew her further into my arms, lifting her away from the door and carrying her to the bed. As carefully as I could under the circumstances, I lowered her to the bed, disconnecting us with the movement.
Tucking myself back away, I crawled over the top of her and kissed her softly. “Hi,” I said, grinning down at her.
Her gaze was glassy, her body still singing with pleasure. She smiled, running her hands under my shirt, stroking the skin on my lower back. “Hi.”
I kissed her again. “I missed you.”
She exhaled a breath that sounded like it was a cross between a sigh and a huff. “Are you done in Florida now?”
She had no idea how done I was.
“Yes, thank God,” I said, unable to hide the irritation from my face. I still had three months’ worth of work with Hannah to go, but at least the rest of the filming was here in LA and I’d get to see Liv whenever I wanted.
If I could get her to move . . .
I sighed and brushed the hair off her face, trying to work out the best way to broach the subject. “I know we’ve been over this dozens of times already, and I know you’ve told me the reasons why you can’t, but I’m begging you to at least compromise with me on this, Liv. This place is just not safe enough, baby. You have no idea how much I worry about you being here.”
Her face fell as she gazed up at me. “I know you do, and I’m sorry I make you feel that way. I’m not doing this to be stubborn, Josh. I’m really not. I understand what you’re saying. Believe me, if there’s anyone out there who understands the importance of safety, it’s me. And I’m not resisting you because I have an obstinate sense of independence, either. It’s about practicality. We’ve barely been seeing each other for a month, Josh. And out of that month, we’ve physically seen each other for one weekend. This apartment is within my means. I can’t afford anything more, and I know you’ve said you’re happy to help me, and I know your argument about me not needing a safer place if it wasn’t for you is valid . . .”
She took a deep breath, her gaze moving between my eyes, searching. “I just think it’s too soon. We agreed to try—to see if we can make this thing that’s between us work. And I think we need to give it some time. It’ll be easier now you’re back in LA. We can see each other more, and see what happens. If we’re both still happy down the track, then I’ll be happy for you to help me.”
It wasn’t the answer I was hoping to hear, but I knew what she was saying. It just didn’t provide a solution for her safety in the meantime, and I didn’t know how to get around that. Unclenching my jaw, I pinned her with a serious gaze. “How long?”
“How long what?”
“How long will it take for you to agree to move?” I said, not willing to drop it until I had a time limit locked in.
It was obvious she didn’t want to choose a time, but if she wanted me to agree to this, it was the only way. “A month?”
I pressed my lips into a thin line. As far as time went, it wasn’t too long, but a lot could happen in a month. And it was for that reason, I now intended to find a secure place for her to live—even if I had to buy one myself. Until then, I’d be spending most of my time in my own apartment at the Colonial House now I was back in LA, and I’d be doing everything I could to convince Liv to spend most of her time with me there too.
Chapter 59
Olivia
“Do you know what?” Sam asked me as I sat down at the kitchen table.
I blinked at her through my haze and widened my eyes expectantly.
Thrusting her hands onto her hips, she scowled at me. “I really tried to like Hannah Bryant, but this,” she said, pointing at her computer screen. “This is bullshit, and this is why I don’t like her.”
Picking up my coffee, I took a sip. I needed caffeine to deal with this. “Do you want to explain?”
Letting out a huff, she turned back to the screen. “An article came out this morning, from a close source of Hannah’s,” she said, her eyes rolling as her fingers made quotation marks in the air, “saying Hannah is devastated that Josh ran off to LA to be with you. It says that Hannah believed her and Josh were in a serious relationship, and that she’s now found out that he’s been cheating with you all this time.”
Calmly, I took another sip of coffee, letting it slide across my tongue before swallowing and breathing. Then I repeated the process again.
Sam dropped down on a chair across from me. “How can you be so calm about it? Don’t you feel like punching her the fuck out?”
I shrugged. “Not really. I met her in Florida. She thinks she can scare me off.”
“See, this is why it’s you and not me,” she said, crossing her arms. “This kind of shit makes me so mad. That’s why I had to leave. I couldn’t work with all the goddamn lies.”
I raised my eyebrows and nodded my agreement. That was another reason why I refused to get drawn into such petty crap. There were so many more devastating things going on in the world than a twenty-year-old raven-haired diva with a bruised ego.
Looking down at my cup, I placed a finger on the rim and followed it around in a circle. “Do you think we can work, Sam? I mean, it seems like there’ll be so many opposing forces against us, trying to do whatever they can to drive us apart. Are we wasting our time trying?”
She watched me for a little while, assessing me carefully. “I don’t think so, Liv. You’re not a nobody who’s blinded by the lights. You don’t get all starry-eyed and excited by the prospect of red carpets and movie premieres. Those kind of girls don’t last because they care about what people think of them. They’re the kind of girls that would believe that article and burst into tears from the doubts running through their heads. But you’re also not one of those girls who shy away from the spotlight. You don’t panic when someone calls out your name, screaming questions at you, and trying to take your picture. And you don’t lose your shit because they won’t leave you alone. If you ask me, you have exactly the right balance. And that tells me Josh is on a winner, so unless he fucks up, you most definitely can make it work.”
I sat back in my seat. “It’s just, Josh is really stressed about the lack of security here, and you know he has every right to be. I mean, there’s nothing stopping anyone from coming right up to our door.” Digging my fingers into my hair, I massaged my scalp to prevent the headache I could feel coming. “I just don’t want to go ahead and upset everything we’ve got set up here, only to have things to fall apart with Josh, leaving me stuck in a place I probably can’t afford. I know we’re not moving in with each other or anything, but it kind of feels the same, if you know what I mean.”
She pursed her lips and leaned her elbows on the table. “Yeah, I can see how it could feel like that. Most relationships certainly don’t start with someone having to move apartments in the first month of seeing each other.”
“Exactly,” I said, glad she got it.
“But most relationships don’t involve a movie star and a pauper, so most relationship rules don’t apply here, Liv.”
I sighed, knowing she was right.
“Just to put it out there,” she said, quirking an eyebrow. “I’m totally up for a nicer, newer apartment should you want to move and retain your current roomy. You only have to ask.”
Grinning, I shook my head. “Yeah, all right. Your input has been noted. I’ll take it under consideration.”
Pushing herself up, she gave me a wink. “Okay, I’m going to be the good house buddy, and go buy food. I’ll catch you later.”
I would’ve loved to have her energy. She never seemed to run out. I used to have something like that when I was living in Gulu, but I also used to go jogging every day. I considered the
consequence of jogging with paparazzi following my every move. I really didn’t want to let them dictate what I could and couldn’t do, though, so I thought maybe I should just do it. It was a well-known slogan after all.
Dumping my cup in the sink, I decided to throw caution to the wind and went to my room to get changed.
Once my tennis shoes were laced up, I tied my hair in a ponytail and slipped the door key into the little zipper compartment in my shorts. Marching to the front door, I opened it and pinned Gardner with a determined gaze. “Feel like a jog?”
The guy sighed. “You’re determined to kill me, aren’t you?”
I smiled.
“We can go, but we need a set trail before we lean. And then we need to make a Plan B.”
I gave him a deadpan look. “Really?”
He didn’t bend. “Really.”
Letting out a loud huff, I looked up to the ceiling. “Fine.”
The corner of his mouth twitched. “How far do you want to run?”
“Jog, Gardner. I’m going for a jog,” I said, my gaze stern. “Running sounds painful.”
The twitch stretched high. “All right. How far do you want to jog, Princess?”
Placing my hands on my hips, I tapped my foot as I thought. “I used to jog about two miles when I was in Africa, so let’s try that.”
“How long ago was that?” he asked. I could tell he was amused.
My happiness withered. “About five months ago.”
I watched him study his cell phone for a while before he turned it around for me to see. “We’ll take the loop in red,” he said, tapping on the edge of his phone. “If anything goes wrong, we take the closest route to the blue and come straight home. Deal?”
I squinted at the screen. I wondered what app that was. It was cool. “Deal. Now let’s go before I change my mind.”
Stuffing the phone back into his pocket, he nodded. Then he led the way downstairs.
The hardest part was pushing through the stupid crowd on the sidewalk. I was surprised someone hadn’t complained and called the cops yet. I was surprised I hadn’t. Why the hell hadn’t I? I should do that when I got home.
Grabbing my arm above my elbow, Gardner dragged me the rest of the way through the crowd and pulled me into a jog beside him, darting across the road and to the path he’d planned. He humored me with a nice steady pace, unwilling to let me go too slow, but kind enough to not push me too hard. I was beginning to think Gardner was a little pussycat under that hulk exterior. But I’d never tell him that.
Following the path down a small hill, we swung into a park, following the sidewalk under the shade of the trees. It was nice. And pretty. I kind of wished I had my cell with me so I could take some pictures.
I wasn’t really watching where I was going. Not exactly. I was mostly moving on autopilot, following Gardner’s lead. I probably should have been paying more attention. If I had been, I might’ve seen the arm that flew out and coat-hangered me, right before I landed flat on my back.
Pain lanced through my entire body. My chest froze, constricting all breath. And the sky swayed side to side before starting to swing in a more circular motion.
As I lay on my back, staring up at the pretty green leaves swaying in the breeze, I heard Gardner grunting as though he was wrestling with someone. Dull thumps and grunts floated in the breeze with the trees. It was an odd combination. Then I felt a hand clasp around my wrist, shaking softly, and Gardner’s face swam into my line of vision. “Liv,” he said. “Answer me.”
I attempted to speak, but the wind had been seriously knocked from my sails, and all that came out was a whisper. Gardner’s face disappeared. I heard him speak again, but this time it was rushed and urgent, his tone hushed. I felt sick, and all I wanted was Josh.
Chapter 60
Josh
I’d never felt more sick in my life. I’d gone from excitedly signing papers to take ownership of a new apartment I was going to convince Liv to move into, to panicked beyond all capabilities, all within the span of one phone call.
Liv’s been hurt . . .
Daniel’s words replayed inside my head, over and over again, as we sped through downtown LA on our way to Liv’s apartment. The details still weren’t clear, but it didn’t matter. All that mattered was that I get to her now.
As expected, the crowd waiting outside her apartment was fucking bedlam. If I wasn’t careful, I was going to end this day with an assault charge, for sure.
The second Lance pulled the car up to the curb, Daniel, Corey, and Cain all piled out, pushing the crowd back enough for me to climb from the car without being dragged to the pavement. Nerves tingled in my gut. This almost had to have been the worst I’d ever seen a crowd before. It was insane, and I was genuinely concerned we weren’t actually going to make it to the building without being torn apart.
But then three large figures appeared from the building, shoving at the crowd, parting the way for us to get inside, and as soon as the doors closed behind us, one of the guys barricaded it with an iron bar.
I didn’t wait for introductions. That would have to wait until later. I just needed to get to Liv and see if she was all right.
Dashing for the stairs, I burst through the door to her apartment, and jerked to a halt, almost running into Gardner and Liv’s roomy, whom I hadn’t officially met yet.
“Where’s Liv?”
Sam’s eyes widened before she stuck her thumb over her shoulder. “Room.”
Meeting Gardner’s gaze, I paused. “What the fuck happened?”
He exhaled heavily, his hands curling into fists. “She wanted to go for a jog, so I planned a route that would be safe for us both to take. We were heading through Delano Park when a girl jumped out from behind a tree and coat-hangered her. She was winded pretty badly, making it difficult for me to tell if she’d sustained any other injuries, so I thought it would be best to make a recovery call.”
My jaw clenched. “Did you get the girl?”
He nodded. “I had my crew following at a distance. They apprehended her and called the police. Apparently, she’s a Hannah Bryant fan and thought she was helping.”
“Jesus.” Fuck this. I didn’t give a shit if she was some fan or not. If anyone tried to touch my girl, I would proceed with the full arm of the law. And then some.
Leaving them, I made my way to Liv’s room, not bothering to knock as I pushed inside. She looked up from her perch on the bed with surprise as I closed the door behind me.
“Josh—”
“I want the truth,” I said, striding forward. “How badly are you hurt?”
Her features softened. “Not badly. I was mostly winded,” she said, folding her hands in her lap. “I have a little bit of bruising on my back, but it’s not too awful.”
I stared at her for a long time, trying to reason with myself, but it was useless. “I can’t do it, Liv,” I said. “I can’t sit back and watch this shit happen to you while you wait for some invisible line to be drawn. Do you know how lucky you were that it wasn’t anything worse than that? And I fucking hate having to say that. I hate that you have to make these kind of decisions so early in our relationship, but you know what?” I said, my blood pumping so hard my ears were starting to ring. “I’m not giving you a choice anymore. I’m not taking no for an answer, Liv. I love you too much to just sit back and wait for something worse to happen to you.”
My hands clenched and unclenched at my sides, and my chest was rising and falling like I’d just run up a flight of stairs, but Liv just sat there staring at me, her mouth curving up into a soft little smile. “You just said you loved me.”
I replayed my words in my head before I drew in a deep breath. “Well, I just figured it out,” I said quietly.
Her smile grew a little more.
Moving to sit on the edge of the bed, I took her face in my hands and kissed her gently. “I need you to be safe, Liv. Please. I know this isn’t something you’re going to like, but I bought an apartment
you can stay in. You and Sam can pay me whatever you feel you can afford. I don’t care. All the payment I need is to know you’re safe.”
Locking her hands around my wrists, she searched my eyes. “Okay.”
The breath stuck in my lungs. “Okay? You’ll move?”
Leaning into me, she brushed her lips over mine. “Yes.”
Lifting my face to the ceiling, I released a heavy breath. “Fucking hallelujah!”
Liv slapped my arm, but she giggled. “I promised I’d move, but I still get a say in some things. Like, Sam’s coming with me, and we’d prefer to find something for a similar price, but we can probably afford to pay a little bit more if we have to. I don’t know how much you want for yours, but we could probably work something out.”
She was rambling, and it was fucking adorable. I was just about to shut her up with a kiss, but there was a knock on the door before I could.
Liv laughed at my unhappy face. “Come in!”
The door opened a crack, and Sam’s face appeared in the gap. “Uh, sorry to interrupt,” she said. “But there are a bunch of guys out here who need to know that you’re okay. Apparently, my word isn’t good enough.”
I smirked at that. I knew how much the guys liked Liv. I hadn’t noticed before because I was too worried about how Liv was, but they would’ve been almost as anxious as I was to see that she was all right.
Before either Liv or I had a chance to say a word, the door flew open wider and Corey pushed his way inside, moving past Sam and shoving me to the side to give Liv a hug. “Good to see you’re doing all right, Liv. You had us all stressed as fuck.”
Cain moved in next, then Lance and Daniel. Gardner smirked from the door.
I shook my head at them all as I sat there. She had every single one of them wrapped around her fucking finger. Me included. God help me if I ever fucked this up. I wouldn’t stand a chance.
Rubbing my hands together, I smiled. “It’s a good thing you’re all here, actually,” I said, grinning. “Liv’s finally agreed to move. And that includes you, Sam,” I said, looking over at the wide-eyed girl at the door.