Chase puts his arms around me. “Are you happy?”
I tilt my head back to look at him. “I’ better than happy.ls out vasespulls out vases adn ow everything is perfect. It was fate us coming together. I'walk toward the t might be a crime to be as happy as I am right now. Everything is absolutely perfect. I wouldn’t change a thing.”
He smiles down at me. “Get used to it, Blondie. I plan to keep you this happy for the rest of your life.”
Chapter Twelve
Arianna
“Charlie, you’re a genius! This is brilliant. I can’t believe no one has come up with this idea before.”
Charlie gently bounces as she tries to burp Calder. “We’ve already received so much attention for it. It’s going to be amazing.”
After the press tried to claim Calder was Chase’s love child, Charlie was out for blood with the media. It took her a little while, but she finally formulated a fantastic idea. She rallied together a group of photojournalism majors at Stanford and got them to follow my paparazzi around. Paparazzi for the paparazzi. At the end of the project, Charlie will put together an exhibition of the work. She claims it’s an investigative and introspective look at the state of journalism in this country. I think it’s just her way of getting revenge. Either way, the idea has garnered a ton of attention already, and based on the attention it’s getting, Charlie thinks there is enough interest to turn it into a traveling exhibition, which will get some nice exposure for the students. I love when we can use the craziness in my life to actually do some good for someone.
As soon as word got out about this, a bunch of A-list Hollywood people jumped all over it. Charlie has money and support rolling in to help boost the project. As the project gets more and more national attention, more and more Stanford students want to be a part of it. There are now at least twenty or thirty of them. They make the herd around me twice as big and chaotic, but it’ll be so worth it in the long run.
I’m having a meeting with my staff this morning, so I told Charlie to bring a few preliminary shots by. Hopefully my people can help her get some more attention.
“I love the one of this guy picking his nose,” Simon says. “And then the follow-up of him eating it.”
Shelly holds up another photo. “The guy trying to piss on a tree and take a picture at the same time is my favorite.”
“They’re screaming and yelling that we’re preventing them from doing their job. Getting in the way of their money shots. Invading their privacy. The students are loving every second of it,” Charlie explains. “I’m just waiting for the letters from lawyers to start rolling in. Those will be the piece de resistance.”
She hands Chase an envelope. “These are the pictures of the guy breaking into your house while you were gone. We’ve sent a set to the police as well.”
Chase and I returned home from Florida to find a squad of police cars at our house. Some guy had tried to break in, and one of the students noticed him. After calling 9-1-1, she followed and got pictures of him scaling our fence. We have two broken windows, but it doesn’t look as if he actually got into the house. The police assume when the alarm went off, he bolted.
Simon taps his pen on the table. “You guys really need to tighten your security. Between this and the hotel, that’s two break-ins. The situation is escalating.”
“The neighborhood security company is meeting today to see how they can tighten things up on their end. We’ve offered to pay for more cameras, guards, increased patrols, whatever they need.”
“You may need to move,” Shelly says with an apologetic smile. “You have some pretty well-off neighbors who are not happy with all this increased commotion. In my experience, unhappy neighbors talk to the press in hopes it will make them go away. In my opinion, you should look for some place a bit more remote.”
Chase shakes his head. “I’m not saying I won’t consider it, but I don’t want the press to push me out of my home. I bought this house for Ari. I love it here. It’s close to Levi. I’m not ready to throw in the towel.”
“We’re going to get a dog. Chase and I are going to look at some puppies today.” I point at my manger. “That reminds me. The puppy will travel with me, so factor that into all travel plans. Please make sure my hotel will allow pets. If it doesn’t, would you please find one that does?”
She wrinkles her nose. “Can’t you put it in a kennel or something? Or you can hire people to take care of it here.”
“I’m not getting a dog so someone else can take care of it,” I snap. “I’m not that kind of person.”
“But with your travel schedule—”
“I’m traveling a lot right now, but that won’t be forever,” I reply. “The documentary’s almost done, and the work on the spring line is just about done. The work that remains can be done virtually. I’d like for you to find some office space options for me close by. It’s time to set down some roots and open shop here. Instead of me going to see everyone, everyone can start coming to me.”
Helen scribbles notes. “Okay, I’ll get someone on office space, but have you seen your calendar for the next three months?” She looks at her laptop and scrolls through the calendar. “Cartier photo shoot. Junket for the documentary. Photo shoot for the piece in Time on your work in Africa. Photo shoot for the article in Forbes. Cover shoot for Shape. Cover shoot for Bride—” She rattles off ten more engagements, and she’s not even through the month. Between ads, covers, and articles, my face will be everywhere. People are going to be sick of seeing me.
Chase’s phone rings, and he mouths, “Have to take this.”
As he leaves the room, he looks at me with raised eyebrows. I can practically hear him thinking, I thought you said you were going to slow down? When are you going to sleep? You’re not taking care of yourself.
I hold up my hand. “I got it. The next few months are going to suck. We’ll get through it. Moving on.”
Simon speaks up. “I’m about to add to that laundry list. The NFL loved your idea about the domestic violence ad. They’re still smarting from the Tate debacle, and now with three more players getting arrested for various violent offenses over the last three weeks, they’re in a PR free fall.”
“It’s a total mess,” Simon replies. “I have a friend who works for the NFL in their PR department, and she says it’s a nightmare. The nation is begging the commissioner to do something, and he’s so afraid of the players’ union, he can’t do a damn thing. The owners are furious because the public perception is that the NFL is nothing but a bunch of thugs.”
Shelly nods. “The NFL’s desperate for something positive. They want these ads done yesterday, and they’d like you and Chase to be the main face of the campaign. They’re banking that America’s love for the two of you can pull them out of this. They’d like to shoot the ad early next week, and it’ll run in all markets.”
For once, our popularity could do something other than sell tabloids. I look at my manger. “This is important to me. Can we make the time?”
“Let me see.” Helen scrolls through my calendar.
“Did you hear Tate was turned down by every CFL team too?” Simon says. “I can’t believe he thinks anyone would touch him after what he did.”
“If you give up your shift at the Huckleberry House on Tuesday, we can do it then,” Helen says.
“Damn! I’m lucky if I get there two or three times a month lately.” My work at Huckleberry is what got me through one of the darkest times of my life. Working with the kids is so important to me, and I hate that my work is getting in the way of me being there.
Charlie squeezes my shoulder. “No one expects you to do it all. Janet knows your life is crazy right now. She’ll welcome you back with open arms when things slow down. Cut yourself some slack.”
I look at her and nod. “I’ll try.” I turn to Helen. “Make it happen. I’ll get to Huck when I can.”
Shelly cranes her neck to look down the hallway. “While Chase is out of the room, have you made any
headway on your dress? Do you know who you’re going with?”
“You haven’t told them yet?” Charlie asks as she digs through her diaper bag for a fresh diaper. “You guys are going to love this. It’s my favorite part about the wedding so far.”
I haven’t discussed this with anyone other than Charlie and a few friends in fashion. I may be making a huge mistake, but it’s one I’m willing to make. “As you know, I’ve been meeting with designers for months. I’ve met with everyone who’s anyone in New York, LA, London, and Paris. And quite a few up-and-comers. I didn’t see anything that spoke to me. Everything is too extreme, too plain, or too ornate. Too demure or way too sexy. I couldn’t find anything with balance.”
“Well, you have to go with someone,” Simon retorts.
I cluck my tongue. “Maybe I don’t. When I was at that textile symposium a few weeks back, I started doodling. By the end of the night, I had sketched out my perfect dress. A few days later, we took a class trip to the garment district, and I found the most stunning lace by Jean Bracq and fell in love with it. At the end of the week, I met with Vera and showed her my design, and she encouraged me to go for it. So, long story short, I’m designing my own dress.”
Shelly claps. “Oh, this is just wonderful! I can’t wait to see it. I think it’ll make a wonderful story. I can’t wait to sell this!”
“Are you kidding me?” Simon gawks at Shelly. “This is a terrible idea. Ari, honey, I’m happy to see you explore your talents, but your wedding is not the time to do it. A star of your caliber needs to wear a big name designer. You need a dream dress. The kind of dress every woman in America wishes she had. I’m sure the dress you designed is lovely, but you need more than lovely. Your dress needs to be iconic. Think Jackie O. Think Grace Kelly. Think Princess Kate. If you don’t, you’re seriously limiting exposure and potential marketability. Don’t blow this opportunity.”
“I’m really sorry you feel that way, but my mind’s made up.”
“What if you wore a designer dress for the ceremony and pictures? Then you can wear your dress for the reception. You get the best of both worlds that way.”
I fold my arms. “The answer is no, and the subject is closed. What’s next?”
Giving me an obstinate look, he taps his fingers on the table. “You’re making a mistake, but it’s yours to make. It’s not my career.” He looks at his laptop. “Next on the agenda is Saks. They’d like you to be the face of their new luxury home line. It could be good for you. Maybe help you launch a lifestyle company. The possibilities are endless. A magazine. Cooking shows. Food product lines. Maybe even a restaurant. Bedding. Furniture. Cleaning supplies. The list goes on and on.”
Charlie snickers. “Ari as the next Martha Stewart? She failed art, and while she will cook, she really doesn’t enjoy it. If she found pipe cleaners and an empty toilet paper roll lying around, she wouldn’t think, ‘Oh, I can make a nifty napkin ring.’ She’d yell at Chase for leaving trash all over. I think you’ve got the wrong girl.”
Simon shrugs. “Don’t think Martha. Think Gwyneth. There’s so much money to be made in the lifestyle industry right now, and you’re one of the few people with the clout and reputation and style to pull it off. It’s bad business to walk away from an opportunity like this.”
“It’s bad business to do something you don’t enjoy simply because you can,” Charlie chides. “This isn’t you, Ari. You’re not Suzie Homemaker, and I think you’ll be miserable pretending to be.”
“I’m not Gwyneth. I have no aspirations to follow in her footsteps. I’m happy doing what I’m doing.”
Gripping the edge of the table so tightly I worry a piece may snap off, Simon sighs. “Right now you have more work and opportunities than you can handle. One day it won’t be that way, and you’ll come back to me and complain that the well has run dry. I’ll remind you of the revenue streams you shut off.”
“Because ‘I told you so,’ is so productive,” Charlie mutters.
After he comes back into the room, Chase kisses my cheek. “Thank you all for coming, but I’m calling this meeting to a close. Between the police, the window installers, and now you, we’ve had people in our house all day, and if I’ve learned anything from this meeting, it’s that my beautiful bride-to-be is horrendously overbooked. Since this is my last day off, I’m kicking you all out and keeping her for myself. Whatever else you need to talk about, email her. But don’t expect a response until tomorrow. I’m turning her phone off.”
After everyone files out, Charlie gives me a hug as Chase packs Calder’s things. “I hate your agent. He’s pushing you too hard, and I don’t think he really understands what’s important to you.” I open my mouth to respond, but she holds up her hand to stop me. “Just my two cents. You don’t have to listen to me, just like you don’t have to listen to him. Go with your gut. Anyway, send me pictures of the puppy. I can’t wait to see him!”
Chase puts Calder in his car seat like a pro, then hugs Charlie good-bye. He digs his keys out of his pocket. “I told Malcolm we’re just looking. We’re not getting a dog today. We’re just going to see the puppies and leave. We’ll think about it for a couple of days. Maybe go look at some other dogs.”
Malcolm Lowe played for my father at Stanford before blowing out his knee freshman year. He and Chase reconnected when Daddy died and have been chatting on and off ever since. Malcolm’s wife, Paulina, is a vet. When Chase and I started talking about getting a dog, Chase inundated the poor woman with a million questions. He wants a dog that will strike fear in the heart of anyone who sees me walking down the street with him and yet will be docile with children. A teddy bear guard dog.
As it turns out, they recently started fostering a litter of Rottweiler puppies who were saved from the known leader of a dog fighting ring. I’m not a huge fan of Rottweilers, but I was sold the moment I heard their story.
After we send Charlie and Calder home, we close up the house and head to Chase’s new F-150. It’s nice for a truck, I guess. Ford gave him some limited edition with what they call “all the bells and whistles.” To me, a truck is a truck is a truck. Considering this tin can has less than half the horsepower of my car, it’s hard for me to be impressed. But he did get one with a crew cab, perfect for carting around dogs and babies, so I’m very happy.
“Do you really think you’re going to be able to hold a puppy and then walk away?” I ask as I slide into the passenger side.
He gets in the driver’s seat and puts on his seat belt. “Absolutely. I’m not looking to rush into this decision.”
“I bet you a thousand dollars we come home with a puppy.”
Chase puts the truck in gear and backs out of the driveway. “You’re on.”
Three hours later
“You’d better have my money, Brennan.” Puppy breath tickles my neck as I carry our newest addition from the truck to the house. I’m amazed he’s still asleep, but I suppose the excitement of meeting us and then the truck ride wore him out.
“Yeah, yeah,” he mutters as he opens the front door for me.
On our ride to Malcolm’s house, Chase went on and on about how he wouldn’t be swayed by the puppy cuteness. But he took one look at our little guy and turned into a pile of mush.
These puppies were bred from exceptionally large dogs, but our little guy is enormous. The largest of the litter. His paws are the size of baseballs. When he grows into them, he’s going to be the size of a bear. I’m guessing he just had a growth spurt, because he’s long and gangly. He doesn’t seem used to his long legs and big feet, because he keeps tripping over himself. He’s just so damn cute. There was no way we were leaving without him. I’m amazed we didn’t leave with the whole litter.
I kiss the top of his sweet, fuzzy head. “Welcome to your new home, Heisman.”
“Heisman, huh?”
We debated names the whole ride home. Of course we couldn’t agree. He likes stupid names like Butch and Spike. I’d prefer to give him an original name. He
isman is the only name I came up with that Chase didn’t balk at.
We walk through the house to the backyard. I want to get Heisman on the grass before he wakes up and pees all over me. I set him down and gently rub his back while he wakes up.
“I think it’s fitting,” I say. “Had I not been at the Heisman trophy presentation with Brock, you and I might have never started. It was the catalyst that sparked our relationship, and this little guy is the beginning of our little family.”
“I think we would have gotten together eventually, don’t you?” Chase asks.
Watching Heisman explore his new yard, I think about it for a minute. Would we have gotten together? The stars perfectly aligned that night. Our respective fights with Brock stirred up emotions in both of us, leaving us vulnerable and confused. That allowed us to lower our guard with each other. I’m not sure we would have ever been in that place if not for the crazy chain of events that night.
Goose bumps spread across my skin as the thought sinks in that I could have been one small decision away from missing out on all of it. Had I not gone to the event. Had Brock not been a douche and told everyone I was sleeping with him. Had Chase not stood up for me. If just one of those pieces hadn’t lined up, we might not be here. I shudder at that thought.
Snapping out of my memories, I notice Chase rolling around on the ground with Heisman. I can picture him that way with our kids and our grandkids and, Lord willing, our great-grandkids. Suddenly, I feel very differently.
“Yeah, I think we would have gotten together eventually,” I reply. “If it didn’t happen that night, it would have happened sometime. We’re destined to be together.”
Chapter Thirteen
Chase
Day one as a dog owner, and I’m already questioning my decision. Who the hell gets a puppy midway through the season? An undefeated season no less? I should have my head examined.
Heisman was up all night whimpering. Ari thought he might have been missing his littermates, so she and I moved onto the floor next to his crate. Then we thought he might need to go to the bathroom, so we took him out. Three hours later, he still hadn’t peed. We finally gave up and brought him in. No less than five minutes later, he peed on the rug.
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