Nate (The Princesses of Silicon Valley - Book 4)

by Claire, Anita

  Chapter 36 – Ford

  Juliette texts me: Big News Cassie broke up with Luke and is now dating Ford.

  Having no idea who Ford is I just check my schedule to make sure I’m not seeing Luke this week since I really don’t need that kind of drama.

  When I stop by Juliette’s later that night there’s some guy hanging out in front. I’m thinking it’s another one of Cassie stalkers as I puff out my chest and say, “Hey, dude move on this isn’t cool.”

  The guy responds, “This is a public road, I can stand here if I want.”

  “Not if you’re some dickhead stalker you can’t.”

  “I’m not a stalker, I’m paparazzi. See, I have a camera,” he says holding up his camera.

  “Are you fucking kidding me?”

  “No, dude, it’s all over the Internet. Ford stole Luke Tomlin’s girlfriend. There was this big fight. Tomlin decked him. I’m going to get some pictures. This is the girlfriend’s house.”

  Not knowing where to go with this, I give up and head inside. Juliette’s in her room. “Where’s Cassie?” I ask.

  “Oh, she took off.”

  “Do you know there’s some idiot outside wanting a picture of her and Ford?”

  She nods, “Yeah, Cassie wanted to make sure she got the well connected Paparazzi to take her picture of she and Ford heading down to LA.”

  “Did Tomlin deck the guy?”

  “Is that what they’re now saying? Cassie’s been working overtime to come up with a story the media is interested in.”

  “I don’t think Tomlin will be too happy to have Cassie telling folks he decked Ford.”

  “I don’t think Cassie cares what Luke thinks anymore. As long as she gets her picture splayed across the media, she’ll be happy. Oh, wow, she sent all these naked pictures to Luke. She’ll be thrilled if he releases them in retaliation.”

  “How about you stay at my place until that guy out front decides to get someone else’s picture. I don’t really feel comfortable having you here with Cassie chasing weirdo’s around.”

  ***

  Marina confronts me again.

  This time my head’s on straight and I don’t act like a wuss. When she approaches, I hold my ground. Finally telling her, “Mariana, it’s over. Stop trying to meet up with my girlfriend, stop blowing up my phone, stop following me, stop coming on to me. I’m done. You moved on once. Move on again.”

  Mariana starts crying.

  I leave.

  A few days later when I’m filling out some paper work, she comes up to me.

  I turn in my chair, get up, and leave.

  She calls after me, “Wait, Nate.”

  I just keep walking.

  A few days later, she approaches me again. “Do I need to get a restraining order?” I say.

  Her eyes get big and wide, she gasps, shakes her head, finally saying, “No.”

  With my arms crossed I say, “We have nothing to talk about. Whatever your reasons were for leaving, no longer have anything to do with me. You need to talk to a shrink because I’m not doing this.” I then walk away. A side of me is sad, really sad, but another side is just relieved. I hear Juliette’s sweet voice in my head; What a fantasy. First, I’d just enjoy getting that level of satisfaction, you know closure. But I’d never go back.

  ***

  Juliette tells me that Ford is Bradford Perry, the rock star. The good news is we’re saved from Cassie’s loud sex for a month when she joins Ford on tour.

  A month later, Ford and Cassie show up. They spend a lot of time hanging out around the house. In response, Juliette spends a lot of nights at my place, which I like. Neither of us want to put up with all of Cassie’s screaming; which makes me wonder how Ford puts up with it. Cassie’s unbelievably hot, but all that screaming in my ear would get old after a while.

  I’m over at Juliette’s enough to actually witness Ford creating a bunch of new songs. As I wait for Juliette to gather her stuff, Ford sits down with his guitar.

  “Hey, Nate, what do you think of this melody?” he asks.

  “Ford, asking me what I think…?” I shake my head and laugh, “Dude, ask me about an injury, hockey or MMA, but music? I think you got the wrong guy.”

  “Nate, my audience doesn’t have a degree in music. Does the song stay with you or are you wishing you could change the channel?”

  It’s interesting to see the songs evolve. After a while, I can actually give some form of constructive feedback. Waiting for Juliette to get her things I say, “Ford, now that sounds good.”

  Ford laughs, “If I ever mess up my hips or knees, I’ll call you.”

  “Don’t guitarists mess up their elbows?”

  “Dude, you should see the shit they have me do on the stage.”

  After he polishes up a bunch of new songs, he invites us to a private show up in San Francisco, where he’s trying his new songs out on a live audience. It turns into an amazing evening. It’s actually at Bimbo’s, a well-known supper club. There are about two hundred people in the audience. Most of them I assume are big wigs in the industry and friends of Ford. We actually sit with Cassie and Ford’s brother. I’ve hung with this guy for the last month. He’s easy to talk to and unassuming in Juliette’s living room.

  Ford gets up on stage and just glows with charisma. It feels like a total transformation from the guy I’ve been hanging with. What blows my mind is the level of energy I get from this live performance. All the songs he plays are songs I’ve heard a number of times. On stage, with a band, the songs are in a different league, they’re amazing. And Ford’s stage presence is awesome; his energy just runs through my veins. After about three songs, Ford pulls Cassie up on the stage. He wraps his arm around her and announces, “My beautiful girlfriend Cassie is going to star in my next music video.” He then dedicates the next song to her as she basks in all the attention.

  Juliette taps my arm and says into my ear, “Now, this is the right kind of guy for Cassie.”

  Epilogue

  My former medical school roommates, Melissa and Dave, have a son, I’ve been chosen as his godfather. Flying with Juliette to New York for the christening, we take the red eye. Juliette arranges for us stay at her sister’s. They live on the fortieth floor of a large, meticulously decorated modern condo. Arriving at her sisters at nine in the morning, we’re let in by a house keeper. The view is amazing, while her sister Leigh and John are nowhere to be seen. Though she does leave Juliette detailed instructions on where to go to get her bridesmaid dress fitted.

  Melissa and Dave are now attending doctors and have bought a large townhouse in Brooklyn. After Juliette’s fitting, we get some deli food to go, and then head over to their place. For me, it’s always comfortable being around them. Juliette is easy going, friendly, and is all excited about the new baby, which makes for an enjoyable afternoon.

  When Juliette gets up to go to the bathroom, Melissa gives me one of her looks and says, “Now this is the right girl for you.”

  Smiling at Melissa, I realize that I, too, want Juliette to be my future, though I don’t yet think she’s ready for that conversation. There’s no big rush, I still have a year and a half remaining on my fellowship. I figure once Cassie moves in with Ford, Juliette will need a new roommate and I’ll get her to move in with me.

  That night after dinner, I take Juliette up to the top of the Empire State building. I put my arms around her and give her a kiss; breaking away she leans into me as we stare at all the buildings with their lights on. “Nice View” I say.

  Juliette laughs, “Did your sister tell you to do this?”

  “What?” I say with all innocence.

  Juliette chuckles as she leans back and gives me a kiss. While I think, I know nothing about Nora Ephron and Sex in the City, but Jamie was right, this is the best place in the city to take my girl.

  Appendix – A - Books in “The Princess of Silicon Valley” series

  Book 1 – Meet Me in Silicon Valley – The Juliette Trilogy
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  Book 2 – Kiss Me in Silicon Valley – The Juliette Trilogy

  Book 3 – Be with Me in Silicon Valley – The Juliette Trilogy

  Book 4 – Nate

  Book 5 - Hita

  Book6 – Jennifer and Rocket

  Book 7 – Isabelle

  Book 8 – Olivia

  Book 9 – Meredith and Sam

  Book 10 – Kelly

  Appendix – B – Characters

  Jamie – Nate’s sister

  Matt – high school friend, fellow football and hockey player

  Dan – high school friend, football player

  Chris – high school friend who moves to Canada to play hockey

  Ryan – high school friend from AP classes

  Mike – college roommate

  Dave –medical school roommate, marries Melissa

  Melissa – medical school roommate, marries Dave

  Mariana – Girlfriend in Rochester

  Juliette – Girlfriend in California

  Author’s Notes

  Writing this series has been an incredible experience. I’ve spent many enjoyable hours developing Nate’s story. I hope that you have as much fun reading about him as I had creating him.

  I’d like to give a special call out my wonderful beta readers who gave me great insight: Ann Quesinberry, Deb Kiger, and Margie Dean. Also, Eilish Byrne, for double-checking the accuracy of the Physical Therapy terminology.

  For more on The Princesses, my blog, and a visual tour of the places Juliette has visited, you can go to my website: http://www.anitaclaire.com or friend me on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/anitaclairebooks.

  To sign up for my e-mail list—which will only be used to notify you when the next Princess book becomes available—go to: http://www.anitaclaire.com/blo02/02blo02.htm

  More from Anita Claire

  Click here to purchase Meet Me in Silicon Valley;

  Book 1 of the Juliette Trilogy

  Meet Juliette Cole, she’s just arrived back to Silicon Valley after three heartbreaking months following her grad school love to London. Moving in with childhood friend turned blond bombshell she gets introduced to Cassie’s crazy over the top lifestyle. Taking a job at a Silicon Valley startup she learns that work is more than just hoodies and free gourmet food. Thankfully she has The Princesses, her close group of girlfriends from college who all went as princesses to a Halloween party their freshman year.

  They don’t call San Jose- Man Jose for nothing. Juliette’s heart is not lonely for long. Swimming before work she sees a guy with the most amazing six pack get out of the pool. Now she has a new quest – to meet him. While playing soccer she gets knocked out by an opposing player. The player’s hot doctor brother helps her to the sidelines then starts texting her. As things start heating up in Juliette’s personal life she now has two guys vying for her attention. Who will it be sexy swimmer Zach or hot Dr. Nate?

  Click here to purchase Kiss Me in Silicon Valley

  Book 2 of the Juliette Trilogy

  Dating two sexy guys at once can be fun and confusing especially when work is getting political and your wild roommate is now dating hot professional football player Luke Tomlinson. Thankfully Juliette Cole has her band of college girlfriends dubbed The Princesses after their costumes at a freshman Halloween party to help her out.

  Click here to purchase Be with Me in Silicon Valley,

  Book 3 of the Juliette Trilogy

  In the conclusion of The Juliette Trilogy. Juliette's sex life explodes as she chooses one man. At work one crisis is resolved while a new one emerges. Luckily her circle of friends, the princesses are always there for her. And of course her wild roommate Cassie charms us in her own crazy way.