“We will forever be okay. Don’t ever question our love.”
“You just did, Jace.”
“No, I didn’t.”
“That’s what it sounded like to me.”
“I’m not perfect, Shay. My girl goes out to a club for the first time, she drinks, and she’s with a childhood crush—”
“Musical crush when I was like twelve.”
“I don’t care how old you were. This guy is with my girl all night while she’s intoxicated. I’m a little jealous right now.”
“I understand where you’re coming from, I really do, but I would never disrespect you.”
“I know you wouldn’t, pretty girl. Cut your boy some slack. I’m just really frustrated.”
She sighs softly into the phone. “I have people asking to take pictures with me now, and Jules has people calling to book me on their radio shows for interviews. I just wish you were here with me.”
“The second I get those release papers, I’m right there with you.”
“Jace, please—”
“I can’t, baby. I don’t even want this girl to remember what you look like, and now you’re in the spotlight... She might recognize you. I just can’t let you.”
“You know I’m frustrated, too. It’s kind of scary having strangers walk up to you and ask to take pictures with them.”
“Then don’t do it.”
“I can’t be rude, Jace.”
“I don’t want strangers, especially guys, trying to take pictures with you.”
“I don’t either,” she confesses, softly crying.
“Keep my love on your wrist and just hold on to our love. As soon as I walk out those doors, you won’t ever have to worry about being scared. I will always take care of you,” I tell her as she sniffles into the phone.
“Tell me we’re okay.”
“We are always perfect.”
“We weren’t perfect a few minutes ago,” she says. I shut my eyes and tighten my jaw.
“You are always perfect. Your boy just had a moment. I need to get used to sharing my girl with the world.”
“If it affects us, I won’t be the world’s to share. I belong to you.”
Opening my eyes, I smile into the phone and use her words to ease her. “We’ll get through it.”
“Together,” she whispers in that tone that brings me to my knees.
“Forever, just like I carved into that bench on your eighteenth birthday. Always together, pretty girl.” I let out a sigh. “Do you love me, baby?”
“More than anything.”
“I have to go. There are people waiting to use the phone.”
“Okay.”
“Always know that I love you more than anything could ever possibly be loved. That no matter where we are, I’m always thinking about you. Don’t ever doubt for a single second that I would ever want to be anywhere you aren’t going to be. I’d have to be hurt to not be with you. You will always be the most important person in my world, and I will always protect our love. Promise me you know that.”
“I promise,” she whimpers through tears.
“Don’t cry. What did I promise you we were going to do when I walked out of these doors?”
“You promised me we would go to the beach and watch the sunset,” she says endearingly through her sadness.
“That’s right. You and I at our special place. I’m going to write our names in the sand, and when this nightmare is finally over, we will never be apart again. We are going to have our forever. Just hold on to that. Don’t ever give up on me.”
“I would never give up on you.”
“I would never let you. You kind of belong to me, baby.” She giggles into the phone. “Talk tomorrow, pretty girl.”
“Talk tomorrow, swoony boy.” She hangs up the phone, and I hang on to hope I will get out of here sooner rather than later. I need to get back to my girl.
Feeling a little lighter on my feet knowing Shay and I are okay, I turn to walk out to the yard to work out all that pressure I had building.
“Jace James?”
I look behind me and face an unfamiliar guard. “Yes?”
“You need to come with me.”
What the hell? I haven’t done anything wrong. Landon is scheduled to visit me this morning, but that’s not for another hour. I walk alongside the guard, and when he opens a door for me to go through, I see two more guards and a man dressed more business-like.
“Sit down, Jace.” Sweat-filled hands find a place on my lap. The man places a stack of papers in front of me and a pen. “You’ve served one year of your two-year sentence. Besides the altercation that bystanders said was not your fault, you’ve had stellar behavior. After careful consideration, and with the overcrowding our system faces, you’ve been chosen as one of the early releases.” I let out a shaky breath, and my hands make their way to my scruffy face. “You will be released tomorrow afternoon.”
“Just like that?”
“Did you want to stay longer?”
“No,” I say, sitting up a little straighter.
“You need to sign these papers and arrange pick up.”
“Thank you.” I pick up the pen, signing all necessary paperwork with my heart pounding in my chest. I’m going home to my girl. Our nightmare is finally fucking over.
OH. MY. GOD. THEY. ARE. SO. WRONG!
“PUT THE TOP DOWN, Starkie. It’s nice out,” Jules says, putting her hair into a twisty bun. I reach up and hit a button, and the sun starts beating down on top of Jules and me as the car’s roof slowly falls away. She raises her hands as we drive down Robertson Drive, reaching for the bright blue sky with her eyes closed, taking in the warm California day.
“We are lucky, lucky girls.”
“You’re right. I would do anything for Jace to be able to enjoy this with us right now.”
She glances at me, shielding her face from the sun. “You guys are halfway there. He will be back with you soon.” I nod. Once we reach a stop, she leans forward and turns on the radio.
“So, what do you have for celebrity gossip?” the DJ says over the speakers.
“Well, there are lots of reports of Shay Stark cozying up to Hunter Daniels at an exclusive club over in North Hollywood,” his partner answers.
“Turn it off, Jules.”
“Heck no. I want to hear what they say.” She turns it up loud while I throw my head back against my seat as the radio hosts continue talking back and forth.
“People inside said they couldn’t keep their hands off each other in the VIP section.” My eyes widen. “She was dancing for him in her chair, and he was pulling her into him. Some said they saw them kissing, and they left together late into the night. That’s not the first time they’ve been spotted either. There are pictures circulating of them in Hollywood at the Chateau together.”
“Turn if off, Jules,” I say again, this time in a serious tone.
“Quiet, Starkie. Let’s listen.”
“Wow, at the Chateau?”
The DJ continues, “Oh yeah, and they’ve been sharing a lot of studio time together as well. Looks like Hollywood’s pop prince might be getting exclusive with Hollywood’s new pop princess. They met recently at his movie premiere, and friends are saying he can’t stop talking about her. Any free time away from the set is spent with her.”
“Holy crap, Starkie. They have you hot with Hunter.”
“How could they make those assumptions? Oh. My. God. They. Are. So. Wrong! They said they saw us kissing, and we left together from that club. That’s not true!”
“Calm down, Starkie. It’s just rumors.”
“I don’t care.”
“You know the truth, Shay. You can’t let that bother you.”
“That’s easy for you to say. What if Jace heard that?”
“How would your jailbird hear something like that? You’re overreacting. Jace won’t find that out, and if he did, he’s going to have to learn to deal with his precious girl being wanted by other gu
ys.” She finally turns the radio off when I start crying. “You need to get a thick skin if you’re going to be in this business, Shay.” I look over at her, and she wipes a tear from my face. “Go, Starkie, the light just turned green.” I start driving to the studio where I told Hunter I would meet him to go over his song.
“I can’t work with Hunter,” I say as the wind blows my hair everywhere.
“It will all blow over, Shay. You have to continue working. Trust me, Jace won’t hear about those stupid rumors.” I turn to her, and she shakes her head back and forth. “Honestly, Starkie, how would he hear about that?”
“Okay.” I nod sadly.
I MEAN IT
“ARE YOU FUCKING with me, Landon?” I scoot out of my chair, scraping metal across the floor. He looks around the room and picks up my fallen chair.
“Calm the fuck down, Jace.”
“‘Calm the fuck down’? You just told me my girl was seen kissing Hunter Daniels. Tell me again what you heard.”
“They said they are spending a lot of time together. They were spotted at a club kissing, and she was dancing for him. They were all over each other, bro, and then left together. There are even pictures of them, some at a hotel together.”
Fuck! Emotions surface fast, and I can’t keep them at bay. She wouldn’t do that to me. She would never hurt me like that.
“I’m sure they’re rumors, Jace. When I was driving over here, I heard it on the radio. I just thought you should know.”
Trying to pull breath into my lungs after Landon just knocked the wind out of me, I find my voice. “She went to a club the other night. She told me she did, and I didn’t hear from her the next day. She missed my call, man.” I start pacing the floor. Weakness hits me hard, and I start crying.
“Maybe it’s not true,” he says. I give him a sharp look.
“You don’t get it, Landon. She was drunk that night. You just told me she was kissing another guy and left with him.”
“How do you know she was drunk?”
“When we finally talked, she told me. She was upset and felt bad that she drank. Fuck, bro. My girl did something she regrets. I asked her if he touched her, and she told me no. He put his mouth on my girl’s! She missed my call because she left with him and stayed with him that night. He fucking touched what’s mine!” I wipe my face hard, getting rid of my tears.
“Take a deep breath, Jace.”
“I will tomorrow,” I tell him, earning a questioning face.
“Why tomorrow?”
“I’m getting released.”
“What the hell?” He smiles. “Why didn’t you tell me when I first got here?”
“I was too busy thinking about my heart being ripped out of my chest.”
“Well, now you can relax. Shay will pick you up tomorrow, and you can sort all of this shit out. You’ve got to understand. She’s going to be linked with other people in the business now, Jace. You and Shay aren’t little kids at the community center anymore. She’s a new artist on the scene, and, bro, her song is played all damn day. She’s hot right now.”
“Pictures don’t lie, Landon. And, why would anyone say they saw someone kissing if they didn’t? My girl got drunk, and something happened that she doesn’t want to tell me.” I breathe in deep through my nose. “I want you to pick me up tomorrow.”
“I thought you would have Shay pick you up?” I shake my head slowly back and forth. “Jace, don’t do that.”
“Do what?”
“You’re letting what could very well be rumors affect a moment that you and Shay have looked forward to. She will be heartbroken if you have me come get you and not her.”
“She doesn’t know I’m getting out. I found out after we spoke this morning. I want to surprise her. I don’t want her coming back to this fucked-up place. I’m really confused and fucking hurt right now, and I just want to walk out of these doors and take a good ass shower for once. I’m going to need something of yours to wear when I see her until I can find out…” I pause, my mind going a hundred miles an hour.
“Find out what?”
I look at Landon and take a deep breath. “Where the fuck is Grace?”
“I don’t know, man.”
“Not once has she tried to contact me. I have no idea if she’s dead or alive. I’m sure my bike is long gone by now, and my girl? I have no fucking idea if she still belongs to me.” I look up with fresh tears forming in my eyes. “I could live without everything but Shay. I can’t live without her, Landon. I don’t know what’s going on. I don’t know what the hell has been happening while I’ve been behind these walls away from her, but my heart beats for her, and I can’t lose her. I wouldn’t survive it.”
“Do you want me to call her?”
“No. I mean it. Don’t call her. I don’t want her picking me up feeling like this. I’m uneasy as hell. Pick me up. Let me go to your place and finally take a real shower, then you can take me home to my girl.”
“All right, whatever you want. You’ve been through hell, and it’s time for you to get back to your happy place.”
My jaw clenches. “I just hope my happy place hasn’t been occupied by Hunter Fucking Daniels, or I might see these walls again before I’ve even washed them off me.”
IT’S KIND OF INTIMATE
IT’S JUST THE TWO of us in the room, and his gaze finds mine. “Let’s make love all night long.” I run my tongue across my lips and suck in a tiny gasp. He closes his eyes and continues working his hands effortlessly over the strings just like I taught him, then stops and looks at me.
“What’s wrong?”
“There’s nothing wrong with your song.”
“Yeah, I know that. What’s wrong with you?”
“Listen, Hunter—”
“Wait,” he cuts me off. “I’m really sorry about the other night.”
“You don’t have to keep apologizing.”
“Can I be honest with you, Shay?”
“Of course.”
“The second I met you I was completely in awe. You are very beautiful, and I pretty much had one thing on my mind. I’m not going to lie. I wanted you in my bed.”
“Hunter, stop.”
“Let me finish. I’m a guy, Shay. Trust me, every guy that sees you wants to get in your pants.” He smirks, showcasing his famous dimple.
“If I led you on, I’m sorry,” I say.
“You never led me on. You made it very clear you were taken. I’m used to getting my way. I’m Hunter Daniels after all.” I roll my eyes, and he chuckles. “I’m just being honest. Girls with a boyfriend never get in my way. They throw themselves at me. Hell, grandmothers throw themselves at me, so I guess I thought you would be no different.”
“Well, I am different, Hunter.”
“Yeah, you proved that. And, as much as I wish things could be different between us, I respect the hell out of you for standing by your man while he’s locked up. He’s a really lucky guy.”
“I will always stand by him. I’m a little bit in love,” I say, smiling.
“I think you’re a lot in love to resist my dimple.”
“Have you seen a picture of my boyfriend?”
“How would I ever see a picture of him? You’ve been so damn secretive about him.” I laugh, grab my cell phone, and show him my screensaver. “Damn, that’s Jace?” I nod with forever butterflies making their way to my stomach. “Okay, I get why you resisted me. I’m not gay, but he’s a good-looking dude. Can I ask why he went to prison?”
“He got in a fight with one of my childhood friends. It escalated, and Jace was sent to prison. They were both at fault, but my boy had the upper hand.”
“He looks tough,” Hunter says, looking down at my phone again. “Were they fighting over you?” I shake my head slowly. Picking up on my heartache, he changes the subject. “How about we work on the song again?”
“That’s sounds good,” I say as he grabs his guitar again, and I place mine on my lap.
“Let’s m
ake love all night long,” he sings and again stops. “Why aren’t you singing with me?”
“Oh, I start now?”
“Yeah, that’s the beginning of the chorus, the part we will sing together.”
“That’s kind of intimate.”
He rolls his eyes. “It’s a ballad, Shay. It’s supposed to be intimate.”
“Okay, start again,” I say nervously, looking at my guitar case laid open with my boy’s bright pink heart staring back at me.
It’s only a song.
YOU’VE BEEN WHERE?
WITH AN OVERFLOWING box full of love in my arms, I push freedom open and walk out of the prison walls. It’s early. The warden let me out at seven o’clock without time to call Landon. He said arrangements should have been made, and they were, only I’m out hours before I was scheduled. So, I just have to sit and wait for Landon or start walking home to my girl.
I set all my belongings down onto the concrete bench and run my fingers through my hair. Tipping my head back with an exhausted sigh, I will my jealously and worry free from my lungs, then try to catch a damn breath. This is not how I pictured my release day to go. Shay should be in my arms, we should be homebound hand-in-hand, and I should be in our bedroom I’ve been dreaming about. I’m breaking a promise right now by not calling her to come get me. Her phone is not going to ring this morning, and the only thing I keep telling myself is the second she opens that door and sees me everything else will fall away. She will be happy I surprised her.
I’m trying to focus on that and not what Landon told me yesterday. I’m hurt, so hurt by what I heard, but my heart tells me differently. Shay and I are too strong. She gave me her heart, and I gave her mine, and right now, I’m holding on to that. And, if I find out differently, Hunter Daniels might get a little broken.
“Jace?”
I bring my head back down from the harsh sun and open my eyes. Red spots have my vision clouded.
“Jace,” she says again. I shake my head and see her walking toward me. Why is she here? How does she know? How in the hell? She reaches me, and I’m blown away by how she looks.
Questionable Love (A Love Beyond Labels #2) Page 20