by S. A. Cook
In a few minutes, Dylan walked in and sat next to her on the bed.
“Don't worry about anything, okay Eva?” he said. “This stuff happens all the time. We'll have a lot of extra security. It' s gonna be okay.”
“Don't talk,” she said, her arm still covering her eyes.
He took her arm and moved it away from her face. He looked down at her and smiled. How could anyone want to hurt him? She swallowed and tried to smile. He leaned over and kissed her.
“It's gonna be fine,” he said.
Chapter Sixty-Six
The hotel suite filled with people at 6:00. Carol and Jason were there to get Dylan dressed and style his hair. All the musicians were milling around, discussing the performance, and trying to make sure they knew what was what since they'd had no rehearsal. A doctor came in and looked at Dylan's throat while Carol was styling his hair.
“Looks really good,” he said. “You should do fine. Warm up properly. No talking, just singing.”
Dylan nodded.
Jason helped him get his clothes on in the bathroom. The other musicians went to their rooms to change. Calvin and Teddy herded everyone out of the hotel rooms and downstairs to the cars which were waiting for them in the garage. Eva wore layers of clothes because it was so cold. Dylan was wearing the Kevlar vest, a t-shirt, jacket and coat, scarf and a hat. Teddy sat in the back with them and a bodyguard Eva hadn't met yet sat up front. They got to the stage area, and were led to an indoor area with dressing rooms and a lounge. It was part of a network studio, and the performances were to be outside.
The musicians and back-up singers talked and joked with one another, too wired to sit down. Dylan paced back and forth, trying to keep his energy level up for the performance. They had a half hour before they went on stage. Eva met the rest of Dylan's performers and she was surprised how nice they were to her. Dylan ran through his lyrics, constantly being interrupted by the other performers. Calvin did his best to keep them from him. Occasionally, Dylan looked up and located Eva in the crowded room and gave her a smile.
It was time to go out to the stage. Teddy and the other bodyguard flanked Dylan, and Calvin and Eva walked close behind. Before they went outside through the doors, Dylan and the performers stood with their heads down for a moment, preparing to go on stage. They all headed out the doors and Dylan turned quickly and gave her a kiss.
“See you after,” he said, and he was gone. Calvin and Eva stood at the side of the stage. The moment Dylan stepped onstage, the screams started and only got louder as he tried to talk. He introduced the song he was going to sing and they began. Eva was amazed at how good they sounded. Dylan's voice was strong and clear. As far as she could tell, he hit every note perfectly. The only thing bothersome was the anxiety she felt.
The crowd had been roped off several feet back, and security was tight. There was a row of New York City Police along the barricades, and a row of private security directly in front of the stage. Teddy was five feet away from Dylan, crouched down, watching the audience, all business.
The song was over so quickly. After Dylan and the musicians got off stage, it was like the process of going on stage, only in reverse. Dylan, Teddy and the other bodyguard made it through the doors into the studio first, and Dylan turned and took Eva's hand.
“How'd I do?” he asked her.
“You were great, Dylan,” she smiled. She was able to breathe again, the anxiety gone.
They hung out with the other musicians and performers in the studio for a while. Everyone wanted to talk to Dylan. He introduced Eva to a few R&B singers she liked, introducing her as his girlfriend. They were all kind and pleased when he told them she was a fan.
When everyone's adrenaline from being on stage started to subside, Dylan took her by the hand.
“Ready to go?” he asked.
“Whenever you are,” she said. He told Calvin he was going back to the hotel, and found Teddy and they left.
Chapter Sixty-Seven
It was 9:30 when they got back to the hotel.
“All that preparation for three minutes and twenty seconds on stage,” Dylan said.
“It was over so fast,” Eva said. “But you sounded really good. I never would have guessed you had throat problems.”
“Thanks,” he said. “Ready to have a nice dinner with me?”
“Yes, I'm starving,” she said. “I think I forgot to eat today.” She didn't tell him how sick her stomach had felt since finding out about the death threats.
“I'm going to call down and have them make us some steaks, okay? Want some champagne?” he asked.
“Um, maybe,” she said. “I better eat something first.”
“Why? Still think I'm trying to get you drunk?” he laughed. “It's New Year's Eve. You're allowed to get drunk.”
“I want to get dressed up for dinner,” she said.
“Really?”
“Yes, I bought a new dress today,” she said. “Let me go change before they bring the food up.”
“Okay, sure,” he said. “I guess I better keep my jacket on. But the vest has got to go.”
He stripped down to his t-shirt and removed the bulletproof vest. He pulled a nice dress shirt out of the wardrobe and put it on. Then he put his jacket back on, and combed his hair.
Eva walked out of the bathroom.
“What do you think?” she asked him, smiling.
“Wow,” he said. “You look so pretty, Eva. Is that see through?”
“No. Do you really think I'd buy a see through dress?” she laughed.
“You look beautiful,” he said. “And you're wearing the necklace I got you.”
“Yes,” she said. “I love it, Dylan. Thank you.”
“You smell nice.” He held her around the waist and buried his face in her neck. There was a knock on the door.
“Room service,” he said. He looked out the peephole and opened the door. The man wheeled in their dinner and set the table for them. There were candles, a vase of white roses and a bottle of champagne. Dylan tipped him, and closed and locked the door.
“Hey, look Dylan,” she said. “My favorite flowers.”
“I know,” he said, smiling. “What a coincidence.” They sat down to eat and Dylan uncorked the champagne. He poured them both a glass and handed one to Eva.
“Is it too early to toast?” Dylan asked her.
“I don't think so,” she said.
“Alright then- to Eva and Dylan,” he said. “May the new year be the best of their lives.”
“And may Dylan's album go double platinum,” Eva added.
“Here, here,” he said. They clinked glasses and Eva took a sip, and set her glass down.
“This is so good,” she said, trying the food.
“I know.”
They talked about the show while they ate dinner. Eva wanted to hear more about the death threats, but Dylan changed the subject.
By the time they finished eating, it was almost midnight. Dylan poured himself more champagne and topped her glass off.
“You aren't going to get buzzed with me, are you?” he asked her. “What's wrong?”
“Nothing's wrong,” she said. She took another sip and set her glass down. She got up and kissed his cheek. She went to the bathroom and took a minute to think about how she was going to tell him she might be pregnant.
When she came out of the bathroom, he was sitting on the sofa. She walked over and sat down next to him.
“Dylan,” she said.
“Eva,” he said, and smiled. He put his arm around her. She turned to face him and he leaned in and kissed her. She tried not to lose her train of thought, but he was moving his hand up her leg. She pulled back and tried to talk, but he was burying his face in her neck, kissing her ear, and it felt so good.
“I love you, Eva,” he whispered.
“I love you, too, Dylan,” she said. He moved his hand up to her breasts, and around to her back. She could tell he was feeling for a zipper.
“I
love this dress, but can you take it off now?” he said.
“Wait a minute,” she said. She looked in his eyes, willing herself to tell him. “I have to talk to you about something.”
“What?” he said, sitting up and looking at her face.
“I haven't...I mean, I'm worried,” she said.
“About what, Eva?” he said.
“I might be pregnant,” she said, looking at her hands in her lap. He didn't say anything. She looked up at his face. He was watching her. She couldn't help noticing he looked a little paler.
“Really?” he said.
“I'm late. About three weeks late,” she said. “And there was that one time...the first time we slept together.”
“Are you serious?” he said. He put his elbows on his knees and his head in his hands. “I just can't believe it. After just that one time?”
“Maybe. I'm sorry, Dylan,” she said.
“It's okay, I mean, I'm shocked,” he said. “How do we find out for sure?”
“I got a pregnancy test yesterday,” she said.
“Let's do it now,” he said.
“It needs to be done first thing in the morning,” she said. “It's more accurate.”
“So we have to wait?” he said.
“Yeah, I think we should,” she said. “Are you mad?”
“No,” he said. “I'm just in shock.”
“Well, are you worried?” she asked.
“No, are you?” He looked at her face.
“I don't want to ruin your career. Or your life,” she said.
“How could you ever do that?” he asked. “By having my baby?”
“You're so young, Dylan,” she said.
“I'm really tired of you telling me how young I am,” he said. “Let's just wait. We don't even know for sure.”
“Okay,” she said. He stood up and went into the bathroom. When he came out, he took off his clothes and climbed in bed, underneath the comforter.
“Let's try to get some rest until the morning,” he said.
Eva got undressed and climbed in bed next to him. He looked over at her. She looked at his eyes, trying to read him. He reached over and pulled her to him.
Chapter Sixty-Eight
Eva woke up with the sun streaming through the window. Dylan was awake, watching her. His hand was moving across her belly.
“You're awake,” she said.
“Yeah,” he said. “I didn't get much sleep.”
“No?”
“I've been thinking.” He raised up on one elbow and looked at her face. “I'd be happy.”
“Really?” she asked.
“I love you,” he said. “I want to know what me plus you would equal.”
“I might not be,” she said. “Will you be disappointed?”
“Yeah,” he said. “But I'll still want it. For later.”
“Let's do the test,” she said.
They both got up and Eva pulled on her robe and dug the pregnancy test out of her suitcase.
“Let me read the instructions,” Dylan said, pulling on his sweatpants. Eva handed him the instruction sheet. He stood silent, reading through the paper.
“It's sounds pretty straight forward,” he said. “You just pee on the end of the stick and wait to see if the positive or negative sign comes up. It takes about five minutes.”
“Okay,” she said. “Give me the stick.” He handed her the test stick and followed her to the bathroom.
“No,” she said. “I'm not peeing on a stick in front of you.”
“Eva, seriously?” he said.
“Yes,” she said, closing the door on him, to a crack.
“Okay, well you do it, and then as soon as you're done, open the door so I can see,” he said.
“Okay, but we have to wait five minutes to look,” she said, closing the door. She sat on the toilet and peed, holding the stick the way the instructions had shown. She set the stick on the vanity, flushed the toilet and opened the door, pulling her robe around her.
“Where is it?” Dylan said, stepping in to stand beside her.
“It's on the vanity, right here,” she said. “But we have to wait five minutes.”
“Okay. Let's brush our teeth and when we're done, it should be ready, right?” he said.
“Yeah, I think so.” She got her toothbrush and put some paste on it. They stood side by side brushing their teeth, each trying to draw out the process to a sufficient amount of time. They looked at each other in the mirror.
“I can't brush any longer,” Eva said, rinsing her mouth in the sink. Dylan gargled with mouthwash, wiped his face and turned to look at her.
“Should we look now?” he asked. Eva put her hands around his waist and hugged him.
“Are you sure you're not upset?” she asked, her face in his chest.
“I love you,” he said. “Trust me. It's going to be okay, whatever it is, and I'm not going to stop loving you.”
“You look,” she said.
He moved to the end of the vanity and picked up the stick. Eva watched his face, her heart pounding. Dylan looked up at her and smiled.
“Positive.”
Look for Me Plus You Book Two from The Love Songs Trilogy coming in May, 2014.
About the Author
S.A. Cook lives in Chicago, Illinois and is a SoCal girl in spirit. She is a poet and visual artist. Believe Me, It's You is her first novel.