Almost Lost, Never Forgotten

by T. L. Sieving

  Oh really? No, I can’t do that again so soon. I’m a little sore and I may have to take at least an hour break.

  Ugh, it’s Sunday and I have a 2pm meeting in Los Angeles with my first baseball player. I’m so excited this is finally happening. Sadly, it means not spending the day in bed with Jax.

  I look over at the clock and its 7am. “Whoa we overslept!” I say to him. We typically sleep in on weekends anyway, but we’re always up by 8am. With the three hour time difference we’re a little later than normal.

  “Lucy it’s only 7am, this is early. We didn’t even go to bed until about 3am. I could’ve gone back to sleep, but someone gave me an early morning workout,” he taunts.

  “Oh, sorry buddy,” I tease back, which doesn’t go over well with him. He throws me over his shoulder and carry’s me to the closet.

  “Get dressed woman, we’re going for a run.”

  My bag is in his closet and I shouldn’t be shocked, but how the hell does the man go to a big ass movie premiere and still have every detail of the night planned? Jax is one prepared and organized man.

  We go for a long run on the beach. The air feels so great that it gives me extra energy for a longer run. I need to push myself really hard this morning to get all the negative energy out of my system. The prior day and night replay in my head and it’s just crazy that so much has happened.

  The nightmare is on my mind and I can’t shake it. When I start to get overwhelmed, I deal with it by dreaming about things. I need to talk with Sam and Ana to help me calm down about Catherine and the paparazzi.

  “That was pretty intense.” Jax says when we finally make it back to his beach house.

  I take a drink of water and try and catch my breath. “I usually run on a treadmill or in smog. Fresh air on a beach was awesome motivation.”

  Chapter 13

  I can’t believe I just finished my first interview for the project! I had the best time and conversation with both Michael Hernandez and his publicist.

  Michael brought a large entourage to the interview, which I was expecting. Both the team and player are going to have to balance their profiles through all of this.

  No one tried to change any of my questions which was a real treat. The whole interview and photography took just over three hours and they’ve invited me to the game in the owner’s suite.

  I happily accept and have asked Ana and Sam to meet me at the stadium for the game. Jax is busy working but will meet us back at the Hollywood Hills home at 11pm.

  The LA Hurricanes are playing the Detroit Mustangs tonight. I knew about the game but I wasn’t expecting to be here for it. Our reunion is coming soon. I just didn’t expect it to be today.

  With all the drama and craziness that has gone on in the past 24 hours it's only fitting that I sit down and watch a baseball game that Chase is playing in.

  At least he doesn’t realize I’m here. I understand I will only see a glimpse of him and he won't know I'm here but it's still hard… I don’t know how I’m going to deal with this. Thank God I have my best girl friends here and I can’t lose it, I’m in the owner’s suite.

  Thankfully Sam is here, she owns a room like no one else can. Synder Fike is the owner and it's no surprise, he knows Sam’s family.

  I check my phone and see that Jax has sent me a text; I quickly reply and let him know we’re doing well and I miss him. As soon as I put my phone back in my purse I feel it vibrate. I laugh when I read who it is, but not what's written.

  Chloe- Hey there cousin! I hear your ass is here, Michael told me a little bit about meeting you today. You've made quite the impression, but that is not shocking. Get your Ass down here, I’m sending someone to come get you.

  My cousin Chloe is an analyst for ESPN and she’s covering the game. I have to tell her I can’t go down to the field. I can’t run into Chase right now. I realize I’ll see him soon, but I’m not mentally prepared. I’m actually drained right now and the lack of sleep is catching up.

  Lucy- Hey Clo Clo! I can’t come down there. Chase is on the Detroit team and I can’t run into him yet!

  Chloe- Oh shit girl, I forgot. How could I forget? OK, I’ll come say Hi. I’m leaving straight from here to the airport so I can’t hang after.

  That was too close for comfort in my opinion. Being here in the first place is rougher than I thought. Chloe comes up and says hi to Sam and Ana, we all went to NYU together and it’s a fun reunion to all be in the same room.

  Chloe was only in New York for our freshman year at NYC. She graduated and moved back to Boston where she lived with her boyfriend and has recently moved to Los Angeles for an Analyst position with ESPN.

  After the game we head back to the house. I’m so exhausted that I barely make it back to Jax’s room before I collapse. Sadly it’s 11:15pm and he’s not home so I send him a text letting him know I’m going to bed.

  I wake up startled, another damn nightmare where I’m always being chased or cornered. I look around and see I’m all alone in this big bed. The unfamiliarity of his room is making me anxious. I look at the clock and its 3:14am.

  I look through my phone and I don’t have any missed calls or texts. I didn’t think he'd be working this late. I walk down the hall and peek into Ana's room and she's sleeping so I continue down to Sam's room and she's sleeping too. I don’t feel like going back in a room by myself in a house that is unfamiliar so I get into bed with Sam and fall back asleep.

  When I wake up I’m basically sleeping on top of Sam. It seems I was looking for Jax in my sleep. I roll over and Jax is laying on the chaise next to Sam’s bed.

  I get up as quiet as I can to try not to wake anyone up.

  “Good morning Lucy,” Jax whispers in a sleepy voice.

  “Good morning Jax.”

  “Why are you sleeping with Sam?”

  “Shh,” I tell him as I put my finger to my lips and point at Sam. He gets up and stretches before grabbing my hand and walking me out the door. We get back to his room and quickly get into his bed. I cuddle right up on him; I missed him last night.

  “I was worried when I got up to bed and you weren’t here” he says as he rubs my arm.

  “Worried?” I ask him.

  “Well I couldn’t find you.”

  “Oh that. Well… I had a little nightmare and couldn’t find you so I went to Sam’s room and slept with her.” I instantly regret saying nightmare because I don’t want to talk about it.

  Of course he asks me about it but I don’t want to concern him with my weird dreams so I change the subject and ask about his day. I’m so intrigued by what he’s saying I can’t stop asking questions. He asks me if I’d want to go see his set and I accept. I hope the girls are up for this, I’d love to spend the day with everyone.

  It feels so nice just laying in bed talking to him. These are the little moments we have that are priceless to me. This is definitely part of having a relationship I’ve missed over the past four years.

  Jax takes a shower as I get on a quick conference call to the office and discuss my first interview. They are as excited as I am on how well it went. I’m surprised that Rebekka has received feedback already that I was extremely professional, personable, and energetic and I’m welcomed back at anytime. This is happening and it’s surreal, I do a happy dance as I get ready.

  On my way downstairs I check in with Ana. She has an interview today and is planning on packing up and staying at her house in Laguna for a few days.

  I hear Jax and Sam talking and don’t mean to listen, but Sam’s voice is carrying through the house.

  “Jax this isn’t a good idea, the paparazzi are already relentless. She’s going to freak the fuck out. I keep her out of the mix as much as possible, I always have. And stop, I’m not interested in acting and don’t want you to tell me about the part.”

  “Hey guys,” I barge in and smile at them. “So Miss. Samantha, what’s the part that you have no interest in hearing about?” I ask with smirk before walking over and slapp
ing my man’s arse.

  I whisper in his ear, “hmm nice ass honey,” and he grabs my ass in return.

  “All right love birds listen up. Lucy if we go to the set you know the paparazzi are going to go nuts on you.”

  “She’s right babe, but whatever you want to do we will do,” Jax is quick to add with a wink.

  “All right friends, I’m going to take a shower and get dressed for the beach. Why don’t we just stay in Malibu tonight?” Sam suggests.

  This is typical of Sam and I can’t help but smile. She’s shutting the door on the visit to Jax’s set and I’m fine with that since I’m not comfortable with the press being crazy with me. Also, I don’t want to run into any more crazy actresses.

  Sam leaves to get ready for the day and Jax and I go outside to eat on his fabulous patio. It’s so breathtaking here. I could never get sick of this view.

  I ask Jax about the movie he was talking about with Sam. He tells me how they used to talk about doing movies together when they were teenagers modeling together. There’s a movie that Jax is really close to signing onto and he hopes to be directing as well as staring in it. This is huge news for Jax and I’m so glad he shared it with me.

  There’s a female lead that Jax wants Sam to play. He said it’s the perfect role for her and he only see’s her in it. Thank god he isn’t picturing that psycho Catherine in the role. Jax tells me about it and I agree, this part was written to be played by Sam.

  “Is the casting director a man?” I ask.

  “Yes, why do you ask gorgeous?” Jax asks me with his eye brow lifted.

  “Well, I was thinking... maybe we can have this casting director be Sam’s plus one tonight and the four of us could go out to dinner.”

  “Great idea!” Jax says as he picks me up and carries me upstairs placing me in the closet.

  “Hey, why am I in the closet?” I ask.

  Oh, the closet was for a quickie. I can’t count that as an actual ‘quickie’ but him slamming into me from behind why rubbing my front may be my new favorite position.

  When we finally get to Malibu Sam and I go directly to the beach to drink some margaritas and work on our tans. Jax stays on the deck and tries to take care of some business; he’s setting up our double date for tonight. This means I’ll be dealing with the press, but I’m going to be dealing with them more if I’m dating him so it’s time I get used to it. Jax put out a quote that all the media has picked up:

  “Yes I’m dating someone very special and our privacy would be much appreciated”- Jasper

  I appreciate that Jax and Sam keep me out of their public lives as much as possible. The press has been running pictures of “Jasper and the mystery woman” and “the brunette bombshell” all day. They even have a picture of Jax talking to me at the club the first night I met him over four years ago. I can’t believe they have that picture. They are calling me the “mystery woman” but it’s just a journalist trick because they already have my name which will be released later today as ‘breaking news’.

  Sam is talking openly and fondly of her time with Jax. I’m so thankful they had each other. Growing up in the modeling world and traveling all the time would be so lonely. She’s so animated in her stories today. It must be Jax bringing up her dream of acting that has her so excited. I don’t ask any questions, I just listen.

  The sun is perfect today and we’re having a great time with lots of fun cocktails. I’m not surprised when she finally says, “Dish Biatch, I want to hear about everything from the club on!”

  I laugh “Ok, ok.”

  I tell her everything from the club including the bar scene that is cemented in my mind as my kinkiest moment ever. Just talking about it drives me wild and I want to ‘pause’ the conversation and go give Jax a little surprise but I keep going.

  I give her the entire story of Catherine and Audrina along with my nightmare on the way to Malibu. Then I give her the juicy x-rated details of the sexscapades that Jax and I have been up too.

  This whole day with Sam was so nice. I didn’t spend much time with Jax but Sam and I had a great day with some really good and much needed girl time.

  Chapter 14

  Dinner is spectacular. We’re at a restaurant in Malibu that overlooks the Pacific Ocean. It's quite the romantic set up, but it isn’t just Jax and I. Alec Summers who’s the casting director working on the film that Jax is close to signing on with is Sam’s plus one tonight.

  Sam’s a natural, everyone loves her. It's easy to notice how she's charming Alec and landing this role without trying. I'd love to see Sam live this dream she has had since she was little. She has worked so hard over the past years to become exactly what her Dad envisioned for her. She’s smart, sophisticated, and so enchanting. She literally lights up every room she’s in and knows how to handle any conversation with brilliance.

  At dessert Alec slips up and tells Sam how great it’d be to work with her. Sam's every bit a professional at conversations and plays Marc and Jax at their game. She obviously knew what the deal was going on here at dinner, but she has no idea that I’d be in on something like this.

  "Why Alec I thought you and I had something special here. How could you use me like this?" Sam tries to say with a straight voice but she can't keep the smirk off her face. The four of us burst into laughter, she had the boys going for a minute.

  I was absolutely shocked when Sam graciously accepts Alec’s suggestion that she read the script.

  Once we’re back at Jax’s house I again go to sleep alone. I have an early day at the NBC office here in Los Angeles where I’ll look over the tapes that have been edited from our interview. We’ll discuss any re-shoots that need to get done and do those tomorrow afternoon/evening. It’s a full day and I need to be ready for it.

  Jax and Sam stay up and discuss the script and movie locations. Who knows what else they discuss but when I wake up at 2am, Jax still isn’t in bed. I’m glad they’re discussing this opportunity for Sam. I love her to death and seeing her work in an office 20 hours a day is hard to take. She’s so much more alive than that life would allow her to be.

  When I get up at 6am I’m surprised that my body has acclimated to the time difference so well. I’m excited to see the film of the first interview. I’ve received a text from Rebekka that says she received a copy of the interview and is super impressed.

  Jax is sleeping and I try to be careful not to wake him. I get into my running gear and go for an hour run along the beach. Running in the fresh air on the beach is such an indulgence for me and I’m going to push myself extra hard again this morning.

  I get back and notice the outdoor shower on Jax’s deck. It looks so inviting so I think ‘what the hell’ and try it.

  Jax is in the kitchen when I get in and thanks me for the shower scene. I blush having no idea he could see me or was watching. He kisses me and I’m sad to have to break it up but I have a car service that is most likely outside waiting for me right now and I need to go. Jax promises me a romantic night, just the two of us, which I'm very excited for.

  Sam yells, "good-bye biatch.”

  She has plans tonight so I won’t see her until we leave for New York tomorrow. I’m sad to leave this Malibu house, but I'm sure I'll be back.

  My morning is spent at the local NBC office where I view the tape with a couple people who will work on it with us whenever we’re on the west coast. I'm really lucky to have interviewed Michael first since he was so easy to work with. We come up with a few more questions that we'd like to ask each player and decide on how we want to introduce him into the segment. Luckily we planned for this day of the shoot so Michael Hernandez is available for the interview again.

  We spend the early afternoon shooting in and around the stadium. The team has a 1:05pm game so I won’t be able to talk to Michael until a little later.

  Everything is going smooth until we need to go down and take some footage on the field. They are in the same series they were in a few days ago, so Chase is here wi
th the Detroit Mustangs.

  I don’t see him but knowing he’s here is really making me tense. I’m standing on the field amongst all these baseball players that once had a dream to be playing in the majors and now here they are. It brings Goosebumps to my arms. I know what that dream is. I know what that dream looks like. I was Chase’s biggest fan. I’m so proud of him for being here doing what he worked so hard on becoming. I feel a tear rolling down my cheek but I quickly wipe it away before anyone notices.

  My job today is to be professional and I will be.

  I finish up the day without anymore tears and with complete professionalism. Michael was a bit down on himself for not having the best game ever but he was still a great interview. I knew from what we taped that I wouldn’t be back to interview Michael again.

  I give a little speech thanking everyone for their time, support, and acceptance of being the first interview. I'm overwhelmed with their words of encouragement for me. They said they'd welcome me back at any time. I had to pinch myself. This was my dream and its coming true.

  I went back to Jax’s on a complete high. I was so excited for our date night and really excited to share with him how well my day went. We don’t talk about work much, but I was going to ride the high of my successful interview and talk to him about work tonight. One down, seven to go.

  When I get back to the house everything is so quiet. There’s an envelope on the round table in the foyer with my name written in cursive. I open it and find an invitation for a bubble bath which I gladly accept. I couldn’t have planned a better start to our date.

  I get upstairs to Jax’s room and there must be over a dozen red roses spread around. There are vases with roses set everywhere and tea lights lit throughout the room. I gasp at how breath taking this is.

  I take a moment to take in the atmosphere. When I walk through the bathroom doors I melt. Jax has the bath filled with bubbles and champagne is on ice next to the tub along with a dozen chocolate covered strawberries.

  There are wildflowers in vases spread all over the floor, counters, and even in the bath. It looks beautiful. There’s a card next to the champagne that reads, “Get in gorgeous, you are driving me wild.” I can’t help but laugh over the use of the first date joke.