“What?” she asks, not missing the huge breath I let out.
“It’s just that I was in Vancouver for longer than you and I didn’t hang out with anyone except Drew. Am I unapproachable or a super-bitch or something?”
Leah stares at me with a blank look on her face. “No Syd, you’ve always been closed off like that. I’m your only friend for God’s sake and you’re almost twenty-five years old!” She sees my face fall and hurries to finish her thought. “It’s how you’ve had to be, Sydney, to protect yourself. But now that your secret is out, you can open up more and let people in. Just be choosy about who and how.”
“I don’t know how to make friends.”
God, I’m such a loser!
“Girl, that’s why you’re here with me! We’re gonna party it up like the hot young things we are!” She grins and throws her arm around me, hugging me to her side. “You’re going to relearn how to be social, and we are going to do it in style.”
I smile back, not sure if this is the best idea she’s ever had. But she’s right. I need to figure out how to be a normal, functioning adult. Well, a semi-famous, tabloid fodder, not at all normal adult, but still. What I’m doing isn’t working so I guess I’ll do it her way for now and see what happens.
“I forgot how bad traffic here can be.” I tell Leah as we finally make it to my suite almost two hours later. I flop on the bed exhausted and close my eyes.
A sharp tug on my hand causes me to look up. Leah is standing over me, hands on her hips, scowling in my general direction.
“Uh-uh! No way!” she chastises.
“What?”
“We’re going out. You are not going to bed at 9pm on a Saturday night in London! Get up!”
“But it’s not Saturday night in my head. I barely even slept on the plane. I’ve had a really long, emotionally draining 24 hours Leah. Can’t we start tomorrow? Jet lag!” I beg her for mercy.
“No. That’s what coffee is for. So get your butt up. Your stuff is all wrinkled and packed, so we’re going to my room to change and then we’re getting you sexed up and out of your funk.” She yanks my arms until I’m standing, then pushes me towards the door.
Two flights up and we’ve arrived at Leah and Ryker’s two bedroom suite. I was thrilled to find out she was staying at the same hotel as me. In fact, they originally were at the nearby Corinthia until the paps found out that most of the cast from the movie were staying there. Dozens of photographers and a mob of teenage girls made a camp on the sidewalks surrounding the hotel. Leah recommended the Warren to Ryker’s assistant since she loves the one in New York so much.
She swipes her keycard and we enter the exclusive suite. It’s much larger than my one bedroom, but the décor is similar. Deep grays and creams with hints of iridescent silver here and there. It’s gorgeous and minimal, just how I like it.
I know with my background I shouldn’t have formed an opinion of Ryker before knowing him, but I honestly expected the room to be filled with loud music, drunken groupies and the smell of weed. All I hear though is an acoustic guitar, strumming a hypnotizing melody.
Leah beckons me to follow her through the dining room and into the main living area of the suite.
As I turn the corner, I realize that Karma must really hate me. I must have done some seriously bad shit in a previous life, because playing guitar on the couch next to Ryker Bancroft is none other than Adam Reynolds.
The music suddenly ends with a loud screech across the strings. Adam and I lock eyes for a moment, until I feel the heat in my cheeks and look away.
Holy shit! I’m going to kill Leah.
I sneak a peek at her as she flops down onto Ryker’s lap and curls her arms around his neck. She’s grinning from ear to ear. She did this on purpose!
“Sydney? You’re quite possibly the last person I ever expected to see walk into this room,” Adam says in his lilting British accent, clearly just as surprised as I am by this ambush. He stands up and places the guitar on the coffee table giving me a kiss on the cheek before pulling me in for a hug. “I’m glad to see you’re alright,” he whispers in my ear.
I step back and smile apologetically. “Thanks for ummm, calling the hospital, Adam. I, uh,.…” I stumble over my words. Thankfully, he takes pity on me and interrupts my babbling.
“No worries, Sweetheart. I’m just glad to see you doing well.” He gives me a genuine smile and I relax some.
“Yes, thank you. I’m doing much better. I appreciate you caring enough to call. And, I’m sorry for the way I freaked out last time I saw you.” I feel the embarrassment creep up my neck.