“Sorry! I know!”
“Did you bring it?”
“Yeah.”
“Nervous.”
“Everything’s set?”
I walk into the living area and spot Drew on the phone by the windows. He sees me enter the room and smiles. “Hey, Jane. I gotta go. Yeah, see you tomorrah.” He slides the phone into his pocket and crosses the room to see me.
“Is everything okay?” My concern is certainly showing on my face.
“Everything’s great babe.” He kisses me tenderly.
“Then why did I hear you talk about Adam Reynolds?” I hate bringing up Adam’s name. It sets Drew off every time, but I want to know what’s going on.
Drew’s smile fades and his posture stiffens when I mention Adam. He’s beyond a hot-button issue for Drew. He sighs and holds me closer, hugging me to his chest. “Jane said Kiera Radcliff is still planning on coming to the ball on Friday.”
“What?” I yell, pulling back so I can see Drew’s face.
He scowls and his eyes turn hard. “She bought two tickets back when we were filming. I didn’t even know if I was going to go at the time. I thought she was just trying to support the cause, but now I wonder if she was going to try and make it seem as though we were going as a couple.”
“How can she still go after everything that happened?”
Upset, Drew steps back and runs his hands through his hair. “Sam says there’s no direct evidence that she knew anything about the recordings, only circumstantial.” I frown and cross my arms over my chest. “She knew the studio wanted us together and she knew that some of the articles were bullshit, but according to the FBI, James Shelton, the head of PR and marketing for the studio was the one who worked with CelebCast to record us and break us up.”
“I know this is going to sound petulant and childish Drew, but I don’t want her there.”
He drops his hands and reaches for me, clutching me to him again. “I don’t either babe. All we can do is be happy together and show her that she didn’t win. But I swear, I’ve never been more tempted to hit a woman than I was the night I went to her hotel on my way to see you.”
I laugh. “I may just do it for you.”
Chapter 29
Bruce guides the SUV to a stop in front of the Forrester’s house in Brookline, a suburb just a few miles from downtown. It’s a massive brick traditional surrounded by a tall brick wall. Despite its large size, the home is still inviting and has that charming New England architecture.
Drew told me his parents fought hard against him buying them a house, but after fans kept ringing the doorbell of the Back Bay townhome where he grew up, they relented to get more privacy. Drew points out several homes on the ride over, including ones belonging to two Red Sox players and a member of upper management for the Celtics.
“Sydney! Drew!”
Caroline Forrester comes out of the front door and hurries over to the driveway to greet us before we can even exit the car.
“Hey mom,” Drew says, hugging his mom and giving her a kiss on her cheek.
“Hi Caroline,” I tell her and she sweeps me up into a huge hug as well.
“I’m so glad you’re both here,” she says, tears glistening in her green eyes that are so much like Drew’s that it’s scary.
“Mom, don’t get all emotional out here on the street.”
Caroline smacks his arm. “I’ll get emotional wherever I want young man. I haven’t seen Sydney since … well, since that night.”
She’s referring to the night of Drew’s premiere, when a crazy stalker stabbed me. Drew sent his family back to Boston before I woke up from surgery. The last time I saw them was in the theater lobby before the movie started.
I wipe the tears that have started to form in my eyes and sniff. “It’s okay, but let’s not talk about it tonight. We have other, less depressing things to discuss.” I turn and look at Drew with a mischievous look on my face. “Like all of the embarrassing things Drew did as a child.”
Caroline grabs me and we laugh like schoolgirls, walking arm and arm into the house. Turning back, I see Drew shaking his head and smiling as he follows us.
“Sydney!” A loud squeal practically ruptures my eardrums as Allie comes flying out of the kitchen and hugs me, tight.
“Allie, you’re going to break me,” I choke out.
“Hey, don’t squeeze her to death,” Drew says, laughing at his sister’s enthusiasm.
“Hi yourself, brother.”. He kisses her cheek and in return gets a torturous hug from her as well. She starts dragging me into the kitchen. “C’mon Syd, you have to meet the Grady’s. They’re so excited to meet you!”