Someone brought me a turkey sandwich, and I thanked them. I ate the entire thing, not taking my eyes off James for a second.
They took a few breaks to do what I thought was some very unnecessary oiling down. He tried to brush off the two women swarming him, shooting me a very uncomfortable look. I thought I read the look perfectly. He was worried I'd be upset at all of the hands trying to touch him, and he wanted it to stop.
They finally relented, but still insisted on doing his back. His jaw was clenched, and he looked positively agitated by the time they finished. I watched with no expression on my face, though I only felt the slightest twinge of annoyance. If I had been inclined to get upset about all of the touching, his reaction would have quickly cured me. He was far more upset about it than I was.
He approached me to chat during one of the short breaks, and one of the many assistants approached us, a sheepish look on her face. I saw that she was holding a rolled up magazine.
She unrolled it and held it out to him when she got close, a black permanent marker in her other hand. "Sorry to bug you, but would you mind signing this?" she asked.
James took the magazine without hesitation, signing the cover. I froze when I saw it. It was a picture him and Jules. I knew by their clothes that it was from the night I'd run from his apartment. He saw my expression as he handed the magazine back to the girl.
"Thanks so much," she muttered, quickly moving away. She knew not to press her luck, I thought.
"You look upset," James said quietly, studying me.
I gave him my little shrug, not wanting to talk about, but also not knowing if I could keep my mouth shut about it.
"That night," I said finally, when he just kept watching me. "I know you said it wasn't a date, but it hurt that you still went with her to that gala, after all that had happened.
His eyes widened. "No," he said softly. "I didn't. I wouldn't. I went to that gala for thirty minutes, because I felt obligated to, for my mother's sake. But I was miserable, and I went alone. Those pictures were typical Jules, crashing my obligatory press photos. The only time I even spoke to her was to tell her to leave me the hell alone. I swear it, Bianca. Once I saw how you felt, I wouldn't have done that."
I felt weak with relief. I hadn't even known I was that bothered by it.
While I was humiliating myself, though, I had to clear it all up. "That collar she wore that night … Did you give it to her?"
He shook his head. "I've never given her a piece of jewelry."
"She noticed my collar, and she implied that her own choker was something similar … "
He flushed. His hand made a cutting motion through the air. "She's preoccupied with my personal life, and she's a liar. I'm sorry you were bothered by this, but she was manipulating you. I didn't give her that."
I just nodded to show him that I'd heard him. They were already waving him back for the shoot.
"Are you okay? Do you have any other questions?"
I shook my head, meeting his gaze to show him I was fine. Reluctantly, he went back to finish up.
When all was said and done, the entire photo shoot took nearly four hours. I was surprised to notice what time it was when I checked my phone.
James was in the back changing as I saw that I'd missed several texts from Stephan.
Stephan: B, will you call me when you can?
Stephan: I'm heading back to the apartment. Please let me know when you're free. I don't want to be alone right now.
A little shiver of dread ran down my spine, and I felt instantly guilty for forgetting about my phone yet again. I tried to call him five times in a row, my heart pounding into overdrive when he didn't answer.
His text about not wanting to be alone had really gotten to me. He shouldn't have to be alone, not ever, not while I still breathed, because that was just how it worked with us, but he was obviously alone and hurting, and I needed to get to him.
I tried texting him, though I knew it was pointless if he wasn't even answering his phone.
Bianca: Just saw your messages. Coming back to the apartment as fast as I can get there. Please tell me u r okay.
James was striding towards me when I looked up from my phone. He must have seen something on my face because his changed from smiling to alarmed between one step and the next.
"What is it?" he asked me quietly when he drew close.
"It's Stephan. I need to get back to the apartment. He's upset about something and he needs me."
He nodded, shooting a quick glance to a spot behind me. He took my elbow and began to lead me out of the studio without further ado.