“You think it’s obvious that girl is me?” I ask.
“Well, yeah,” Claire says apologetically.
“Even if my hair was normally blonde and to my waist? And if I was wearing a lot of make-up? Would you still think that might be me?”
“I think your eyes give you away, and your lips are so full it would be hard to miss you, even if you looked different,” Claire says, giving me a hard, assessing look.
“What are you getting at, Tess?” Emmy asks.
“Never mind.”
JoJo nods, and in an instant I know she’s following along with me. “You’re running from someone, aren’t you?”
“I gotta go,” I tell them, standing up, setting the champagne on the coffee table. I should never have stayed this long. And not just this morning—I mean in this city in general.
I should never have become so close to these people, people who are all a few steps from fame themselves. Landon and his Fortune 500 Company, Ace and his casino brand—every A-List celebrity stays here and is their new friend. Even JoJo is on the cusp of fame, with her MMA career.
I can’t stay close to any of them.
I may care for all of them, a hell of a lot. But I care more about having a chance at freedom.
I need to leave. Now.
“I’ll call you girls later, okay? I’m tired. Exhausted by the sex scandal.” I give them a fake laugh, hoping like hell they buy it. “If anyone at my apartment looks suspicious, I’ll be sure to give you a call. Maybe Ace or Landon—or even your family, JoJo—could help with security.”
They all say that of course they’ll help, and ask me to stay, to tell them what’s really going on.
“I really can’t. I need to be alone right now, okay?”
I lean over and give them each a hug goodbye.
I don’t linger, don’t say anything else, because anything else is going to make me lose my nerve, make me break down and drag them into this.
And right now I just need to start over.
Chapter Eleven
JACK
Look, I pride myself on not being a complete asshole—but, standing there in the kitchen at Emmy and Ace’s, I was losing my cool.
My childhood may have been cushy compared to hers, but that doesn’t mean she should be lying to her friends about her past.
I don’t get that. What could be so bad she’s hiding it from the people who have let her into their lives so willingly?
And there was the whole crap in the elevator where she decided that she and I were nothing more than a hook-up. Why the hell is she so determined to push me away?
I’ve never been some pussy-whipped guy … but, fuck, her pussy seems to have done a motherfucking number on me.
I sent the limo away when Tess and I arrived, and I need to get a new ride back to my place. Walking thought the casino lobby, all I want to do is get a car and go.
Of course, Ashley decides this is the perfect moment to stop me.
I’m nearing the exit, and she grabs my hand, pulling me aside.
“Seriously, this isn’t the time.”
“Oh, really?” She purses her lips at me. “I think this is the perfect time. You happen to be the one person I am looking for.”
“Honestly, it’s been a long morning. I just need to go home.”
“We know all about how long your morning has been.”
“Who’s we? And what the hell are you talking about?” I shrug out of her hold, not having any patience for this shit.
“You must know about the video.”
I look at her blankly. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
She smirks. “Oh, boy, this is gonna get ugly. But I don’t think you’ll want to be in public when I break the news.”
“Seriously?” I look at my phone; it’s blowing up. I’ve missed half a dozen calls from Kirby, a few from McQueen and Landon. What the fuck?
Just then I see Ace walking toward Ashley and me.
“What’s going on, Ash? Did you do something stupid?”
She swallows, and I see a look of fear cross her face.
“Fuck. What did you do?”
“I’m really sorry, Jack. I was just trying to get back at you. I never really thought it was going to get so ugly, so fast. I never would have given the guy I hired the okay to broadcast that. You have to believe me.”
Ace comes up to our little pow-wow and gives Ashley the once-over.
“I hired you to be a performer at my casino, not to fuck with my friends.”
“I thought we were friends, too, Ace,” she says, crossing her arms defensively.
“We’ve never been friends. We’ve tolerated one another. Now, what the hell is going on?”
“You don’t know, either?” Ashley asks, her face going white.