JACK: Las Vegas Bad Boys(48)

I pull her to me, her beautiful face nestled against my chest. I poured out my seed in her, I told her I love her, and now I’m going to make sure no one can ever hurt her again.

Even if it means losing everything else.





TESS


Before the meeting with the private investigator, I get the security detail and my private bodyguard to take me to my studio apartment. The plan is to take the things I really want to keep, and a moving company will put the rest in a storage unit until I decide what I want to do.

But there’s no way I can stay living here. I’d never feel safe.

The plan had been to get my shit and run ... but I can’t do that right now. I’ve given Jack everything I have—my heart, my soul, everything but the words I love you.

There’s no way I could leave him now, even if I wanted to. I told him my deepest secret, the secret that could imprison me, because I trust him with my life.

Two of the security guards enter my apartment first, scouting it out, and thankfully the premises are clear.

I tell my bodyguard to wait outside the partially closed door, knowing I need a moment alone, and I fall into my bed.

The last time I slept here was with Jack. It feels like a year ago. I was just trying to keep up appearances, trying to keep my life together.

And now it all seems to have unraveled. In a way I never expected.

Jack Harris loves me.

This was the boy I was obsessed with, who I thought was sexy and funny and adorable in that I got this city wrapped around my finger way. And he has chosen me. To fight for me and love me.

And, damn, I miss him, even though we’ve only been apart for half an hour.

My phone rings.

It’s the girls, in a group text. I smile, noticing that JoJo is included now. I’m reminded once again how lucky I am to have these friends. How did I imagine leaving them and running away to start over on my own?

Emmy: Can we come over? We miss you. Are you at Jack’s?

Me: I’m at my studio. Just packing.

Claire: We’re bringing lunch.

I give them a thumbs-up emoji and drop my phone back on my bed. I need to start working, because I know once they arrive any momentum will be derailed.

I grab a few laundry baskets and start throwing in clothes, some shoes. Hoarding is not in my vocabulary, and I keep things pretty tidy, so I don’t have a ton to take.

Looking through my stacks of books, I realize I’m going to have some serious library fines, and I tuck those books in a tote. The rest of my favorite books go in a basket along with my handful of journals and favorite pens.

I’m just sorting through my makeup when the door opens. Claire, Emmy, and JoJo come in, carrying bags of to-go food, and McQueen’s mom Teri comes in behind them.

“Oh, wow, it’s the whole gang.” I jump off my bed, and make room on my countertop for the bags.

“Yeah, well,” JoJo says, “I’ve been dragging Teri all over town with me to find stuff to make Ryan’s place less....”

“Male?” Claire offers.

“Yes. It is the epitome of bachelor pad,” JoJo says. “But, since I’ve moved in, I need to spice it up. With at least curtains.”

“And we found an absolute steal on some at Target,” Teri says, unloading a bag of sandwiches and salads. “That place has everything.”

JoJo is so lucky to have Teri since her own mother died. A sharp pain runs through my chest thinking about my own mother ... my own plight. But I don’t want it to be about me today. Especially since none of my friends know half of the drama.

“So are the security guys here because of the paparazzi?” Claire asks, grabbing a veggie wrap.

“Yep. But Ashley apparently has put out statements about the fiasco and, while not admitting her role in it,” I tell them, “she did say the press has got to back off.”

“That’s good,” Emmy says. “I mean, Ace was all fired up about getting you guys the best detail.”

“I know, even my dad was helping Ace and Jack sort security out,” JoJo says. “So whatever the guys are doing, it must be working.”

“So you and Jack ... you guys are moving in together?” Claire asks, looking around my place.

“Not exactly. I mean, I’m going to be staying there for a while, but there’s no plan. I just need to leave this place and find something new.”

“I can see how it could feel a bit cramped.” Teri looks around appraisingly, and, considering we’re all standing around without a place to sit, I agree it her.

“Yeah, when I first got to town I just wanted something that was private and that I could afford.”

“You have quite the tea collection,” Teri says, looking at my basket full of loose-leaf tea varieties.