JC tiptoed into the kitchen for an icepack and three Advil. Her hand trembled violently reaching for an open bottle of wine on the counter. Lifting the bottle to her swollen lips, she washed down the pills with a long drink.
Shaking from head to toe, she shuffled to the couch. Two crinkled pieces of paper lay on the coffee table. Holding the icepack against her swollen cheeks, she grunted leaning forward to grab the pictures.
The average person might misconstrue the photo of Benny and JC caught in a warm embrace as that of lovers saying hello, but most people knew that was not the case. However, the paparazzi and media thrived on misconceptions. Glancing at the second photo, it appeared as if Benny had his hand on her ass as she climbed into the car in front of him. But in reality, Benny was about to rest his hand on her back. His hand was a foot away from her butt. Her blood boiled, knowing they shot the picture at a certain angle, purposely to fool people. She crumpled up the papers and threw them in the trash before lying back down on the couch with a blanket and falling asleep.
CHAPTER FIVE
The sun peered through the window, Luca sat on the coffee table with his head in his hands. He acted contrite, apologizing repeatedly, begging for her forgiveness. He made her tea and got her an icepack.
When he tried to stroke her arm, JC flinched, cowering out of Luca’s reach.
Darkness flickered in his eyes.
Her chest rose and fell in quick succession and she blinked back frantic emotions growing inside. Lowering her glance to the floor, she feared he might go berserk the way he had the night before.
He pulled her shrinking body into his arms. Gently pressing his rigid lips to her badly bruised cheek, he whispered, “I’m gonna go find you a Christmas tree, okay?”
The thing JC feared most, even more than Luca Santini, was the paparazzi, and he used it to his deranged advantage. He knew damn well she would never risk being spotted in public. She’d flown under the media radar for over a year. The photos of her with Benny meant they would be stalking her again.
She nodded numbly, wondering Is he out of his fucking mind? Does he really think a tree is going to fix this?
JC refused to leave the apartment, even if it meant staying with Luca over the holidays. Staring at her own beaten and bruised reflection in the mirror was humiliating enough, having it splashed across the cover of a rag magazine was not going to happen. She wouldn’t embarrass herself or disgrace her Mom and Tom with another scandal. Not again! No matter what the cost.
After canceling her flight to Colorado, the first call she made was to her mother. JC lied, making up a bullshit explanation that she had the flu and wasn’t going to make it home for Christmas. Biggest rule breaker of all time, deceit. Diving further into the page of lies and betrayal, JC fibbed to her Mom again, saying she had another job starting the day after New Years, so she wouldn’t be able to fly to Colorado at all.
Growing up, her dad always said, ‘Your Word is your biggest character trait. It’s a measure of who you are as a person and lying is unacceptable.’ JC’s Word had just turned into a big pile of shit.
The second call she made was to Lisa Levi, apologizing for the incident.
“Don’t be ridiculous, JC. Benny’s the one who feels horrible. He knows this is going to put you back in the line of fire with the paparazzi. We have to play this game every day. We don’t like it, but it comes with the territory.” Lisa laughed flippantly, dismissing the issue saying, “If you have any big Christmas wishes, like a new car, now would be the time to ask your dear sweet uncle.”
JC huffed out a sickened chortle at the ironic term Lisa used, line of fire. She thought to herself, If she only knew how right she was.
Christmas came and went. New Years came and went. But Dr. Phil showed up nightly, every time she closed her eyes. Why am I still here? Why am I afraid to leave? So what if they publish my picture, bruised and battered on the cover of a magazine. Why do I even remotely care for him? What the hell is wrong with me?
JC wanted to confide in her sister, but she couldn’t force herself to dial Tracy’s number. Her family called several times. If Luca was home, she ignored the ring fearing another outburst.
Luca had changed. At first, she assumed her opinion of him darkened because of what happened, but he was not the same man. His temper changed like the desert weather, hotter than blazes during the day and freezing cold at night. Only it didn’t matter whether it was day or night, he unraveled over nothing.
The most confusing part, was that at times, he could be wonderful, charming, attentive, and sexy. Every time JC let her guard down, exposing a moment of happiness, Luca was right there to insult her.