The Mighty Storm

Chapter Seven




“What did you do to that boy last night?”
Vicky is already advancing through the office toward me and I haven’t even sat down yet.
“Because whatever it was, just keep on doing it please.” She grins.
“Eh?”
I’m still trying to recover from last night. It took me hours to get to sleep after my night with Jake, so I overslept. This morning was a rush and the interrogation from Simone prevented me from even grabbing a coffee. I’m also still coming down off my Jake cloud and dealing with the probability of never seeing him again.
I’ll call you soon.
He won’t call. Why would he? And even though I have his number, I’m not calling him. Well not yet anyway.
“I just got off the phone with him.”
“Who?”
“Jake Wethers!” She screams like a teenager. Not like the owner of the successful magazine.
“Jake?” I’m confused. “Why’s he calling you? No offence,” I add when I see the disappointed look on her face.
“Because you my darling are a skinful of magic, and delicious to boot!”
I hate it when she starts talking in riddles.
“Vicky, I’m a little lost here – help me out will you?” I chuckle so not to offend her.
“Did he not speak to you about it last night – no – wow, okay, well Jake Wethers just called me and has asked the magazine to host his official bio! Arrghhh!” she screams.
It’s way too early for Vicky’s hysterical screaming. But wow that is so totally cool.
“He called you himself? Don’t they usually have their PA’s do this stuff?”
“Yes!” She screams again. “I know I could not believe it!”
“Wow. That is awesome Vicky! Really awesome! I’m so pleased for you – for us – for the magazine!”
And I might get a chance to see Jake again, maybe.
I feel a little frisson of excitement buzz inside me at the thought.
“So who is his biographer?” I ask taking my jacket off and hanging it on the back of my chair. I wonder if it’s anyone I know. I’m going to probably have to work with them for the spreads … that is if Vicky is putting me on it. God, I hope she is.
She cocks her eyebrow at me in confusion. “Jake really hasn’t spoken with you about any of this? He never mentioned anything at dinner?”
“No. Mentioned what?”
“Well, my darling girl, I’m happy to tell you that Jake’s official biographer is … well – you.”
What? What?!
All I can do is stare at her dumbfounded. And then my mobile starts to ring on my desk.
But I can’t move. I’m frozen to the spot.
He’s hired me? Jake’s hired me to write his bio without even asking me. Is that even legal?
Vicky walks over to my desk, peering over at my phone, she picks it up and holds it out to me.
“You might want to take this call. It’s Jake.”
All I can do is stare down at it like it’s a bomb about to go off.
Why would he do this?
I mean of course it’s awesome and very flattering that he thinks I could do it, but I’ve never written a book before. I write articles. Little ones that fit on the page of a magazine.
I don’t think I can write a book.
Oh God.
I just don’t understand why he’s done this and why he never talked to me about it. He had ample opportunity last night.
All the air has been sucked out of the room. I think I’m having a panic attack or something. I’m going to pass out.
“Take the call,” Vicky urges pushing the phone closer to me. “You can’t pass up this opportunity. The magazine can’t pass up this opportunity, Tru.” She looks at me wistfully.
But I just can’t move my hand to take the phone.
“An opportunity Jake didn’t even offer me himself.” My voice comes out croaky.
My phone stops ringing.
We both look down at it.
Vicky retreats her hand containing my bomb of a phone with it.
“Maybe Jake just wanted to speak to me first. You know with me being your employer. He probably wanted to check it wouldn’t cause any problems with your permanent job here first before offering you the job.”
“Did he say that to you?” I look at her suspiciously.
“Yes, of course he did,” she answers brightly.
She’s so lying. He never asked her. I can’t imagine Jake ever asking anyone for anything.
All he’s done by calling Vicky first, is put me in a position where I can’t say no.
Did he know that would be the case? And if so, then why would he do that?
“Call him back,” Vicky urges.
I shake my head, swallowing down my dry throat. “I don’t think I can. I don’t think I can do this. I can’t write a book, Vicky. I’m a journalist. A music journalist, not a novelist.”
“You can. You are a wonderful writer, my darling.”
I look up at her, mild panic in my eyes. I know what she’s worried about. She’s worried Jake will pull the bio from the magazine if I don’t write it.
But he wouldn’t do that.
“Jake will still have the magazine do the feature, even if I don’t take the job, Vicky. He wouldn’t pull it. I know him.”
She shrugs. “I don’t know, honey, I did sort of get the distinct impression you are part of the deal.”
“Did he say that?”
“Not exactly.”
Yes he did.
Crap.
“Why would he do this?” I say my thoughts out loud.
She smiles. “Maybe he just doesn’t want to let you go this time.”
“So he forces me to write his bio? No, that doesn’t make any sense. I’m his friend. You don’t force people to be your friend. I’d be his friend without this.”
I’m so confused. I need to sit down. I slump back into my chair.
Vicky moves round and leans against my desk. “Maybe he doesn’t just want to be your friend,” she says softly. “And if that is the case, then this way he gets to ensure he sees a lot more of you, for a long while.”
My eyes flash up to hers. “No.” I shake my head. “It’s not that.”
He had the chance to make a move on me last night, and if I’m being truthful, I probably would have kissed him back if he had kissed me, but he didn’t. And that’s how I know that’s not the reason.
I just have no clue what his motive is.
Maybe it’s a genuine one. Maybe he thinks I’m a really good writer.
I scoff at the very thought in my own mind.
“Well for whatever reason he is doing it,” Vicky says. “This is a huge opportunity for you and the magazine as a whole. It can only be a good thing, Tru. And maybe Jake recognises that. He’ll know what this will do for your career. Maybe he just wants to help you. He did say to me that he’s been considering doing a bio for a long while now, and with this tour it’s the right time. It was obviously just good fortune that you met back up with him, or it could be someone else getting to hop on that tour bus.”
Shit. I’m going to have to go on tour with them. Of course.
I’m so screwed.
This morning I was worried I was never going to see him again, and now I’m going to be spending a huge amount of time with him, following him around, watching him, learning all about him, while we tour around some pretty cool parts of the world.
Yes, I am so completely and utterly screwed.
“Call him,” Vicky urges one last time, placing my phone on my desk, tapping her nail on the screen before leaving me to it.
I stare at my phone and then with shaky fingers I pick it up and press redial on his number.
He answers on the first ring.
“Tru,” his voice comes deep and sexy down the line.
“Hi, Jake.”
Silence.
“So…” I say, not really knowing what to say.
“I’m taking it your boss beat me to it?” he states rather than asks.
“She did.”
“And?”
“And what?”
“Will you do it – the bio?”
“Do I have a choice?”
There’s a really long pause. I can practically feel his tension radiating down the line.
“There’s always a choice, Tru.” He sounds a little pissed off.
“Sorry,” I recover. “That sounded a little shitty, it’s just a lot of information to process this early in the morning. Especially when I haven’t even had a chance to have a coffee yet.”
“You haven’t?”
“No, and I don’t function without coffee,” I say in a Spanish accent. I’m actually fluent in Spanish, something my mum insisted on, and it does comes in handy at times – well, mainly holiday’s in Spanish speaking countries. And my crap Spanish accent always used to make Jake laugh when we were kids, so I’m aiming for just that again.
He chuckles, deep and throaty down the line. It does incredible things to me. “I see you’re still an idiot.”
“I am, and it still takes one to know one.”
“That it does … so you’ll do it?”
I get the distinct feeling he’s not asking me. And really in what world would I ever say no.
“I’ll do it,” I smile.
I can practically feel his grin down the phone.
“Okay, so as your new boss – well one of them – I order you to go get some coffee as I can’t have you talking in that cute Spanish accent of yours all day. You’ll drive me nuts.”
I’ll drive him nuts?! In a good or bad way…
“I’m seeing you today?”
“Of course. Go get that coffee and I’ll call you back soon.”
He hangs up, and I sit staring at the phone in my hand, feeling a little dumbfounded.
And somehow a little played. I just haven’t figured out as to how yet.
I’m also feeling a little excited – okay a lot excited. I’m going on tour with The Mighty Storm … with Jake.
Shit. And double shit. I’m going to have to tell Will.
Well that thought quickly dilutes my good mood.
I don’t go and get a coffee straight away, I go to Vicky’s office.
“You called him?” She looks up at me hopefully.
“I called him.”
“And?
“And of course I’m doing it.”
“Oh thank god! You had me worried for a moment there. Oh, Trudy, you are my superstar!” She gets up from her desk and hugs me in a cloud of her perfume and perfectness. “I knew from the second you stepped into the interview for a job here that hiring you would be the best thing I would ever do.”
She holds me back by my shoulders, smiling her gorgeous smile at me. “You, my girl, are going to lift this magazine off the bottom shelf and put it in its rightful place in amongst those glossy’s on the middle shelf.”
“You really think this exclusive with Jake will do that?” I know it will lift sales but I don’t want her to pin all her hopes on this.
“I do.” She nods emphatically. “This boy is unattainable. Getting a concise straight answer out of him is bad enough, but a full blown insight into his life – hell, all those women out there who sit listening to his album, watching him on TV, dreaming of Jake Wethers in their beds will wet their panties over this.”
I can’t help but laugh.
“And they are also going to love the fact that you guys grew up together and have just reunited to do this story. Women will envy you and love you for bringing that man into their houses.”
“Um.” I tuck my hair behind my ear. “I was thinking maybe we should keep that part under wraps.”
I’ve been thinking about this, and I don’t want all the attention it will bring me if people find out Jake and me grew up together. And there could be the chance that when the press is delving into mine and Jake’s history together, someone from our former years might just tell the story of what his dad did to him and his mum. I shudder to think. Somehow Jake’s managed to keep that part of his life out of the press, I don’t want to be the reason it comes out.
Obviously I’m not going to say any of that to Vicky. I’ve already quickly planned out what I’m going to say.
“I just think it will seem even better if they don’t know of my history with Jake. It might take the focus off the bio when they realise Jake and I have history, and I don’t want that to be the running feature. I want it to be about Jake and Etiquette.”
She grins at me. “Good thinking. Always the journalist. Have I told you how much I love you lately?”
“No.” I grin.
“Well I do, lots and lots and lots.”
“So the tour … Jake’s said he’s going to see me again today – assumedly to talk about the tour, but can you give me the heads up now?”
“You’re seeing him again – today?” she grins, sitting back down.
She’s like a teenager at times.
“Yes, about business. Brief me about the tour, please, boss?”
She leans back in her chair. “Seven weeks. Touring Europe for the first three, then America and Canada for the last four.”
“And I can come home in-between the dates?”
“There are a lot of dates in the tour. It’s pretty intensive – ten dates in Europe and thirteen in the US and Canada. There is a two week break between Europe and the US, and I can’t imagine you’ll be needed all the time – but check with Jake.”
“What about my column?”
“I was going to get Jane to cover what you couldn’t manage?”
“Sure. Sounds like a plan.”
I get out of my chair. “What did you think of the piece of the interview with Jake that I sent you?”
“Really good. I emailed back a few possible changes, have a look – let me know what your thoughts are. But there’s no rush on finishing it as I think we’re going to use it as the pre-cursor for the bio.”
I start to leave her office, then stop at the door. “Why do you think Jake never mentioned the bio to me last night?”
She shrugs. “You said last night was a catch up on old times, so maybe he didn’t want to talk business with you at that point.”
“Hmm, maybe… he could have called me first thing this morning … but I guess it doesn’t matter.”
She leans forward resting her elbows on her desk. “You want my honest opinion? I think he asked you out to dinner because he wanted to see you again. I think he hired you for the bio because you’re fabulous at your job – and also because he wants to have sex with you.”
“Vicky!” I screech, eyes wide.
I can’t believe she just said that.
“What?” she says innocently. “I’m merely pointing out the conclusive facts.”
“Which conclusive facts?”
“That Jake wants to have sex with you.”
“Will you stop saying that!” My face is flushing bright red. “And Jake could have sex with anyone he wants and trust me he wouldn’t want to have it with me.”
I think of the little brush off at my door last night. I don’t tell her of course.
She frowns at me and shakes her head. “Sometimes I don’t think you realise how gorgeous you are, Tru.”
I pull a face at her skewered compliment.
“And yes, you are right. Jake could bed any women he wants to … but currently I think he wants to bed you.”
I frown at her. “It’d be an awful lot of trouble for him to go through just to get laid, when he can have it so easily accessible elsewhere.”
“Easily accessible can get boring, my darling. And you are right, it certainly would be a lot of trouble to go to.” She raises her eyebrow. “So I guess that shows the worth of the person as to the level of trouble he’s willing to go to.”
“Or just the new challenge.”
“That too.” She leans back in her chair. “Just be careful, my darling, when mixing business and pleasure. Things can get awful messy sometimes.”
“I don’t intend on mixing anything. I’m with Will, remember.”
“You are.”
“And I don’t think Jake is like that, contrary to popular belief, I think he’s professional in business, I don’t think he screws the staff – just everyone else.”
“Of course. I can imagine Jake Wethers to be the upmost professional.”
She’s being snarky.
“He was actually a real gent at dinner last night.”
“He was?” She smiles, a real genuine smile. “Good. I’m glad.”
I ignore the little nag of disappointment, tugging away inside of me, that Jake Wethers, who is well known for screwing anything that moves, had no interest in me whatsoever last night.
Of course it stings. I would never have slept with him, of course, because of Will. But I would have kissed him for sure.
But then kissing is cheating too.
Ugh, my head is all gooey right now. I need a coffee.
I’m being irrational and silly that my pride is hurt, I know, but I’m a girl and it’s my prerogative to be just so.
“You want a coffee?” I ask Vicky, as I’m leaving her office. “I’m making.”
“I’m fine, my darling, thank you.”
I’m just heading past my desk, on my way to the kitchen to fire the kettle up when my mobile starts to ring.
I lean over my desk and grab my phone. It’s Jake. I get little butterflies setting flight in my tummy.
I’m going to have to knock this off if I’m going to be working with him…
People don’t work with me, Tru. They work for me.
Okay, so working for him – whatever. I hope he’s not as bad a person to work for as it’s claimed he can be.
“You had that coffee yet?” he says before I get a chance to speak.
“No, debido a las interrupciones constantes.”
“Tru, I haven’t got a f*ckin’ clue what you just said, but I’ll take the ‘no’ I caught out of that, as you haven’t.”
“No, I haven’t,” I laugh.
“Okay, well I’m not calling back again, so listen up. I’m picking you up for lunch because I want to go over with you what will happen on the tour.”
Do I get a choice?
“Shouldn’t that be your assistant’s job to talk to me about that stuff?” I question.
“Well if I wanted my assistant to have lunch with you then yeah it would be, but I don’t, so you’re getting me – okay?”
“What if I already have plans?”
“Do you?”
“Yes?”
Silence.
“With?”
Do I detect a hint of jealously there, Jake?
“Starbucks. I meet him every day at one for a coffee and blueberry muffin.”
I hear him exhale down the line.
“Would you consider ditching him for me?” His voice has gone all seductive and flirty again.
“I don’t know … it’s a pretty serious thing me and Starbucks have going on.”
“I’ll make it worth your while.”
“Go on?”
“I’m talking cake, Tru, lots and lots of cake…”
“Starbucks who?” I giggle
“Cool, be outside your building at one.”
“Sí, se?or.”
I hear him laugh before I hang up.
I feel absolutely full of glee. Jake is being lovely, and flirty, and I’m seeing him again in just a few hours.
But no, I need to calm myself down. I’m going to be working for Jake, so I need to keep myself professional.
He might be an old friend, an incredibly flirty old friend. But that’s Jake. That’s his MO.
And I need to remember that, and not confuse this into something it’s not.


The black Land Rover that Dave was following us around in last night is already parked outside my building when I go down at one.
Dave gets out of the car and walks around, opening the back passenger door for me.
“Hello again,” he says.
“Hi,” I whisper shyly.
I climb in the back and Jake is there waiting for me. Looking his gorgeous rock star self in light blue ripped jeans, a faded black Stone Roses ‘I Wanna Be Adored’ T-shirt, and the same Converses he wore last night.
“Hey,” he says, his voice all rough, and smooth like honey, as Dave closes the door behind me.
“Hey yourself,” I smile.
I can smell Jake’s scent across the car. Cigarettes and aftershave. It makes my tummy flutter.
Dave climbs back in the drivers’ seat and pulls us away into the heavy lunchtime traffic.
“So how’s your morning been?” Jake asks me.
“Oh, you know, long.”
“Much happen?”
I slide a look at him. “Apart from a famous rock star who also used to be my next door neighbour growing up calling me and offering me a job to write his bio on his upcoming tour? No, not much at all.” I shake my head, grinning.
“Is that all I was – your next-door neighbour? I thought I earned the title best friend back then.”
His words make my tummy feel funny. Suddenly empty.
“You did … and we were best friends.”
“Were?”
“Well it’s been a while, Jake. You don’t just get that status back after one dinner.” I smile again, trying to alleviate whatever this is.
“I guess I’m going to have to work a little harder then to claim my title back,” his voice is low with meaning. He smiles at me, and my heart lurches out of my chest and whams straight into him once again.
“So am I allowed to know where we’re going for lunch today, or is that a surprise too?” I give him a light-hearted look, trying to straighten out my erratic heart and shaky emotions.
“Just back to the hotel. I hope that’s okay?”
“Sure it is.”
I’d eat fish and chips in the backseat of a car if it meant being with you.
“It’s just less hassle, means we won’t get bothered,” he adds, as though he has to explain why he’s taking me back to his suite.
“Jake, it’s okay, I understand.” I touch his arm.
He looks down at my hand on his tattooed arm, then up at my face.
Something passes in the air between us.
I withdraw my hand, swallowing down, and shift in my seat.
“You should have told me we were just staying at the hotel. I would’ve come over. It’s not too far of a walk.”
He gives me a stupid, but firm look. “I was picking you up, Tru.”
“Okay Mr Bossy … I hope you’re not gonna be like this for the tour.”
“What – bossy?”
“Yes.”
“Well when I know what I want I say it ... or take it.” He tilts his head to the side, staring at me for a long moment.
My legs start to tremble.
I press my knees together.
I flicker a nervous glance at Dave, but his eyes are focussed ahead on the road.
I keep mine ahead too.
And we ride in silence for the rest of the short ride to the hotel. I’m at a complete loss for words after that little exchange.
Dave pulls the car into the hotel’s parking lot and then I follow him and Jake through the lot into the hotel and to the lifts.
I ride up with them both in silence, and leaving Dave out in the hall, I follow Jake into his suite.
I can’t believe it was only yesterday that I was here to interview him and now I’m going to be working for him. It’s crazy.
As I follow him I see Stuart at the far side of the living room, sitting on the sofa reading a magazine. He closes the magazine, dropping it onto the coffee table and stands at our arrival.
“Hi,” I say, feeling a little shy.
I wonder if he knows I’m going to be working for Jake. I’m sure he will, he’s Jake PA. He’ll know everything about him.
Probably some things I don’t want to know.
“Hello again,” he smiles at me.
“Is everything ready?” Jake asks him.
“Yes.”
“Thanks,” he says to Stuart.
Stuart gives him a brief nod, and then heads out of the room leaving us alone
“Come on,” Jake says to me, taking hold of my hand, giving me a fire in my belly again, he leads me across the living room and out onto the terraced balcony.
The air is refreshing on my skin, not chilly at all, and as I step through the door and out from behind Jake, I see there’s a table set up, with two chairs, and it is filled with tiers of little mini cakes. So many different varieties, cupcakes, cream buns, éclairs, cheesecakes, and, oh my god, cream filled muffins, and some I can’t even identify.
I know he said there’d be cake, but I never expected anything like this. And there is also fresh coffee waiting.
In this moment I just love him. Not love him, love him – but love him, oh you know what I mean.
Jake turns seeing my open mouthed expression, and says, “Well you gave up a date with Starbucks for me, it was the least I could do.”
“This is a little better than Starbucks though,” I say, my voice a little hoarse. “Is this birthday present number two?”
He squeezes my hand ever so slightly, and smiles, a mysterious smile and leads me over to the table to sit down.
In the last two days, Jake has done more thoughtful things for me than anyone has ever done in my whole entire life.
He pulls my chair out for me.
“Why thank you kind sir,” I giggle.
He sits down across from me.
I feel all fuzzy and up in the clouds here on this penthouse balcony.
And I also feel like I’m on a date. Which of course I’m not, this is a business lunch, just with lots and lots of yummy scrummy cakes.
I let my eyes roam over the cakes. They look fresh and delicious, and I literally don’t know which one to try first. I just want to take a bite of each one.
Jake laughs at my staring. “You look like a kid in a candy store. You always did have a sweet tooth.”
“There’s just so many too choose from, and they are just so damn cute. Where did you get them from?” I ask.
“Just a little place I know.”
Unable to resist anymore, I nick a bit of cream from the cream filled muffin closest to me, and lick it off my finger.
“Oh my god,” I groan. “This is gorgeous, I think I may have died and gone to cream heaven.”
“So does this win me back my best friend status?”
“I think I might be proposing marriage to you soon, if you keep this up.”
Oh God. It just slipped out. And I can’t take it back.
I know my face is bright red.
Jake grins at me obviously enjoying my discomfort.
“Shall I pour?” I say gesturing to the coffee, anything to change the subject.
“I got it,” he says taking hold of the pot.
Jake pours me a coffee. He looks so funny, sitting there in rock star clothes, covered in tattoos pouring me coffee, while we have afternoon tea together.
“You know Jake afternoon tea isn’t very rock and roll. You’re kind of killing your rock star image.”
“Ssh.” He puts his finger to his lips, doing a comical glance around. “We’ll just have to keep it our little secret.” He grins and hands me over my coffee. “And shouldn’t it be afternoon coffee?” he adds.
I furrow my brow in thought. “Is there such a thing?”
He shrugs, smiling, “If not, then there is now.”
“Jake and Tru’s afternoon coffee, rock star style.”
“Abso-f*cking-lutely!” he laughs.
Laughing, I pick the milk up and add some to my coffee, and then help myself to the cream filled muffin I’d already started on.
I pick it up and take a bite.
“Holy creaming Jesus,” I mumble with my mouthful. “This is amazing.”
If I thought that little taste of cream was heaven I was sorely mistaken, because the whole thing; sponge and chocolate-chip and cream, together is bliss. If I die today, then I will die a very happy lady indeed.
“Seriously, Jake, you have to give me the name of this place because I’m going to have to set up a credit account with them.”
He smiles at me, but I detect a hint of nervousness. I’m instantly curious. “Delivery might be a bit of a problem.”
“Why?” I say taking another bite.
“Because the delicatessen is in Paris.”
I pause mid-bite, staring at him.
“I had them flown in this morning,” he adds.
“Oh.” I put the cake down.
“It’s one of my favourite places, I always go there whenever I’m in Paris, and I knew you’d love them so…”
“Wow, Jake … um … wow, that is so nice and incredibly thoughtful of you, but you didn’t have to go to any trouble for me.”
“I didn’t. I pay other people to go to the trouble for me, Tru.”
“Oh.”
Shit, I am so way out of my league here.
He pulls his cigarettes out. “You mind if I smoke?”
I shake my head and watch as he lights a cigarette up.
I can’t exactly complain about his smoking around the food, when he’s just had said food flown in on an aeroplane. From Paris.
Jesus Christ. This is me getting a little glimpse into just how much pull Jake Wethers actually has.
But he’s just so erratic.
He takes me for a simple dinner to Pizza Hut – well maybe not simple, as he did hire the place out – but still, it was Pizza Hut. And now today, he’s flown in mini cakes from Paris.
I feel like my head is spinning from just being around him. I don’t remember him been this confusing when we were younger.
Straight talking, yes. Confusing, no.
“So what does your boyfriend think of you coming on the tour?” he asks out of the blue, taking a sip of his coffee.
And there’s the straight talking.
“Um … I … um … he doesn’t think anything yet, because I haven’t had a chance to tell him.”
That’s a lie. I’ve had all morning to ring Will and tell him, but I’m not sure how he’ll take it, so I’m putting it off until tonight when I’ve fed him and seduced him, then I’ll tell him.
Suddenly the idea of seducing Will while here with Jake, doesn’t feel alluring at all. It actually makes me feel quite unwell.
“I’m going to tell him tonight when I see him,” I add.
He puts his coffee down and takes a drag of his cigarette. Then reaches down and picks up an ashtray from off the floor beside his chair, placing it on his thigh, he taps the ash into it.
“Are you doing anything nice?”
“When?”
“Tonight.”
“Oh, um, no, Will’s just coming round to my flat to have some dinner.”
He’s staring at my face, his own impassive.
“How did you meet him?”
“I knew him from uni and we bumped into each other on a night out a few years ago. He asked me out and we’ve been together since.”
“But you don’t live together.”
“No.”
“Do you think you’ll marry him?”
What? Personal much.
I shift uncomfortably in my seat. I hate it when he starts being direct like this.
I feel like I’m up for a job interview, I’m just not actually sure of the job. Unless he has another one lined up for me that he’s also not told me about.
For want of something to do with my fidgety hands, I dip my finger in the cream of my half-eaten bun again and pop it in my mouth.
I notice Jake staring at my mouth.
I quickly pull my finger out, and dry it on a napkin. “Well I was proposing marriage to you a few minutes ago,” I laugh. He doesn’t.
“I don’t know,” I shrug, turning serious. “It’s not something I’ve thought about. I guess I don’t really see myself ever getting married.”
He has another drag of his cigarette and slowly blows the smoke out from between his lips, tapping his ash into the ashtray.
“Why?”
I shrug again, looking down.
I’m not going to tell him that I don’t think any guy would ever ask me.
“I always figured you’d end up with a musician,” he says, in a low voice.
I look up at him surprised.
Surprised that he even considered that about me.
“So how long are you in the UK for?” I ask, for want of a subject change.
“I’m flying back to LA first thing in the morning.”
“Oh,” I say, disappointed he’s leaving so soon. “Do you have a private jet?” I ask, being nosey.
“Yeah. It’s the label’s.”
“You mean the label which you own.”
“Hmm.”
Bloody hell, he’s got his own private jet.
“So the next time I see you will be at the tour.”
“Yes.”
I feel quite sad that I’m not going to see him for two weeks.
“Some best-friend you are,” I pout, jokingly. “You do remember that in the contract for being my best friend it has a beck-and-call clause in it don’t you. I mean what if I need … I don’t know – chocolates from Belgium, who’s gonna get them while you’re off in LA. I don’t know Jake, I might have to seriously consider trading you in,” I grin.
He chuckles, amused. “Don’t worry, I’ll make sure you don’t miss me.”
“I never said I’d miss you.”
“You never said you wouldn’t.”
God, he’s so bloody quick. I’m getting whip-lash just sitting here with him.
“I just want you for your cupcakes,” I say jesting. “And talking of cakes, will you help me eat some of them before I scoff them all and get seriously fat … and while you’re at it tell me about the tour too?”
“I can’t ever imagine you’d get fat, Tru … but your wish is my command.”
And he grins in that sexy way he does; the one where I definitely know there’s something going on behind it, I’m just not entirely sure what, as he leans forward and picks up one of the cakes.