Authors: S. Briones Lim
“What’s up with your friend?” Cash asked as Ruthie and the band all loaded into a 15-seater mini-van. She entered the car and looked around in awe. After all those years trying to track the band down, here she was actually riding with them!
“Did you hear me?” Cash’s voice interrupted her thoughts.
Ruthie blinked. “Sorry, can you repeat that?”
Cash laughed, repeating, “What’s up with your friend? Is she always that uptight?”
Ruthie glued her lips together. She hated talking about Celine behind her back. In fact, she never had a need to, but this time she felt like she needed a release. “Sometimes,” she admitted. “However, she seemed really on top of her game this time around.”
Cash shook his head. “Hate to say it, but she’s temporarily on my crap-list right now.”
“Your what?” Ruthie asked, feeling her stomach drop.
“Well, it’s a rung above my shit list, I’ll give you that. Being on the crap list means you have some redeemable qualities. In fact, you can somehow work your way off the crap list.” He ran his tongue over the bottom of his front teeth and shook his head. “Shit list? Not so much.”
“I’m still on the crap list,” Braedon joked, obviously noticing Ruthie’s discomfort.
Ruthie cleared her throat. “Yeah, I’m not sure what’s up with her. But I promise she’s really a great person.”
Cash snickered. “That’s what they all say.”
***
“Wow!” Ruthie breathed as they pulled up to what reminded her of a modern day Hogwarts. The hotel was obviously five-star and one she would never have been able to stay in otherwise.
“Welcome to your humble abode for the night,” Cash yelled over the commotion.
The group was surrounded by security guards, who were desperately trying to push back the growing number of fans who were gathered around the entrance. A line of paparazzi also surrounded them, hounding, pushing, and calling out their names.
“Cash! Cash! Is that your new girlfriend?”
“Hey, Legs!” someone called out to Ruthie. “Turn around and give me a smile.”
Having only ever seen such chaos on television, Ruthie was a bit taken off guard. Feeling uncomfortable, she forced a smile. Cash reached around her waist and pulled her closer. “Stick with me, I know it can get overwhelming sometimes.”
They finally made it inside the lobby, which was closed off to the rest of the public. “Did you rent this whole place out?” Ruthie asked in wonder as she eyed the deserted room. Their footsteps echoed with each step they took, only accentuating the emptiness.
Cash smiled. “No, but they do give us a small window of time where they allow us free rein so we can make it up to our rooms before the crowds burst in.”
The word ‘rooms’ jogged Ruthie’s memory. “Oh! Do I have to check in or something?”
“Brian already took care of that for you. You have the room right next to mine.” He smiled slyly.
“Sounds great,” she said in barely a whisper. Oh. how she prayed they’d have adjoining rooms!
***
Celine and Brian were singing along to an Intensity song (yes, Celine managed to wrangle radio duties away from him) when her phone rang. A rather unflattering picture of Ruthie appeared on her screen.
Brian looked over her shoulder and began laughing. “Wow! Does she know you use that as her caller ID picture?”
Celine smiled. “Yeah, she knows and she absolutely hates it.” She snickered as she swiped her phone to answer the call. “Hello?”
“Celine! Thank God you answered!” Ruthie’s surprised voice answered from the other line.
Feeling perplexed, Celine replied, “Why wouldn’t I?”
“Never mind. Anyway, you will not believe this place! It’s like a hotel from a movie! Get this, I’m right next door to Cash’s room!”
“Guess you really aren’t afraid of throwing yourself at a guy,” Celine mumbled. Brian threw a curious glance at Celine. She shook her head in response.
“What?” Ruthie asked. Even she couldn’t miss the snarky edge in Celine’s tone. “What’s wrong with you? This has always been a dream! You know, having Cash fall for us!”
“He’s not going to fall for you, Ruthie.” Celine knew she was being blunt, but she had no choice. After finding out that Cash was nothing but a male tramp, coupled with Ruthie’s naivety with men, the situation was bound to end horribly.
Ruthie snorted on the other line. “Sheesh, can we be any bitchier?”
“I’m not being bitchy,” Celine argued. “Ruthie, not saying that you aren’t a total catch or anything, but Cash is a celebrity.”
“So what?” Ruthie snapped.
“Well, you want someone stable and loyal. I’m sorry, but I don’t think Cash would be that for you. Women are probably nothing but toys for him.”
“You don’t know him!” Ruthie protested.
“You don’t, either!” Celine reminded her.
“How do you even know Cash is a womanizer? Did Brian tell you?” Ruthie brought her manicured hand to her mouth. “Shit! Can he hear our conversation?”
Celine rolled her eyes. “Of course he can hear me, he’s driving me home!”
“How embarrassing,” Ruthie muttered. “Speaking of Brian, I should be the one telling you to be careful!”
“Me?” Celine gasped.
“I saw the way you looked at him! Don’t lie.” Ruthie snorted. “It’s the reason why you wanted to leave, isn’t it?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Celine murmured.
“Come off it, Celine. I know you as well as you think you know me.”
“I do know you well!” she protested.
“Precisely! You better take a gander at that big rock on your left hand. It’s not just there for accessorizing.” Ruthie’s voice was cold and distant. It was a tone Celine wasn’t used to hearing from her.
“It’s not like that and you know it.”
“Sure. Keep telling yourself that,” Ruthie chuckled sarcastically.
Celine sighed and pressed her hand against her forehead. “Just promise me you’ll be careful, okay? Cash is beyond any level man we’ve ever dealt with.”
“Fine. Just remember what I said, too.” Ruthie hung up without so much as saying goodbye.
“I can’t believe her,” Celine sighed, throwing her phone into the car’s cup holder. A sudden thought crossed her mind and she looked over at Brian apologetically. “I’m sorry for admitting you told me about Cash. I’m sure Ruthie won’t tell him what you said.”
Brian shook his head. “No worries. Cash knows exactly how I feel about him. Trust me. He’ll probably love the fact I warned someone about him. He gets off on being the bad boy.”
“Funny, I would never have thought of him as a bad boy. I always thought—”
“Braedon?”
She nodded.
“That’s how the industry manufactures these bands. They always give certain personas to each member. Helps appease every female taste from around the world! From what I gather, Cash was always viewed as the baby of the group. He was the sweet, nice one. It’s funny, but Braedon is actually a nicer guy than Cash is.”
“He did seem really nice,” Celine agreed.
“Yeah, he is. Loyal to his wife and kid. He deserves everything he gets. Cash, on the other hand…well, I guess every nice guy needs to rebel every once in a while. Cash’s rebellion just happened to last almost a decade or so.”
Celine sensed that something else was bothering Brian. Though she didn’t want to push him, she couldn’t help but ask, “Did something happen between you and Cash?”
“What?” Brian’s eyebrows raised in surprised. “What makes you think that?”
Celine shrugged. “It just seems you’re very adamant about how you feel about him.” Without a word, Brian began switching lanes. Celine blinked in alarm and eyed the GPS. They were definitely not en route anymore. “Where are we going?” she asked in confusion as they took the nearest exit ramp.
“I’m kidnapping you,” Brian said simply, without even glancing at her.
“Wait…wh-what?” Celine’s heart began to pound against her chest.
Brian began laughing hysterically. “God, you are still so gullible! I’m hungry. I haven’t eaten all day. I know a diner just ten minutes from this exit. Care to have some crepes with me?”
Celine was still sweating in fright, but she managed to let out a weak giggle. “Oh, yeah, food.”
Brian patted her on the arm good-naturedly. Celine couldn’t help the slight jump of her heart.
Ruthie was in the process of undressing when three consecutive knocks sounded from her door. Quickly slipping her camisole back on, she grabbed the bathrobe and tightened the belt around her waist. “Coming!” she called out. Her fingers fumbled with the door knob, clumsily yanking it open.
The sight of Cash Walker instantly took her breath away. A tight black shirt hugged every single muscle of his torso, riding up his stomach when he leaned against the door frame. “Don’t tell me you’re flaking out on the after party!” he said as he gave her robe a once over.
“I just wanted a little nap first?” Truth be told her unofficial official bedtime was around ten at night. It was already nearing midnight and coupled with her little bickering episode with Celine, she was on the verge of passing out. Forcing her eyes open, she added, “Or at least to relax for a bit.”
A sensual smile grazed Cash’s lips. “I can show you relaxing.” His smile grew wider as Ruthie’s cheeks reddened. “Come on, get dressed. Some of the guys are headed downtown already. Join me.”
The fact that Cash ordered her as opposed to asking her didn’t bother her in the slightest. Pushing Celine’s warnings away, she nodded her head. “Sure, just give me a second.”
A lopsided grin appeared on Cash’s face. “I’ll be waiting for you in the lobby.”
He turned away just as Ruthie began closing the door behind him. She quickly ran to her bed and threw on her outfit from earlier. In record time, she also retouched her makeup and redid her hair. If she was committing a fashion faux pas in repeating outfits, she might as well look good doing it.
Ruthie barely restrained herself from running to the elevator, her exhaustion melting away. She impatiently pressed the button and jumped back in surprise when the door opened. “I was just going to check on you!” Cash said warmly. He reached out and grabbed her hand. “I was getting a bit worried. Thought you might have fallen asleep.”
“Who, me? Never?” Her eyes wandered down, taking in Cash’s hand on her own and instantly felt her skin begin to warm up under his.
“Good. We won’t want you to tire out so easily. That’ll come later.”
Ruthie visibly gulped as she followed him into the elevator.
***
Vertigo was the hottest new club in downtown San Diego. The hype surrounding the club was excessive as it was owned by one of the world’s most famous rappers. On any given night, the line to get into the club stretched way around the city block. If you didn’t have any connections or ties to the club, you might as well kiss your dream of getting in goodbye.
Intensity’s Black SUV pulled up to the entrance of the club. A line of scantily dressed women began to scream as Conner stepped one foot out of the car.
“It’s Intensity!” someone squealed. Loud screeches soon followed as security created a barricade around the car.
“You ready?” Cash asked. He gently pushed a strand of her hair back behind her ear. Paparazzi who undoubtedly chased the SUV all the way from the hotel, pushed through the growing crowd of people and began snapping pictures. Even from inside the car, Ruthie felt blinded by what seemed to be a million flashes.
She did her best to keep a calm expression. “Sure, this isn’t abnormal or anything. All everyday stuff.”
Cash laughed and stepped out of the car. The answering screams were even more deafening than the concert arena from the night before. He pushed his hand through his styled hair and flashed a smile at the paparazzi. After a few pictures, he turned slightly and held out his hand. Ruthie grabbed it and was gently pulled from the car.
“Who is that bitch?” a drunk woman cried out from the crowd.
“Hey, it’s Legs!” a photographer screamed. “Honey! What’s your name?”
Cash turned and smiled at the crowd. “This is Ruthie. Remember that.” He bent over and gave her a quick kiss on the cheek. That simple act alone caused grown women to scream with envy and photographers to click away.
Cash grinned at Ruthie’s shocked expression and whispered in her ear, “Come on, let’s go inside. Don’t get too far away from me, okay?”
She nodded, and having always wanted to do it, waved at the paparazzi. Throwing close-lipped smiles (she didn’t want to risk any lipstick being on her front teeth) she quickly followed Intensity’s entourage inside Vertigo. Not once did Cash let go of her hand.