Love Me to Death (29 page)

“So all this time she has been paying you to be her boyfriend?” Bobby asks for the second time.

“Yes.”

“I thought my life was weird but that is messed up.”

I laugh.

“What is messed up is that you’re doing ten miles an hour. Please, for the love of mankind put your foot down on the gas.”

“I’m driving at the speed limit.”

“No, dude the speed limit left you about ten miles ago. I can’t believe that you actually passed your driving test.”

“Well believe it,” he scoffs.

“Yeah you probably slept with the examiner.” I joke. Silence. “Bobby?”

“What?” he asks nervously.

“Oh my gosh, you did, didn’t you?”

“What are you talking about?”

“You slept with the examiner, didn’t you?”

“Shut up, Bren.”

“You dirty dog.” I’m grinning.

“Ok, so I slept with her but make no mistake, I passed fair and square.”

“I’m sure you did,” I chuckle.

“I did!”

“Yeah, I know.”

“She assured me that sleeping with her had nothing to do with me passing.”

“And you bought that crap? My grandma could drive faster than you.”

“You’ve never met your grandma,” he scoffs.

“I still bet she can drive faster.”

“Excuse me
you
are being paid to be somebody’s boyfriend so you better turn your little judgment meter off.”

“Touché.”

“Besides, she always said that I drove better after sex.”

I lose it. My laughter fills the car.

“How many tests did she make you take before you passed?”

“Three.”

I laugh even louder.

“Oh gosh, she passed me because I was screwing her didn’t she?”

“And the penny finally drops. Never mind, practice makes perfect.”

“Whatever. Where do I pull in?” he asks as we approach Ned’s building.

“Just there on the right, there’s an underground parking garage.”

“Gosh, Bren this is like a secret lair. You sure you’re not fake dating Bat Woman or something?”

“Just drive.”

“So, you want me to wait down here or—”

“Wait.”

“Anyone would think you’re ashamed of me.”

“I am ashamed of you. You exchanged sex for a license.” I chuckle.

“Not funny,” he groans as I slam the car door behind me.

“Hey!” I turn to see Bobby’s head leaning out the side of his black Jeep. “Don’t slam my car door,” he growls.

“Sorry,” I say raising my hands in the air with a smile on my face.

“It’s not funny!” he says. “It’s ok, Jessie, I won’t let that mean underpaid actor hurt you again,” he says dangling his hand out of his car window and stroking the car door.

“Weirdo,” I sing. I punch the code into the elevator and wait patiently for it to arrive. When it does I shuffle inside nervously trying to figure out exactly what I’m going to say to Ned when I get up there. Layla was right, I’m not giving up that easy. I’ve never met a woman like Ned and I’m not about to give up on her because of one stupid mistake I made.

When I reach the top I have to stop myself from running toward her door. Once I’m standing outside, I knock on the wooden door and wait patiently. When I hear a noise on the other side I breathe out a sigh of relief. The door opens and Misty appears, looking less than pleased to see me.

“What do you want?” she asks twirling a piece of gum — that is hanging out of her mouth — around her finger.

“I need to talk to Ned.”

“She’s not here.” She goes to shut the door but I stop it with my foot.

“Do you have any idea when she will be back? I can wait.”

“You’ll be waiting a while because she’s currently flying as far away from New York as possible.” She looks like she gets great pleasure sharing this information with me.

“Where is she?”

“That’s none of your business.”

“Look, Misty, I know that she’s your friend and I know she’s mad at me right now but I
really
need to talk to her.”

“Tough.”

“Please.”

“No. Now leave before I call security and have you removed.”

“No.”

“Excuse me?” Her hands are on her hips now and she looks even madder than when she first opened the door.

“I said
no.
I have just experienced the worst twenty-four hours of my life. My sister and her babies were in a car accident, I haven’t had a shower since yesterday and the woman I love wants nothing to do with me so please excuse me if your half-ass answers aren’t cutting it right now.”

Wait? What? Did I just say … did I just say that I love Ned?

I look up at Misty who now has a huge grin on her face. My head is spinning and I can’t figure out why I just said that.

“You love her?” she asks in amusement.

“No … I … I don’t know.”

“She’s flying to Paris with Jackson.”

“What? Why the hell is she with him?” I ask angrily.

“Yup, you’re in love with her,” she giggles.

I breathe a sigh of relief. “You were just testing me,” I say calmly.

“No, she’s really with him, on her way to Paris, I just wanted to see your reaction.”

“This isn’t funny.”

“Nope but it’s the truth. Look I want nothing more than to see Ned happy. I may not be your biggest fan right now but she’s been miserable since you guys fell out,” I cringe at the thought of making her feel that way. “But it’s because she’s in love with you too. She just won’t admit it.”

“Then what am I supposed to do?”

“Go get her! Go home and pack, I’ll book you on the earliest flight to Paris and write out Neddie’s schedule so you’ll know where to find her.”

“Really?”

“Yes, really, now go, time’s running out. I’ll send over your flight details and then meet you at the airport.”

Before I know it I have Misty wrapped in my arms.

“Thank you,” I smile.

She blushes. I may have just realized that I am in love with Ned but looking at the blush on Misty’s face lets me know that I’ve still got it. I wink at her before she shouts, “Go!”

I laugh before heading to the car. I’m going to Paris!

“So what the hell are you going to do once you get there?” Bobby asks as we walk through the airport in search of Misty.

“Wing it. Be honest.”

“The Brennan I know doesn’t do honest when it comes to women.”

“That’s because you don’t know me with Ned.”

Bobby suddenly stops walking and looks as if he has just seen a ghost. “No freaking way,” he whispers. I follow his eyes and see that he is staring at Misty.

“What is your problem?” I ask, shaking his hand off my arm.

“It’s her,” he whispers.

“What are you talking about?” I ask in frustration. I just want to get to Misty, get on the plane and find Ned before Jerkson gets his claws into her.

“The girl from the store.”

Now I’m staring at Misty like I have just seen a ghost. She looks back giving me a confused look.

“Misty is store girl?” I say out loud.

“Ned’s best friend is my soulmate. Oh my gosh, what are the odds,” he says.

“What are you doing? Your flight is leaving in fifteen minutes, you don’t have time to waste,” Misty says in frustration.

“Yeah, sorry.”

“Wait, don’t I recognize you?” she says, turning to Bobby.

“I … yeah … I buy things. I mean I buy things—I’ve bought things from the store you work in.” He stutters. I watch him in amusement. I’ve never seen Bobby like this, it’s hilarious.

“That’s right, the ‘returns’ guy. That’s what everyone calls you, you know. Why do you always bring stuff back and then buy more?” she asks curiously.

“I just … I don’t know.” Lame. Bobby, you’re an idiot.

“He hasn’t had much sleep,” I say.

“Yeah.” She looks at him as though he is the most peculiar person she’s ever met. “Anyway here is your confirmation number. You can get your ticket from the desk. And here is a copy of Neddie’s schedule. I’ve booked you into the same hotel as her and I’ve given you a list of her favorite places to visit and where she said she would be on each day. Good luck.”

“Thanks, Misty. Right, this is it,” I say to my currently illiterate friend and Misty.

“Everything will be fine, now get going before you miss your flight!”

“Thanks!” I say as I run backward.

“You’ll be there in around six hours. Have a safe flight.”

“Don’t remind me!” I chuckle.

I slip my phone out of my pocket and send a quick text to Layla.

Me: She’s in Paris with Jerkson.

Layla: What?! And lol … Jerkson I love it!

Me: That was a quick reply for someone who is supposed to be in the hospital recovering from surgery.

Layla: I don’t care about recovery right now! What are you going to do?

Me: Fly to Paris and get her back.

Layla: Ahh that is so romantic!! Go get her, Bro!! Love you! Fill me in as soon as you get back!

Me: I will and thanks for the talk.

Layla: Anytime! Now go and get back my future sister in law!

Me: I’m on it!

I smile before putting my phone back in my pocket and going to get my girl back.

Paris is even better than every picture I have ever seen of it in my entire life. I can’t believe it’s taken me trying to win Ned back to make me finally visit.

The flight was long and boring. The anticipation of getting to Ned made it feel like a twelve-hour flight instead of six. During takeoff, I kept Ned’s voice in my head and before I knew it I was comfortably in the air.
I miss her.
I have no idea whether or not she’s going to forgive me but the truth is that I need her to.

“Ok, here is your key card; would you like assistance carrying your bags up?” The clerk behind the desk asks. The hotel that Misty has booked me into is huge and clearly only for the most elite. I’m guessing that working at a store didn’t fund this trip so Misty obviously has direct access to Ned’s funds. Ned must really trust her.

“No, I can manage. Thank you.”

“Enjoy your stay, Mr. Cole; do not hesitate to call down to reception should you need anything.” The rich, French accent fills the air and I nod my head courteously. I walk into the first available elevator and make my way up to the fifteenth floor. When I get to door 1511, I pull the key card out of my pocket and slide it into the lock. A soft click lets me know I am in and I push the door open as I carry my bag in with me. I brush my hand over the light switch and wait as the room floods with light.