My Once and Future Love (49 page)

****

Our goodbye was discreet, even in the private
hanger. We strung it out until the last minute, and then Jacob was
gone, promising to call as soon as he landed.
With nothing else to do but get back to normal life, I did some
errands, stopping by the office--Celeste was out--and going to the
market. My stomach flipped when I got into the checkout line and
glanced at the tabloids.
The front page asked "Who Is Jake Lindsey's Mystery Girl?" above a
picture of us kissing in the park. You couldn't see my face, but
his profile was clear as day. Another magazine had a smaller
picture of us embracing by the cars taken through the gate to his
house. It was only a matter of time before they got a clear shot of
what I looked like.
I kept my head down as I paid for the groceries and hurried out of
the store. Don't panic, don't panic...I knew this would be an
aspect of our relationship. Don't panic...
Yeah, right.

Engrossed in looking through my lens, I
jumped when my phone rang.

“H-hello?”

“You alright, sweetheart?” Jacob’s concerned
voice came through the line.

“Yeah, um…yeah… The ringing just startled me.
I’m working.”

“You’ll have to show me later.” Airport
sounds were in the background. “I miss you already.”

“Mm, that’s nice. Listen, Jacob…”

“I don’t like that tone, Bethie.”

“No, nothing like that. Have you looked at a
newsstand?”

“Not yet, why?”

“We’re in the papers,” I said. “Well, you
are. I’m still ‘Mystery Girl’.”

“Oh, God, baby, I’m sorry you had to see
that. You should have called me.”

“I was leaving the market and I had cold
stuff to get home. Then I went to work. It’s… I always knew this
would be a thing, you know, so, it’s okay.”

“You don’t sound okay.”

I sighed. “It was just a surprise. They don’t
have my identity, yet, and you’re in another town, so the cameras
will follow you. I’m okay.”

“Are you sure, love?”

“Yeah…” I’d already said it twenty times that
day, hoping it would make it true.

“I don’t think I believe you. Nothing has
changed, alright? I’ve already talked to Lynn about us, so the
second they get too invasive, it’ll be handled, okay? I want you to
promise me you’ll spend time out while I’m gone; keep doing your
normal things.”

“I’m at work now, aren’t I?”

“Beth…you know what I mean. Go out with your
friends, or your dad. No hermitting.”

“I don’t…
hermit
.”

“Says the girl who already confessed to
burying herself in paperwork to avoid life.”

“Yeah, yeah…break a leg tonight.”

“I’ll call you after the gig,” he promised.
“I love you.”

“I know. Bye…” Hearing him get into a car, I
hung up.

I cycled through the pictures on the memory
card. Half of them were rubbish, but I only needed five good ones
for the spread. Figuring I was too distracted to get any more work
done, I packed up my equipment and went to the office to drop off
the memory card.

Celeste greeted me with a smile. “Hey,
stranger. How’s the glamorous life?”

“About to get a whole lot more public.”

“What? How so?”

I placed the card in the reader attached to
her computer. “The photogs are spying on us already. There are
pictures in the tabloids.”

“Revealing pictures?”

“No! Get your mind out of the gutter.
Sneaky
pictures. They didn’t show my face, but it’s just a
matter of time.”

She glanced at the screen. “Huh. These are a
bit…plain, for you.”

“Sorry. I was a bit distracted today,” I
snapped. “I know they’re crap.”

She didn’t take offense. “Well, your crap is
still better than a lot of what we’ve had in the past. I can use
these.” She slid a file across the desk as she cycled through the
shots. “Your assignments for next week.”

“There’s more than one?”

“It’s the rush season--last call to get the
East coast buildings in before it snows,” she said. She smirked as
I read the file. “The scheduling is quite…convenient, if I say so,
myself.”

My eyes lifted to meet hers. “You are one sly
fox.”

“Better believe it, honey.”

She called it an early day and dragged me
shopping.

“I don’t need anything new.”

“Of course, you don’t, but you’re surprising
your new sweetie--you
want
something new.”

I narrowed my eyes at her. “Are you
conspiring to get me laid?”

She smiled sweetly. “Do I need to?”

Sulking, I sunk lower in the seat. “Very
funny.”

“Look, he’ll be happy to see you no matter
what, I know that, but it won’t hurt to appear like you’ve made a
little effort, okay? It makes a man feel special. I promise not to
tart you up too much.”

I sighed in defeat. “As long as we’re done by
the time Jacob’s supposed to call.”

Jacob was exhausted when he finally managed
to call, but I still found it very sweet he took the effort to
remember. The next show was in New Jersey on Sunday, so he was
leaving Philadelphia midday tomorrow after a guest stint on a radio
show. Monday through Saturday morning, they were in New York City
for press events, more radio shows, and concerts. The last concert
of the US tour was in Boston next Sunday.

I was looking forward to having him back
home.

This Sunday morning, I was having breakfast
with Daddy. My phone chimed with an instant message.

Blueyedevil: I am so bloody bored.

I giggled, and typed back: What are you
doing?

Blueyedevil: I’m stuck in the hotel waiting
for the puppy to bring back lunch. They won’t let me leave the
building until it’s time to go to the arena. There is not a single
thing on TV on Sunday!

Bookworm01: Aww, poor baby. Dad says hi.
We’re having pancakes. Why don’t you order a movie?

Blueyedevil: Naughty girl… I’d be thinking of
you, though.

I blushed and shifted in my chair to hide my
face from my father, though he seemed busy reading the comics.

Bookworm01: Not that kind!!!

Blueyedevil: I can use my imagination, then.
I’m picturing a tall, hot brunette librarian just itching to
reprimand some bloke for turning in a late book.

Bookworm01: My father is sitting
right
here
!!

Blueyedevil: Can he see the screen?

Bookworm01: No…but!

Blueyedevil: Then I’ll continue. She’s been
watching this same punk turn in his books late every month and
charm the other birds out of paying the fee, so she’s going to
teach him a lesson…

Bookworm01: Jacob!!!

I got up from the table and went into my
room.

Blueyedevil: But he’s been waiting for it to
be her, see…has seen her glare at him behind those sexy wire-frame
glasses in her tweed skirts, silk blouses, and sensible shoes.
There’s a fire hiding behind all that buttoned-up primness and he’s
just the bloke to coax it out of her.

Bookworm01: I’m signing off now…

Blueyedevil: Okay! Okay, I’ll stop. Don’t
go.

Bookworm01: I’m here. You panic too easy,
lol.

Blueyedevil: What are you wearing?

Bookworm01: *sigh* Sweats and a t-shirt. It’s
Sunday morning, duh.

Blueyedevil: Aww, you’re no fun.

Bookworm01: If I say something different, the
puppy’s going to catch you in a compromising position.

Blueyedevil: Not gonna play, are you?


Bookworm01: Nope!


Bookworm01: Think you’ll sell out
tonight?

Blueyedevil: I never know that stuff ‘til
after. As long as it’s a good gig, doesn’t matter too much. Wed,
Thurs, Fri. are going to be hardcore. Thank God we break for
Saturday or I’d drop.

Bookworm01: You need a vacation.

Blueyedevil: Probably. Gotta go, baby, the
puppy is back. Can’t wait to come home.

Bookworm01: Miss you, too.

Signing off, I closed the device and smiled,
thinking of my surprise for him this week.

****

When I boarded the plane, Celeste was in the
seat next to mine.

“I don’t need a chaperone,” I said, putting
my carry-on in the overhead compartment.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about. I’m
on vacation.”

Shaking my head, I said, “I was wondering how
I ended up in first class.”

“Frequent flyer upgrade. I can talk my way
into anything.” Boy that was the truth.

I sat down and stowed my purse under the
seat. “I’ve noticed. What’s the real reason you’re coming to New
York with me?”

“I’m your best friend. I’m going to keep you
company while your better half is oh-so-busy.”

“Code for you ‘are hoping to hook up with
someone in the band’. I’m just not sure whom.”

She sighed. “You know me too well, but I’m
not telling who I’m meeting.”

“Have your secrets. I’ll find out on my own.
Gum?” I held out the pack.

She took a stick. “Thanks. Just think—we
could double-date to the Grammy’s.”

That made me laugh. “Another groupie is
born.”

“Oh, shut up.”

It was late afternoon in New York City when
we landed. Celeste pre-arranged everything. It was amazing what
that girl could do on short notice. In moments, we were in a
shuttle on the way to our hotel.

Looking in our room, I was shocked. “Whoa!
Now, I know the magazine didn’t pay for this.”

“You’d be surprised.” Off my look, she
elaborated. “Okay, they’re only paying part of it. But, since you
actually are on a business trip, there are write-offs, Miss
Freelancer. And I’m on vacation. Why shouldn’t I upgrade? Oh, god,
look at this tub!”

Hopeless. She’s completely hopeless.

I shook my head and started hanging clothes
in the closet. “I can’t believe you brought that enormous suitcase
just for five days.”

“It’s New York City! Have to be prepared for
anything. Besides, cold weather stuff is bulkier. I even brought
waterproof boots.”

“It’s supposed to be sunny all week.”

She wagged her finger at me. “You never
know…” Her beauty stuff spilled over the bathroom counter. “So,
what’s Jake’s schedule?”

“Very busy. His people are pushing heavy
promotion while he’s here in addition to the concerts. Reggie said
he’d call when Jacob is back at his hotel for the night.”

“Well, is there anything we can show up
to?”

“If you want to stand in line for
hours…”

“Oh.”

“Yeah. I need to look up where my locations
are, then we should grab some dinner.”

My cell phone rang while we were trying to
decide what to order in.

“Hello?”

“Hey, Beth. Jake should be back to his room
by eight.”

“Thanks, Reggie. Has he eaten?”

“Not that I’ve seen.”

I double-checked the hotel name and suite
number, let Reggie go, then picked up the restaurant directory that
came with our room and dialed out.

“Who are you calling?” Celeste asked.

“Pizza place… Hi, do you take credit cards?
Great. I want to have a pizza sent to…” I gave the information, had
it repeated back, and hung up, grinning.

“That was the grossest pizza I’ve ever heard
of.”

“I know, isn’t it? Jacob loves it, though.
And, he’ll know who sent it.”

“You’ll make a very good wife,” she
teased.

“Shut up.”

“No, seriously…have you thought about it?
You’d have these genius supermodel children.”

I rolled my eyes. “You spend way too much
time thinking about my love life.”

“Just sayin’…”

“Decide where you want to eat, already!”

She zipped her lips shut and pointed to a
page in the directory. We’d never spent extended time together
before. It was possible I might kill her by Saturday.

I left my cell charging in the hotel room,
so there was a voice mail message waiting when we got back.

“
Hey, babe, I don’t know how you arranged
it, but THANK YOU. Today was just horrid until I opened the door to
see the pizza boy. Miss you, especially on days like this.

Love you.
”

I sighed happily and saved the message on my
phone.

“So, what did he say?”

“He was very grateful. Sounds like it was a
Monday.”

She shuddered. “Ooo, I hate Mondays.”

“Uh-huh. I think we should go to the
Today Show
tomorrow.”

“I’m not standing in line over there by
myself, you know. Just so we’re clear.” Celeste wrinkled up her
nose in distaste.

“I promise I won’t make you go alone.”

****

Celeste started to think if it was up to
Beth, Jacob would never know his girlfriend was in New York. She
hadn’t called him, yet, though she had his suite number as well as
his personal phone. And when the band came out to sign autographs
after taping their TV appearance, where was Beth? At Starbucks,
getting tea.

Jacob didn’t come out that way, but it
would’ve been easy enough to pass on a message through the band.
Now, it was late afternoon, and Beth was with the client.

The whole purpose of coordinating this trip
now
had been to give the new lovebirds more time together.
If Beth didn’t surprise the boy soon, Celeste was going to take
matters into her own hands.

But that was tomorrow.

Tonight, she had a date.

****

Jacob smiled and shook hands with people like
he was supposed to, but his mind wasn’t on the party. He wanted to
be back at the hotel working on the new songs, or preparing for
tomorrow’s concert, or talking to Beth on the phone. These industry
parties were all flash, no substance. Before, he would have gotten
a little buzzed and picked up the nearest single hottie for the
night, but now…

“Skip out and call your girl,” Bob said,
breaking Jacob’s reverie. “We’ll cover for you.”

“Yeah, you look bored stiff. No offense,”
the girl on Bob’s arm added.