Private Affair (The Private Series) (30 page)

“You got it. Good luck and I love you.”

After I close the door behind him I decide to take a nap, I am exhausted and the air conditioner in here is finally getting cool enough for me to feel comfortable. I climb onto the bed, close my eyes and dream about walking down the aisle towards Ben.

My alarm sounds off and I have to get up and make my way to the place where the big concert for Tony is happening. I don’t feel like dressing up, so I just slip on my sneakers, tighten my ponytail and grab my camera bag. I hail a taxi and get to the venue in a flash, I didn’t realize the hotel was so close. Outside of the concert center there are lines of people, waiting to see Tony. It’s insane how popular he had become, an actual overnight success.

I jump out and decide to photograph the crowd. A few groups of young girl had signs, another couple of teens had made t-shits and others were just so darn cute and full of energy that I had to capture this. Even if it doesn’t make the feature I think Tony would enjoy seeing it. That’s the great thing about Tony, he cares. He wants all of his fans to know how grateful he is of them and that makes him so humble.

A group of young women call me out by name, which was a little unnerving. “Hey! You’re Tess right?”

“Um, yeah I am…” I mean what do you say to someone who is a complete stranger, who calls you out?

“Is it true that you are dating Tony Towers?” She asks me.

I shake my head no, “He is free as a bird. I am just the hired help and a friend.” I give the girl a polite smile and start to walk away.

“Can you get us backstage with him?” She yells after me.

I turn and feel a mood swing, “So you can what?”

The two girls look at one another and grin, “You know…”

“To fuck him?” I ask bluntly. The look on their faces are completely worth it. Their jaws drop open and shocked that I just came out and said it like that.

Thrown off she stutters her next few words, “Um…well...uh…”

I turn and look back over my shoulder, “He’s not that kind of guy ladies.” I shake my head at the thought that so many believe that he is a sex crazed rock star.

“Sure, you’re just saying that to keep him for yourself!” She yells.

Feeling cocky, I shake my ass as I walk down the long crowded line and in through the event doors waving my ALL ACCESS pass. Inside I find Tony and Jennifer talking to his rep from Smash Records. “Finally!” The man in the suit gusts once I reach them.

“Sorry, am I late or something?” I can’t help but silently laugh at my own words and inside knowledge.

The guy shakes his head and checks the time on his fancy watch, “No, but you are later than everyone else. Just get to work and start getting shots in.”

He turns and I salute the man making my two friends laugh. “Okay where do we begin?” I ask.

“Well I have already interviewed Tony on how he is feeling and such, so that’s all set. Now I just sit back and write about what I see.” Jennifer rattles off, avoiding eye contact with me.

“Can I talk to you Jennifer?” I nod my head over to an empty corner. I feel like we just need to clear the air. Oddly I am not that mad. Hurt? Yes, but not angry.

She follows me over, before she can speak I start “I just wanted to let you know that I want us to be able to be friends. I know what you did was for a decent enough reason. It wasn’t personal.”

I see her shoulders relax, “Thank you Tess, I really like you and want to be friends too. I know what I did was an awful thing, but…”

“You had to do, what you had to do. I get it, how old is your little one anyways?” I ask her.

She hugs me and in my ear tells me, “He is four and a half and the most amazing thing in my life.”

“I bet you’re an awesome mom.” She waves me off and wipes a tear away from her dark outlined eyes. She really is gorgeous with her big brown eyes and perfectly tanned skin.

“So, who was this Nicole chick anyways?” She asks me, and I remember that neither I nor Ben explained that part to her.

“She is Ben’s ex. They were supposed to get married and she cheated on him. She has been trying to break us up, to get back with him. She doesn’t seem to understand that, that will never happen. She really messed him up. Even when she knows that we are getting married, she is still trying.”

“What the fuck? I am so sorry Tess! If I had known any of that or who she was, then I would have told her where to go.”

I hug her, “I know that, that’s why I am not mad at you.”

“Want me to mess her up?”

I laugh, but then see the look on her face that she is completely serious I stop. “Seriously?” I asks.

She smiles, “You know I could.”

“You most definitely could, but believe me, she is not worth it.”

“But now I feel like total shit.” She says with a pained look on her face, which I don’t understand.

“Why?”

“Well, I may have made a move on Ben when he came here to visit you…” She closes her one eye in fear of what I will do.

My chest clenches, but I have to keep in mind that Ben would never do anything to hurt me and he told me he was never interested in her. “What happened?” I ask.

“I made a move on him and he pushed me away. I was a little tipsy and I didn’t really mean to. I kind of always had a little thing for him, and the fact that he never looked at me twice, turned it into a little game for me. And when I drink I get ballsy. Now, knowing about what you have been going through with his ex I feel like a fucking ass hole.”

“Thank you for telling me. I appreciate your honesty. How about we just start clean and move forward?” I just want to forget all the bad shit that was once again brought on by Nicole. Will it ever truly be over? I don’t know, but I can hope. I don’t think I could handle anymore drama.

I walk around the backstage, finding things to photograph and I find Tony on the phone. I creep up on him and he doesn’t see me behind him, “Thanks Dad, that means a lot to me and don’t worry about not making it here tonight, I understand … Yeah, next time.” He ends the call and turns to find me holding my camera up in his direction. He waves and smiles a cheesy over the top smile. “Well hello Tess.”

I wave back, “Excited?” I ask him, being this is his first solo show.

“I am. Nervous as all fuck, but yeah I am pretty stoked.”

I punch his shoulder, “So your Dad couldn’t make it huh?”

Tony shakes his head and offers me a tight smile, “Nah, he was too busy at work. It’s all good though, because I am going to be touring on my own here shortly and I am headed that way for a show.”

“No way! That’s great Tony! Congrats!” I jump him for a hug and he spins me around.

He looks down at me before putting me down, “I suppose I can’t persuade you to join me can I?”

Once I am back on my feet I fidget with my shirt, awkward. “Sorry.”

He tucks a loose strand of hair behind my ear, it must have come loose from my ponytail when he spun me. “Look. I know what I did was messed up on the bus, but…”

“What?”

“Fuck, I am glad I did it. I knew it was probably going to be the only kiss I get from you. I really like you Tess, you’re different. There isn’t anything I wouldn’t do for you.”

“Tony…”

He drops his head and looks up at me through his dark eyelashes and his sexy guy-liner eyes. Tony is a great guy and our talks have been great, sure we have a connection, but I love Ben. “Look Tony, you’re a great guy, really you are. You’re sweet, sexy and talented, but I am with Ben for the long haul. We have a connection that can’t be broken.”

“I understand and I am gentleman enough to back away. I just had to tell you how I felt. If I didn’t I would have always wondered, what if? Can we still be friends?”

I smile, as I feel relieved by his confession. “Of course. Besides I wouldn’t have anyone else tattoo me.”

“How about after the show I hook you up? A thank you gift from me for doing the tour.”

Uh oh.

“Thanks, but no thanks right now. Besides I don’t know what I would get anyways.” Shit, I hope that’s a good enough reason. I can’t tell him or anyone about the baby yet.

He eyes me. Shit. “Everything alright?” He leans in and asks me. “I mean not many people I know would turn down a free tattoo…Oh my God!”

I quickly shush him and put a hand over his mouth, “Shut up! Don’t say or do anything. No one knows.” I am an inch from his face and I am on my tip toes just to get there.

He puts his hands up in surrender, “Okay, I won’t say a word. But, oh my God Tess! How long? Ah, man now I feel like a total mother fucking douche bag! I am so sorry!”

I smile, I am kind of happy I get to talk to someone about it. Sure, I’d prefer it to be my Mom or Erin, but Tony will do. “I am not sure. I just found out not too long ago.”

“Wow, well congrats Tess I am really happy for you and Ben.”

“Thank you, now can you start getting back to work, so I can do my job?” I wink.

He does an awkward air guitar pose and wiggles his tongue, “Take my picture!” He jokes, but I snap one anyways, “Hey!” He laughs and puts his arm around my shoulder and we walk to the side of the stage.

I am not happy about any of this. The last thing I wanted to do was to leave Tess alone in a city like Las Vegas. I mean fuck, so much bloody shit happens there.

“Hey Charles,” I greet my co-owner and bartender. I really don’t give the man enough credit. “So what’s going on with the health inspector? Where are the papers?”

He is getting ready for the Saturday rush and is drying some glasses behind the bar. He stops and gives me a look of total confusion. “What do you mean? And aren’t you supposed to be in Vegas right now?”

“I got a call from the health board saying that an inspector was sent in, because someone made a complaint about the place and I had to come in to sign off on an agreement.” I lean against the bar and wait for him to remember.

Charles tosses the white drying rag in front of me, “Hey man, no one has come in here to inspect a thing. We are up to code one everything.”

I can feel the blood wash from my head, any noises that were happening before are now unheard. My heart starts to pound and my vision goes dark for a moment, then it all comes in. Someone set me up to get me away from Tess.