“I’ll text you when we get in.”
“Good. I’ll worry.” He links our fingers on both hands and loops them around my back then leans in and kisses me, not giving a shit who might be watching. Finally he releases one of my hands and cups my neck, his thumb making little circles on my cheek as his lips nibble and make me forget where I am.
With one kiss, he can completely disarm me.
“Be safe,” he whispers against my lips.
“You too,” I reply and brush my fingers through his hair. “I’ll see you soon.”
He nods and frowns slightly, but then smiles widely, in that naughty way and winks down at me. “I love you, Meredith Agatha.”
“I love you too. But Jax is gonna die.”
***
“Christ on a cracker, Jax, you’re trying to fucking kill me.” Starla growls before guzzling half a water bottle. I raise my brows at Jax and plant my hands on my hips.
“I told you.”
He glares at me and shakes his head. “Trust me, you’ll get it.”
“Oh, I’ll get it alright,” she agrees. “But it doesn’t change the fact that you’re a sadistic asshole.”
“I’ve missed you,” I say and wrap my arms around Starla’s shoulders. “I love that you can tell Jax he’s an asshole.”
“You tell me I’m an asshole all the time,” he reminds me.
“I’ve missed you guys too. This routine is stellar. Seriously perfect for the song. Thank you for doing this.”
“It’s all him.” I point to Jax and wink at him. “I’m just his puppet.”
“You’re a gorgeous puppet,” she says. “I want you guys to come back to my place tonight for dinner and to chat. It’s been too long.”
“I’m up for that,” I reply. “Thank you!”
Jax nods and then turns at the sound of his name. Brian Kellogg, the dancer who will be dancing Jax’s part in the routine just came in from taking a phone call.
“Let’s get back to it,” Starla says.
***
“God, I’m exhausted,” Starla says and exhales deeply. We’re settled in her family room, sprawled over couches and chaise lounges, stuffed with fresh fish and salad.
“You worked hard today, baby,” her fiancé, Rick, murmurs and kisses her temple. Rick is great. He’s not in the music business at all. He’s a racecar driver, of all things, and they met at a charity function about two years ago. He’s tall and thin and all tattooed up, even on his neck.
He looks like he could be a rocker.
“How do you know? You weren’t there.”
“You always work hard.”
“You guys are too cute,” I say and smile at them. “How are the wedding plans coming?”
“I hired a girl,” Starla replies and rolls her blue eyes. Starla is stunning, with chin-length platinum blond hair, smooth white skin and her signature bright red lips. She’s in fantastic shape. She always danced just as hard as the rest of us. Starla isn’t just a singer, she’s one of the top entertainers in the world, and she works her ass off. “I like her ideas and she’s great about checking in with me on stuff, so it’s working for us.”
“Good.”
“And you guys are coming,” she says while pointing at us.
“We wouldn’t miss it,” Jax assures her.
“How is Brian doing with the shows?” I ask and pick a hangnail on my right hand.
“He’s fine. He’s a damn good dancer, but he’s no Jax.”
“He’s a drama queen,” Rick says with a roll of the eyes.
“Yeah, he is that,” Starla agrees. “But he’s hot and the audience loves him, so as long as he doesn’t piss me off too bad, I’ll keep him around. Until I can talk Jax into coming back, that is.”
Jax laughs and shakes his head, but Starla isn’t laughing. She sits up straight and leans her elbows on her knees.
“Actually, I wanted to talk to you guys about something.”
Jax and I share a look and then watch her quietly.
“Mer, I’m so sorry about your mama. I’m sorry I couldn’t come to the funeral. I was stuck in a blizzard in New York and couldn’t get a flight out.”
“Oh, Star, it’s okay. Thank you for calling that day. I knew you were thinking of me.”
She nods and then sighs. “Geez, why am I nervous?”
“What’s up, little girl?” Jax asks. He always called her little girl because Starla is so petite.
“I miss you guys. We toured together for so many years, you’re just a part of this whole family that we have going here. I want you to come back on tour with me next year, and choreograph the whole tour too.”
“That would mean that I’d have to start working on that as soon as we get back to Seattle,” Jax says in surprise. Starla nods, watching us both.
“We have a studio now, Star, with clients and kids who depend on us.” I’m shaking my head slowly as the possibilities run through my head.
“You can hire people to take care of the studio while you’re gone,” she replies. Rick continues to watch us silently. “Think about it. I’ll give you both raises of course. And I’m now offering a benefits package too.”
“You’re so generous,” Jax says dryly.
“It’s tax deductible,” she says.
Do I want to go back on tour? Never knowing what time zone I’m in, not to mention what city. The long hours on planes and buses. The grueling, constant rehearsal. Late nights. Weird sleep patterns.
No Mark.
No way.
I shake my head and look Starla in the eye as I answer her honestly. “Thank you for this opportunity, Star. I’m going to pass. I’ve only got a year or two left in me before I start getting injured from the rigorous routines, and honestly, I’m happy with my life in Seattle.”
“You met someone,” Rick guesses.
“I’ve reconnected with someone,” I reply. “And I love him. I’m done touring. But I love that you thought enough of me to ask me back.”
“Keep in touch,” she says. “I’ll need regular updates on how it’s going with your man.”
“I’ll do that.”
“I’m going to pass too,” Jax says with a sigh. “I’m happy at the studio, and I have some choreography opportunities with the university dance team as well.”
“You met someone too, you bitch!” Starla cries and throws a pillow at him.
“He did,” I say and clap my hands. “And he’s
hot
.”
“Why did you all have to leave me and find sexy people to have sex with and not want to come back with me?” She sticks out her lower lip in a pout before burying her face in another pillow. “Moo haff me.”
“What was that?” I ask with a laugh.
“You hate me.”
“We love you.” I blow her a kiss and grin widely. “But I love Mark more.”
“Well, then, let’s get all our gossiping in now while I have your undivided attention.” She clears her throat and begins telling us stories of the band and their sexcapades and which celebrity fell backstage at the Grammys.
I settle back in the cushions and listen, laughing, and counting the hours until I can go home to Mark.
***
“Hey,” I whisper as I borough down into the covers and cup the phone to my ear.
“Hi, sweetheart. Why are you whispering?”
“Because it’s late and I’m tired and it seems appropriate.”
“How was your day?” His voice sounds tired. I wish he was here, cuddled up next to me where I could smell him and feel him.
“Busy.”
“Tell me.”
“Well,” I begin and turn onto my back so I can stare at the ceiling. “We checked into the hotel, which you know because I texted you. After Jax showered and we both changed, we went directly to the studio and worked with Starla and Brian until about six this evening.”
“Who’s Brian?” he asks and then I hear him chewing something crunchy.
“The male dancer. What are you eating?”
“Popcorn.”
“This late?”
“I worked through dinner.”
I can’t help but be sad at the thought of Mark working alone in his big house all evening, skipping dinner and eating only popcorn.
“Do all women have the undeniable urge to take care of their men?” I ask aloud and bite the inside of my cheek.
“What are you talking about?”
“I suddenly wish I was there to make sure you didn’t forget to eat dinner.”
“I wish you were here for far more interesting things than dinner,” he says with a dry voice, making me giggle. “What else happened today?”
“Starla invited Jax and I back to her place for dinner with her and Rick, her fiancé.”
“Was that fun?” More chewing, and now I’m suddenly craving popcorn.
“Yes. They’re both really cool people, and she filled us in on all of the gossip we’ve been missing out on. She wants us to come to the wedding in Paris this fall.”
“That’ll be fun for you guys.”
I frown and look at the phone and then press it back to my ear.
“It’ll be fun for
all
of us. She invited all four of us, silly.”
“Wow. Okay. I’m glad you’re having a good time.”
“It’s fun, but I’m ready to come home.”
“So, what are you wearing?”
“You always ask me that,” I reply. “What are
you
wearing?”
“Well, I took my shirt off a while ago because I was getting too warm, so no shirt and jeans.”
“Can you see the elastic of your underwear over the top of your jeans?”
“A little bit, yeah.”
“Holy fuck,” I whisper. “That’s so fucking hot.”
“Seriously?” He laughs and crunches on more popcorn. “Why do women find that hot?”
“Don’t misunderstand. It’s not hot on
everyone
. But it’s hot on guys like you, who have that sexy V in their hips and defined abs.”
“It sounds like you’ve done a lot of research on this.”
“Oh yeah, I’m an expert,” I reply and wish again that he were with me so I could drag my fingertip down that sexy V.
“Okay, now you tell me what you’re wearing.”
“Nothing.”
“Excuse me?”
“I’ve gotten used to sleeping naked.”
“Tell me you and Jax are
not
sharing a room.”
“No.”
“Send me some dirty pictures.”
“No!”
“Come on.”
“Hell no.” I giggle uncontrollably, loving the playful side of Mark.
“Just send me your boobs. You don’t have to include your face.”
“Not on your life!”
“Okay, I’ll take a pussy shot.”
“You are so dirty.” I try to make my voice sound stern, but fail miserably.
“Only when it comes to you, baby.”
“I should hope so.” I sigh and feel my eyelids grow heavy. “I miss you already.”
“I missed you before you boarded that fucking plane.”
I grin. “Sweet talker.”
“Get some sleep, baby. I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”
“We should wrap up by about five, so I’ll call you no later than five-thirty.”
“Okay. Goodnight, M.”
“Goodnight, M.”
He ends the call and I switch my phone to camera mode, flip on the flash and take a selfie then text it to him. The sheet is tucked under my underarms and my hair is fanned out around me on the pillow. I don’t have any makeup on and I look exhausted.
Several seconds later, he responds with a photo of himself, smiling softly at me through the lens. He’s written one line:
Love you, beautiful.
Chapter Eleven
~Mark~
“I was surprised to hear from you today,” I say and take a bite of my cheeseburger.
“I escaped the lab. I left Colin to fend for himself,” Lena replies and winks at me. “We haven’t seen you in a while.”
I shrug and pop a greasy fry in my mouth. “I’ve been busy.”
“Who is she?” She smiles knowingly and takes a bite of her grilled chicken sandwich. “Why did I get this? I should have got a burger.”
My phone beeps with an incoming text on the table next to me.
“Sorry, I have to check this.”
This is Jax. I borrowed Mer’s phone. Here’s a photo of her working.
The photo is stunning. Mer is standing behind Starla and both are looking in the mirror before them. Mer is talking and pointing to Starla’s stomach, clearly coaching the celebrity.
God, I fucking miss her like crazy.
I quickly type out a thank you and set my phone aside.
“Meredith,” I finally answer Lena and smile widely.
“The Meredith who broke your heart after high school?” she asks in surprise. “The one that broke your heart so badly that you wouldn’t give me the time of day?”
I chuckle and shake my head at the beautiful brunette. Lena is curvy, with long dark hair and big blue eyes, and a killer rack.
Not that I’d ever tell her that. Or her husband.
“You only had eyes for Colin,” I remind her. “Maybe it was
you
who broke my heart.”