Total pages in book: 143
Estimated words: 138287 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 691(@200wpm)___ 553(@250wpm)___ 461(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 138287 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 691(@200wpm)___ 553(@250wpm)___ 461(@300wpm)
It felt as though my world was complete again. Well, almost complete.
One person was absent and it felt almost poetic because at one point, he was my entire universe.
But I didn’t want to think about him right now.
Pulling back, I kept my eyes on Noah. When his lips descended and he pressed them to my forehead, I closed my eyes, taking the hidden apology and letting him know it was okay. That I was okay.
Noah pulled back but kept his arm around my shoulders and then he got straight to business. “Okay, you two. What’s up?”
Cherry leaned into the counter, propping herself up on her elbows. “So you guys know how this industry works. One second, you’re hot, and the next, you’re not, and obviously, we want to stay on the hot list.”
Immediately, I piped in with, “You can say no, by the way.”
Cherry shushed me. “No, they can’t. They owe you.” She glared at the guys. “You have to do this.” She then smirked. “If you love Emmy, you’ll do this.”
“Cherry!” I reprimanded. I could not believe the shrewd tactics she was using.
Noah looked cautious. “What are we talking about here?”
Cherry peered at me before standing tall and crossing her arms over her chest. “Staged photo ops.”
The moment she said it, the guys laughed.
Lee asked, “That’s all? We do ‘em a handful of times a year.”
“You do?” I asked, stunned.
Hell nodded, “Yeah, babe. Every year, I go on at least five dates with women I have no interest in. Micah sets it up. It’s good exposure.”
Noah agreed. “I’ll admit, I thought it was going to be something more serious but yeah, I’m down for that.” He frowned down at me but did it with smiling eyes. “Why didn’t you just ask?”
I was suddenly embarrassed. “I didn’t realize it was a practice that was done often.”
Hell scoffed at my uncertainty. “Emmy, everyone does it.”
Cherry spoke directly to me. “See? Told ya.”
I rolled my eyes at her.
Noah spoke gently. “Anything if it means we can see you more.”
My face went gooey and I touched his arm. “Noah.”
“Awesome.” Cherry beamed. “I’ll have my annoying sister set it up.”
Two days later, Noah and I went on a “date.”
He took The Violet Dame out for lunch where we did everything Amber had instructed us to do. We held hands. We spoke quietly, moving in close to each other. Noah kept his smiling eyes on me but The Violet Dame spared only tiny smirks for the lead singer of Left Turn. Toward the end of the afternoon, as we walked down the street, Noah boldly put his arms around my middle, holding me from behind and I’d be an idiot to not admit it felt nice to feel that human connection I’d been missing.
But it was all for show.
A few days after that, Lee took The Violet Dame out for a late-night dessert. Although, this photo op was not staged to look like a date, it was merely two friends catching up.
A day later, Hell took The Violet Dame to a ballgame. We sat courtside and ate popcorn while talking and joking all evening.
And, of course, The Dame wore her signature oversized sunglasses to every single meet.
The tabloids contemplated the photos.
What did they mean?
They asked questions.
Is Noah Gamble dating The Violet Dame?
Of course, he wasn’t. He was just helping a sister out.
***
Connor
I glanced down at my cell and scrolled through the photos. The woman with the bright purple hair and black lipstick was all over the fucking papers. And from the looks of things, Noah was bangin’ her.
I mean, I guess she was hot but she wasn’t my type.
I couldn’t help the scoff that escaped me.
I didn’t even know I had a type, not until recently.
When Noah walked into rehearsals, I jerked my chin at him. “Yo, who’s this chick you’re bangin’?”
He frowned then shook his head. “I’m not banging anyone.”
I clicked my tongue. “The fucking Dame or whatever they’re callin’ her. The Vixens’ manager.”
“Ah,” he said, not speaking a while. “Well, she’s not someone you bang, Connor. She’s—” He thought about it a second. “—different. Special.”
Like Emmy.
His words made me still and I grinned up at him. “You sound like you’re in love with her.”
Noah didn’t respond, just raised his brows cryptically.
Okay. All right, my sly brother. “When do I meet her?”
Noah let out a humorless laugh. “You don’t.”
My brow knitted. “Why not?”
“Let’s just say,” he spoke cautiously, “she’s not a fan of yours.”
“Really?” I smirked.
Well, now I had to meet her.
Hell walked in and sat at his drums, beaming. “Let’s tear this shit up. I gotta be out of here in two hours.”
“Where are you going?” I asked.
Everyone seemed to be busy these days and that was not good for me. I was spending a lot of time alone and my mind was not a place to lose oneself. I had demons and while most of the times I had a blast with them, lately they were riding me. Every second alone was one second closer to making a bad call. Without anyone to distract me, I thought more and more about escaping the shitty reality I had created for myself.