Total pages in book: 97
Estimated words: 93301 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 467(@200wpm)___ 373(@250wpm)___ 311(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 93301 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 467(@200wpm)___ 373(@250wpm)___ 311(@300wpm)
Dutifully, I rotated ninety degrees and let her do her thing. I wasn’t sure what was the matter with me. Everything for the awards performance was going well. After apologizing for his rudeness during our last phone call, Duke was treating me with polite friendliness. Rehearsals were running smoothly, we sounded great together, and the label and producers were thrilled.
Wags, my agent, my parents, and the rest of my team were all proud of me and excited to watch the show. Jess was back in town, and it felt great to have a buddy again. I told her all about Xander, and she almost choked, she laughed so hard. She thought it was hilarious that the bodyguard I’d tried so hard to fire turned out to be the best sex of my life.
The divorce scandal had run its course, so paparazzi were interested in me again, and there was a lot of are-they-or-aren’t-they speculation about Duke and me since we were being heavily promoted as the opening act, but with Xander by my side whenever I was in public, I always felt protected.
I loved my dress—a long, glittering silver gown with a high slit—and I was eating healthy, drinking plenty of water, and despite my late nights with Xander, doing my best to get enough sleep so I’d look and feel my best on Thursday night.
And yet, with just two days to go before the show, I felt like I was constantly on the verge of tears.
“Okay,” the seamstress said, rising to her feet. “Face the mirror one last time.”
I did as she asked just as Jess and my stylist, Kayla, entered the room. Both of them ooh’d and ahh’d.
“It’s so perfect,” Jess gushed.
“I’m so glad we went with the silver,” said Kayla. “It’s so sophisticated.”
“I think it’s perfect for introducing Kelly Jo Sullivan to the world,” said Jess.
“Thanks,” I said. Then without warning, I burst into tears.
“Oh honey, what’s wrong?” asked the seamstress. “Is it too tight?”
Blubbering, I shook my head. “It’s not the dress.”
Jess and Kayla came forward and helped me off the pedestal. “You’re overwhelmed,” Jess soothed. “This is a lot all at once. Let’s get that dress off and then we can talk.”
They helped me out of the heavy, sequined gown, which Kayla carefully took back to the seamstress. Once I was dressed in my jeans and top again, we walked up the street and ducked into a coffee shop. Jess and I grabbed a table at the back, and Kayla put in our orders at the counter.
A few minutes later, cold brew in hand, I tried to find words for what was wrong. “This is dumb, you guys,” I said, dabbing at the corners of my eyes. “I have nothing to be upset about. Everything is going fine.”
“Is it Duke?” Jess asked, ever suspicious of my ex.
“No. Believe it or not, he’s actually been a gentleman all week.”
“Is it that former bodyguard?” Kayla wondered. “I heard there was someone threatening to sue, of all the ridiculous things.”
“He was threatening, but he backed off. It’s not that.”
“Is it your dad?” Jess asked gently. “I know it’s hard on you when he comes and goes the way he does.”
“That does get to me,” I admitted, “but I don’t think it’s him.”
“Is it Xander?” Kayla asked. “I haven’t wanted to pry, but what’s going to happen when he goes back to Michigan?”
“I don’t know.” I fought off tears again. “But I suppose that could be it. Beneath all this great stuff is this fear that I’m never going to see him again, never feel as good as I do when I’m with him.”
“Have you told him that?” Jess asked.
I shook my head. “No. It’s just sort of understood that when we part ways, we’ll part ways. I don’t think either one of us is into the idea of a long-distance relationship.”
“So it’s all or nothing?” Jess cocked her head. “I mean, you guys just met. Maybe there’s room to start slow and let it grow. See what happens.”
“But I don’t think I’d do well if we weren’t exclusive. I’d hate the thought that when we’re apart, he might be with someone else. Actually, it makes me feel physically sick.”
“You need to talk to him,” Kayla urged. “You’ll be sorry if you don’t. Trust me when I say the dating pool around here is shallow and scummy.”
“I think your taste in men might be an issue,” Jess teased.
“Tell me about it. It’s like I’m only attracted to losers. ‘What? You’ve got no money, no steady job, no car, and you’re sleeping on your friend’s couch? No, thanks. Oh wait, you play the guitar? Take my body.’” She shook her head. “Someday, I will like an actual grown-up man.”
“Xander is definitely a grown-up man,” I said. “As far as I’m concerned, he’s got everything going for him except that he lives far away. He works hard, he’s devoted to his family, he makes me laugh, he’s got a big heart, and he gets me like nobody ever has.”