Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 81401 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 407(@200wpm)___ 326(@250wpm)___ 271(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 81401 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 407(@200wpm)___ 326(@250wpm)___ 271(@300wpm)
“I am,” Zara says softly. I try to decipher if she’s upset or put off like I am, but I can’t tell.
“OH! MY! GOD!” The girl squeals in a high-pitched tone that has my ears bleeding. “I am so in love with you and Van. I mean, you’re like the perfect couple, and I just know this separation is nothing more than a publicity ploy because your new album is coming out. But seriously, why are you in Nash?”
My blood boils at this chick’s onslaught toward Zara, not to mention the bullshit statement about her separation from Van being a publicity stunt. The expression on her face is a mixture of hurt, anger, and disgust. It’s fans like this that make us want to stay home and live the life of hermits.
And Nash? Is that some hipster term that I’m not aware of?
“Hi, it’s nice to meet you,” Zara says as she extends her hand to shake that of the teens. She’s more humble than I would be right now.
“You too, it’s like. . . this is like my dream come true and stuff.”
And stuff? What other stuff could there be?
“Is Van here?” she asks, looking around the bistro. I look too because surely someone is playing a cruel joke on us right now.
“No, sorry,” Zara looks at me and pleads for help. Of course, I’m going to give it to her. I signal for the waitress and hand her twenty.
“Sorry, we’re fixin' to leave.” I reach for Zara’s hand and hold it firmly in mine.
“Wait, you’re not with him, are you? That’s like. . .”
We don’t hear what it’s like because we’re out the door and I’m helping her into my truck. I rush to the other side and get in, and quickly start it.
“I’m sorry,” I tell her, knowing nothing I say right now is going to make things any better.
“It’s not your fault. I probably shouldn’t have kissed you.”
As soon as I’m out in traffic, I look at her. “Don’t say that.”
She grimaces and shows me her phone. Sure enough, there’s a picture of us kissing while inside the place. It was taken from one of the other patrons or staff. I shake my head and take her phone from her hand, setting it on my dash as I pull her to me. Zara rests her head on my shoulder, not caring that we’re in traffic and that people can see inside my truck.
“So maybe venturing out in public isn’t what we do just yet,” I say as I navigate us home.
“I’m not embarrassed to be with you if that’s what you’re saying, Levi. I like you a lot, or I wouldn’t be with you right now, and we definitely wouldn’t have slept together.”
“I know I’m just—”
“Worried?” she asks.
I nod. At the same time, both our phones start going off. My console tells me that Barbara is calling and when Zara takes her phone off the dashboard, she shows me that the name is Laura.
“That’s my bitch publicist,” she says with a sneer.
“I’ll answer mine,” I tell her, pressing the button on my steering wheel. “Hello, Barb.”
“Levi, what have you done?”
I look at Zara and wink. “You’ll have to be a little more specific. The past few days I have done quite a bit of stuff.”
“With Zara? It’s all over the wires. My email is going crazy. My phone is ringing off the hook. I thought she was just a friend.”
“She was,” I say. “And now she’s not.” I kiss Zara on her temple and return my eyes to the road. The last thing I want to do is put her life in danger or leave my children without a father. Although, there’s a good chance that Stormy may hate me after this.
“Levi, believe me when I tell you, this has disaster written all over it. No one is going to understand how America’s Country star ended up with a rocker from Los Angeles who is heading for a nasty divorce.”
“No one needs to understand anything, Barb. This is the stuff my songs are about, finding love when you least expect it. I can tell you right now, Zara and I didn’t expect to have a connection.”
“No we didn’t,” she says softly.
“Wait, is she in the truck with you?”
“Yes, ma’am. Why don’t you come over for dinner and let’s chat? See you in a few hours.” I don’t give Barbara a chance to reject my invitation before hanging up. I pull over to the side of the road and turn to face Zara.
“I don’t care about what others say,” I tell her. “I want to be with you, to explore where we can take this. I haven’t been this happy in a long time.”
“Me either,” she says, pulling me into a kiss.
zara
Twenty-Three
For a brief moment I think about running away, finding someplace to disappear where no one will know me, but that means leaving Levi and the thought of not being with him or even near him puts an ache in my chest.