“Yes!”
“I don’t understand why. It’s just a job opportunity and even if you take it, it doesn’t mean you have to take any more jobs like it. And honestly, I don’t think Jett would care if you did take it. I’m sure he meant he’s glad you’re not a singer or in a band.”
I fiddle with a piece of paper that’s on the table. “I’m not even sure I want this job, and, besides, I’m supposed to be on a break.”
“God, Presley, what’s wrong with you? It’s like you’ve thrown your balls away and grown a huge fucking vagina. Since when did you let a man dictate your work to you? You certainly didn’t let Lennon have a say in that so why are you even taking Jett into consideration? Especially when you’ve just met him.” She seems so exasperated with me that I’m almost sure she wouldn’t say no to physically slapping some sense into me.
She’s right, and yet, I’m still stuck where I am. “I really like him,” I blurt out like a freaking teenager.
Erin stares at me and then breaks out laughing. “I know you do, but that doesn’t mean you have to give up you in the process.”
I drop my head into my hands on the table. My body is tense from the stress I’ve caused myself, and I know that’s stupid but I can’t help it. I finally look back up at her. “I know, and I’m fighting not to, but damn it’s hard. Jett’s got magic fucking charms and I’m falling hard.”
“Are you interested in the job?”
Conflicting thoughts run through my head at her question. The job offer is from another band, Diesel, who want me to photograph their current tour. They saw the few photos Crave shared of mine from their concert and loved my style. It would mean a few months on the road with them.
A few months away from Jett.
Just when we’re getting to know each other.
But it could be the start of a new career track for me.
My phone rings and I almost jump out of my chair. “Hello,” I snap into the phone as I answer it.
“Presley.” It’s my manager, Michael. “You’re still alive.” I don’t miss the sarcasm there.
“Yes, as a matter of fact I am,” I throw back.
“Funny that, because I thought you were going to get back to me with an answer for Diesel by now.”
I can’t help it, I laugh. He tries this intimidation tactic with all his clients but he knows I don’t pay any attention to it. Even so, he continues to try, and I continue to ignore it.
“That would be because I don’t have an answer for you yet.” The band is on a tight time schedule and need to know asap, but I refuse to be pushed to make a quick decision I might regret.
His long sigh confirms his frustration. “Do you think you might have an answer by the end of the day?”
“I’m not sure,” I answer honestly. I want to tell Jett before I tell Michael and I’m not sure if I’ll be seeing him again today. He left before breakfast this morning to head to the recording studio, and I got the impression he was in for a long day.
“Okay, well you figure it out and let me know. Soon.” He ends the call and I stare at Erin, the knots in my stomach forming again.
“Fuck,” I mutter.
I have a bad feeling about this.
* * *
Erin leaves after we discuss my dilemma some more. I’m no closer to a decision and I decide I need to see Jett – maybe seeing him will help me decide. Grabbing my phone, I find his number and dial it.
“Hey, sweetheart,” he answers on almost the first ring. His voice alone causes butterflies in my tummy.
“Hey you. I’m just calling to see if you guys are hungry. Do you want me to bring you all some lunch?”
“Let me check with the guys,” he says, and I hear muffled voices while he checks. A minute later, he comes back on. “Sounds good, baby.”
“Any preferences?”
“None of us are fussy so just grab whatever.”
“Okay, no worries.”
He’s quiet for a beat and then quietly says, “Thank you.”
I can hear the genuine thanks in his voice and it spreads warmth through me. “See you soon.”
A minute later I leave my house and about forty minutes later I enter the recording studio after stopping on the way to grab lunch. I had to text Jett for the address and then I had to call him for directions because it’s tucked away in a nondescript building in The Valley that I struggled to find.
The minute he sees me, he stands from where he was sitting with Van at a table and comes my way. Taking the bags of sandwiches and drinks out of my hands, he brushes a kiss across my lips and asks, “Anyone ever told you how beautiful you are?”
“Has anyone ever told you how dangerous you are?”
He laughs and bends his head so he can whisper in my ear. “Is it working?”
Nodding, I assure him, “You have no idea just how much it’s working.”
“Good.” His voice has changed from soft to firm, almost possessive, and it hits me in all the right places. Jett has a way of making me feel all woman, and as if I am the only woman in the world.
West’s voice interrupts our moment. “Okay you two, enough. I’m hungry and need food.”
Jett distributes the food and I notice the tension that’s obvious between him and Van who is still scowling at him like he was the last time I saw him. I can’t help but wonder how the heck they are going to make it through an album together at this rate, because it doesn’t seem like either man is willing to back down.
“I don’t understand why. It’s just a job opportunity and even if you take it, it doesn’t mean you have to take any more jobs like it. And honestly, I don’t think Jett would care if you did take it. I’m sure he meant he’s glad you’re not a singer or in a band.”
I fiddle with a piece of paper that’s on the table. “I’m not even sure I want this job, and, besides, I’m supposed to be on a break.”
“God, Presley, what’s wrong with you? It’s like you’ve thrown your balls away and grown a huge fucking vagina. Since when did you let a man dictate your work to you? You certainly didn’t let Lennon have a say in that so why are you even taking Jett into consideration? Especially when you’ve just met him.” She seems so exasperated with me that I’m almost sure she wouldn’t say no to physically slapping some sense into me.
She’s right, and yet, I’m still stuck where I am. “I really like him,” I blurt out like a freaking teenager.
Erin stares at me and then breaks out laughing. “I know you do, but that doesn’t mean you have to give up you in the process.”
I drop my head into my hands on the table. My body is tense from the stress I’ve caused myself, and I know that’s stupid but I can’t help it. I finally look back up at her. “I know, and I’m fighting not to, but damn it’s hard. Jett’s got magic fucking charms and I’m falling hard.”
“Are you interested in the job?”
Conflicting thoughts run through my head at her question. The job offer is from another band, Diesel, who want me to photograph their current tour. They saw the few photos Crave shared of mine from their concert and loved my style. It would mean a few months on the road with them.
A few months away from Jett.
Just when we’re getting to know each other.
But it could be the start of a new career track for me.
My phone rings and I almost jump out of my chair. “Hello,” I snap into the phone as I answer it.
“Presley.” It’s my manager, Michael. “You’re still alive.” I don’t miss the sarcasm there.
“Yes, as a matter of fact I am,” I throw back.
“Funny that, because I thought you were going to get back to me with an answer for Diesel by now.”
I can’t help it, I laugh. He tries this intimidation tactic with all his clients but he knows I don’t pay any attention to it. Even so, he continues to try, and I continue to ignore it.
“That would be because I don’t have an answer for you yet.” The band is on a tight time schedule and need to know asap, but I refuse to be pushed to make a quick decision I might regret.
His long sigh confirms his frustration. “Do you think you might have an answer by the end of the day?”
“I’m not sure,” I answer honestly. I want to tell Jett before I tell Michael and I’m not sure if I’ll be seeing him again today. He left before breakfast this morning to head to the recording studio, and I got the impression he was in for a long day.
“Okay, well you figure it out and let me know. Soon.” He ends the call and I stare at Erin, the knots in my stomach forming again.
“Fuck,” I mutter.
I have a bad feeling about this.
* * *
Erin leaves after we discuss my dilemma some more. I’m no closer to a decision and I decide I need to see Jett – maybe seeing him will help me decide. Grabbing my phone, I find his number and dial it.
“Hey, sweetheart,” he answers on almost the first ring. His voice alone causes butterflies in my tummy.
“Hey you. I’m just calling to see if you guys are hungry. Do you want me to bring you all some lunch?”
“Let me check with the guys,” he says, and I hear muffled voices while he checks. A minute later, he comes back on. “Sounds good, baby.”
“Any preferences?”
“None of us are fussy so just grab whatever.”
“Okay, no worries.”
He’s quiet for a beat and then quietly says, “Thank you.”
I can hear the genuine thanks in his voice and it spreads warmth through me. “See you soon.”
A minute later I leave my house and about forty minutes later I enter the recording studio after stopping on the way to grab lunch. I had to text Jett for the address and then I had to call him for directions because it’s tucked away in a nondescript building in The Valley that I struggled to find.
The minute he sees me, he stands from where he was sitting with Van at a table and comes my way. Taking the bags of sandwiches and drinks out of my hands, he brushes a kiss across my lips and asks, “Anyone ever told you how beautiful you are?”
“Has anyone ever told you how dangerous you are?”
He laughs and bends his head so he can whisper in my ear. “Is it working?”
Nodding, I assure him, “You have no idea just how much it’s working.”
“Good.” His voice has changed from soft to firm, almost possessive, and it hits me in all the right places. Jett has a way of making me feel all woman, and as if I am the only woman in the world.
West’s voice interrupts our moment. “Okay you two, enough. I’m hungry and need food.”
Jett distributes the food and I notice the tension that’s obvious between him and Van who is still scowling at him like he was the last time I saw him. I can’t help but wonder how the heck they are going to make it through an album together at this rate, because it doesn’t seem like either man is willing to back down.
