The next time I open my eyes, the clock reads 15:45. I sit up gingerly, testing my head and my stomach. Both feel a lot better. I grin to myself and climb out of bed. Now for the mirror test. I head into the bathroom and examine myself in the mirror. Not as bad as I expected. I look a little pale and my eyes are darker than normal. My nose looks fine and my lips are only slightly swollen. I look like I had a collagen injection for the perfect pout. I giggle at that thought and pull on a short deep red dress. A few minutes later, I’m knocking on Ali’s door. No reply so I head down the corridor to try Nick’s, AJ’s, Howie’s and Kevin’s. Nobody’s in. I figure I’ll go laze about by the pool so I catch the elevator down and wander outside. Howie and Kevin are by the pool so I join them.
“Hi guys.”
“Hey Jade,” Howie grins at me as I sit next to him. “How you feelin’?”
“A lot better than yesterday,” I tell him. “What are you up to?”
“Chilling. Frick and Frack are around somewhere with Ali, and AJ went off to the local mall.”
“Cool. How you doin’ Kev?”
“Just fine,” he smiles at me. “Actually, I kinda wanted a word Jade.” He sits up and leans closer to me, “Did Bri tell ya about this rule we have?” I shake my head. “Well, we’re kinda not supposed to date people who work for us.”
“Oh. And I work for you now?” I say.
“Yup. I just figured you should know. So you can be careful…”
“Sure,” I say expressionlessly. “I’ll stay WELL away from Brian whenever anybody else is around.”
Kevin nods happily. “That’s it Jade. I KNEW you’d understand. Plus, Brian bein’ one of the popular guys… The fans would get upset if you kept hangin’ around him.”
“I wasn’t aware I WAS doin’ that,” I mutter.
Kevin misses my tone and grins at me happily, thinking that I’m a great girl to understand him so well. In reality, I’m pissed. SUPER pissed. Brian and Nick choose that moment to re-appear, bouncing a basketball as usual. I swear sometimes I think they were born with a damn ball attached to their hands. Normally, that’s cute but I’m pissed. Ali follows them.
“Hey Jady, you’re awake,” Nick comes to sit by me with a grin. “The living dead! Naw, you look pretty good for a girl who lost a fight with a b-ball!”
“Thanks Nicky,” I say dryly. I glance at Brian and stand up. “I guess this is my cue to leave.” I shoot Kevin a look. “I wouldn’t like to hang around all the time.” I march off.
“Aww jeez,” Kevin says watching Jade stalk off. He throws Howie a look. “I didn’t mean it in that way. Did I SOUND like I did?”
“Yup,” Howie nods. “You were pretty shitty.”
“Why didn’t ya SAY somethin’?”
“I just did,” Howie shrugs.
Brian looks at Kevin. “What’d you say to her?”
“I…uh,” Kevin looks uncomfortable and looks away from Brian. “I just told her ‘bout that rule we have about dating employees… And that she, uh, shouldn’t, uh, hang around when fans are around…” he trails off as he meets Brian’s cold gaze. “Sorry bro.”
“You will be, but right now I got more important things to do,” he marches off in the direction Jade took.
“Jeez Kev, why can’t you just BUTT out?!” Nick mutters darkly. “It’s none of your friggin’ business.”
“It is. This group is my business!” says Kevin angrily.
“But Brian and Jade aren’t. He loves her. Big time. And if they don’t care about fans seein’ them, why the fuck should you?!” Nick stands up and reaches to pull Ali close to him. “And I’ll tell you somethin’ else – me and Ali don’t care either!”
Nick stares Kevin down so the older guy turns to look at Howie.
“Whoa bro, you leave me alone,” Howie sits back on his lounger and pushes his shades up his nose.
“Jade,” Brian catches her up and reaches for her hand to pull her round to face him. “Kev shouldn’t have said that stuff to you.”
“It’s true that you can’t date employees?”
“Yeah, but you’re not an employee. You were my girlfriend first.”
“Your name also appears on my pay check,” she points out.
“I’ll take it off,” he says. “Jady, Kev was just bein’ his usual dumb self. He’s worried that management might fire you if they find out about us. And nobody wants that to happen. You’re the BEST writer around and we need you to write our book,” he takes a deep breath and leans in to kiss her. “Plus, I love ya and it’s just perfect havin’ you around like this.”
“I love you too,” she smiles. “And I guess I see Kevin’s point… Do I hang around you ALL the time though?” she adds worriedly.
“No way! You don’t hang around me ENOUGH baby.” He traces his fingers lightly along her bare back as he kisses her deeply. “24 - 7 wouldn’t be enough for me.”
She relaxes into his arms and they stand kissing for a while. Then he slowly moves back, stroking her hair lightly and then letting his hands settle on her hips.
“Jady, I have the weekend free. Will you come with me to Lexington?”
“Lexington?” she stares at him with a little fear in her eyes. “Where your family are?”
“Yup. I want you to meet them. It’s time Jady…”
“It is? We couldn’t pause it for a minute?”
“I’m so serious about you honey and I want my family to meet you. My mom is ALWAYS askin’ about you and…they’re gonna love ya.”
“Uh… I guess…” she reluctantly agrees and he kisses her.