Burning Up (25 page)

Daniel glared at me and pointed at the bathroom door. “Space and time to run away with him?”

I pressed my palms to my face and groaned in frustration.

“No, time and space to go home. I’m not happy here anymore, Daniel. I haven’t been happy in months. I miss my home, my life, and the old Layla. I can’t be Jared’s project anymore. Please, I’m asking you as a friend.”

Slumping into the chair opposite me, he rested his elbows on his knees and stared at the floor. He reached into his pocket and pulled out his cell phone. I held my breath, waiting for the inevitable.

“Jared? I’m sorry. I’ve looked everywhere, but she’s gone. Her credit card was used at the airport to purchase a flight back to L.A., sir. I’m sorry.”

I could hear Jared’s voice on the other end of the line and an ache settled in my stomach and in my heart. He was devastated. Daniel looked up at me with pain in his eyes. Jared’s only friend in the world had just lied to him. Daniel’s friend was in pain, and he could do nothing. Hanging up the phone, he let out a long breath.

“I hope you know what you’re doing, Layla. Because I think that was the hardest phone call I have ever had to make. He’s broken. Is there really no way back?”

I shrugged. “I don’t know, Daniel. I wish I did. I need some time. I need to go home.”

He nodded. “I understand. You realize that he won’t give up on you, right? He loves you, Layla.”

“I know. I love him too, Daniel. I do. But right now, I can’t even look at him without my blood boiling. He needs to figure his shit out, and I need to do the same.”

The sound of the bathroom door squeaking open caught my attention. Ollie strolled over with his hands in his pockets and raised an eyebrow.

“We good here?”

Daniel stood and glared at him with an intense hatred. “Why couldn’t you just stay the fuck away? You lost, she chose him, but you still followed her across the world to make trouble. I don’t know what the fuck you think your game is here, but if anything happens to her, it won’t just be Jared who hunts you down.”

Squaring up to Daniel, Ollie grinned wickedly. “He thinks he won. He can put a big fucking shiny bow on it, but underneath, he’s an asshole. And in the end, it’s me she’s getting on that plane with.”

Pushing my way between them, I snapped. “Will you both just shut up?”

Turning to Daniel, I sighed. “I think you should go. Jared is probably driving Lucy crazy right now. You should get back.”

Nodding, he searched my face for what I assumed was hope. Giving him a small smile, I wrapped my arms around him.

“Thank you, Daniel.”

With another quick glaring look at Ollie, he left the bar and headed across the street to the Mercedes.

Ollie snorted a laugh. “Can you believe that guy?”

Fisting my hands on my hips, I glowered at him. “Him? I can’t believe you! Just because I’m getting on a plane back to L.A. does not mean it’s with you. I’m flying home. Back to my family and my friends.”

Moving closer, he drove me back against the table and a ghost of a smile played across his lips. “Oh really? What about that kiss?”

My chest rose and fell quickly as he leaned over me, forcing me to sit on the edge of the table, bowing my back.

“It was a kiss. Just a kiss.”

Catching his lip ring between his teeth, he hissed a little. “Tasted like a lot more to me.”

I couldn’t tear my eyes away from his mouth and Ollie knew it.

“See. You just can’t help yourself.”

Shaking my head, I met his gaze. “I like to be kissed. I like kissing, and I like the feel of a hot body against mine. Sue me. But it doesn’t mean a damn thing.”

Standing back, Ollie smirked and winked at me. “Whatever you say, Superstar. You keep telling yourself that, and I’ll pretend that I didn’t notice that ‘fuck me’ look in your eyes.”

Picking up his music book and cell, he stuffed them into his pocket and began to head for the door. Turning back quickly, he held out his hand.

“Well? Coming or not?”

Sitting beside me, my mother gave me a sympathetic smile. She’d been tiptoeing around me since the moment I had told her and my dad that I wanted to fly back to L.A. I understood their shock at my announcement, but there really was no need for everyone to be treading on egg shells. Of course, it may have had something to do with the tall, dark, and pierced rock star sitting in the front seat of the car beside my father.

“So, Oliver, Layla tells us you were in London negotiating a music contract. How exciting and what a coincidence,” my mother beamed at him from behind his seat.

Nodding, Ollie shot me a quick look before answering.

“Uh, yeah. It’s all just kind of talk right now, though.”

“And you thought you’d look Layla up while you were in town. That’s nice. Isn’t that nice, Andrew?”

Glancing over at Ollie and then in the mirror at me, my father rolled his eyes. “Oh, yes. A real coincidence,” he muttered sarcastically.

“Daddy,” I said in warning. I admit the whole thing was highly suspicious, but now was not the time or place to begin a Spanish inquisition.

My father groaned in frustration. “Are we supposed to believe that he just happened to be in London when you were? What a happy coincidence. We all know the real reason he’s sitting in this car, and it’s not because your mother insisted we give him a ride back. I would be willing to go out on a limb and say that Oliver was in London to see Layla, and by the look on her face whenever he even glances in her direction, she’s just as thrilled to see him as he is to see her.”

I looked at him in horror as Ollie grinned widely beside my father.

“That is not true! He was there on business!” I yelled, causing my mother to jump a little. Ollie spun around in his seat and feigned insult.

“You mean you’re not happy to see me? Well, isn’t that a punch right in the
kisser
.”

Winking at me, he played his lip ring between his teeth. Very funny, Green. I glared daggers at him.

“Now, now, you two. I’m sure there’s a fascinating story to all of this, but if you don’t mind, I think you should save it for another time and place.” Once again my mother was playing peacekeeper.

Slouching back in my seat, I huffed loudly.

Ollie shook his head slowly as if in disbelief. “Oh, I’m so hurt. There I was feeling like your knight in shining armor come to rescue you, and here the princess gives me the cold shoulder. Shocking.”

My mother leaned forward and rested her hand on his shoulder. “Well, regardless of why you were there, I, for one, am grateful you were, Oliver. I’m just relieved she had someone to keep her safe and bring her home. I can only imagine what she must have been going through.”

I’d spared my parents the gory details of my separation from Jared, but I think they got the idea that whatever had happened between us, it was bad enough to make me leave in the middle of the night to head back to L.A. Thankfully, Daniel had packed all of my things and dropped them off at my parents’ house. I wasn’t sure if Lucy knew anything about it all, but I assumed she didn’t. She was fond of me, and we were friends, for sure. But she was still Jared’s sister and her need to protect him would greatly outweigh her loyalty to me.

“Yes, we’re both very pleased that Layla’s coming home and that she’s safe and well. Now, can we please all drop it? I’m trying to drive through rush hour traffic!”

My father was clearly riled. Pressing his lips together, Ollie turned back in his seat and stared out of the window. He had a look of triumph on his face, and it irked me. Just because I’d agreed to go back home, didn’t mean a damn thing about the two of us. Okay, I’d be lying if I said that just being around him didn’t make my insides heat and my body tremble a little, but that didn’t mean we were ‘together.’ It was biological, a chemical reaction of one body being in close proximity to another. A hot, sexy, thick, and muscular, long dark hair, pierced, inked, and oh so deliciously
big
, body. I suddenly found my mind wandering to Ollie’s motorcycle. I squirmed in my seat. Catching me in the mirror, my father gave me a concerned look.

“You okay back there, sweetheart?”

I nodded enthusiastically and tried not to seem so flushed. Turning my attention to Ollie, I put on my best acting performance.

“So, Ollie, how’s your Monster?”

The corner of his mouth curved up and turning his head slightly, he raised an eyebrow.

“It’s perfect, as always. Powerful, big and just waiting for you. I know how much you loved to ride it.”

My father gave us both a disapproving look.

“Ollie has a Ducati Monster, remember, Dad? A red one.”

He nodded slowly. “I remember, quite a machine. Does it get a lot of miles?”

Oh dear
God
. Ollie grinned. “It gets around.”

Holding my hands up to my red and embarrassed face, I groaned.

“Layla, are you sure you’re all right? You look a little flushed.” Brushing my hair from my face, my mother pressed her hand against my forehead.

“I’m fine, just a little warm in here. Can we drop you anywhere, Ollie? Aren’t you eager to get back home to Utah?”

Ollie’s smile disappeared.

“Uh, actually I’m staying with Eric for a while.”

My eyebrows pinched together, and I looked at him with confusion. He wasn’t in Utah anymore? What the hell had I missed? Amy and Mel were clearly keeping more from me than I had thought. Well, it would all change now. Turning onto our street, my mother sighed with contentment.

“Home, sweet home.”

Wrapping her arm around my shoulders, she pulled me to her tightly as Dad pulled into the driveway and he and Ollie began unloading the bags.

“You okay, baby?”

I looked at her and shook my head gently. “I didn’t think it would be like this. I miss him, Mom. But I hate him, love him, and I’m so mad at him all at the same time. I’m confused.”

She pressed a kiss to my forehead. “I know, sweetie. And what about the rock star out there?”

I let out an exasperated sigh. “I don’t know. I’d be lying if I said I hadn’t missed him. I have, Mom. I’ve been trying to forget about Ollie for months. I tried so hard, but I just couldn’t. Every time I heard his name, saw him, or even thought about him, my heart skipped a beat and feels as though it might tear its way out of my ribcage.”

“Oh, baby. You still love him.”

I gazed out of the window and watched as Ollie carried my cases to the door, talking with my father as he did so.

“I never stopped. But I can’t go around in this circle again. Jared, Ollie, me … it’s history repeating, and I can’t do it all over again. Besides, Ollie is clearly still pissed at me. You could cut the tension between us with a knife.”

“Oh, there’s some kind of tension all right. Have you even given Jared a chance to explain?”

I shook my head in a definitive no. “There’s nothing to talk about. He keeps calling and leaving messages. But I’m not interested. There’s nothing to say.”

Opening the car door, I pushed my way out and stood in front of the house. I had only been there for a minute when the sound of squealing caught my attention. Turning around, I braced myself as Amy and Mel came hurtling toward me. Throwing their arms around me, they held me tightly.

“Oh, Layla. Are you okay? When you called we were so worried.”

Mel gave me a quick squeeze before letting go and taking a small step back. Amy, on the other hand, clung to me for dear life. I gave Mel a pleading look, and taking Amy by the hand, she pried her off of me.

“I’m okay. Well, I’m not okay, but I’m home.”

Walking up behind me, Ollie cleared his throat.

“I hate to break up this love fest, but I’m gonna make tracks. Snaggletooth, I need my ride.”

Mel poked her tongue out at him. Taking me by the hand, he pulled me away from the girls to the edge of the sidewalk.

“So, think you could grace us mere mortals with your presence at Benny’s later? I know you’re used to the finer things these days, but I figure one evening in a rundown bar wouldn’t kill you.”

I sighed in frustration. “I’m not that fucking precious, Ollie. One, Benny’s is not a rundown bar; it’s my home away from home. Two, if it’s good enough for my friends, then it’s good enough for me, and three, why are you being such an ass? If you want me to come to Benny’s why don’t you just ask?”

Gazing down at me, he lifted my chin with his hand. Our eyes locked, and I could feel his warm breath on my lips. My tongue instinctively darted out to moisten the dry and waiting skin on my lips. The tip of his nose was on mine, and as his body pressed closer to me, I felt my heart thunder faster and faster in my chest. Every part of me was begging for another body melting, knee trembling, and heart poundingly good kiss. I closed my eyes as he leaned closer and the cold metal of his lip ring grazed my bottom lip. I took in a sharp breath, waiting. Wanting.

The warmth of his breath left my skin, and opening my eyes, I stared at him as he smirked back at me. Biting at his lip ring, he grinned.

“Too easy. Come to Benny’s, don’t come to Benny’s. No one’s gonna hold your hand and drag you this time, Layla.”

Turning on his heel, he went to talk to Amy and Mel who both spoke animatedly at him. Not to him,
at
him. He couldn’t get a single word in. Mel looked pissed, and Amy, she seemed to be more concerned with checking on my whereabouts. Mel pointed over at her garage and pressing the button on her keys, the door lifted slowly. Ollie gave me a quick glance and winked before heading over and disappearing inside. The roar of a motorcycle echoed around the street. Pulling out slowly, Ollie straddled his beautiful bike and pulled on his helmet. Dear God he was sexy. Ollie was a hot piece of man candy at the best of times, but when he was on that Monster, it had an intense effect on me. My knees weakened. My pulse quickened, and my breathing became heavier. It was sex on two wheels. Ollie was sex on two wheels. Looking over at me, I could just about make out his eyes through the dark tint of his helmet visor. Did he have to stare at me like that? It was disarming, and I needed a clear head right now. Turning away, I headed over to the house with Mel and Amy following behind me. Ollie’s bike roared again and sped down the street and out of view.

Dear, God. I may not have wanted
history
repeating, but there was no mistaking the
chemistry
between us. It was alive and giving off sparks.

* * * *

Amy and Mel sat rigidly on the edge of the couch as I paced up and down, back and forth, like a parent scolding their children.

“And neither of you thought it might have been a good idea to tell me he was coming to London? What if Jared had seen him?”

“Hey, it’s none of our business what he does or where he goes. He had business to do there. Besides, you kept telling us how happy you were, but don’t you think we know by now when you’re putting on a brave face? You were miserable and you know it,” Amy snipped.

Mel rolled her eyes and got to her feet. “What’s the big deal? So you ran into each other, had a drink, and got on a flight together. It’s not like you owe anyone a damn apology for it! We knew he might look you up, but hey, that was his thing. Not ours.”

Slapping my palm to my forehead, I groaned. “And a phone call couldn’t have been made to give me a heads up? Or a text?”

Amy snorted from the couch. “Well, you’d be the expert in that area. You know, emotional texts of mass destruction.”

Looking back at Amy, Mel’s mouth curved into a smile. “Why are you bent out of shape over this, Lay? I don’t get what the big problem is. You said so yourself that Jared is a lying, sneaking, no good asshole who …”

“I didn’t call him that! I said he just couldn’t stop treating me like his child rather than his girlfriend.”

Mel shrugged. “Same thing.”

Grabbing me by the hand, she pulled me over to the couch and yanked me down onto it with her.

“What happened in London, Layla?”

I glanced over toward the kitchen. My parents had retreated in there to give us some privacy. I think they were waiting for the all clear because they’d been in there for at least an hour now.

“I found a deal breaker.”

Amy and Mel exchanged perplexed looks. Slouching back against the cushion, I sighed heavily.

“I found a letter from Alicia’s lawyer. She’s got a child. And she’s claiming it’s Jared’s.”

Their mouths fell open and Amy gasped.

“He’s a father!?” Mel yelled. I hurriedly held my hand across her mouth and darted my eyes at the kitchen.
Nothing
.

“Will you keep your voice down? I said she
claims
it’s his child.”

“Could it be his?” Amy leaned closer and stared at me in shock.

I shrugged. “I don’t know. The timing lines up, I guess. We were apart so often, and don’t you remember how they were all over each other in the club that night?”