“I don’t even want to ask what that means…life-flighting…”
“Don’t.”
That was all he mumbled before dozing off. For a long while I watched him sleep, his chest rising and falling. The adorable hunk of a kid I’d fallen for was now a stunningly handsome man, but as emotionally stilted as the boy. At some point I must have fallen asleep because when I woke up in the morning, I was tucked under the covers and Ford was gone.
I wondered how many years would pass before I would see him again.
Ford
In high school, there were a few times Mom questioned why I was hanging out with James. She’d see James coming and going from the house and later would accuse her of trying to climb the social ladder. Maggie had always shook her head when she thought no one could see.
“Jamie’s my friend.” Billy would defend me. “It’s cool to have an older friend,” she’d further say. “Plus, she’s really smart and helps me in a few of my advanced classes.”
“Oh, well, if she’s helping, then fine. You know, I had to push for you to be in those classes…”
It was times like those that made it hard to hate Billy. She could be annoying and self-centered, but she seemed to have a soft spot for me. She knew I took a lot of flak from my mom since I had zero interest in politics. My mom was ruthless when it came to her agenda, never letting off the gas when she wanted something or someone.
My phone started pinging at four o’clock in the morning.
First, Scott asking where I was. I told him none of his business.
Then Billy, who let me knowyour momwas on a rampage about some cousin of hers talking to the news about her family’s past transgressions during Prohibition. Mom must’ve been a wreck. She liked to keep her past in the past and her future secure. But Billy…withyour mom. She could be a hoot.
I told Billy I knew—my momhad already texted me regarding this cousin, and maybe I could assuage them with backstage Hollywood passes to get them to shut their mouth.
Luckily, Jamie slept through it all, still naked and on top of me.
Begrudgingly, I slipped off the bed and moved her under the blankets. I missed her warmth and touch immediately.
I dressed and quietly escaped Jamie’s house, knowing she’d be pissed. But no matter what she said, I couldn’t involve her in this.
For fuck’s sake, Steven was now calling me, before five in the morning. When I made it out onto the street and called him back, he was out of breath.
“Ford? Where the heck are you?” he said, huffing and puffing.
“I think the real question is where are you? And what are you doing?”
“I’m on the stair climber at the gym.”
“Thought maybe you were getting lucky. Are you a morning man?” I teased the poor guy as I got into the Tesla.
“Stop it, Ford. Your mom is going ballistic. She doesn’t know why you’re not answering her messages. I don’t know what you’re doing, but I guess it has to do with that woman your mom doesn’t care for, and I truly don’t care.” His sentences ran on as he continued to huff and puff. “I told your mom you went back to DC to meet up with an old friend who wanted to pay their respects. Of course, she hopes it’s Apple, and you’re going to be bearing more shoes.”
Turning the car on, thankful for the quiet system not waking anyone on the street, I rolled my eyes even though no one could see.Fucking Apple.
“Where I go and what I do doesn’t concern you or my mom. If you didn’t notice, I’m a grown-ass man. I said I’d wear your suit and look good for the press. You don’t get anything else from me.”
Pulling out, I stopped for a coffee so I could walk back into the apartment like I’d actually been in DC for the night. Which was absurd, because I was allowed to sleep with and fuck whoever I liked.
With three sets of eyes on me when I walked in, I took a sip of coffee and thanked God Scott’s wife had gone home to be with the kids.
Scotty raised an eyebrow and Billy eyed my wrinkled outfit, while Mom stood and spoke. “Did you think about the Hollywood tour? Would be good for them to go away and feel like VIPs…then they can stop talking about my dad.”
Just like my mom to not care where I was or what I was doing, only what I could do for her. “Have Billy call her agent. He can call the studio and get them passes.”
This caused Billy to snarl at me.
“Oh, Billy, do you think you could?”
