She steps outside, and I follow carrying a tray with orange juice, coffee, omelets, croissants, and fresh fruit.
After we are settled at the table, seated beside one another, overlooking the beach, I pour her a coffee, serve her a plate with a mushroom, spinach, and cheese omelet, and tell her to help herself to the rest.
“Want to see something cool?” I ask, removing the remote control from the pocket of my shorts.
“Sure.” Her pretty eyes dart to my face before quickly looking away.
Pressing the button, I watch her eyes widen as the wooden fencing around my property retracts, revealing the clear bulletproof polycarbonate fencing behind it.
Her mouth trails the floor, and I chuckle.
“I had to install fencing all around the perimeter and implement other security measures when I bought this house,” I explain.
“That makes sense,” she murmurs. “I bet you have all kinds of groupies, crazies, and stalkers harassing you.”
“I could tell you a few stories,” I say over a grimace. “Privacy is important to me. I wanted to ensure my house was safe, but I didn’t want to miss out on the spectacular view. The interior designer I hired came up with this solution.”
“It’s genius.”
“I think so.”
“The things money can buy,” she murmurs as she cuts her omelet into even-sized chunks.
“I know I’m fortunate. I never even experienced life as a struggling musician like most wannabe rock stars ’cause Mum insisted on buying me an apartment in L.A. and giving me a generous monthly allowance.”
Sydney cocks her head to one side, tracing a slim finger around the rim of her mug. “I thought my dad ruined your father’s business?”
“Oh, he did. My parents lost a lot of their wealth that time, but dad built a successful new business in the UK, and it must have done okay as Mum got a very generous divorce settlement.”
“I only heard about the divorce from media reports at the time of your dad’s death,” she quietly says.
“They divorced a few months after they enrolled me in the boarding school from hell.”
“That must have been hard.”
I shrug. “Guess it’s no surprise their marriage was a casualty. Things were pretty shit after we left New York.” This is the perfect opportunity to share what Mum told me, but we haven’t eaten yet. I know she’s going to be upset, so I selfishly say nothing for now.
Silence descends, and we’re both lost in thought, but it’s not awkward. Scooping some omelet into my mouth before it goes cold, I stare at the calming rolling motion of the waves as they hit the shore.
“Wow, this is yummy,” Sydney acknowledges after a mouthful of omelet. Her mouth is practically watering as she enthusiastically scoops up another forkful of my creation.
“You’re welcome.”
“When did you learn to cook?”
“I didn’t.” I smirk. “I can cook this, spaghetti bolognese, and beans on toast. That’s about it. Unless you count cooking anything frozen as a special talent.”
She grins. “That sounds more like the Jared I know.” Her smile fades as the words register, and I hate it.
“I didn’t get much opportunity to learn how to cook,” I admit as she returns to her omelet. “I was too busy with the band and you when we were younger, then I was in boarding school, and when I moved to L.A., I existed largely on takeout or ready-made meals. Now, I mostly eat out or live on frozen food and the limited meals I can cook.”
“I followed your career,” she admits in between bites. “I wasn’t surprised you made it, only how quick it happened.”
“I caught a lucky break. I was only in L.A. three months when I met an A&R guy at a bar where I was playing with a crappy band I’d hooked up with shortly after arriving. He spotted something in me and asked if I was interested in auditioning to join a band already signed to Torment’s new label. I hit it off instantly with Wilder and Keith, and the rest is history.”
“I’m really proud of you, J.” Her stunning emerald eyes glisten with emotion. “Even if I was mad at you for abandoning me, I never stopped being proud of your accomplishments.”
“I wished you were with me all the damn time,” I admit.
