“Yes, Mr. Riley?”
“Look, I was kind of counting on an extended vacation up at the chalet, but now that’s gone to hell, and I’m jetlagged and annoyed. Honestly, I’m pissed at everyone and everything. I’d…appreciate it if I could get as much privacy as possible. Don’t take it personally, but I really need a break, so…”
“I’ll make sure nobody bothers you while you’re staying here. You’ll wish your security were as good as me. I’ll be like a wall around you. Your personal people repellent.”
He blinked and took a slow breath. “I’d prefer to walk to the pub. Alone.”
“Sure. Of course. Have a nice stay, Mr. Riley.”
I backed out of the room, bending my head so I wouldn’t bang it on the door frame, which happened more often than I cared to admit.
He closed the door in my face.
Me:It’s just him. No security, no staff. Just him.
Jordy:That’s weird.
I hovered with my fingers over the screen. “Fuck it.” I called Jordy instead.
“What?” he barked.
“He says he wants privacy and quiet. And the corner booth for dinner tonight.”
“I’ll reserve that for him.”
“I offered to drive him to the pub, but he declined, saying he wanted to walk alone.”
“Okay.” Jordy sounded absent-minded. I could hear the punk band he liked howling in the background. The pub must still be mostly empty, or he’d play something more crowd-pleasing.
“He must be exhausted,” I said. “He was what, two years on tour? Hopping from hotel to hotel, swarmed by fans and paparazzi all the fucking time. What does that do to a person? No wonder he wants to be left alone.”
The background music quieted, indicating Jordy had gone to the kitchen. “We’re going to do that.” His voice sounded further away from the phone. Was he even talking to me?
“What?”
“Leave Laurel alone.” That was loud and clear.
“I’ll do better,” I said. “I’ll make sure everybody else leaves him alone.”
Jordy blew out a breath, which crackled in the phone. “Monty, don’t.”
“You don’t get it. He’s got circles under his eyes, and I think he’s lost weight?—”
“He hasn’t asked you to become his bodyguard. Or his nurse. Leave him alone.”
No, Jordy wouldn’t understand. He was a loner himself, thinking he had to deal with everything and everyone on his own. But not everyone was like that, and besides, Jordy himself had once accepted my help, and I had yet to hear him complain.
“I’m going to help him.”
Jordy groaned, and I could almost hear his eye roll, so I hung up on him.
3
JORDY
“I’m useless in the kitchen,” Oliver said, folding his arms on the bar counter. The move obscured his growing pregnant belly. How far along was he now? It must have been at least four months, if not five.
“Teddy would never say anything,” he continued. “He convinced himself that the garbage I’m trying to pass off as food is all culinary masterpieces. Which is sweet of him, you know? Means he loves me so much that he’s willing to ignore facts and risk permanent damage to his taste buds. But the truth is, I suck.”
