Sighing, I slip my watch on and tuck my phone into my trousers. Pacing round to her side of the bed, I lean down, delicately brushing her hair over her shoulder.
“Athena,” I whisper, but nothing. “Athena.” I trail my fingers down her arm, and she moves ever so slightly. “Kid, I need you to wake up.”
She moans as she rolls and fuck, it sounds so good. Her eyes flutter open, landing on me. Pillow crease sits against her cheek, hazy sleepy eyes, and God, I would do anything to climb back into bed and hold her against me.
“Morning.” I beam.
“Morning.” She stretches up and I have to stand tall, turning slightly as her tiny vest slides up her body.
“We need to leave in twenty,” I mutter as I walk out the room. I need out of there.
I hear her spring from the bed and slam the bathroom door.
Sitting in the small chair that hugs the corner of her small room, I see her notepad resting on the sideboard. I reach for it; I flick through the pages and my heart warms at her notes. I place it back down, because I didn’t want to snoop and open my phone to search her author name. A list of books come up, and I raise my brow as I scroll on my phone and seeing how many she has actually published.
Glancing over my shoulder, I click on the first in a series by the looks of it and add it into my basket. I needed to speak to Nora or Anaïs or… I glance at the time, then open my messages to Rue.
Me
Hey, you okay? When will we all see you again? I know the girls are missing you. I have a question. If I want to read a book, but can’t get a physical form, how can I read it? Royce
It sends and I slip my phone away. I have no idea how long I am waiting, but Athena emerges from the bedroom looking completely put together. The trainers, skirt, and tee combo is pretty similar to what she wore yesterday, but it’s perfect.
“This okay?” she asks, giving me a small swirl.
“Babe, you could wear a black bag, and I would still say you look good.”
She stumbles, catching herself and staring at me.
“You look good.” I smile, but I know it’s because I saidbabe.
She smiles back then rushes to grab her stuff, dumping it in her backpack.
“It’s going to be a long day. Do you have everything you need?” I find myself asking and she nods. “Okay, cool. Let’s go up to my apartment then our day begins.” My hands find the small of her back as I follow her to the door.
It seems as soon as we’re out in the hallway, my phone starts pinging non-stop. She closes the door and I usher her towards the lift. Whilst we wait, I pull my phone out seeing multiple messages from Nora.
What the fuck?!
Below them is a link. I didn’t even have to click on it to know what it was.
“Athena,” I mutter as I push behind her and into the waiting lift. “We have a problem.”
Sitting in my apartment, the video is on loop and Athena looks white as a ghost.
“I’m so sorry, Royce,” she whispers, tears teetering on her bottom lash as Nora sits opposite her.
“Don’t be, it’s fine.” I shrug it off. I have had worse.
Nora glares at me and I wince.
“Athena.” Her voice drags Athena’s attention from me. “Royce is right, annoyingly. Still, it’s not idealbut…” She smirks. “It isn’t bad press. Maybe you shouldn’t have screamed you were going to, and I quote,fuck his brains out.” She sniggers behind her hand and Athena drops her head into her hands.
“It’s going to be okay. You may find you get a little viral hit from this too,” Nora says, trying to make Athena see the silver lining.
“Oh my God,” she whispers, fishing for her phone in the bottom of her backpack and pulling it out as she goes onto her social media. “I’ve got over ten thousand new follows.” She clamps her hand over her mouth, hysteria slipping past her muffled lips. “My inbox is full of messages asking what it is like to be with Royce Lexington.”
“You’re welcome.” I wiggle my brows and Nora looks at me in disgust.
