Then perhaps all my nightmares will vanish.
––––––––
IHANG OUT the windowas we cruise down Rodeo Drive, Wilshire Boulevard, and all the other famous spots I’ve seen in the movies.Then we head to West Hollywood and the Sunset Strip.
This town is insane.
“Never would’ve pictured you living in a place like this,” I say over my shoulder.
“Why not?”Liam asks.
I sit back in my seat.
Liam and Jayden met when they were young.I don’t remember a time when he wasn’t in our lives, and that only increased after his dad died.They did everything together: learned to ride bikes and horses, started dating girls, played on the same football team.
“Growing up in Fort Worth, riding horses, going to rodeos?I don’t know, I guess I never saw you living in la-la land.”
Liam gazes around him, slowing for traffic and turns the stereo down a little.
“It’s where the work is, Jess.Sure, some days I wish I was living on a ranch, but being in the Air Force changed me.I’ve seen the world.Some of it, anyway.One day I may return.”
“Your mom misses you,” I say quietly, resting back in the seat.
His eyes dart to me.“You talk to my mom?”
“Of course I do.She visits Mom and Dad all the time.”
“Right,” Liam nods and focuses back on the road.“I just figured since you left home you wouldn’t see her.”
Surely he realizes I visit my parents regularly.Which...well, I didn’t tell them I was leaving Texas.I didn’t have a good enough explanation and pretty much hightailed it.
I wasn’t going to tell them the truth.
I’m not telling anyone the truth.
“I guess she’s lonely now you aren’t there.”
He lets out a bark of a laugh.“Christ, did she send you to guilt trip me?”
“No,” I frown, annoyed with his attitude.I like his mom, and fine, I wish he’d come back to Fort Worth.
We’re quiet for a little while, then he slows for another set of lights.
“Why are you here, Jessie?”
My eyes dart around the streets, looking for an answer.The only reasonable explanation I came up with on the bus ride here was me being an actress.
It’s believable, so I go with it.
“Work.My last gig finished up, and I figured it was time to come to Hollywood.”I meet his eyes and hope he can’t tell that I’m lying.
He doesn’t believe me, I can see it in his eyes.
We know each other too well.
“What do you do exactly now?”I change the subject slightly.
“Private security, for the guys you met last night.Josh and Aidan.”
