“With what?”
“With fame, or with you being attached to me. I’m not feeding them or whatever story they’ll spin. I’m also not hiding you.”
“Oh, it must be tough for you, living like this. I couldn’t imagine.”
“I’m used to it now.” His fingers flexed once against my leg, applying subtle pressure. “You can be uncomfortable, Sibley. I’m not offended by it. Just don’t let my reaction to the media confuse you. I’m not letting them define what we are.”
I didn’t respond right away. I wasn’t ready to admit how much that last part eased whatever this feeling was that I was experiencing. I would be crazy to think he should address and correct everything someone said about him, or me even. That conversation was necessary, because after it, I felt calm and steady. The driver took us up into the hills, and I watched as the city stretched out in layers of concrete and light. The air changed as we drove. It became windier, which brought a faint clean scent of ocean air through the cracked windows.
“This is one of my spots when I’m in LA.” He said as we approached a gate that slid open without us even slowing down.
“How many vacation homes do you have, if you don’t mind me asking?”
“You can ask me anything, Sibley. I have four. I tend to purchase in spaces where I do a lot of groundwork. So, Malibu, Miami, and Scottsdale to name a few.”
“Scottsdale, like Arizona? What artist is crazy enough to work in the desert?”
“Don’t sleep on Arizona, baby.” He laughed. “But that’s my chill spot, where I regroup, recenter, and get my creative juices flowing.”
“Only a sociopath finds peace in the middle of the desert, Kier.”
“Says the woman who uses horror movies as comfort.”
We both laughed, then I gasped at the sight before me. The house came into view, and I marveled at its beauty. Concrete and glass, and warm wood tones were only the beginning. The lawn was manicured perfectly, and everything was pristine. Once the driver parked, Kier exited then came around to open my door. He gestured for me to leave my luggage in the truck, and I just assumed the driver would get it.
Inside, the air smelled like fresh linen and something citrusy. Out of respect for his home, I took my shoes off, careful not to scuff the marble. The floors were smooth under my feet. The area was open, but not empty. His home was decorated with minimalist art and sleek furniture.
“My goodness, Kier. This is beautiful. If I lived here, I’d never leave.”
“You never have to leave, now. That choice is on you.”
“Kier.” I laughed as I headed to the outdoor area. The home had a beautiful scenic view of miles of ocean. “Wow… breathtaking.”
“When you’re ready, Sibley, I’ll show you to your room.”
“My own room again? You’re spoiling me. Either that or you don’t want a stranger sleeping next to you.”
He grinned a little then turned serious. “Si, don’t confuse my patience and respect for you with uncertainty. I know what I’m doing. The question is, do you?”
I didn’t even have a comeback because I was blushing too hard. “Um.”
“Follow me.” He smiled again, shaking his head.
Kier led me down the hall, showing me a room with one massage table, another room with workout equipment, two guest bedrooms, then a room with an ensuite, which was my room. It was beautiful, overlooking the ocean. The bed was made crisp and clean. In the closet, empty wooden hangers lined up neatly; it felt like a hotel room. Too perfect and had clearly never been used. For a split second, I imagined moving through a place like this without feeling like I was borrowing somebody else’s life.
“Is this, okay?”
“It’s perfect.”
“Cool. I’mma let you get settled. I gotta hit up the studio, then after the set, we can grab dinner, unless you’re hungry now.”
“Actually, can I come to the studio with you?”
“Word?”
Dramatic or not,I damn near passed out when I got to the studio. It smelled like smoke layered over cologne and liquor. The bass thumped through the walls, and that, in conjunction with the smell, immediately overstimulated me. The room was crowded with women laughing loudly, guys holding cups, and others rolling blunts as if they weren’t already high enough.
Though chaos unfolded before me, the only thing I paid attention to were the women. I hated my first instinct wascomparison. Between their hair and makeup, they were perfectly put together. Yes, they were dressed like video girls and they damn near were. But still, their confidence was intimidating. They were comfortable in this room, and I wasn’t trying to judge the reasons why.
