Page 85 of If the Stars Align
Jeremy says he doesn’t feel threatened by my famous ex at all, but I’m not sure I believe him. If Dex and I saw each other in person, or talked on the phone, or even texted more than we do, I’m sure Jeremy would ask me to step back. Not that I’d blame him. I wouldn’t be happy if he were friends with Anjali—not that she’d entertain the idea, considering how they ended.
But as long as Dex Oliver is a picture on a billboard or an image projected onto a screen, Jeremy has no qualms whatsoever about him. He even suggested we see Dex’s newest movie together. To Jeremy, life’s a competition and, as far as he’s concerned, he’s won. He hasme.
I have to admit, seeing Dex on screen always sends me on an emotional rollercoaster ride. I’m happy for him. And I’m incrediblyproud of him…
I also still miss him. I don’t think I’ll ever stop.
But watching him act is, if nothing else, a confirmation that this is exactly what he’s supposed to be doing with his life. He was meant to be a star.
He’s phenomenal.
“Want me to make you a smoothie?” Jeremy asks from bed.
I look back at him and shake my head. “I’m way too nervous to eat.”
He gets up and walks to where I’m standing in front of the mirror next to his dresser. Then he wraps his arms around my waist and lets me lean against his chest. “You’re going to do great today,” he says as he gazes at our reflection. “You’ll be in front of the judge for less than five minutes. This is a good way to ease you into going to court.” He kisses the side of my head. “Plus—you look so damn hot, there’s no way Jim could possibly say no to you.”
I raise an eyebrow at him. “You’re on a first name basis with thejudgenow?”
Jeremy gives me a self-satisfied look. “I’m in his courtroom a lot. He actually invited me to play golf with him next Sunday. His law clerks tell me he usually only asks partners. I guess he made an exception for me, though.”
I roll my eyes at him while attempting to suppress a smile. “You know, Jeremy, you really are?—”
“Wait…let me guess,” he says, squeezing me tighter. “Charming? Handsome?” He watches me shake my head. “Well-endowed?” he suggests.
I can’t help but laugh. “Those werenotthe words I had in mind.”
“Hmm.” He kisses my neck and starts feeling me up. “Are you sure?Noneof them?”
I have to work very hard to ignore my body’s response to his touch because, if I don’t, I’ll end up back in bed with him and miss my court appearance.
“Let’s pick this up later,” I say, freeing myself from his embrace. “I don’t want my suit to get wrinkled. Are you sure I look okay?”
Jeremy smirks. “What doyouthink? I can’t keep my hands off you.”
“Thanks, babe,” I say as I comb my fingers through my hair to fix the pieces that got mussed up when he was kissing me. “You know…I’ve been missing my curls lately. I’m thinking about bringing them back.”
Jeremy squints at me. “Don’t you think this style looks more—I don’t know, polished?” He watches my forehead crease, then adds, “For court, I mean.”
I frown. “Polished? Really, Jeremy?”
He shrugs. “Maybe that’s not the right word.Professional. Is that better?”
I shake my head. “No. It’s not. It’s offensive.”
Jeremy scoffs. “How is that offensive?”
“Well, I’m sure I get my curly hair from…whatever ethnicity I partially am, so what you’re really saying is that the hair I was bornwith doesn’t look professional. It’s the same bullshit reason companies use to justify firing an employee with dreadlocks, or?—”
He starts nodding. “I see your point. But that’s not how I meant it. Litigation is all theatrics, babe. Actors change their hair all the time, depending on the role, right? You have to look the part. When you’re dressing for court, you want to keep it simple. If you walk in there with cascading curls like a Botticelli painting, that’s all anyone’s going to pay attention to, and they won’t hear a word you’re saying. Trust me—I’m in court all the time. You’ll fit in perfectly like this.” He gives me another tight squeeze and, when he finally gets a smile out of me, he goes to sit on the edge of the bed.
After a beat, I hear him sigh while I’m putting in my earrings. “Sunny, I know you don’t like talking about your biological father. Not that there’s much to talk about. He’s a piece of shit for never wanting to know you, and I understand why you don’t want to know anything abouthim. But…”
Every muscle in my body braces. As if I weren’t already tense enough this morning.
He’s right—I do hate talking about the guy who contributed half of my genetic material and didn’t care enough to stick around. Whenever Jeremy’s asked me questions, I’ve answered them to the best of my ability, but I’ve never once brought up the subject. So why the hell is he choosing to discuss this now, before I set foot in a courtroom by myself for the first time?
I turn around with my hands on my hips and glare at him. “But?”
