Page 34 of Everything In Between
Corey crosses his arm and stares at me. “Real mature, Jersey. This isn’t over.”
Thankfully, he stalks away and takes his seat at table seven. Hayes turns back to me with an eyebrow raised. “So that was the infamous Corey Shrader, huh?”
“Unfortunately,” I acknowledge and shake my head. “I don’t want to talk about him. Distract me.”
“You’re better off without him,” Hayes mutters. His expression changes then, and I can physically see him moving on from the thought of anything to do with Corey. “Are you going to bid on anything tonight?”
“I’m not sure. I haven’t really had the chance to look at the listings yet.”
“Let’s go have a look.” Hayes sets down his champagne flute and scoots his chair back. Standing up to his full height, he offers his hand to me. I look at it for a second before sliding my fingers against his. He helps me up but doesn’t release my hand.
We walk together to the table holding the items listed for auction and peruse them together. He doesn’t let go of me the entire time. When I slide my hand away from his, he gently moves his touch to the small of my back, as if he’s afraid I might disappear if we lose contact. It makes my head spin, and my heart takes off at record speed.
I must admit, I like being by his side. I like watching him listen to every word that leaves my mouth, interested in anything I have to say. It’s such a contrast to what I had become accustomed to at the end of my last relationship. Corey would rather abandon me to hang out at the bar with other A-list attendees than walk with his arm around me. He was always so focused on himself.
As the evening progresses, and I spend more time with Hayes, I somehow find my interest in him increasing to new heights. The magnetism he exudes is inescapable. I, too, seem to find myself leaning in closer to him when he speaks, itching to hear him talk more or tell me another joke.
And when he throws his head back with a laugh, the full, deep sound makes my belly tighten and my face split into an uncontrollable grin.
The joy he brings me is unparalleled. And I could find myself quickly becoming addicted to the way he makes me feel.
For a short time, I forget that I’m Jersey Matthews, the pop star, feeling like any other woman standing at the precipice of a new romantic relationship. The desire to jump headfirst overshadows any other rational thought. It’s lovely, it’s addicting, it’s... refreshing.
As much as I want to hold on to these feelings he’s evoking in me, I should know better by now that they are always short-lived.
TWELVE
hayes
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 27
I don’t knowwhat lucky star is looking down on me tonight, but I’m eternally grateful that they are. How else could I have managed to run into the one person I was itching to see halfway across the country?
Even in my wildest dreams, I couldn’t have imagined I would have gotten to spend tonight with Jersey Matthews. But I’ll be damned if I take it for granted.
The more time I’ve spent with her in person, the more I want to spend with her.
Jersey’s expression turns thoughtful and then she’s stepping closer to me, wrapping her arms around my waist and hugging me. I’m frozen for a split second before my arms instinctively wrap around her frame. I bend my head, resting my cheek against the side of her hair and closing my eyes as I breathe her in.
She smells . . . intoxicating.
In my periphery, I catch sight of a figure lurking. I glance up surreptitiously to see Corey watching the two of us with his armscrossed and a sneer on his face. I tighten my arms and turn all of my attention back to her.
“I like your perfume,” I mutter into her ear.
“It’s mine,” she says with a small laugh. When she pulls away, she tucks a strand of her dark hair behind her ear. My fingers twitch at my sides, itching to be the one to tuck that hair behind her ear for her. Someday I will.
“Yours?”
“My brand.”
“Hmm,” I murmur and lean into her again. My hands settle on her waist and I bend my head, running my nose along the length of hers. Her breath hitches and desire crashes through me. “Well, it smells good.”
“It does?” she breathes.
“Better than any other perfume,” I say, and run my nose along hers again.
Her eyes lift to mine, eyelashes fluttering as she gazes into my eyes. The pull I feel toward her is unbearable, urging me closer to her. Her lips are a breath away. It would be nothing for me to close the distance, to taste her for the first time.
