Page 78 of Between Never and Forever
There have to be ten to fifteen paparazzi on the sidewalk, plastered to the metal railings and leaning into the café with their cameras pointed at me. I don’t recognize any of them, but that doesn’t mean some of them didn’t trail me from L.A.
Thankfully, a barista is standing by the front door, and it looks like she’s locked it, but it’s only a matter of seconds before one of these idiots realizes he can just hop over the railing and come inside. Damn it.
Is this really a hiatus, Sav?
Did the band break up because of your relationship with Torren King?
Did he cheat on you again? Did you cheat on him again?
When did you get out of rehab, Sav?
Sav, what do you have to say abo—
I turn and head back into the hallway, reaching for my phone to call Red for an escape plan, and run smack into a hard chest. His hands wrap around my upper arms, and even though it’s only for a split second—barely enough time to get a full inhale of his spicy, clean scent—it feels like he pulls me closer. Like his hands tighten. Like he doesn’t want to let go.
“C’mon.” He growls, then spins and shoves me down the hall.
I don’t ask. I just do as he says. He grabs Brynn’s hand and hurries past me, and I follow him to an exit door that leads out into the alley behind the café.
“White truck,” he says, gesturing to a vehicle parked at the end of the alley. “Run.”
So, I run.
Me, Levi Cooper, and Levi Cooper’s daughter sprint through the alley, dodging rocks and potholes, until he’s opening the back door of a beat-up old pickup truck and tossing Brynn inside while I climb into the passenger seat and shove myself onto the floorboard between the bench seat and the glove compartment.
Levi cranks up the truck just as my phone starts to buzz, so I twist my body awkwardly until my hand can reach into my pocket and pull out my cell.
“Red,” I pant into the phone.
“Where are you?” His voice is steady, no hint of panic, but I know it’s probably there.
“I’m okay. I’m with a...” I flick my eyes to Levi. He’s staring straight out the windshield. “I’m with a local. They showed me the back way out. Has anyone seen you?”
“No,” he says, and then it sounds like he’s running. “Can the local bring you back to the rental?”
I swallow and look back at Levi. He nods once, confirming he’s been listening, but he still doesn’t look at me.
“Yeah.”
“I’ll be at the gate. Have them drive in.”
I tell him okay, and then I hang up.
“Where’s the rental?” Levi asks, voice hard and cold. No warmth. No fondness. Nothing but steel formalities and thinly-veiled anger.
I tell him the address and he flips the turn signal, turning the truck around and heading back to my side of town.
“Those men were reprehensible,” Brynn says from the back seat. I almost forgot all about her. “They were so rude.”
“Shit,” I grumble, squeezing my eyes shut. “I’m sorry, Brynnlee. Are you okay?”
“Oh yeah, I’m fine. But that was simply atrocious.”
I snort out a laugh. This kid is a trip.
“Sorry you didn’t get your coffee,” she says, and even though I can’t see her because of how I’m squished on the floor, I can hear the sincerity in her voice.
“That’s alright, Boss,” I tell her cheerily, “I’ll get my latte later.”
