Page 17 of Finding Emotion

When Skylar didn’t appear to be anywhere in the suite, he regretted not having his stuff even more. The bedroom she had used stood open and empty. No lights had been switched on, but with the bank of windows letting in the midday sun, that wasn’t necessary. The growl in his stomach told him he needed something before he headed to the park. He spied a bowl of fruit he hoped was real on the counter between the living room and the kitchen and crossed to it as he checked his phone.

His foot kicked something on the way, and he frowned down at what turned out to be a phone. Skylar had left hers on the ground. He was surprised but impressed. She must have been less attached to it than he was to his.

His own phone vibrated in his hand. He turned it over and accepted Jimmy’s call. “Hey, man. I’m up.”

“Is it true?” Jimmy asked, his tone more serious than Damon was used to. “You’re staying in the suite with Skylar?”

“Just because of the press bullshit. Nothing happened like you’re picturing.”

A more familiar laugh sounded. “Shit, man, did you at least get to hold on to her while you slept? I bet she’s an epic pillow.”

“The suite has separate bedrooms. Skylar isn’t even up here anymore.” Damon reached for the fruit, happy when the banana was real and peeled like normal. “So I take it her manager contacted you?” he said around his first bite.

“Yeah, yeah,” Jimmy said. “I swapped digits with her on the plane, and she let me know what was what. She’s no Skylar, but the glasses look is pretty cute, don’t you think?”

Back in high school, Malcolm’s sister, Katie, had worn glasses, and Damon had been more than attracted to her. He’d thought she was the one for a while, but she’d only had eyes for Blake. “I can dig glasses.”

“Because you’re a four-eyes yourself.” Jimmy laughed again. “I bet you couldn’t see shit if you took your contacts out.”

Damon polished off the last of the banana. “I slept in them, but I need my stuff. Did you already set it up somewhere?”

“The hotel staff should be heading your way as we speak. I figured you wouldn’t sleep much past now and would need it. I’m supposed to touch base with Mandy soon about getting a key card to come and go.”

“We should all get together to talk next steps.” Damon remembered how tense Skylar had seemed earlier. “It might be best if the breakup hits the media sooner than later.”

“Is the bloom off already?” Jimmy snorted, but then his tone shifted. “Oh, you must have caught the shit Skylar’s been getting.”

Damon’s eyes dropped to the phone he had kicked as he frowned. “What type of shit?” He bent down to pick it up. The screen lit up when he turned it, the most recent message clear to read.

“Wait, you don’t know?” Jimmy’s confusion seemed to echo in Damon’s ear.

The unknown number had not been kind. Damon placed her phone on the countertop. No wonder she was less than attached to it if she got that kind of bullshit.

“It’s just some typical slut-shaming,” Jimmy said. “If you scan her feed, she gets it all the time, but not at this level. Your fans got a little heated over the possessive crap.”

“Fix it.” Damon’s lips felt numb around the words. Jimmy had always done a good job of keeping the haters away from him, but Damon had also thought better of his fans. Besides the stalker, he’d never had any issues. And even the stalker said shit like they were his match and praised him.

“I can’t fix social media, Dame,” Jimmy protested. “It’ll blow over soon enough. Skylar has an image she’s proud of.”

“So do I. It’d be weird if I didn’t respond to people hating on my girl.” It might have been fake, but that was what she was to the public: his girl. No woman should have been slammed for owning their sexuality, but Jimmy was right, he couldn’t fix social media. Damon could, however, respond to his private life. “I’ll post something to let my fans know how I feel.”

“Wait! Shit, no.” Jimmy sighed. “I’ll get our social media rep on it. You’re right, we need to respond, and a protective response will only boost you.”

“This isn’t about a boost.” Damon glared at the cell phone Skylar had left behind.

“Yeah, okay, lover boy. What, you starting to get a thing for her?” Jimmy snorted. “She’s way too rock star for you.”

“I know she’s out of my league.” Damon rubbed a hand over his face. “Hell, I want a run.”

“Got to work those blue balls off?” Jimmy teased. His tone sobered. “Seriously, man, stick to the indoor gym, okay? The paparazzi are crawling outside the hotel.”

“Hey, I look good in running shorts.” The thought of the treadmill took away some of his desire to move, but not all of it. “If they follow me around, it’ll be a little easier on Skylar.” Wherever she had gone. It was silly to wish she had left a note or something.

“These guys aren’t playing right now. Listen to me, for once.”

“Okay, I get it. Besides, when do I not listen to you, Jimmy?” The elevator dinged, opening to a rolling cart. He eyed the staff member like he’d been doing ever since the surprise gifts had started, but waved the guy toward the room he’d used. “My stuff just got here. See if you can set something up for after my run on a stupid treadmill?”

“Sure. I get the feeling Skylar is hard to pin down, though.” Jimmy said goodbye, and Damon lowered his phone.

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