Page 27 of Perfectly Wrong

I let go of her wrists, and her hands immediately tangled in my hair, sending shivers down my spine. Before I knew it, she was on top of me, biting my lower lip, her breasts brushing against my chest.

“Hold up, hottie,” I said, gently pushing her back by the shoulders, making her sit on my stomach.

“What?” she whined, her eyes dark with desire, lips red and swollen. I grinned, loving the sight of her like this. “Come on, Martin. It’s been forever.”

“I know,” I chuckled. God, I knew. I’d been counting the days, dreaming of this moment. “But I’m here to take care of you, not to take advantage. We’ll have plenty of time for this. But first, I need you to eat something and talk to me. I can tell something’s bothering you, and I want to help.”

“Does the order matter?” she grumbled, crossing her arms. “I mean, you’re gonna have your way with me eventually. Why can’t we start there?”

I laughed out loud. She was wild, and I loved her for it. “Yeah, it matters to me!” I sat up, keeping my arms around her. Our noses touched, and I saw a hint of a smile on her lips. I pulled her closer, her legs settling around me. “And for someone who didn’t want to kiss me a minute ago, you’ve changed your mind pretty fast.”

“Did I mention I hate you today?” she asked, then kissed me quickly.

“No, you don’t hate me,” I teased back. “I’m your favourite teenage celebrity, and you can’t live without me.”

“Ugh, I think I might puke.” She climbed off my lap, and I panicked.

“Are you feeling sick?” I asked, moving closer. “Do you need to go to the hospital?”

“No, Martin,” she snapped. “You’re so sweet, I think I’m going to puke a rainbow.”

My jaw dropped. “You’re the worst person ever!” I cried out, mock offended. “Here I am, worried about you, and you’re making fun of me. I should go back to California and never speak to you again.”

She laughed, throwing her head back. “Go ahead, Martin. And if you’re not going to have your way with me, go get us some breakfast. I’m starting to get hungry.” She blew me a kiss and headed to the bathroom, locking the door behind her and leaving me standing there, smiling like the fool I was.

I’ll admit, I wasn’t prepared for this. When Elena told me she was hungry, I thought I’d just raid her kitchen and whip something up. But staring blankly at her empty fridge, I realized I had no clue what to do.

She’s always been so particular about her groceries, so it was shocking to see nothing there. I knew she liked to hit up Whole Foods on Wednesdays, something about fresh produce, but with her feeling like crap, it made sense she hadn’t gone. Her fridge must have been empty for days.

I headed back to the bedroom and heard the shower running. I didn’t want to bother her, so I grabbed my wallet, sunglasses, a cap, and my backpack and set off for her favourite market. As soon as I stepped outside, I felt the chill. Winter was creeping in, and Toronto was starting to feel cold and grey again.

Whole Foods wasn’t far, but halfway there, I realized just how many bags I’d be hauling back. I should’ve driven instead of leaving my car parked on her street. The cashier gave me a suspicious look, like she knew who I was but was trying not to show it. I flashed her an honest smile and thanked her for not making a scene.

Walking back with six plastic bags in each hand—yeah, I forgot the reusable ones, sue me—was brutal. My fingers were frozen, and I hadn’t even zipped up my jacket. The wind was ruthless, blasting through me and turning my hair into a mess. But I was on a mission, and nothing was stopping me.

“For fuck’s sake, why do we live in such a freezing city?” I grumbled as I dropped the bags on the kitchen counter. “Seriously, why not Vancouver? At least their winters are a little more humane.”

Elena was sitting on a stool by the island, holding a mug in her hands. “You know you could’ve just made scrambled eggs and coffee, right? You didn’t have to go to Whole Foods.”

I stood in front of her and took a sip of her coffee. “Do you really think eggs and coffee would satisfy this six-foot-two body?” I teased. She laughed, and I felt a surge of warmth. “Besides, you’ve lost weight, and I’m worried you’re not eating properly. So, spill what’s been going on while I cook you the best breakfast you’ve ever had.”

I started unloading the bags, setting out ingredients for pancakes, eggs, grilled ham, and toast. I was determined to make a proper meal. I heard her sigh and knew she was debating whether or not to open up. I gave her time, and eventually, she spoke.

“Remember that guy from Japan—the one who barged into my room?”

I clenched my jaw. “Yeah, our room. What about him?”

“He showed up in Toronto a couple of weeks ago, demanding that I handle his band’s marketing. He threatened Jeremy, saying he’d terminate the contract if I wasn’t leading the team immediately.”

“What?” I whipped around to look at her. “But you’re working on my project... And, Lena, don’t get me wrong, I’ve seen what you’re doing with my album and the tour. It’s incredible, but I know it’s taking up all of your time and your team’s. How can you handle two projects at once? You’re amazing, but that’s insane.”

“Tell me about it.” She looked exhausted. “I told Jer I didn’t have time for another project. Your campaign runs until the end of 2019. We have to plan every step, adjusting for feedback from critics and fans. After that, I’m already committed to another major project. I’m already stretched thin, trying to balance both. But when Rento brought up the fine we’d have to pay, Jeremy caved and gave me two weeks to deliver the initial plan.”

“That’s ridiculous,” I fumed.

I was just about to start cooking when she joined me at the stove. I kissed the top of her head, and she gave me a faint smile.

“The past few days have been hell. I couldn’t push your project aside, but I still had to draft a plan for the Japanese band. I’ve been working non-stop, barely sleeping.” Her voice cracked. “I think my body just gave out yesterday.”

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