Page 38 of From You to Me

Even though I had zero idea what a tour assistant would do, I really needed this job, one way or another, but not for the reasons she thinks. This would be my ticket to freedom, and I wasn’t going to let anything stop that.

CHAPTER 9

He knew. He didn’t know. He knew. He didn’t know. He knew! I jumped as I plucked the last petal of the daisy in my hand. I mean, it was good that he knew, right? And I hadn’t heard a word from Aimee besides the dozen emails she sent me about my detailed job description.

Which was crazy, to be honest. But I didn’t have time to think about that. I needed to know if I had the job first.

We would be leaving for the tour in two days, if I was even going. Aimee had asked me to go to the apartment today to get Jay’s travel documents and personal luggage sorted. My job was to keep up with his schedule and assist with his personal needs while I coordinated with Nathan, who was the band’s tour manager.

Okay, deep breath, Evy. You can do this. Remember why you are doing this.

I exhaled heavily as I locked all my shame, pride, and ego in an empty box and threw away the key.I can do this, I thought as I punched in the code and peeked inside the apartment. Lily had already given me a heads-up that everyone was here. Assuming from the sounds coming in from the right, they must be in the TV room.

My heart thudded as I tiptoed to the kitchen, needing a moment to collect my bearings. The sight of an empty kitchen greeted me, which wasn’t surprising because it was late evening.

Laughter ran through the walls, followed by footsteps, skyrocketing my nervousness tenfold. Oh God, I ducked behind the counter, hiding as I prayed whoever it was to go away.

I licked my lips as a dozen scenarios ran through my head. I sat on the kitchen floor as I contemplated how to go about this. The fact that everyone was here only made my stomach twist with anxiety.

“What the fuck are you doing here?” Jay thundered with a fierce expression on his face.

I was startled, catching my heart as I peered at him. “Jeez, you scared me!”

But the expression on his face didn’t falter one bit as he repeated. “What the fuck are you doing here?”

Fuck, this was going very well already. I slowly rose to my feet. I plastered a smile on my face, deciding to go with the fun/happy Evy. “Ta-da.” I waved my hand. “I’m your new tour assistant.”

He looked perplexed like he was taken aback by what I had said. “You’re what?”

My heart sank to my gut. There went all of my hope of him knowing already. “Your tour assistant?” I said hesitantly, almost as if I was testing the waters.

He blew out a breath. “If you’re living in some kind of delusion, now is not the time. I do have a tour assistant, but that’s not you.”

I smiled, trying to break the tension strangling the room. “It’s me. You must not have read the name.”

His brows furrowed as he picked up the phone and scrolled through for a while until his blues widened. “Why the fuck are my employees hiring without my fucking permission?” he bit out.

Fuck, he was absolutely not happy with this. Just as I expected. “It just happened.”

His eyes flashed to mine as he took a step toward me to which I couldn’t help taking a step back until my back landed on the fridge. “You’re the last person on earth that I want as my tour assistant.”

“Understandable.” I licked my lips, a nervous laugh escaping me.

His eyes were molten as they traced every single moment of my lips. My heart hammered in my chest. He leaned down so close that we were an inch away while I stood at a standstill, shivering. “You’re fired,” he whispered, lips touching my ear.

It felt like I had been splashed by the waters from the Arctic as I pushed him away. “You can’t fire me. I haven’t even started the job,” I pointed out.

“So?” He tilted his head.

“You haven’t even given me a chance yet,” I muttered, wide-eyed as I peered into those blues.

“I don’t have fucking time for this,” he said, turning away.

I didn’t even think as I closed my fingers around his wrist and pulled him back to me. The burn from his skin sent ripples through my veins. “I need this job.”

He cocked a brow while he cast a glance at my hand. “But I don’t need you.”

I swallowed. I forced any ounce of bravery and courage I left in my body to do this. “It’s just a job. Don’t tell me you’re scared to hire me.”

---