Page 112 of Bae

I did, but even still, Rimmel managed to surprise me. She did so just moments ago, inside the doctor’s office. She’d handled it like a total boss. I was just the muscle.

(Good-looking muscle at that.)

After I made sure she was buckled in the Cat and the door was shut behind her, I whipped out one of those single-use cells and hit a pre-dialed number.

Soon as the asshole picked up, I spoke in low, muffled tones, with my palm over the receiver. “Word is Rimmel’s doctor’s office is the one who tipped off the paparazzi of her appointment that day. So much for doctor-patient confidentiality.”

“Who is this?” the person asked.

I ended the call, dropped the cell on the ground, and stomped on it. I didn’t leave it lying there. I’m not an idiot. I picked up the broken pieces so I could toss them in the trash at our next stop.

Was it wrong of me to rat out that doctor, especially since I didn’t think she knew what had been going on right beneath her nose? Probably.

I didn’t fucking care.

Rim’s shady ex-doctor had just become example number two.

Rimmel

Four days in California just wasn’t enough. It was beautiful. Sunshine, warm breezes, and palm trees.

Everyone was gorgeous, too. I was beginning to think it was a prerequisite to live here. It was probably better we were due to fly home to Maryland soon, considering my penchant for sweats.

Funny how when I first moved to Maryland from Florida, the winters were a shock and the cold temperatures were bitter. I still wasn’t a fan of the cold or anything to do with the snow, unless I was looking at it through a window.

But I loved the seasons now. I loved the way everything changed and bloomed. I even loved the way everything fell away in the fall. Being here in Cali reminded me of that, because I found myself lying there in bed, looking forward to the crisp air when we got home.

This turned out to be a great family trip, even though technically we were here because of work and the fact Romeo wasn’t willing to be on the other side of the country from me right now.

I didn’t go to their game here. I was afraid it would be a circus with the media, considering the last game I attended, my accident, and now the impending charges against the two photographers who ran me off the road.

Instead, Ivy and I went shopping. Trent and Drew were our unfortunate bodyguards. I say unfortunate because I was sure they’d rather be at the game than walking behind us down Rodeo Drive like security guards.

In our usual fashion, Ivy shopped like a boss while Nova and I followed along and looked at the sights and in the windows. I got a few nice things, most of them Ivy picked out, but there was this one thing I chose for myself, a pair of designer leggings.

They were black and looked like leather; they weren’t shiny, though, like I belonged in some eighties hairband. They were butter soft with a matte finish, and they hugged my body like they were made just for me. They weren’t even too long (a rare thing). The fabric stopped at my ankle in a stylish flare. Even I knew they were the perfect length for a pair of cute shoes.

Not heels. Maybe wedges.

Or maybe studded sneakers… Ohh yeah. Those.

I also picked up a few things for Valerie. With Christmas coming up, I figured it would be nice to choose a few really nice things to wrap up.

I’d seen her a few times since our talk that day about the miscarriage. We had lunch, and I’d asked her to help me plan another fundraiser. I was more open to our relationship now, more willing to set aside the past to move on to the future.

Our talk that day really helped me; in some ways, it helped heal me.

I was so grateful I’d ordered her a beautiful pair of Uggs, had them gift-wrapped, and sent them to her house. I wasn’t sure she’d actually wear them, even though she said she’d been looking for a pair. But it was a gift solely from me, a gift I never would have considered sending before because I would have thought she would have been offended.

She called me the day they were delivered. She exclaimed over the quality and couldn’t believe they could be bought at Target. I didn’t bother to tell her I’d gotten her the designer brand and those weren’t from Target.

Valerie said she loved them, she couldn’t wait to wear them, and she was so touched I’d thought of her. Things were good between us, and I sincerely hoped they stayed that way.

It was nice in California. We blended in a little better. People here weren’t as “star struck,” because celebrities were a dime a dozen.

I even saw one of the most-photographed stars walking down the opposite side of Rodeo Drive with a gaggle of cameras blocking her path.

Admittedly, when I first looked up and saw the spectacle, my entire body tightened and I froze. Anxiety that they would turn to me, understanding of what the celebrity must have been feeling, and memories of everything that happened most recently rendered me immobile for a few long seconds.

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