Page 103 of Bae

I took the creamer and a bowl of washed berries out of the fridge, set them on the island, and went for the coffee. Ivy reached into the pantry and pulled out a loaf of pumpkin bread she’d made sometime yesterday.

Ivy was actually a really good cook. Better than me… but I would hopefully learn.

Once we both had our coffee the way we liked it, we sat at the bar with the berries and bread in front of us. We didn’t bother with plates, something we wouldn’t ever do if the guys were in the room.

They’d see us once and think they’d never need to use a plate again.

So ridiculous.

I popped a raspberry in my mouth and savored the slightly tart flavor on my tongue. Ivy sipped at her coffee but then got up to let Prada out once she finished her bone.

“How are you feeling?” she asked, coming back to sit down again.

“Sore,” I answered honestly. Especially my chest area. “And my face burns. Stupid rash.”

“I have cream that will clear that up,” she said. “I’ll put it in your bathroom.”

Ivy had a cream for everything. It was a talent.

“Braeden told me what happened.” She began, and I nodded.

“Stupid paparazzi,” I muttered.

“They really have become obsessed with you guys,” Ivy remarked, breaking off a piece of the bread and popping it into her mouth.

“I know.” I sighed. “I can’t believe they called my father.”

“Two million dollars is a lot of cash,” she said.

“Do these tabloids really pay that?” I asked, seriously.

“Oh yeah, if the story’s big enough.”

“Well then, I don’t think they’ll be abandoning their stalker ways anytime soon.”

“I don’t think so either.” She frowned. “I wish there was something I could do.”

“I really don’t think there’s anything any of us can do. Romeo was making noise last night about filing a civil suit against the men who ran me off the road.”

Ivy’s eyes widened. “Do you know who they are?”

“No. I gave the description of the cars to the cops, though. They were out looking last night. Part of me hopes they found them, because what they did to me was so scary…”

“But?”

“But the other part is worried about what Romeo will do, and it may be better if they just disappear.”

“All four of them are going to be overbearing idiots for the next few months,” Ivy said, forlorn.

“I know.”

“Braeden actually told me I should cancel my trip to New York this morning.” She made a rude sound. “As if! What am I supposed to do? CallPeoplemagazine and say,Oh, sorry, my husband won’t let out of the house because he hates reporters?”

“I forgot that trip was coming up,” I said, sipping the coffee. It tasted good, slightly sweet and warm. It felt amazing against my throat, which was sore and a little scratchy. Absentmindedly, I rubbed below it, the bruise on my chest aching.

“It’s just a few days,” she said. “I’ll be in meetings and photoshoots mostly. Just stuff for my column.”

“It’s the best feature in every issue,” I said, and I meant it. I always read her column, even if skipping past some of the stories and photographs of me sometimes gave me a stomachache.

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