Page 16 of Got to be You

We cheer, acting all crazy about everything, which only causes us all to laugh. This really is going to be our home soon enough. I’m going to live in this city. This is where my adult life will begin.My God, Iknowhow lucky I am, and I don’t intend to take any of this for granted. I’m going to love every moment.

Whoa, the nights out are intense in LA, nothing like what I’m used to. I do feel a little bit like a fish out of water, but in the best way possible. The lights might be intense, the noise might be ear-blowing, but I’m loving it. We have even seen a whole bunch of celebrities, which is wild. Although every time I get excited about it, Spike reminds me that we’re going to be among them soon enough. We’re going to be the famous people others are looking out for, whom they want pictures with and get autographs from, and that concept makes me too thrilled for words. We really are going to be those guys.

The only thing missing is Lilly. If she were here with me, on my arm, then this night would be perfect. This whole time in Hollywood would be the best thing to ever happen to me.

“I’m just headed to the bathroom,” I say to Harry… although I sort of mouth it, really, because there is no point in getting any volume out knowing that he won’t be able to hear me. “Be back in a moment.”

Harry nods but doesn’t give me anything back, which I suppose is hardly surprising because he’s deep in a conversation with a girl who I presume is a model or something, so my presence isn’t needed. Spike is dancing with some new friends as well, so neither of them will miss me if I take the time out to call Lilly.

I know what anyone would say to me if they knew what I was doing. I would be teased for calling Lilly in the middle of a nightout, but I don’t care. I’m in love with her and I want to hear her voice.

It takes me a while to make it through the crowds of people to find an outside space where I can get some quiet, which unfortunately seems to be the smokers’ area, and I hide away in a corner. I press my cell phone to one ear and my finger in the other and listen to the ringing sound which comes for me over and over again. Unfortunately, that’s all I seem to get. Lilly doesn’t seem as desperate to speak to me as I am her. Logically, I know she’s probably just sleeping, but I can’t help feeling rejected by her.

“You got a light, handsome?” I feel a hand resting on my shoulder which makes me jump so hard that I nearly drop my cell phone in shock. I don’t know who I’m looking at as my eyes meet the person attached to the voice, but I can instantly tell that this is someone famous. She has that star-like quality to her. The sort of X-factor that takes anyone’s breath away instantly. And she knows it as well.

“Er, no, I don’t smoke.” I offer her a one-shouldered shrug. “Sorry about that.”

“So, what you doing out here?” She runs her eyes up and down me and smirks knowingly. It’s as if she can sense that I’m new here and I don’t know what I’m doing or how to deal with people like her. “If this is the smoker’s area, then you shouldn’t be out here. Unless you’re up to something naughty.”

“Erm.” I should have a quick-witted response to that, but I don’t.

“Come on, come with me.” She smiles and nods. “I’ll take you to the VIP section and introduce you to people you’re going to need to know if you want to make it big here.”

“Can I bring my band members with me?” I ask childishly. I hate how I sound.

“Of course you can, sweetheart. And I’m Amber, by the way. I’m sure you’ve heard of me.”

I haven’t, but I don’t think I should say that. She doesn’t look like she’ll take it well.

“Jax,” I reply instead. “My name that is. Jax fromLionHeart.”

“Well, Jax fromLionHeart, let me show you the real LA. VIP sections are the only way to get to know what your new life here is going to be like, and I think we’re going to have a really good time.”

There is an edge to her voice that I choose to ignore. I nod and follow her because I really think she might be able to open up LA for me, and when the rest of the guys and I move here, we’re going to need every door opened possible. Even more than what Will can unlock for us. I’m just getting started…

12

LILLY

“Aargh!” The shrill scream breaks through my brain, shaking me from my sleep in the most unpleasant way possible. “What the fuck has he done now? I’m going to kill that little shit!”

I lift my head off the pillow before I slam it back down again and groan. “I thought you and Adam weren’t speaking at the moment. What has he done now? Do you want me to kill him for you?”

“No, not Adam.” I see her shaking her head hard. “Not this time. It’s Jax. What an asshole.”

“Huh?” Now I’m interested. “But Jax isn’t here at the moment. He’s at his record label thing.”

“Yeah, kissing fucking pop stars in Hollywood.” She thrusts her phone underneath my eyes. “I mean, at least be discrete if you’re going to cheat on my friend. Don’t kiss Amber. I mean, what a dick!”

“Amber? As inMirror? The super-famous pop star, Amber?” I snap back, finally looking at what she’s trying to show me. “Oh,my God, he met Amber in LA? He kissed her? That’s absolutely insane.”

My first reaction is to be impressed that someone I know has met Amber because she’s pretty cool, but at the same time, my heart sinks because ofcourseJax has kissed her. She’s stunning. Anyone would. I knew that this would be the sort of people that he would be hanging out with, but not so soon.

“Oh.” The headlines are damning, talking about Amber and her new man that she was seen canoodling with all night long, and the photograph alongside the article isn’t much better. “I’m speechless.”

“Well, I’m not.” Anna struts up and down the room like a woman on a mission. “I’m going to tear his goddamn balls off. He was only there for one night to sign some contract. He can’t keep it in his pants for that long? He shouldn’t do that. Not so soon after telling you that he’s in love with you.”

Hmm, I suppose that’s right. Hedidjust tell me that he loves me. I do hate him for that, for betraying me, but I don’t know how much I blame him. I think any man in his position would do the same thing. I mean, Hollywood isn’t just the city of temptation, but it’s also the city containing the most beautiful and charismatic people in the world. How could he resist? Not for me. I already knew that his moving was going to tear us apart. I guess I just wasn’t expecting it to happen so soon.

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