Page 67 of We Own Tonight
I guess since there’s no father or brother in the picture, I’m going to get the speech from her bestfriend.
“Iagree.”
She takes a swig and nods. “I think you’re good for her. I’ve known her my whole life, and there’s something different about her since you camearound.”
“Aren’t you breaking some kind of girl code?” Iask.
I’m not sure how these things work with chicks, but if I’m basing it off my experience with Savannah, they’re all deranged. She and her friends talk in some alternate language that Randy and I tried to decode once. In the end, we gave up and decided being on the inside wasn’t worth it. However, I know she’s talked about never breaking the code. Whatever the fuck thatmeans.
“She knows me too well. I don’t have acode.”
“Good to know.” I laugh as I take a pull from mybeer.
“I heard about what you did for hersister.”
I know this is a test. What I say now will determine if Nicole helps or hurts me. So far, I think she’s been pro-Eli, but that can change. I’m not afool.
“What’s important to Heather should be important to who she dates, don’t youthink?”
She smiles and then catches herself. “Not all men feel that way. Some think they should be most important. I’m sure in your world it’s that way alot?”
There are days when I wish people could see the shit I go through. It may look all wonderful on the outside, but it isn’t when you live it. I get hounded by the press, followed by the paparazzi, and forget having any kind of privacy. The only reason I have an ounce of it with Heather is because I’m here. Tampa is where I can be low key. But if Heather and I went to dinner in public, you can bet your ass I’ll have photos taken, which will bring the headlines, questions, assumptions, and everything else. I don’t think that was her point, though. I have a feeling it’s about the loser she married beforeme.
I weigh my words carefully. “It can be, but not where the people I care about are concerned. Sure, the people who want something from me treat me differently, but if you met my brother or his wife, you’d know that’s not the case. I’m fully aware of Heather’s situation and only a selfish piece of shit would put her in a position tochoose.”
Nicole looks off at the kids running around and then back to me. “I’m protective ofher.”
“I’mglad.”
“I won’t let you hurt her,” shewarns.
“I don’t ever want to hurther.”
Quite the contrary, actually. I want to be her protector, her sense of comfort, and the one who she can rely on. It’s a primal desire to take care of her. I just don’t know if she’ll letme.
“Wanting and doing are two different things and people tend to protect themselves overanother.”
Her words strike me deep in my heart. Is that what I’m doing? Knowingly keeping things from her to protect myself? To be able to have whatever I can have with her at her expense? I hate myself in this verymoment.
Chapter Eighteen
Heather
“There you are,”I smile when I find Eli still sitting with Nicole in the backyard. His eyes are filled with sorrow when they meet mine. “Eli?”
With a blink, the sadness is gone. “Hey.”
“What’s wrong?” I ask quickly and glare at Nicole. I’ll kill her if she said somethingstupid.
“Don’t look at me.” She waves her hand. “I was warning Eli of all the ways I’ll make his life miserable if he hurtsyou.”
Seriously, I wonder if I can have her committed. I know she’s being a friend, but Jesus, she’s a pain in the ass. “Could you not scare him off so soon?” Iask.
Eli pulls me to his side. “I’m good. It takes a lot to scare me off. Besides, I’m pretty sure Nicole would like to meet a certain member of the band, right?” He kisses my shoulder, and Ichuckle.
In one of our recent conversations, I told him the stories of Kristin’s tickets, Danielle licking the poster, and Nicole’s obsession with his brother. He called his publicist right away and got something special for each of the girls. I laughed hysterically when he told me they took a photo of Shaun licking his own poster for Danielle. I’m sure her dumbass husband is going to bethrilled.
“Shut up!” Nicole yells. “I can’t believe you toldhim!”
