Page 29 of Sky Full of Stars

There are some grumblings but fortunately, everyone still agrees.

There is a red carpet at the event. I hate walking them but at least we haven’t been forced to bring dates along. Tonight, we are just the band. Bianca and Hannah the publicist stay out of the way but are always hovering. We are expected to speak to a few of the TV stations penned back behind barriers at the entrance to the hotel where the benefit is being held, and we oblige the fans along the way with some photos, no autographs, it takes too long and there are other people coming along the line like a conveyer belt. I can’t wait to get inside.

As we go into the lobby, leaving the shouts of the photographers and fans behind there are groups of people around us, champagne being passed out. I notice a model I was connected to for a while standing alone as she turns to catch my eye. It wasn’t that we dated, more that we fucked and had our pictures taken together, the press dubbed it a relationship. It really wasn’t. She walks over.

“Oh shit Ad, it’s that psycho, Alicia,” Arch laughs. “She’s gonna be disappointed to know your dick is taking a hiatus.”

I glare at him. Alicia puts her arm around my neck and gives me an exaggerated kiss on the cheek. She doesn’t let go. She’s tall, slim and beautiful but, as Arch points out so eloquently, a clingy, overbearing name-dropping psycho.

“I’ve missed you, Aidan,” she purrs into my ear. “Why did we stop getting together?”

“Cos we’re so busy,” I say, being diplomatic.

“Isn’t your tour finishing tomorrow?” she tilts her head in a way I suppose she thinks is sexy. At one time I might have thought it was. She’s so close to me I can see make-up caked around her nostrils and her lip gloss is way too thick.

“US leg but we start the European one soon,” I try to move out of her grasp.

“Oh I love Europe.”

Her arm is still around my neck like a vice. I look at Arch, I need to be extricated from this. Like now. He rolls his eyes and starts towards us. And that is when I see her. The green dress is so unique it’s impossible not to notice. My eyes roam up the length of it, remembering how gorgeous Jenna looked in it. The woman has dark wavy hair like her too. It’s tucked to the side, spilling over her shoulder just like in the photo. I can’t hear a word Alicia or Arch are saying because my mouth is suddenly dry. I have only seen the author from Jenna’s tour once on the back of one of her books but the woman standing by the girl in the green dress looks remarkably like her.

Someone approaches them, a man in a tux, he hands them both a glass of champagne and that is when she turns around. Shit. Our eyes meet across the room. Hers widen, looking unsure if she is seeing what she thinks she is seeing. I watch her lips part like she is about to say something to me from across the room, a hint of a confused smile tugging at her lips, and I can’t help thinking how damn beautiful she looks. Then her lips snap shut.

Alicia pulls me towards her. A photographer has appeared out of nowhere and she kisses me. I know what she’s doing, it’s a complete set up, publicity for her waning career, she couldn’t have done it at a worse fucking moment. I pull out of her grasp and glare at her.

“What the fuck are you doing?”

I see Bianca out of the corner of my eye, she’s heading towards us, a worried look on her face. She knows Alicia’s career is on the slide and wouldn’t want me tied to her in anyway.

“Come on Aidan, one for old times’ sake,” Alicia pouts.

“Get the hell away from me,” I snap. I turn back to where Jenna was standing but she isn’t there anymore. I see the author but no Jenna, or the douche. I assume it’s the douche. Who else would the man with them be?

What is she doing here? “Shit,” I mutter angrily, searching the room for her.

“Dude, red sparkly shit is not your colour,” Arch interrupts my thoughts.

“Keep her away from me,” I snap at Bianca and wipe my mouth, my hand coming away with the sticky hideous mess. My eyes frantically move through the crowd but there is still no sign of her. I walk to the author, she glances at me as I approach and smiles hesitantly.

“Miss George?” I ask.

“Yes,” she shakes my hand, flustered. “You’re the singer from BreakNeck, Wow, I’m so happy to meet you,” she says with a smile. “My nieces absolutely love the band. Me too, obviously. Yeah…”

I don’t want to be rude but the only thing I need right now is to find Jenna. What the hell is she going to think? Not just that she saw me here when I told her I was in Florida, of all fucking places but having Alicia all over me.

“This may be a little fan girl of me at an event like this but could I get your autograph.”

“Sure,” I say. “The people with you, do you know where they are?”

She looks surprised and stops rummaging for a piece of paper in her purse. “Kevin and Jenna? They went to look for the bathrooms. You know them?” She looks suspicious. I give her one of my smiles, the kind that makes the female fans swoon, so I’ve been told.

“Let me get you that autograph,” I tell her and she passes me a pen and paper. I scribble out something illegible. My stomach is hurting. I need to find the bathrooms. “It was lovely to meet you, enjoy the benefit.”

I move away, looking for the bathroom sign. I see Arch watching me like I’m nuts. Maybe I am. What I should be doing is thinking it’s good that she has found out, now she knows the truth and she can decide if she wants to continue seeing me. Talking to me. My stomach feels even worse thinking that. Why does this girl have such a hold on me?

I pull my phone out and call her. It rings out then goes to voicemail. I hang up.

Adam: Jenna, where are you? I need to explain what just happened

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