Page 35 of The Starry Knight

“I’m not sure. I guess time will tell,” I murmur.

“Don’t push him away, Stormy. I know you. You’re already trying to think of the best way to escape him. He could be good for you. He’s already committed to taking care of your hand and your panic attacks. I wouldn’t dust that under the rug. Not all men are equipped to handle such things and if he’s doing it willingly, then I would say he has feelings for you. But you don’t need to take my word for it. You need to talk to him about it. I could meet with both of you if you want me to,” She insists.

“I don’t know. I’ll let you know. He’s a billionaire, Dr. Heffington. He could have anyone he wants. I’ve seen the type of girls he’s normally with and they don’t look like me. I don’t want to get my hopes up but also I still think we have a love/hate relationship. We are both extremely hardheaded and we still haven’t apologized for the things we have said to each other,” I respond.

“Remember that going through a situation like that panic attack can bond people together. Chemicals in the brain don’t distinguish between the adrenaline of falling in love or a fight or flight episode. It’s possible that what started out as enemies has developed into something deeper than either of you expected. I see the fear in your eyes. Not everyone is going to leave you like Blaine and your parents. You were dealt a shitty hand in life but that doesn’t mean that you can’t turn it around. You have to trust people. If you want trust you have to give some away. Talk to Sebastian, Stormy.”

“Thank you for everything. I’ll talk to him. I don’t know when, but I will.”

“Well, I have kept you for long enough. Make sure you talk to this man before you run away and don’t mix anymore medication with alcohol. Same time in two weeks?” she asks. I nod my head as she writes the appointment down.

“Thank you for always believing in me even when no one else did. I’m glad to have you as a doctor,” I reply before we get off the phone.

“You are more than welcome. We’ll talk again soon,” she says as I hang up and look out the window at all the clouds flying over. I wonder what I should say to Sebastian. I don’t want to be the first to bring up what we are. I don’t want to look needy. I sigh and put my phone away. Things with men are always so complicated.

Sebastian

“How bad is it?” I ask Marcy. She never calls, just texts. I know something is going on if she is calling me.

“You and Ms. Brooks are plastered all over the media. But that’s not all, are you sitting down?” Fuckinghell this can’t be good. I walk over to my chair in the corner and sit, keeping my eyes on Stormy in case she tries to bolt. She’s got her face covered and I would bet that tears are cascading down her face. She is talking with someone on the phone.

“Tell me,” I demand.

“Stormy Brooks is also known as Stormy Jacks. Do you know who that is?” The name seems familiar to me, but I can’t place it. Why did she lie about her last name?

“She was the lead singer of Damaged Jacks until a year ago when tragedy struck the band, and the lead guitarist was killed.” I let that sink in. I’ve heard that band name. They are all over the radio. Now that I think about it, when she was singing last night I felt like she could have a career in it. And she has. Why is she lying to me and to everyone? “I take it by your silence that you didn’t know any of that?” Marcy questions.

I clear my throat that suddenly feels dry. “No, I didn’t. Tell me the rest. I know there is more,” I insist.

“She was married to the lead guitarist, and he was shot at his parent’s residence. Apparently it was accidental by the nephew. She was there and witnessed him dying. She went into a rehab facility soon after. The media has been trying to find her ever since. She’s a big deal in the music industry and record labels want her. She died her hair, and she is going by her maiden name.” It takes me a moment to understand everything that Marcy is telling me. I knew something bad happened in her past, but I could never imagine that she saw her husband dying. A sudden bolt of jealousy surges through me at the thought of her loving another man. “I was able to dig into her background and found all this out. Her parents’ also passed away in a caraccident about a year before that. They we going to her graduation and were struck by a drunk driver. The poor thing has been through more than you can imagine.”

“I don’t really know what to say.” I look back up from the floor and see that Stormy and her clothes have disappeared. “I have to go. Try and get the photos taken down. Do whatever it takes.”

“Wait! Don’t leave your apartment, there are paparazzi out there. We are trying to get the police there, but they aren’t going fast enough. You need to stay put until this blows over. They know you know her, plus you’re like a New York celebrity. Both of you together is making headlines. They’ll harass both of you. I’m doing everything I can.” Fuck, she is going to be bombarded. I jump up and grab a pair of sweats, tugging them on. I run out of my room and down the hall to the front door that just closed. I open it quickly and see the elevator doors closing.

“Stormy! Stop! You can’t leave.” But it’s too late. The elevator doors close and I see it making its way down. “Fuck! Damnit!” I think fast, running to the stairs, I take them two at a time, hoping I will make it there before she does, but I live on the top floor. I realize that I still have my phone clutched in my hands and I put it to my ear to tell Marcy what’s going on.

“Marcy, Stormy was here, and she just sprinted from my apartment. She’s going down the elevator and will be bombarded if there are paparazzi everywhere. She fucking suffers from panic attacks, Marcy. Fuck.” I don’t know if it’s the adrenaline or the sheer will to save her from such horrible things that makes me get to the ground floor around the same time the elevator opens. But just as Marcy said, there are photographerseverywhere. Stormy’s eyes meet mine and I see the sheer panic there. I run and grab her in my arms.

“It’s okay. It’s okay. Let’s get out of here,” I whisper into the shell of her ear, trying to calm her and myself at the same time. She nods into my chest, and I barely register the flashes going off. I grab her in my arms, and she wraps her legs around me, as I press the button for the elevator. It opens immediately and I jump in. Pressing the button to close the door, I can still see the flashes going off in the distance, but I have Stormy clinging to me for dear life. She is my main focus right now. I know they got the pictures they came here for. A disheveled woman and a man in just pants doesn’t paint us in the best light. Marcy is going to have a field day with everything.Marcy!

“Sorry Marcy, I got her. We’re going back to my apartment. They saw us. I’m sorry your job just got ten times harder. I’ve to go. Let me know if anything else comes up,” I say into the phone.

“Will do. Take care of that poor girl, she needs it.” Marcy hangs up and I pocket my phone.

I pull Stormy closer to me and she tightens her hold on me.

“I’m so sorry.” She whimpers. I can feel her tears running down my chest and my heart aches at the pain she is going through.

“You don’t need to apologize. We will get everything resolved.” I murmur, trying to keep myself calm when all I feel is rage flowing through me. The audacity of people that feel the need to harass innocents to get photographs of them astounds me. I grip her hips tighter and she yelps but I just need to feel her, to ground myself. I need to be present to help her, notfurious that people are storming my building. I take a deep breath and look down into the yellow tear-filled pools of Stormy’s eyes and I know without a doubt that I am in love with her. I don’t know when it happened or how, but she is mine. I don’t care about her past, I just want to be her future.

Chapter 19

Sebastian

We get back into the apartment, and I set Stormy on the couch, wrapping her in a blanket. She pulls her knees up to her chest as she continues to tremble. I crouch down in front of her and cup her face in my hands. My thumb wipes away her tears even as they continue to spill. I look at this gorgeous creature in front of me and I just want to protect her.

“You don’t have to talk about anything right now. I want you to know I’m right here for you. Do you want to shower? It will help you feel better,” I state. I lean up and kiss her forehead and it just feels right. Having her here feels right. Having her in my arms, my bed, and my apartment makes everything feel complete. I can’t explain it and I don’t want to. I’m coming to realize that Stormy is my person. I don’t want to ever see her go and I definitely don’t want to see her run from me again. I need to have a talk with her.

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