Total pages in book: 58
Estimated words: 53466 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 267(@200wpm)___ 214(@250wpm)___ 178(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 53466 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 267(@200wpm)___ 214(@250wpm)___ 178(@300wpm)
* * *
Ben
Summer spends the morning liking messages, talking to fans she didn’t know she had, and thanking well-wishers who want her to win the position as opening act. I watch her cheeks flush and her anticipation build as she realizes people want her to win this competition and open for a major pop star.
She finally pulls herself out of bed and is going to shower when her doorbell rings. It’s been awhile since she’s had company other than Ivy, and I beat her to the door.
“Who is it?” I ask. Although things have been quiet since the attempted drugging, I won’t let down my guard.
“Summer? Who is that?” a female voice calls from the hall. “Ira, I think it’s a man,” I hear the woman say.
“Oh my God. It’s my mom!” Summer grabs for the handle.
“Summer?” a male voice joins in from outside.
“And my dad!” She pulls open the door. “I didn’t know you were in town!” Ushering them in, she grabs first her mother, then her father in a hug. “I’m so glad to see you!”
“Who is this?” Her father glares up at me; I am, for him, an unfamiliar man in his daughter’s apartment.
“Ben Hollander,” I say, extending my hand. Despite me having worked on Star Power, having been on the set, and having slept with Summer, I never officially met them.
“Ben is my bodyguard,” Summer says, explaining my presence in her apartment. Something I think they ought to already know, and would have if they showed any interest in Summer at all.
“Bodyguard? Why would you need a bodyguard?” Ira, a tall man with gray hair, asks as he shakes my hand.
“That’s a long story,” Summer says. “But basically it’s a precaution. Something Jade Glow’s people put in place for both me and Tawny.” She shoots me a look, which I interpret to mean not to give them details about the specifics of someone wanting to hurt her.
“Come in!” She settles her parents on the sofa. “Can I get you anything?”
Her mother shakes her head. “We wanted to talk to you.” She shoots a glance at me.
I take the hint that they want privacy for their conversation. “I can make myself scarce.” I’ll go to the bedroom or the kitchen.
In this small apartment, I’ll hear everything, but I’m not leaving her unprotected. Anyone watching would know I left the building and see opportunity.
I am staying put.
* * *
Summer
I don’t know what to make of my parents’ visit, but I am glad they are here. So much has happened lately that I’d normally talk to my mother about, and I hope today means we can make inroads toward regaining our once-close relationship.
I glance at my folks. My mom looks as fit in person as she did on the video chat, wearing a striped dress with a belt and ballet flats. My dad, too, is tanned and healthy.
“So, you two look great,” I say as an icebreaker.
“Thank you. So do you.” My mom meets my gaze, the same golden-brown eyes I see in the mirror staring back at me.
My mother squirms in her seat. “Honey, I know when I came back I was still on a high from exploring the world, but really, when I think about that conversation, I just cringe.”
Before I can reply, my mother rushes on.
“We had our neighbors DVR your Morning Show appearance and your whole childhood came rushing back.” She sniffs and wipes a tear. “I’m so proud of you. You could have fallen apart or walked off the stage, but my God, you stepped up.” Her voice cracks with feeling. “I couldn’t imagine what you were going through, alone there, dealing with things.”
My eyes glaze, emotion clogging my throat. “I wasn’t alone. I had…” I was about to say Ben, but then I’d have to explain to my parents that I am sleeping with my bodyguard while he is no doubt listening from the other room. “I was okay,” I say over the lump in my throat. “But I did wish you were there. Or at least watching.”
My father nods. “That’s why we’re here. Seeing the performance was a wakeup call to how selfish we’ve been, only thinking about our feelings and not yours. We were hurt,” he says. “And angry that after all we’d done to help you get to where you were, you didn’t think we are good enough to keep around.”
I shake my head. I never wanted them to feel that way. “That wasn’t it. Honestly. It really came down to experience in how to negotiate with people who’ve been in the industry for years.” I tried to explain the situation at the time, but they were too hurt to hear. “You were great when I was younger, but things got so crazy during and after Star Power, and I needed qualified people in my corner. But I never wanted you to all but disappear.”