The paparazzi.
1405 Words
2
I’m up by 5 again the next morning.
Today, my normal routine continues.
I head down to the gym, plug in my Air pods and start my workout.
30 minutes later, someone walks in.
That someone has black eyes, chocolate brown hair and smells like mint and smoky wood.
Cole.
“We meet again.” His deep voice says.
“Yeah.”
He goes over to the treadmill and I continue my set. 30 minutes pass of us both doing our things before he breaks the silence.
“Care to meet up later for a drink?” he asks.
I inhale dramatically, “I’m sorry did you just ask me, your rival, for a drink?”
He just stares at me before saying, “Remember I said our companies are rivals not us both. Why let the rivalry between two companies get between us,” he shrugs, “I mean it’s not like I personally s**t in your food.”
He’s right.
Our companies are the rivals not us. He might be a good guy after all. I shouldn’t judge a book by it’s cover right?
“okay.” I finally agree.
“Cool. I know a club at the corner, you could let loose.” He says.
He pulls out his phone and hands it to me, “your number, so I can text you the address or would you rather we leave together?” he smirks.
Asshole. He knows how disruptive that would be for us both.
I take his phone and type in my number, “Yeah, no.”
“See you later, darling.” He stalks away
My eyes narrow at his retreating figure. I can swear he’s up to something.
I head back to my hotel room, shower and change my clothes.
I’m not ready to face my manager yet, but I have to face my family. I can’t keep running from them. Unlike my manager, they’re inevitable.
My mom picks up on the first ring. Almost like she’s been waiting for me to call.
“Hey mom.” I smile at her.
“Jeffrey, my baby boy, are you okay? What’s wrong, you’ve been AWOL for the past week, what’s going on? You know you can talk to us right?” mom says.
Us as in, me and your father.
“Mom, I’m okay, I just needed a little break from it all, you know how consuming it can all get. I’m okay I promise.” I shoot her a smile I hope seems real enough.
Luckily for me, she seems to be convinced by it and if she’s not, she masks it up well.
“Well,” she beams at me, “when are you coming to say hi to us baby? We miss you, you know.”
My family lives in Manhattan and I’m currently in California.
My job keeps me far from home. Going on tours, meetings, shoots has me moving about.
“Soon mom.” I assure her.
“Maybe you could bring someone over too.” She wiggles her brows at me.
I laugh.
My family knows I’m gay. In fact, they knew before I did and helped me find out how I truly am.
They embraced me with love and warmth and has never for once stopped loving me since. I’m really grateful for the kind of parents I have. They’re the best and I truly can not imagine my life without them.
My anchors.
“What about dad?” I ask her.
“Oh you know Jack,” she waves her hands back and forth dismissively, “he’s out playing golf with his pals.”
“Tell dad I said hi.” I tell mom before hanging up
I check the time, 8:00am.
My phone pings with an incoming notification.
UNKNOWN: Hey. It’s me Cole, here’s the address.
I check out the address on my Google map and like he said, it’s around the corner. Secluded too.
Smart boy.
He knows the chaos that would unfold between our companies if we were to be spotted outside together.
I scroll endlessly on the net for 2 graceful hours until I feel my eyelids getting heavy. I drop my phone and fall into dreamland.
My eyes crack open. I pick up my phone.
Damn I slept for 4 hours straight. It’s 4 in the afternoon.
I’m not doing any other thing and I’m not meeting with Cole until 8 in the night. 4 more hours to go.
Who’s counting down? Not me.
I decide to call my sisters and check on them.
Being he only son and the last one was fun. It is still fun. My sister’s pampered me and showered me with all the sisterly love in the world. I love them both so much.
We’re three kids. Two girls and a boy. Me.
Our first born, Annika, is married with two kids. The second girl, Isabel is currently doing her master’s in law. Not married. And then there’s me.
I call Annika first and speak to her and my nieces, then her husband and then spoke to Isabel, who couldn’t speak for so long because she had work to do.
Satisfied after speaking with them, I pick Belle up and drop her on the bed then turn on the TV.
After a while, my phone pings and I pick it up.
A text from Cole.
CHRISTIAN COLE: still coming?
I check the time, 8:15.
Shit. I got carried away.
I text him that I’m on my way and quickly dish out food for Belle, change my clothes and head out.
No need for my car since it’s just a few blocks away.
I get to the club and head in.
Cole is at the corner of a booth looking good.
I walk up to him and take settle in, “Hey, sorry, I got carried away.”
“All good.” I notice him checking me out but I don’t mention it.
We’re both dressed casually in jeans and top but I’m wearing a jacket and he’s not.
“So? Is there any reason I’m particular for this meeting?” I ask.
“Must there be? I invited you here because I figured you needed a break.” He says.
“Oh, thanks. I guess I needed it.”
We order our drinks, mine vodka and coke, his, whiskey on hills.
We talk about random things and I discover he’s far from the arrogant prick I thought he was.
“why aren’t you dancing with the girls?” I ask randomly.
“I’m into men Jeffrey, if that’s what you’re asking.”
How did I not know that?
“its not a secret, but the press doesn’t know. It’ll get out sometime soon anyways.” He looks at me.
Suddenly the room becomes too hot or maybe it’s just the way he’s looking at me that sends a zing of molten heat all over my body.
I clear my throat, “well, I’m sure you can pull so many men.”
“there’s one in particular I’m interested in though.” He says.
Is it me? Or I can definitely hear the underlined meaning in what he said. Maybe I’m overthinking it.
“well, I’m sure you can pull him. This has been a nice time, genuinely but I have to go.” I tell him.
“let’s head back together. I didn’t drive by the way, did you?” he asks.
I shake my head “nope, walked here.”
We get to the hotel and say our goodbyes.
I’m tired as s**t, so I get into the bed and sleep off, my mind replaying how tonight went with Cole.
The sound of my phone continuously pinging jolts me awake.
What is it now?
I pick it up and the screen lights up, several missed calls and several texts from Max, my family and Insta.
My mind is immediately at alert. I open Max’s texts,
“What the hell Jeff?”
“He’s your rival!”
“ you better explain to me what is going on right now.”
“pick up!!”
Similar texts from my family also, my brows furrow.
What is going on?
When I open insta, I finally see what the problem is.
JUST IN: IDOLS CHRISTIAN COLE AND JEFFREY LARSON SPOTTED TOGETHER LEAVING A CLUB.
Only one word comes to my mind .
SHIT.
- Writer
