Keep To The Script (Complete)

~ Chapter 5 ~

“So, the headache is just a continuation from this morning?” Angel asked once he got them out of the parking lot. Judith took the ponytail down and shook her hair before resting it on the headrest.

“Yes! God, it was just a wretched day with everyone yelling and getting pulled in multiple directions. Honestly, I would love to call in sick tomorrow.” She rubbed her eyes and then moved her fingers back to her temples. She noticed that Angel wasn’t like other typical young people with the blasting of their music in the car, and she was so grateful for that at this moment.

“Yeah, didn’t see you around too much. Granted, we weren’t shooting anything yet.” Angel turned down another street and Judith realized this wasn’t the way to her house. She sat up a little more before turning to look at him. He glanced at her and then chuckled as he shook his head. “Again, uptight.”

“Yeah, but where are we going?”

“I told you it’s a surprise. How about you just rest and trust me, huh? I promise I won’t attack you, kill you, or even bite you, yet.” Judith snapped her head back around to stare at him after that comment. Yet, what yet? What the hell was with that yet? But his lips smirked, and she had a strong feeling she wouldn’t get anything out of him. Not that she didn’t trust him, because she did, which was foolish. Even young and good-looking Hollywood stars could be murderers. But that really wasn’t the vibe he was giving off. So, she did the opposite of what she wanted to do and leaned back in the seat, allowing him to do whatever he wanted. “Good, you look a lot better when you relax.”

“So, sue me, I don’t trust easily.”

“You don’t f*****g say, JD.” She laughed and smacked his arm.

“Language, young man! I would hate to have to scold you for that!” The image flashed of them in bed, her kneeling over him, scolding him in other ways than s******g and her cheeks flamed red.

“Oh, don’t you dare tempt me, JD,” he told her as he pulled up to a dark building with nothing more than a simple neon sign by the front door. He parked the car and turned to her, resting his arm on the back of her seat. “Or I might make you promise to uphold that, and then make sure you keep your promise.” He winked at her and climbed out of the car, letting her fight the blazing heat on her cheeks. He just flirted with her, and she couldn’t understand why. Not that she didn’t like it, but men didn’t flirt with her! They didn’t see her like that, that’s why her stories always had great love lives because hers truly sucked.

Besides, she was almost as old as his mother, he really couldn’t see her in some kind of s****l light. Wouldn’t that be odd and gross for him? No, she shook her head and reached for the handle, surprised when the door opened, and he held his hand out to her. She looked up at him, at the glint in his eyes, and she fought the urge to crawl back into the car and slam the door on him. Those eyes spoke volumes and she wasn’t sure she was up to the task that they were promising.

“Angel,” she said quietly as she took his hand, enjoying the warmth that was there.

“Don’t sweat it, JD. Now, come on, this is a privately owned club, and the owner is my friend.” He didn’t let go of her hand as they left the car and headed into the building. And as all the eyes turned to stare at them, he still didn’t drop her hand. In fact, she was almost tempted to, but the hold he kept on it told her he wasn’t letting go. And really, she didn’t want to let go. So, she followed him to a corner booth and watched as he nodded to someone behind the bar. “You drink, don’t you?” She lifted a brow before she smirked.

“Are you even old enough to be drinking, sir?” she countered. He chuckled as he rested his arms on the back of the booth.

“Just barely. Want to see my license so you don’t doubt me?”

“I’m good for the moment, Angel,” she told him, still keeping the tone light and teasing. She liked this and she realized that the throbbing in her head had slowed to a dull ache. How was that possible when usually it took darkness, soft music, and tons of pills to touch that type of pain on her? Her eyes skirted around the place, and she nodded. “I like this joint. It’s laid back, certainly not something I thought I would find a rising star to be in.” He shrugged his shoulders as the bartender came over.

“Glad you’re back, bro. The usual Corona?”

“Sure, Jesus. This is Judith, the writer I told you about,” Angel said, smiling at her. Judith glanced between the two men and then tilted her head slightly. The resemblance was uncanny, and she ducked her head, realizing that she was meeting some type of family, and she was going to guess a brother.

“It’s a pleasure, Judith. Angel wouldn’t stop talking about your story.” Judith lifted a brow at that.

“Tell me, Jesus, does he read a lot of romance?” She couldn’t help but try to gain some information, especially if his brother was forthcoming with it. Jesus laughed and nodded.

“He does, claims it helps with the ladies.” She shared a laugh with him and caught the eye roll Angel gave off. “Can I get you something to drink? A margarita? Tequila sunrise?” So, she was pegged as a fu-fu drinker huh?

“Bourbon on the rocks, three fingers please.”

“Woah, my kind of lady. I’ll be right back with that.” Jesus walked off and Judith turned to look at Angel.

“Know the owner huh?” Angel leaned forward and looked at her seriously.

“Would you have run, JD, if I told you, it was my brother?” His eyes told the truth, and they were screaming that she couldn’t lie. They both knew that she would turn tail and run in the opposite direction, and sadly, she had no reason behind it. She just claimed that having a friend in this town was going to be good. Did it matter as to the age of the friend? If Angel wanted to be seen with her, it couldn’t be that bad, right?

“Fine, I would have.” She played with the napkin Jesus had set down and Angel lifted a brow again.

“Why? There’s no crime stating I can’t talk to you, is there?”

“Of course not, Angel.”

“So, why are you making it a big deal about me talking to you or getting to know you?” She opened her mouth and then shut it right away. Why was she making it a big deal? Because she let her imagination get the better part of her and assumed that he wanted something more than a friendship? Wasn’t that dumb on her part? After all, he was an upcoming star and she would bet he had hordes of ladies after him, why would he want one pesky writer anyway? And what could he know about her other than the few things she wrote in some blurb? “Waiting, JD.”

“No reason, I guess. I’ll stop.” He pushed back off the table and leaned back against the booth seat, a smile on his lips.

“Something tells me that’s going to be quite unlikely.” She shot him a glare as Jesus put the drinks before them.

“It’s on the house, Judith. Just make sure to give my little brother here a hard time.” Judith raised the glass to him and took a sip.

“I’ll try my best, Jesus.” Angel took a drink of his beer as he watched his brother walk away and then turned back to her.

“Where did you get the inspiration for this novel?” he asked as he played with the bottle in his hands. She licked her lips, her cheeks warm at the thought.

“I was in a coffee shop one day and saw the woman sitting alone at the table, her fingers drumming on the tabletop, a steaming hot coffee before that she hadn’t touched. It was evident that she was waiting for someone, and it looked like she was getting more and more upset as the seconds ticked by. All of a sudden, this guy hurries into the coffee shop, his jacket waving behind him as he rushed through the doors.

“He caught sight of her, pulled her into his arms, and kissed her deeply. It’s the most vital scene that I have fought tooth and nail not to change, and it’s the scene that started the storyline. I questioned why she was waiting? Why did she look upset? Why was he in such a hurry to get to her? Why hadn’t she touched her coffee? What were they thinking? Where were they going? And lastly, was their love so grand, or so new, that they didn’t care about making out in a public place?” She paused as she looked down at the liquid in her glass. “So, I started answering the questions myself and you got the book.”

“Jesus told you I read a lot, and I do. Romance is a top genre for me, and it surprises a lot of people, but there’s such emotion that comes out with romance, and it’s not just love, although that all plays a great part.” He looked at her and gave her a real smile. “You have a gift, JD, and I hope you don’t lose it. The world needs more stories like you gave.”

“Thank you, Angel.” She smiled, her heartwarming at that thought. “Why do you call me JD?”

“It’s your pen name, right?” She nodded. It was just unusual to have people really address her as such. “I like it, think it’s unique, it’s got style and class, and it sure fits a gorgeous woman like you a lot better than Judith.” And that had her eyes popping open wide, her jaw hitting the floor, and her heart doing a pattern she didn’t know.