Maybe forever

Thight t-shirts and bad surprises

*Amelia*

"Please just shoot me, won’t you?" I step out onto the balcony, the evening air cool against my skin, and find Jasper lounging in a chair, savoring a glass of red wine. Without a second thought, I grab the bottle and take a hefty swig, the rich liquid warming me from the inside as I plop down into a seat across from him.

Jasper looks up, his brow furrowed in concern. "But whatever happened, sweetie? Is something wrong? I saw Cory drive you home."

I take a deep breath, feeling the tension in my chest. “Do you ever notice something, and then it’s like you can’t unsee it? Like your eyes are glued to it, no matter how hard you try to focus on something else?” I ask, trying to find the right words to explain this feeling that’s gnawing at me.

His grin widens, and he sends me a curious look. "Well, yeah, that might have happened once or twice. What is this about, my dear? What couldn’t you keep your eyes off?"

I chuckle, shaking my head. "Oh, I see where your mind is going, but no… it’s not that. Someone in wardrobe decided to put Cory in this ridiculously tight white T-shirt, right?" I take another generous gulp from the bottle, feeling the warmth of the wine coursing through me.

Jasper raises an eyebrow, intrigued. "And?"

I lean forward, lowering my voice like I’m sharing a juicy secret. “Well, he must have been cold or something, because his n*****s were literally trying to poke holes through the fabric. It was so distracting that I spent the rest of the day talking to his… his freaking n*****s!” I can’t help but laugh at the absurdity of it all.

“Oh God, sweetie, so you’re not totally unaffected by him. That sounds very distracting. I can so feel you,” Jasper says, his grin widening.

I let out an exasperated sigh, leaning back in my chair. “Of course I’m not! He’s so unbelievably sexy it’s not even funny, and I think I might have let that slip a time or two.”

“Then why not just do something about it? I’m willing to bet he wouldn’t say no to a little hanky-panky,” Jasper quips, finishing his glass and reaching for the bottle.

I shake my head vigorously, trying to dismiss the idea. “No can do. That would only end in trouble. I’m not into one-night stands, and it wouldn’t be fair to him either.”

“So you’re just going to walk around and suffer, getting more and more sexually frustrated because you can’t jump his bones… or was it his n*****s?” Jasper takes a swig from the bottle and hands it back to me.

I take another deep gulp, the wine almost soothing my frustration. “Yup. I can control myself. Oh, by the way, we’re both invited to his place on Friday for a barbecue and fun with his family.”

“Well, doesn’t that sound cozy? Getting introduced to the family,” he teases, winking at me.

I stand up, stretching my arms overhead. “I’m going to take a shower. Do you want to grab some dinner afterward?”

“That sounds like a fantastic idea, sweetie! Let’s hit up a popular spot and see if we can spot someone famous,” Jasper replies, his eyes lighting up with excitement.

We head to a trendy café, and to my surprise, we actually spot several TV stars, including a very famous talk show host. Jasper leans in to whisper that he’s so gay but still in the closet, making me giggle at the absurdity of it all.

Later, we make our way to a bar for a couple of drinks, and I can’t help but feel like a giddy teenage girl when I spot Bruce Willis across the room and he sends me a friendly smile.

*****

The next couple of days fly by in a whirlwind of recordings and meetings. Cory finds pockets of time between filming his show, and I’m busy talking with promoters about arranging concerts. Excitement buzzes in the air, especially when I hear the network is considering making a music video for my song and releasing it as a single.

Everything feels perfect until Friday morning. I’m out for a run, the familiar rhythm of my feet hitting the pavement calming my racing thoughts. On my way home, I stop at a*****e to buy a bottle of water and, for some reason, pick up a tabloid magazine too.

Back in my kitchen, I flip through the pages, my heart light and carefree until a photo catches my eye. I stop, the air in my lungs freezing as I read the article accompanying the image.

Shock hits me like a punch in the gut, leaving me breathless. I gasp, a sob escaping my lips, and suddenly, the warmth of the day is gone, replaced by an icy dread that coils around my heart.