Chapter 1
Spencer
“Oh my God!! Veronica! Please look over here!” a fan screamed, and I clenched my teeth to keep myself from yelling back at her.
I braced my feet and pushed against these crazed teenagers who wanted to get near Miss Superstar. I could see Jason at the corner of my eye, standing directly in front of Veronica, and making a path for her towards the studio as we kept her fans at bay. When Veronica finally got inside, she gave a final wave, and Sasha and her new assistant, KC, went with her. The fans immediately dispersed, and I was finally able to breathe.
I readjusted my suit, grumbling about these crazy ass women, when I felt a hand clap over my shoulder. I looked to my side and Jason grinned at me. I checked his suit and got even more disgruntled because how the fuck did this guy manage to keep his clothes so spick and span after that stampede? Dude’s a miracle worker.
“How you holding up?” he asked.
“Barely. I still don’t get why I have to be here when you’re already in charge of protecting your girlfriend,” I grunted, and Jason chuckled.
“Yeah, that was my fault. I told Chase the security here in TV 5 was a bit lax, so I requested for more guys to be reassigned for this event,” Jason explained. “Sorry about that,” he said, and I waved my hand in the air dismissively.
“It’s fine. I was just kidding,” A little. “Besides, the free food and cola for a month at the movies makes up for it,” I said, chuckling as I remembered Veronica’s offer to sweeten the deal.
“Well, my girl got you on that one, didn’t she?” Jason replied, the pride evident in his voice.
This dude was a goner. He’s so deep in this love pool, he stopped breathing and drowned. It’s kind of pathetic.
I swear to God, I was never going to go that route. Nope. NO WAY.
“Okay, lover boy. Let’s dial the fuzzy feelings down a couple of notches, alright? For my stomach’s sake?” I asked, and Jason rolled his eyes.
“I swear, sometimes I think you’re more of a drama queen than Veronica,” he said.
“Hey, I just don’t want to cough up what I ate for breakfast, Keyes,” I jested, folding my arms in front of my chest. “Speaking of the drama queen, Chase told me you already popped the question. What did she say? Is she wearing your rock?” I asked.
Jason’s eyes widened and he turned his head left and right to check if anybody had heard me. He pushed me hard, and we moved over to a secluded corner of the building.
“Did you have to talk about that right now? Jesus!” Jason cursed, placing his hands on his hips as he fidgeted nervously. I raised my arms up, placating him.
“I’m sorry! I forgot this isn’t the time or the place,” I answered, mentally kicking myself for asking such a thing in public. “But it’s safe now, so answer the question,” I badgered him.
“Yes, okay. I finally asked her to marry me the other night, and yes, she said ‘yes’,” Jason answered. I hit him in the back, grinning.
“Congrats, bro,” I told him, and he smiled.
“Thanks. You know, I never really thought I’d think about getting married before,” Jason said, and I raised my eyebrow in disbelief. “I’m serious. Back when I was part of the Delta Force, I always focused on making it one day at a time. There was always a high probability of us dying in combat, that I never wanted my family to go through that,” he said, and I nodded in agreement.
Actually, I had the same mindset back when I was a Marine. My job required me to jump headfirst into danger, and there was always a possibility the mission would be my last. It would’ve been cruel to subject a person to that kind of torture.
But even after I got discharged, I still wasn’t keen on the idea. I’ve watched my parents try to make things work only to end up being miserable together, and I did not want that kind of life.
I guess that was where Jason and mine’s mindset differed, or maybe it took a woman like Veronica Langley to make him change his mind about marriage, or falling in love in general.
Fat chance of that ever happening to me. Even I knew that girls like Veronica were one in a million.
“Yeah, I’m not too keen on the whole ‘falling in love’ thing, either. I’m alright with having a little fun. Nothing serious,” I said, and Jason furrowed his brows at me and shook his head.
“You know, Downing, I have a feeling you’re going to change your tune,” Jason retorted, narrowing his eyes at me with a lopsided smirk garnering his face.
“What do you mean?” I asked, pretending not to know what he was talking about.
“I’m just going to go ahead and call it now,” Jason declared. “Mark my words, Downing. You’re going to meet somebody special that would make you want to eat your words today,” he stated. I rolled my eyes and pushed him off of me. I was getting tired of this inane conversation.
“Let’s get back into position. There’s only ten minutes left until your wife-to-be finishes her interview,” I muttered.
Jason rolled his eyes, and then went back to his position near the door, while I went back to the left of the barricade. I scoffed as Jason’s words replayed in my head. It was fucking ridiculous. There was no way anyone was going to change my mind. There was no way I was going to lose my sanity and fall in love.
Not a chance in hell.