Chapter 14
Jason
“So, how’s it going with you? Is Veronica being cooperative?” Chase asked from the other line, and I scoffed.
“If by cooperative, you mean yelling my ear off and telling me to mind my own goddamn business, then yeah sure. She’s a real team player,” I said sarcastically, making him chuckle.
“Oh, shit man. I’m sorry,” he apologized. “I thought for sure she’d be a reasonable woman. I mean, she wasn’t at all bad when I met her back then,” he said, making me roll my eyes.
“Yeah, maybe to you,” I countered.
“But hey, it can’t get any worse than that, right? She’s bound to come around.”
“Maybe. I hope it’s sooner rather than later, though. I don’t know how much longer I could take before I snap back and strangle her.” I said, half-joking. Chase chuckled.
“Ha! Yeah right. You’re probably closer to kissing her than killing her, Jason,” he said.
“No way. I’m not interested,” I said, shaking my head.
“Dude, quit trying to fool me. Even better, quit trying to fool yourself, bro. Veronica is one hot broad, and acting like you’re not interested in tapping that is a big fat lie,” he said.
“If you think I’m going to go ahead and sleep with my client, then you must be out of your damn mind,” I told him, and I could almost picture him rolling his eyes.
“I don’t know, man. I mean, there’s nothing stopping you, anyway. I don’t see any rules against it in our job description,” he said slyly, and I shook my head at his crazy idea.
“Look, I got to go. I’ll give you an update next week, alright?” I said. I ended the call before Chase could fill me over with another one of his dumbass ideas.
Someone started knocking on my door and I frowned. Usually when Veronica had another bone to pick with me, she’d just barge right in and start yelling. Granted, it is her house, but there was one time she caught me in the middle of putting my clothes on and she screamed at me, calling me a pervert. Like, damn lady, you’re the rude one here.
She continued knocking and I pulled the door open, raising my eyebrows at her.
“Is something wrong?” I asked, watching her curiously as she looked down on the floor and twiddled with her thumbs. I waited for her to say something but when she kept on playing with her fingers silently, I sighed. “Look, if there’s nothing--,”
“Can I come in?” she asked, raising her head up to look at me. I blinked at her. “Please?” she added, and I scratched the back of my head and stepped to the side so she could enter. She smiled and nodded, walking through.
I closed the door and crossed my arms over my chest, still wondering what she’s doing here. I saw her shoulders rise up as she took a deep breath before turning around to face me, her eyes filled with determination.
“Jason,” she said, and I raised one eyebrow.
“Yes?” I pressed her, getting impatient. My question seemed to have made her lose a little of her bravado but she bit her lip and tried again.
“Okay, I’m just going to get this out of the way, alright?” she said and then she closed her eyes, screwing shut tightly, that little crows’ feet started appearing at the corners. And then she said the words I never thought I’d hear her say. “I’m sorry.”
I blinked at her in disbelief and she opened her eyes and waited for me to react. I didn’t and she groaned.
“Look, I realized I was out of line most of the time--,” Yeah, try all the time, I thought to myself. “—and I know I’ve been a pain in the ass--,” Well, isn’t that the understatement of the year? “—but I realized that now and I just…wanted to say I’m sorry,” she finished, unable to look me in the eye.
“Okay?” I said, unsure of what to say after her apology. I could tell she was expecting me to say something else, too, because her cheeks puffed up when that was the only thing I said.
“That’s it?” she asked, and I shrugged.
“Well, what else did you expect me to say?” I asked her. She waves her arms to the sides and shrugs her shoulders.
“I don’t know! Maybe a ‘Don’t worry about, Veronica. I wasn’t exactly a nice guy, either. I’m sorry, too,’” she said, and I chuckled. Oh, is this one of those things? Where you get an apology in exchange for another apology? Huh. Women are sly creatures.
“Would that make you feel better?” I asked her, and she narrowed her eyes at me.
“I don’t know. What do you think?” she countered, and I sighed, giving in to what she wanted.
“I’m sorry, too,” I said, and she nodded. “Anything else?” I asked, eager for her to leave my room so I could have some peace and quiet.
“Um, yes, actually,” she said, nodding and giving me a small smile, her eyes twinkling a bit. “I thought it would be a good idea for us to get to know each other better,” she said, and I tilted my head.
“Okay. What exactly do you have in mind?” I asked. She placed her index finger beneath her bottom lip as she looked up at the ceiling thoughtfully. After a few moments, she smiled mischievously.
“How about we go out on a date?” she asked. My eyes widened.
What?
***
I pulled at the collar of my shirt nervously, roaming my eyes around the area to make sure no one was looking at us. Veronica was completely unconcerned, taking a large bite out of her Big Mac as she sat across from me. She moaned, her eyes closed and licking her lips as she savored her food, making me grin at how silly she looked. She opened her eyes and pouted as she caught me staring, my food untouched.
“Hey, stop being so nervous!” she scolded me, stealing a fry from my tray. “It’s going to be fine. I’m in disguise, see? No one’s going to recognize me looking like this,” she said, gesturing towards her look proudly.
My eyes scanned her huge square-rimmed glasses, her Britney Spears hat and denim jacket, and I chuckled. She looked equal parts ridiculous and cute, and I had to hand it to her for being so confident that she was so unrecognizable.
“What?” she asked, wondering why I was laughing and I shook my head. I didn’t want to burst her bubble. Instead, I said something else.
“You look nice.”
She blinked, clearly not expecting me to say that at all. Her cheeks blushed a pretty pink, making me want to brush the tip of my finger on her face.
“You know, of all the places you could have brought me out to eat, I never would’ve thought you’d pick McDonalds,” I told her. She narrowed her eyes and raised one eyebrow at me.
“Let me guess: you thought I was some prissy little actress who thought fast food was beneath her and would only choose to eat in fine dining restaurants?” she said, and I grimaced, her assumption spot on. She shrugged and took another bite of her Big Mac. “It’s okay. I don’t blame you. I’ve never exactly acted like I wasn’t. But that’s all it is, Jason. It’s an act. It’s an image I choose to portray,” she explained. I furrowed my eyebrows, not understanding.
“I don’t get it. Why do you have to act like a bitch in public? I mean, if it’s just the matter of getting more fans, then why not show your true self?” I asked her.
“And what do you think is my true self. Mr. Keyes?” she asked, taking a sip of her large Coke.
“Someone who’s driven and fiercely independent. Someone who cares a lot about her family enough to be worried about what they’re thinking of her.” I said, looking straight into her eyes. She stared back, not saying a word. “And finally, someone who feels guilty about doing others wrong that she feels she has to make up for it,” I said.
She bit her lip and looked at me under her eyelashes, her gaze soft and warm and making my heart beat stronger and faster.
“You have a way with words, Jason Keyes,” she whispered. “I think I’ve just seen another side of you today.”