We’re cuddled up in my bed and I look up at Nate. He appears completely content and that makes me extremely happy.

“Just make sure you don’t hurt me, and I’ll keep that smile on your face.”

He smirks. “Hey, stop worrying, okay? I told you, I’m not that guy. When I’m in, I’m all in.”

I chew on my bottom lip. “You know this music video…” He nods. “Well, you do realize I’m going to be getting very close and personal with Danger… right?”

He tenses and I sigh. “In the script it calls for almost kissing, body rubbing… stuff like that.”

Nate tightens his grip on me and simply nods.

“I can pull out of the video if you want me to?”

His eyes open wide and he exhales. “Shit! No. As much as I’m going to hate seeing that, the band needs you. And if you pulled out because of me, I’d never hear the end of it.”

“Okay… but only if you’re sure.”

“Yeah, just don’t French kiss him. No tongues.”

Nodding, I laugh. “Well, that was never going to happen anyway. But yes, I can promise you… no tongues. And I’ll be thinking of you the whole time.”

“Better be… Hey, can I take you somewhere?”

“Like on a date?”

He grins. “Yeah. I wanna show you something.”

I lean in and kiss him then we both get up, get dressed and head out to his car. My security team get into a car behind us and follow behind at a safe distance. We know they’re there, but they keep well enough behind to be out of our way. We stop through a drive-through to grab some take out, eating it in the car, and then Nate continues to drive. We pull up down a back alley and I furrow my brows wondering where the hell we are.

“Just ‘cause we’re dating doesn’t mean you can now kill me in a dark alley,” I tease with a smile.

Nate rolls his eyes as we get out of the car and we start walking down the lane. Security follow behind watching cautiously, as it’s dark and lit only with one street light. The walls have artistic graffiti all over them and it’s really dingy. He walks me up to a green door marked fire escape. I’m nervous as the brick walls have cracks in them and it really looks like a drug dealer’s hideout.

He looks at me and smiles. “Trust me, Ria. I’d never hurt you or let anyone hurt you, ever… okay?”

I nod and he opens the door, so I follow him inside. Security casually follows in behind keeping their distance and stand back against the wall giving us space. Inside it’s a giant warehouse with white walls and art canvases lining the walls everywhere. It’s a gallery, and I stand there in complete shock. I had no idea something so beautiful and clean could be behind that door. I walk in a little further checking out all the artwork. It all has an edge to it that I recognize. I turn to Nate opening my eyes wide gasping as recognition takes hold.

“Oh my God, Nate… this gallery… all these paintings… they’re yours, aren’t they?”

He smiles and nods.

Chewing on my bottom lip, I swing around looking at the moody artwork. It’s somber, yet so amazingly artistic that I’m in complete awe of him.

“Nate… I’m speechless.”

“Really?”

“Yes, really. I knew you were good, but hell, I didn’t know you were amazing.”

He shakes his head. “I’m not that good—”

“Stop it! You really are. Can people come here and see these?”

He shakes his head adamantly. “Nah, you’re the only one who’s been here besides Robert the cleaner.”

I scoff. “What? Not even Matt?”

He shakes his head. “Not even Matt. He wouldn’t care about my art. You’re the only one who’s shown an interest in it.”

“Nate, you need to be selling these.”

He grins a lopsided smile and shakes his head. “Na, they’re worthless—”

“Stop! They’re so good. Stop putting yourself down and take a compliment, will you? Nate, these are awesome. Definitely good enough to be on sale. You should open the gallery to the public.”

“Music takes up too much of my time. I couldn’t put my soul into a gallery, not like I’d like anyway.”

“Then have someone else run it… you paint, they sell. That would work best for when you’re touring and stuff, too.”

He purses his lips looking around the open expanse. “You really think I could sell these?”

“Nate, I know you can. You asked me to trust you, now please trust me in this. You’re. Good. Enough!” He exhales and nods swallowing hard. “Nate!”

“Okay, okay, I’ll look into it.”

“Promise?”

He pulls me in for a hug. “Promise…”

“I’m really super impressed, Nate. I’m kinda in awe of you right now.”

He smiles so wide as I look up at him. “Thank you. You don’t know how much this all means to me.”

“I think I do. But these shouldn’t be hiding away in a dingy back alley. They need to be out there for the world to see.”

“You have so much faith in me.”

Smiling, I caress his cheek. “I see your potential, Nate.”

He smiles, leans down and kisses me quickly, then pulls back looking past me. I turn to see him looking at a doorway. “I wanna show you something I’ve been working on, but I don’t wanna freak you out.”

I raise my eyebrow in curiosity and chuckle. “Well, now I really do have to see it.”

He inhales and nods taking my hand and walks me over to the door. After opening it and walking me through, we step into a studio where paints and empty canvases line the walls. Then a canvas on an easel catches my eye. It has a cloth over it covering the artwork underneath. That piques my interest immediately.

Nate walks me over to the easel and stops, taking a deep breath. “Okay, so I did this for you, but I don’t want you to think I’m crazy.”

“Nate, just show me.”

He pulls off the sheet showing me a canvas with a dove, the same dove he always draws for me. However, this dove is in much finer detail and with a beautiful colored background.

I can’t help the gasp as it escapes my throat and my hand shoots to my mouth in utter shock. I’m amazed, shocked, overwhelmed, and tears well in my eyes.

It’s stunningly beautiful.

It’s perfect, and I love every stroke he’s put into it.

“Your eyes are welling up… you hate it?”

With my hands, I reach out grabbing his and look into his eyes as fat tears roll down my cheeks.

“No, you have it all wrong, Nate. I love it… so, so much. I have no words. It’s perfect.” I pull him to me in a tight embrace, and he seems genuinely startled by my confession because he’s delayed in hugging me back, but eventually he does.

“Really? You really like it?”

“Nate, I love it... can I have it?”

He pulls back from me like he doesn’t believe I’m asking that question, but then he nods once.

“Of course, it’s for you. I just need to do some finishing touches, though. I’ll bring it round when I’m done.”

“I’ll pay you for it. It will be your first sold art piece.”

He furrows his brows and frowns. “Ria, no. It’s a gift. It’s not for sale.”

“Nate, please… let me be the first person to buy one of your artworks. I want to be your first official fan.”

He smiles and pulls me into another hug. “Okay, but not this one. This one is a gift.”

“So I get two? That’s even better. I’m so excited, I can’t wait to choose.”

He shakes his head and exhales in a long drawn out breath. “Thank you. No one has ever supported me like you have, and you’ve only known me a really short time.”

Smiling, I squeeze him a little tighter. “The moment I saw you, Nate, I knew we’d be close. I don’t know how, but I knew. And I’m so glad to be here with you now. I’m excited to see where our future goes from here.”

He tilts his head. “So, if we’re together… are we telling people?”

Wincing, I sigh. “I guess we can tell the band and my people, but as for the public it’s probably best to keep it under wraps until the video comes out.”

He slumps a little and then tries to cover it up. “Yeah, you’re probably right. Don’t want our news to overshadow the release.”

“Exactly. We can wait. There’s no need to go public. It’s not going to stop us from seeing each other in the meantime.”

“True. But we should tell the guys and Tillie and Lunar. Maybe tomorrow at the filming?”

“Yes. We’ll tell them together. We can go in together if you want?”

“Perfect!”

 

NATE

 

I can’t help but think that maybe Whisper’s ju-ju is paying off because Ria and I had a busy night, if you know what I mean? And again this morning. I can’t get enough of her, but we had to come up for air because today is the first day of filming for our music video and we have to get to the studio. I’m a little nervous as I drive us toward the Hollywood film set and I tap my fingers on the gear stick.

“You okay?” Ria asks lacing her fingers through mine on top of the gear stick.

“Yeah. Just trying not to get images of how today is going to go too stuck in my head.”

“Hey, this is only day one. You know we’re doing this over a couple of days, right?”

Sighing, I nod. “Yeah, I know. I’m not gonna lie, it’s gonna be hard watching you get it on with my mate, you know?”

“Just remember, I’ll be thinking about you the whole time and I’m acting, Nate. This is what I do for a living.”

“Okay.” I pull up at the studio gates and the security guard leans down to my window. “Passes please,” he asks and then he spots Ria. “Oh, hey Zaria, no need for passes, drive on through,” he says and Ria smiles.

“Thanks, Doug,” Ria replies.

I turn to her and raise an eyebrow with a smirk as she shrugs. The boom gate opens and I chuckle as I drive on through while shaking my head.

“Damn celebrities,” I murmur and she giggles slapping my arm.

After a quick drive across the lot and up to the studio, we jump out and head toward the smaller studio. Ria and I walk in hand in hand and notice everyone’s already here. They all stop and turn to look at us, all of them raising their eyebrows.

“What? Is it so hard to believe?” I ask as Matt smiles widely.

Tillie and Lunar both have their mouths open while the other two guys are just standing there smirking. Oliver steps out of a room off to the side with Ria’s crew, and they look toward us opening their eyes wide.

“Zaria, have you lost your mind?” her manager chides.

My insecurities instantly settle into my stomach again as she tightens her hand in mine.

“No Marcus, not at all. Nate’s not like Kade. Don’t worry, I’ve had that talk with him. I trust Nate.”

“Geez girl, you’ve been down this road already. I was there to pick you up last time, remember? I’ll be here again, but Zaria be warned, rockers never change their spots,” Marcus warns while walking off.

Fuck! I’m in the room, I think as Ria looks at me sympathetically. “Asshole,” I murmur.

Exhaling deeply, I wrap my arm around her shoulders bringing her to my side and lean down kissing her hair.

“Well, that was intense,” Ryan murmurs.

Tillie rolls her eyes slapping his now very toned stomach.

“Shut up! Nate and Zaria, do I need to do anything about this?” Tillie asks.

“No, we’re keeping this quiet until the video is launched. I’m sure you will appreciate that. Now please, I’m parched. Water…. sparkling… squeeze of lemon… three cubes of ice and don’t forget the straw.”

Turning quickly to face Ria, she winces slightly as Tillie looks at me. I frown at Ria as a gesture of apology to Tillie as she walks off to get Ria’s stupid drink.

“So ah… are you all prepared for what we have to do today?” Danger asks breaking through some of the tension.

“Of course. I’m a professional actor. Have you acted before, Danger? Are you prepared?”

“I’ve done other music videos, but never anything quite like this.”

“Great! Just what I need… amateurs!” She throws her hands in the air and storms off toward her dressing room leaving me completely startled and a bit saddened by her outbursts.

Lunar looks at me while I stand here with my mouth open slightly and shaking my head.

I didn’t think for one second she would still have on her Zaria persona in front of everyone, I honestly thought she’d be Ria in front of my friends.

“So… she’s still a sweetheart I see,” Lunar jabs.

“She’s misunderstood.”

“Really? ‘Cause to me she’s a stuck up cow, and I have no idea what you could possibly even see in her!”

Smirking, I chuckle. “Why? Jealous?”

She rolls her eyes with a half-laugh while Danger glares at me. “You wish, lover boy. But really… what the hell do you see in her?”

“The Zaria you all see, that’s not the Zaria I know. Trust me, don’t judge a book by its cover. Things are the way they are for a reason. She’s not who you think she is. Somehow I’ll get her to loosen up around you guys… I promise.”

“I don’t think that woman has a nice bone in her body,” Danger mutters.

“Looks are deceiving, Danger. She’s the kindest, sweetest person I know. Trust me, Zaria isn’t that person on the inside. It’s all a front and there’s a reason for her actions.”

“Feel like sharing?” Lunar asks.

“Where’s my drink?” Ria calls out obnoxiously from down the hall.

“Yeah, real sweet,” Lunar jokes.

A frown forms on my forehead as Tillie walks quickly with her water.

“Well, even if she is a stuck up cow, she’s still hot as fuck,” Ryan quips.

A full on smirk forms on my face while Danger stands there shaking his head.

“It’s so good to have you back to your old self, though. Not that broody, moody fucker you were when you were pining over Tillie,” I say.

Ryan looks to Tillie who’s walking into Ria’s room and smiles wide. “Yeah, so glad I pulled my head out of my ass for a minute to see what was right in front of me.”

“Wow! That’s insightful coming from you,” Matt says.

“I know. Fuck! I need to go watch cartoons or something. Dumb myself down a bit. Maybe Skype with Savvy or something.”

“Did you just imply Savvy’s dumb?” I tease.

“What? No! Don’t twist my words, dick. That’s not what I meant at all,” Ryan defends.

“Relax… I’m teasing. You really get along well with Tillie’s niece don’t you?”

Ryan beams. “Yeah, she’s great. It’s pretty neat to be able to teach guitar to someone who genuinely appreciates it. Plus, she’s freaking awesome, so that helps.”

“You and Till planning on having kids?” Matt asks.

Ryan tenses up, which is a little strange seeing as he was literally just gushing about a kid. “Nah, probably not. We’re happy with our animals.”

I figure there must be more to that story. Ryan loves kids and I know he’d be a great dad. Maybe Tillie can’t have kids or something? Anyway, it’s not my place to discuss it further.

“Animals cost less anyway,” Danger says smirking at Ryan.

“You’d think so but Tillie likes to spoil them… a lot! And we seem to be growing. There’s Piper the dog, Hunter the rat, and now we have somehow found ourselves with Arthur, the ferret.” We all laugh as Ryan shakes his head.

“Why Arthur?” Matt asks.

“Was her grandfather’s name. Apparently, the ferret looks like him. I dunno. I just say, yes dear. That’s how relationships work, right?”

We all laugh again and Lunar nods patting his back. “Exactly right, Ryan, you’ve got this relationship thing down pat. You guys will be engaged before you know it.”

“You think?”

“Haven’t you thought about it?”

“Well, sure… but we’re still pretty fresh in this relationship, right?”

“When it’s right, it’s right, Ry,” Danger says pulling Lunar to him and kissing her head. She wraps her arms around his waist and snuggles into him. Normally the sight would make me cringe, but seeing it now makes me wish Ria were here.

Oliver walks up to Danger with a nod. “Okay, they need you in wardrobe.”

“Oh…. exciting. You know how much I love fashion,” Lunar says bouncing up on her toes.

“Ah… sorry Lunar, you’ll have to stay back here with the rest of us,” Oliver tells her.

Lunar frowns. “Aww really?”

“C’mon Oliver, it’s not like she takes up a lot of space,” Danger defends.

“Sorry guys, studio rules. I had to practically sell my soul to get Lunar and Tillie to be able to watch filming as it is.”

“Shit, really?” Lunar asks.

“Yes, so please don’t cause trouble.”

“Me? Lunar Sheffield cause trouble? Never!”

Everyone laughs as Oliver shakes his head. “Okay Danger, off you go. Ryan and the twins will get ready after your shoot with Zaria.”

Danger leans in kissing Lunar and she slaps his ass as he turns and walks off with a chuckle just as Tillie comes back down the hall toward us rolling her eyes.

“God almighty, she’s a demanding little diva. I’m PR, not a PA, damn it,” Tillie murmurs.

“Where’s her damn crew. Don’t they get things for her?” Matt asks.

“Oh… they’re getting her things, too. She’s being preened and pampered in there like a fucking princess.”

“Ease up, Tillie, cut her some slack,” I say.

Tillie purses her lips. “Nate, you tell her to stop treating me like her personal fucking slave and maybe I’ll think about her differently… okay?” She stomps her foot and storms off down the hall.

Ryan looks at me furrowing his brows. “Sorry man, she’s stressed, I’ll talk to her.”

“No, really, it’s fine. I’ll talk to Ria, try and have her loosen up a bit.”

“I appreciate that. But right now I better go, or she’ll buy another fucking pet to make herself feel better.” He turns and rushes off after Tillie and Matt looks at me raising his eyebrow.

“What?”

“Why’s she such a bitch to us and not to you?”

“Yeah, I wanna know the answer to that question, too,” Lunar asks.

Oliver turns obviously wanting to hear the answer as well.

“It’s not really my place to say. All I will say is it’s family pressure. It’s the way she’s been taught. I’ll have her tell you the full story when she’s ready, but honestly, when she does you’ll understand.”

“Sounds like it’s a sad story?” Lunar asks.

“It is. Her family may look great to outsiders, but it’s not all chocolates, roses and fucking unicorns.”

“Her dad’s a producer right?” Matt asks.

“Stepdad,” I correct.

“Where’s her real dad?” Lunar asks.

“He died… when she was young. She’s never really gotten over it.”

“Oh that is sad,” Lunar says.

“Yeah, there’s so much to Ria you guys haven’t seen. So please, give her a chance… for me?”

They groan and nod. “Only ‘cause we like you,” Matt says.

Lunar smiles and nods in agreement. “Yeah, you’re okay, I suppose,” Lunar teases.

Oliver grins at us all.

A guy wearing headphones and carrying a clipboard stands at the end of the hall waving to Oliver.

He nods and looks to us. “Showtime,” Oliver states.

We head down the hall that leads out to a giant opening onto the studio set. There’s a stage and cameras all around a room set up like a hotel suite. It’s a closed set, so people cannot get onto the lot and stage without permission. My stomach flips as I see the king sized bed set out with pristine white sheets. I think of this morning when Ria and I rolled around on her sheets and now she’ll be doing it with Danger.

How fucking fantastic!