Fall

“What are you guys doing here?” I asked weakly. “You only have a short time off, you should be—”

“We’re exactly where we need to be,” Alec answered in a commanding voice. “We already booked out the Waldorf Astoria. Security is waiting for us at the back entrance, and we have the entire penthouse floor.”

“Thanks.” Jaymeson exhaled in relief. “Thanks, man. I hadn’t thought that part through yet.”

“Well…” Demetri popped open a bottle of water. “It doesn’t help that Erickson just announced hours ago that after seeing your audition he wants you playing the lead in that new movie series.”

“What?” Jaymeson shook his head.

“It’s everywhere.”

I shuddered. That meant only one thing. Jaymeson was leaving me. He had a life to return to.

While I had my sister.

If she made it through the night.

And if she didn’t?

I had no one.

Chapter Forty

Jaymeson

I gripped her hand so hard within mine, I was pretty sure they were going to be fused together.

Demetri kept looking at our joined hands then back up at me, as if he was trying to figure out a twenty thousand-piece puzzle and had misplaced the box.

“We’re here,” Alec said quietly as the limo pulled up to the hotel. It was downtown, near the hospital, which was exactly what I knew Pris would prefer. I was going to get her to sleep if it killed me.

I had always been thankful to be famous — not for the money or status, but because I loved what I did, and I was able to pay it forward at the same time.

I’d never faced a time in my life when I needed to use my name for privacy — for mourning — for protection.

I was so damn thankful I could have cried.

Bob and Lloyd, AD2’s main security, went ahead of us in the hallway and pressed the elevator buttons, waiting on either side of the gang for a crazed fan to attack. It wasn’t every day that three A-list celebrities were in a Seattle hotel at the same time.

The elevator dinged.

We all crowded in and rode to the top floor. The minute the doors opened I exhaled in relief. The room was more of an apartment. It had three bedrooms, three bathrooms, floor-to-ceiling windows, and a fully stocked kitchen.

I released Pris’s hand and marched to the kitchen. The minute I located the wine. I uncorked two bottles, put out several glasses, and started pouring.

Nobody talked.

Everyone reached for a glass except Demetri and Nat. Nat was pregnant, so that was a given, and even though alcohol had never been Demetri’s main issue — he still refused to touch the stuff. Brought back too many memories of being high he’d once told me. He grabbed a couple of waters and handed one to Nat.

I scooted a glass over to Pris and murmured. “If there was ever a time where it was okay to break the law, this is it.” I forced the glass into her hands. “Drink. It will help you sleep.”

“I don’t want to sleep.” Her face was pale, her eyes hollow.

“Love…” I tucked her hair behind her ear. “You have to sleep. You need to be strong for Dani, alright? We’ll sleep for two hours then go back to the hospital.”

Shoulders slumping, she lifted the glass to her lips.

“That’s my girl.”

Alyssa walked up to us, twisting the wine glass between her fingers. “I’m so sorry, Pris.”

“I know.” My girl managed a smile. “It’s not your fault.”

“It’s not yours either,” Alyssa said swiftly.

“I know.” She nodded. “That’s what Jaymeson said.”

“Never thought I’d see the day that Jaymeson decided to put on a pair of big boy pants.” Alyssa nudged Pris with her arm, trying to coax her out of her depression with a bit of teasing.

“He’s been wearing them a lot lately.” Pris smiled, the first smile I’d seen since the morning phone call.

“Bed.” I tapped Alyssas’s shoulder. “I’m sorry, but she needs to sleep.”

“Wow.” Alyssa stood. “And a white knight. How’d you get so lucky, Pris?”

Her unwavering eyes met mine. “I don’t know. Must be a miracle.”

My heart pounded as I lifted her fingers to my lips and directed her toward one of the bedrooms.

Pris let out a yawn when I closed the door. She took another sip of wine and set it on the nightstand.

“Off.” I motioned to her shirt.

She was dead on her feet.

With a curse, I lifted her shirt off over her head, and then gently pushed her down onto the bed. It was becoming a habit, undressing her for practical reasons. I left her in her leggings and a tank top, then pulled back the down comforter, and tucked her inside.

I kissed her forehead and walked toward the door. When my hand reached for the knob, she called out.

“Jaymeson?”

“Love?”

“What was the name of your bear, the one your Nanna gave you when you were little?”

My heart clenched at the memory. “Brown Bear.”

“Jaymeson….”

“Yes, love?”

“Will you be my Brown Bear for the next few hours? Can I hold you tight? You said it took away the nightmares.”

“It did.” I closed my eyes. “And you don’t even need to ask.”

I turned on my heel, peeled my shirt off, and crawled into bed with her. Pris’s arms snaked around my body as she pulled me close.