It wasn’t until my gaze landed on a familiar, smarmy face that my blood turned cold. “Saint,” I whispered before snapping myself away from Hamilton.
“What?” he asked.
“Saint. He’s here,” I choked out as my heart raced. Hamilton spun around in his seat and cursed. Saint was wearing jeans and a tight shirt. He raised the glass in his hand with a satisfied smirk on his face. Had he taken a picture? Oh shit. Hamilton and I were sitting awfully close.
Hamilton got up just as the band took the stage. Jess intercepted him as I started to hyperventilate. Was Saint going to follow me everywhere? Were Hamilton and I going to make the front page of the newspapers tomorrow? The edges of my vision turned black.
“We’re Diet Fun,” Infinity said softly into the microphone. “And we’re going to rock your socks off.”
The drums started playing, and Infinity immediately screamed into the microphone. I tried to look for Saint, but he disappeared down a hallway. Jess was still chatting with an angry-looking Hamilton. My chest felt so fucking tight.
Why was he here?
I stood up and made my way toward the door. No scandals. I couldn’t ruin anything. My eyes felt hot with tears. It was such a mistake coming here. “Vera!” Hamilton called at my back, his deep voice raising over the music. I ignored him and exited the café, air hitting my cheeks the moment I made it outside.
Standing on the sidewalk, I called the one person I could trust in this world. “Mom?”
“Finally, you call me! Baby, it’s late. What’s up?”
“Are you home?”
“Yeah. Our flight got in a few hours ago. What’s wrong?”
“Can you come get me?”
8
I was sitting at a McDonald’s down the street from the café when my mom pulled up in her brand-new Escalade. She was wearing pajamas and marched up to the door with her hair in curlers. I grinned at the determined look on her face. “Where is he?” she snapped when I got up from my spot at the booth and gave her a hug.
“I don’t know. He disappeared when the band started playing. I got out of there and called you while walking here.”
I didn’t mention that I was with Hamilton, but I knew it was only a matter of time before Mom found out that I was there with him. “Joseph had to go to the office to work on something for Jack, but he assured me that he would make sure Saint is arrested immediately. I can’t believe he’s just following you around now.”
She let out a huff, and I smiled at her protectiveness. “Can you just take me home?” I asked. It had been a long night, and I wanted nothing more than to lock the deadbolt and curl up under my bed. Maybe I needed to get a dog. The apartment already had a security system, but I’d watched enough crime television to know that a security system wasn’t much when up against a crazed person.
“Should we go to the police? I’m just not sure about you going home. Want me to spend the night?”
Letting out a sigh, I wrapped my arms around her tiny body and breathed her in. She smelled like coffee and her cinnamon body wash. “Yeah. That would make me feel a lot better, actually.”
We got in the car, and she followed my directions to my new apartment. In my purse, my phone kept ringing. Both Jess and Hamilton had called me numerous times, but I didn’t want to talk to either of them. I wasn’t sure what to say. I had sent them both a text to let them know I was fine and got a ride home, but they were relentless.
“I just don’t understand what this guy’s problem is. He’s a reporter, right?” Mom rambled as she turned into the parking lot. “Why does he think you have a story, huh?” She looked at me out of the corner of her eye. “Who were you with at this café, baby?”
I swallowed. “Hamilton’s roommate invited me. Her girlfriend is in the band that was playing,” I explained, hoping she wouldn’t question it.
“Hamilton? As in Joseph’s brother?” she asked, surprise marring her expression.
“Yeah. You know he was there when Saint first showed up. I met his roommate, and she was really nice. I think they just feel bad that I know no one here. It was probably a pity invite,” I explained, though it didn’t feel like a pity invite. It felt like a date. It felt like a date that went to hell the moment I saw Saint. I knew I needed to tell my mother the truth. If Saint took a photo of Hamilton and me, I just knew it would look far too suggestive for friendly family members enjoying a concert together. By tomorrow, it would be all over the headlines.
But I didn’t want to tell her just yet. I couldn’t believe that I fucked everything up.
We got out of the car and made our way inside the building. “Joseph has told me a lot about his brother, you know,” she said while tugging at her pajamas. “I’m not sure you should be spending time with him, baby.”
I knew she was right. Hamilton was trouble. But something within me broke at her words. I didn’t want to stay away. Was I really so lonely that I would risk everything for a one-night stand? Because that’s all he would ever give me. One. Night.
“What did Joseph say?” I prodded.
“Just that Hamilton has always been a bit of a wild child. He was really heavy on drugs a few years back. Joseph isn’t sure if he still is, but he used to be manic. Would lie all the time—and he was apparently good at it. He could convince anyone of anything.”
I swallowed as we made the way to my door. After turning onto the hallway where my apartment was, I abruptly halted when I saw someone leaning against the door. “Fuck,” I cursed. There was a single light overhead, casting the person in shadows. Was Saint here?
“Who is that?” Mom hissed while grabbing my arm. At the commotion, the person turned to face us, and we both let out a sigh of relief.
Hamilton.
He jogged down the long hallway toward me, and the moment he was close enough, Hamilton wrapped me in a tight hug. “You scared the shit out of me,” he said with a curse. I felt stiff and awkward in his arms, my mother clicking her tongue beside us. “Are you okay? Saint got out of there before I could talk to him. I bet you’re really freaked out.” He cupped my cheeks and stared me in the eye, making me feel dizzy from all the fucking butterflies in my stomach.
Mom cleared her throat. “Hamilton.”
He didn’t stop holding me. He didn’t even glance at her. We were locked in a stare down. Like Saint hadn’t interrupted us earlier and my mother wasn’t standing right next to me.
“Hamilton?” I said.
He pulled away and straightened his shirt. “Hey, Lilah, good to see you again,” he said to my mother while wrapping her up in a hug. She patted his back, and he pulled away.
“Wish it could be under better circumstances,” Mom replied while looking him up and down. “I didn’t realize you and my daughter had grown so close.”
Hamilton smiled politely. “Family is very important to me, Lilah.”
My stomach flopped at his words. Mom replied while I stood there tongue-tied. “Right. Well, we are fine. Thank you for checking on her, but I’ve got it from here. Joseph promised me that he would call the police.”