AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Tom placed himself in front of us, pushing our luggage toward the exit. Dragon kept Chance’s slower pace next to him, shielding him from any approaching individual. The other two kept up as well; one next to me, one behind us.
Welcome back to Cali!a random girl shouted.
He glanced over, smiling as she took a photo of him.
How are you feeling?!Several other girls called out in unison nearby, keeping their distance out of respect.
Chance!One of the girls in the group pressed her luck a little more.Can you say hi to my phone?!
Again, he smiled and waved, never answering their questions directly.
“Brace yourself, baby,” he muttered into my ear. “It’s about to get crazy.”
“What?”
I glanced up at him just as the doors slid open, revealing a media fiasco and fans swarming. The short walk to the car was almost impossible. Cameras shuttered from all directions. Random voices shouted over one another from everywhere. They asked us both questions or made comments about his car accident, our relationship, or his public meltdown on Late Night with Cameron Wolfe. Neither of us said a word. He pulled me tighter against him, making sure we made it to the car. With everyone secured in the limousine, Tom pulled away.
“They can overstep their boundaries sometimes.” Chance murmured. “It's hard to not get frustrated at times.”
I peered out the window at Los Angeles while we sat in endless traffic on the way to the house in Malibu. Los Angeles was so different from Boston. Everything was so open and spread out. You could see for miles in many directions.
We passed Santa Monica pier and turned onto Pacific Coast Highway. I watched the cerulean-stone colored ocean for a moment before it disappeared behind a row of buildings. Chance was deep in conversation with his agent and manager on a conference call, so I laid my head against his shoulder, closing my eyes.
* * *
“Are you asleep, baby?”
“Hmm?” Sitting, I stretched, taking a deep breath as I opened my eyes.
“We’re home.”
Home. Of course, it was his home. I hadn’t thought about it until now that we owned a home together, but he owned others as well. And this one, the same home that he was living in not that long ago when he was fading away.
“Our other home.” He reassured me, pushing his lips into mine.
Stepping out of the car, he turned around, reaching his hand in, assisting me. I waited as Tom and the bodyguards got our luggage from the trunk. Chance folded his arm around my waist. I snaked mine around his in return, trying to be considerate of the pain I knew he was still in.
“How do you feel being back here?” I laid my head on him.
“Much better now that you’re here with me.”
Tom handed Chance his cane. We strolled slowly up to the front door and into the foyer. As Dragon and the other men carried the bags elsewhere, Chance turned his attention to Tom.
“Can we speak for a moment?”
Nodding, Tom leaned in the doorway.
“I have very much appreciated your service to me.”
“Uh oh.” Tom laughed. “This doesn’t sound good.”
Chance pinched the bridge of his nose. “I’m not firing you.” Handing me his cane, he crossed his arms. “I just think I should be driving myself and my girlfriend around a bit more. I would love to call you when there’s a need, like today, of course.” He lifted a hand. “But, just for everyday things, I think I should manage. I’m no longer staying drunk or hungover.”
“And I’m glad. You seem very different. Much happier.” He winked at me.
“Well,” Chance glanced at me, lacing his fingers with mine, “I am much happier.”
“Just know,” Tom pointed back and forth at us, “I’m here for you whenever you need a driver.”
