Everybody Knows (Razes Hell 2)

I looked up at him. “This wasn’t your fault.”

“I know, but I feel bad that everything you’d planned for the next few weeks has been ruined. I really wanted to keep exploring new places with you. You’ve made touring fun again and it won’t be the same without you.”

Closing my eyes, I leaned into him, holding him tightly. He was right. Everything I’d planned had been taken away from me. However, looking at it from another angle, I’d gotten a chance with the one person I never thought I would, so maybe two weeks apart wasn’t such a bad trade off. Okay, I wouldn’t be with Jason but when he got back, we’d give things a try. I wasn’t crazy enough to put all my hopes on this insane relationship, but all I’d ever wanted was a chance. And I’d got it.

“Will you call me as soon as you get to New York?”

Jason nodded. “Of course. I’ll call whenever I can. And I’ll see you in fourteen days.”

“That sounds like the longest time ever.”

“I know. But you should keep busy. Find things to do, hang out with friends. The time will fly and then I’ll be home. Well, in the UK.”

“I can’t wait, Jase. But we’ll still have to be careful. You know that, right?”

“I know. But when we get home, then we can start to work things out. It can’t come soon enough.”

Again, I looked up at him. I loved how his green eyes gazed into mine. The faint smile on his lips as he looked at me, the gorgeousness of his chiselled jaw. The sexy rock star the world knew was the sweetest guy. And he was holding me, and telling me he couldn’t wait to see me again.

I didn’t want to leave him.

“Cheer up, Luce. When I get home, we’ll have loads of time together. At least four weeks to do whatever normal couples do.”

I chuckled. I figured Jason had about as much of a clue about what “normal couples” did as me. He’d only briefly dated people for as long as I’d known him, and I was definitely not an expert either. If nothing else came of this, we’d have fun figuring it out.

I looked up at him. “Cheeky selfie before I leave?”

“For sure.”

I took my phone from my jacket pocket and moved in

front of Jason so he had his arms wrapped around me from behind. We smiled for the camera and I snapped us.

“Send me a copy of that?” Jason said.

“I will.”

I turned in his arms, and he smiled again, little more sadly this time. “See you soon, Luce.”

All I could manage was a nod, and when he leaned down to press his lips to mine, I felt tears spring to my eyes. Instead of letting them fall, I focused on the moment we were in. The moment I knew I’d cling to for the next two weeks, until we could do this again.

“Lucy, it’s time to go.”

Ellie’s voice was soft, and for a moment I thought maybe she’d softened too, but when I turned to her, there was still disappointment on her face and my moment of hope died in an instant. I faced Jason again for one more kiss then picked up my bag.

“I’ll call you as soon as I get to New York,” Jason promised.

I smiled, still unable to manage words, then followed Ellie off the bus.

Chapter 11 – From Zero To Horny

“Luce, are you planning to ignore me forever?”

Ellie and I sat in the departure lounge surrounded by people, all of whom were either reading newspapers, faffing with their hand luggage, or talking to each other. I was in no mood for doing any of those things, so I sat beside Ellie in silence, both of us looking straight ahead as if we could hurry up the plane through the power of thought. We hadn’t really spoken in over twenty-four hours. Not since Jason and I told everyone our decision. It wasn’t just me; everyone on the bus was too uncomfortable to interact much.

“I know you think I’m being overprotective, but you must be able to see why after what happened yesterday.”

I shook my head. “None of the things that were written about me in the paper were as hurtful as the way you and Drew reacted.” Including the fact that my virginity was splashed all over the news for the world to read about.