Lincoln continued to stare at me. "Why don't you give us a minute, Jo-Jo?"
What the heck kind of name was Jo-Jo? And why did I suddenly want potatoes?
With ranch.
Jo-Jo huffed out a breath that made her hair scatter around her face before she pounded the elevator button, sashayed in, blew him a kiss, and disappeared.
Maybe we'd all get lucky and that would be the time the elevator really would plummet.
I inwardly winced. When had I become such a bitch?
"So…" Lincoln's voice jarred my attention away from the elevator doors.
Slowly, I met his gaze, my eyes blinking slow enough to take in his gorgeous smile. It was one of those smiles that showed both rows of teeth — a smile that by all intents and purposes should have actually looked frightening but was endearing instead, like his whole face lit up with that one simple gesture. His eyes crinkled.
He was happy.
And immediately I was stabbed in the chest with jealousy because he had what I had somehow lost.
And had never been able to get back. No matter how hard I tried.
I didn't speak. He probably thought I was a freak. But embarrassment had gone out the window long ago when it came to my speech. The words formed; I could feel them rolling around my tongue, but it was impossible to blurt them out. An invisible wall kept me from saying hi. Shame was my constant companion along with hurt… regret.
I blinked twice.
"Why don't I walk you back into the suite? Since this involves me too?"
Curiosity piqued, I frowned and walked with him to the door. He didn't knock, simply let himself in.
I followed.
We'd been in Portland for the weekend while Pris and Jaymeson did publicity over the second movie in his latest blockbuster series — one that also starred my sister.
You can imagine how happy the press was to discover that not only had the Casanova settled down and gotten married to a pastor's daughter, but she was a debut actress, amazing really, and they were expecting their first child.
It was as if Christmas had thrown up on them and missed me completely. Jaymeson had helped Pris get over our parents' death.
And he'd tried to help me.
Along with Demetri and Alec, the rock duo of AD2. Honestly, if there was any hope of me coming out of this, my money was on Demetri saying something ridiculously out of line and me responding.
They were also in Portland shooting the music video that went along with the theme song for the movie.
"Dannae Garcia!" Pris charged toward me, her hands on her hips. She looked like my mom so much it hurt.
Pain washed over me brand new as I braced myself against the granite counter and hung my head.
"I was worried sick about you! You said you were going to go for a walk four hours ago!"
I winced then offered a shrug.
"Dani…" She licked her lips and touched her softly rounded stomach. "… you have a phone. Use it."
Guilty, I reached for my phone and quickly typed in a message.
Dani: Sorry? I'll buy you ice cream and try really hard to find a real live unicorn for my new niece.
I added a smiley with a halo for good measure.
With a laugh, she lifted her head. "Yeah? Well you better."
Jaymeson sauntered out of one of the back rooms, his cell pressed against his ear as he made sweeping gestures with his hands. "Just get it done!"
Dani: What's that about?
Pris eyed Lincoln, who I'd conveniently ignored but hadn't forgotten about. "Directing your own movie is harder than he originally thought."
Lincoln snorted.
Pris smirked as Jaymeson made his way over to me slowly, then picked up speed.
I backed up, holding my hands in surrender and shaking my head violently as a no built up in my chest.
He said he'd charge me like a bull until I was man enough to yell stop.
And since I still wasn't speaking…
"Ahhh."
I laughed as he lifted me into the air and twirled me around. At least I still had that, my laugh. Not that it could convey much, but the sound was comforting, like another reminder that maybe one day this wouldn't be my reality.
"How's my favorite sister-in-law?" Jay set me back onto my feet.
I licked my lips and shrugged, then held up my finger and typed out a message to him.
He was already reaching for his phone before anything had been sent.
Dani: Getting in trouble. Pris is going to be a great mom, has that mom look down scary good.
The emoji that followed was a picture of Pris doing the exact face I'd been talking about.
Jaymeson burst out laughing. I'd always loved his sense of humor, and his slight British accent paired with his newly shaved hair just made him look too attractive for his own good.
"She gives it to me all the time." He winked then nodded once toward Lincoln. "You tell her yet?"
My skin started tingling.
"No chance," Lincoln said smoothly as he crossed his large arms and leaned against the wall. "Not with Pris scolding and you attacking."
Jaymeson rubbed his hands together. "Oh good, because I want to see her face."
I itched to ask what they were talking about. I was just about to send a text to one of them when Jaymeson wrapped an arm around me, causing me to emit a groan since he'd bulked up so much and had yet to adapt to his own strength.
"Dani, meet your new job."
I felt my eyes go wide as Lincoln took a step forward. "I don't think we've been properly introduced. I'm Lincoln Greene, and Jaymeson offered me your services during filming."