I realized I’d been texting for the last few minutes while Imogen sat across from me fidgeting. I needed to help her not worry about this, but I had to get my brother to behave through my cell phone.
“Imogen, please don’t worry, this kind of thing happens all the time,” I said between texts. “I just need to finish texting with my brother.”
“Are you still there, Ash?”
“I’m proposing tomorrow? Am I in love or lust?”
“You’re neither. You’re doing what mom wants you to do for the family name.”
“August, man, you gotta relax. You’re not really me and your life will go back to normal in a week or two. If we don’t get caught before then.”
“Getting caught is not an option here, Asher.”
We had reached the hotel and I could already see a few paparazzi hanging around out front. I’d been with Asher enough times to know what his life was like with the tabloids. It was like he was a movie star or something.
“Gunner, let the driver know there’s a back entrance we use in times like this,” I called up to the front seat. “Imogen, come sit closer so we look like a happy couple.”
Imogen did as I suggested. Once she was next to me, I threw my arm across her shoulders.
“You’re shaking?”
Chapter 37
IMOGEN
Iwas never an anxious person growing up, but whenever I did get worried, my grandpa used to tell me ain’t nothin worth worrying about, if it’s gonna happen it’s gonna happen, and you deal with it. Yet here I was shaking like a leaf.
“You’re shaking. Are you scared or cold?” Asher asked, rubbing my arms.
“I’m scared, if I can be honest. I didn’t realize splashing water in the fountain would blow up like this,” I responded, very distracted.
“Talk to me, Imogen. This is not a big deal and I understand your being upset, but you need to trust me.” Asher pulled me closer to his side. “Lean on me.”
My legs bounced like a rubber ball. Asher was being super sweet and it was almost annoying me. I just needed answers, not coddling.
“Asher, I’m worried because if Brice sees that video he’ll know where to find me.” I shivered again. “I have no idea if he could get to me. He’s crazy. What if he came here?”
“First of all, that was local news, so I seriously doubt Brice would see it in Australia. Second, Gunner is here to protect you and I, for one, am terrified of him,” Asher explained calmly.
“Okay, I’ll trust you.” I mumbled.
Asher had told Gunner to take the back entrance and now we were here and ready to go inside. Bond went out first and scanned the perimeter, then opened our door and put his hand out to help me out. Asher followed. The three of us scurried into the hotel and went through the kitchen to the service elevator. I didn’t see PH on the row of floors, so where were we going?
“We’re inside the hotel now. The people out front are only photographers, not someone who will physically hurt you,” Asher said from his side of the elevator.
“You don’t know that for sure.” I started to pace but stopped myself.
“Solitaire, I can tell you with one hundred percent certainty that Brice will never hurt you again,” Gunner asserted. “And you can trust me to tell you the truth.”
I walked the short distance to the other side of the elevator and threw my arms around Gunner’s neck. “I know you will, Bond. Thank You.”
The day had been so long. The fountains had only happened this morning, but It felt like it was days ago. Now, in light of this new information released to the public, it wasn’t ending anytime soon.
“What do you want to do about dinner?’ I asked, making conversation.
“I don’t think we should go out tonight, so when you get to your room, call down to Halima and let her know what you’d like for dinner. Gunner, you do the same,” Asher said, frustrated.
“Honestly, I’m not hungry, so if you don’t mind, I’m going to get a shower and climb in bed.” I tried my best to smile.