“Fuck.”
“Yeah, fuck. So, I’m sort of thinking of taking Jackie away for a few weeks. I know we need to practice and work on new songs, but we aren’t due back in the studio for another eight weeks. I just…my brother has that cabin at the lake. It might be safe there.”
“What’s the sergeant’s name? The one we’ve been sending these to,” I ask.
“Sergeant Kramer,” Rhett says.
“Did you send it to him?”
“I called him. He said to place it in a plastic bag, and he’ll come to get it later today.”
“Really, that’s it?” I ask in shock.
“Yep.”
“OK, well…maybe we should look at more security,” I say.
“We may want to. I heard about this one firm. It’s owned by some special ops guy who works with like royalty and shit,” Rhett says.
“Get Calvin the name. Let’s see what Kramer says and then we’ll go from there,” I suggest.
“OK. I just fucking hate this shit, you know? I mean, we’ve gotten our fair share of creepy fan mail, but this, this just seems…I don’t know, next-level creepy.”
I sigh and put my guitar back on its stand. I start pacing my music room. “I don’t like this part of it. No one ever talked about this. There are some sick people out there.”
Rhett laughs sarcastically. “No fucking shit. I thought the paps would be the worst thing we’d have to handle.”
I grunt. “Well, thanks for letting me know.”
“Yeah, well, anyhow, I’m going to call my brother about staying at his place. I’ll talk to you later.”
We hang up and I stare out my front window. I had a crazy fan once when I raced, too. I’d get these creepy sticky notes on my car windows. Since I was only eighteen, it was even more creepy. The last one I got was three weeks before Dad died. They stopped after that. I figured whoever it was must have had more interest in our family than in me.
I decide I need to go for a run on the beach. It’s only two and I now have adrenaline firing through my veins.
I throw on my running shoes and walk to the closest beach entrance. I start running as I let the events of this week replay in my mind. The one that replays the most is Emma. I can’t wait to see her again. I mentally plan out all the elements of the date. I really want to surprise her. I’m curious when she’ll tell me about her best friend, Kate, AKA the former first daughter and a current princess of some small principality in Europe. She has a story there and anyone who doesn’t talk about their famous friends right off the bat is the real deal. And she’s a real deal that I want to get to know better.
By the end of my run, I figure out three things. One, Emma and I are getting out of LA for the day. Two, the band probably should talk to that security firm. And three, I need to stop fixating on Emma already, she’s killing my reputation. I grin at my thoughts as I head back home to make some calls for my date. I’m so fucked.
Chapter Fifteen
Emma
I glance at my phone as I get off the treadmill in my apartment complex’s small gym.
Grady: I am on my way.
Me: You said 11:01 am
Grady: I lied
Me: (eye-rolling emoji)
Grady: Don’t you roll your eyes at me
Me: Or what?
Grady: Wouldn’t you like to know
