Burning Up (35 page)

He let out a long sigh. “So we both made mistakes. Don’t treat me like the monster here, Layla. You have your cross to bear too. I told you I was going to sell the damn place. I never wanted you to find out.”

I snorted a laugh. “Of course you didn’t! I can’t even fucking look at you right now! I feel sick! I don’t even know who you are anymore.”

Reaching for my hand, he held it to his chest.

“Yes you do. I’m still me, Layla. I love you and I would do anything for you. I can’t stand the thought of you hating me like this. You’re the most precious thing I have ever had in my life and I wanted to protect you.”

I shook my head and pulled my hand from his grasp. “I don’t know what to think or feel anymore.”

He nodded weakly and rubbed his eyes with his thumb and finger.

The door to my room opened, and rushing to my bed, my parents held me tightly.

“My baby. Thank God you’re all right. Oh, Layla.” My mother was squeezing what little air I had in my lungs from me, and gently pulling her away, my father smiled.

“Baby, you had us real scared there for a while.”

I nodded as tears streamed down my face.

Jared tapped my father on the shoulder gently. “I should give you all some privacy. You have my number if you need anything.”

My father nodded and thanked him. I called out to Jared to stop him.

“Jared.”

Turning, he smiled at me gently. “You should rest. We’ll talk later.”

I nodded, and lying back on my bed, I listened as my parents gushed over how grateful they were to him and to Ollie for saving my life. Jared hadn’t just hired Ollie’s doctors but mine, too. Even Jenna was on the pay roll.

Ollie’s strong, muscular body suddenly seemed so fragile to me, and the more I thought about it, the more it hurt. I had only come to New York for him. I wanted to make things right. I had made my choice, I knew where my heart belonged and now, I might never have the chance to tell him. I was in love with Ollie, and he could die, never knowing that it was him I wanted to spend the rest of my life with. For that, I would never forgive myself. I’d wasted so much time already. Ollie Green was the path I had chosen, and now I might have to walk it alone.

* * * *

The days felt longer and minutes felt like hours as I sat beside Ollie’s bed. His mom, brother, Mel, Amy, and the guys spent hours there, but when it came time to leave, I couldn’t tear myself from him. I had spent almost a week sitting beside him, reading him newspaper articles, and playing music. I would do anything I could to pull him through this. His vitals were improving everyday, but he still wasn’t waking up.

Resting back in the most uncomfortable chair in the world, I turned the pages of the newspaper.

“James Felix has been arrested and charged with arson, attempted murder, and kidnapping. He has also been charged with several other offenses that are unavailable at this time due to the sensitive nature of the case. Mrs. Felix appeared in court today charged with perjury and providing false information. Her case of paternity against Mr. Garrett has now been dropped and she has withdrawn the lawsuit against him. The child she claimed to be Garrett’s was in fact that of a known hooker working in the area who reported the criminal exchange of the baby after spending two weeks in rehab. She is now facing charges of endangering a minor and gross neglect. When questioned about the case, Mr. Garrett simply stated that he was glad it was over and that those involved would be adequately punished. He was also asked about the wellbeing of his ex-lover and victim of the blaze, Layla Jennings. He stated that she was recovering well and was now in the care of her family. He also asked that she, he, and those surrounding them be left in peace to recover and move on from this ordeal.”

Placing the paper on the bed, I sighed. “See, no mention of the hero who pulled me from the flames this time. Though, I’m sure you’d have loved the full, front page spread you got yesterday. I know how your ego loves that stuff.”

“I told you before, stroke it whenever you want.”

Snapping my head up, I gawked at him. Looking at me with his beautiful, big brown eyes, Ollie smiled.

“Ollie!”

I leapt from my seat and threw myself over him.

“Easy. I’m a little bruised over here,” he chuckled breathlessly.

Stepping back, I leaned forward and pressed my lips to his firmly, holding my hands against his cheeks.

“Wow, I should pull you from a burning building more often if that’s the wakeup call I get.”

I tapped him gently on the cheek with my palm. “That’s for taking such a stupid fucking risk.”

His brow furrowed and he winced. “Seriously?”

Brushing the area with my thumb, I bent forwards and kissed him passionately.

“And that is for rescuing me.”

The corner of his mouth curved up, and lifting his hand to his head, his eyes widened.

“Uh, Layla, what the fuck?”

Damn. Biting my lip, I pulled out a mirror and held it in front of him. “You hit your head really bad, Ollie. They had to do surgery. They … they cut your hair.”

His hand reached for the mirror, and holding it at an angle, he groaned.

“Oh, my God. My hair. I look ridiculous.”

“It’s just a patch,” I tried to reassure him.

“I can’t believe you guys let them cut my hair,” he moaned.

I chuckled a little and planted a gently kiss on his bald spot.

“I would have let them shave your entire body if it meant saving your life.”

He nodded weakly and glanced around the room.

“Fancy. Where am I?”

“Jared got you a private room and hired the best team of doctors to take care of you.”

His eyebrows furrowed and pinched together. “Oh. I see.”

Taking his hand, I held it to my cheek. “It’s not like that. He was grateful. He did it for me.”

“That makes me feel so much better,” he answered sarcastically.

“Ollie …”

The door opened behind us and striding in loudly, Nick, Eric, and my girls entered.

“Dude! You’re awake!” Nick grinned.

“Good to have you back with us man,” Eric said as he took Ollie’s hand and leaned in for a manly hug.

Amy, however, was not so gentle. Throwing herself at him, she sobbed and howled like a woman possessed.

“Oh, Ollie! I thought we’d never see you again! I thought you were going to …“

Cutting her off, Mel rolled her eyes and pried Amy off of a squirming Ollie.

“But you didn’t and you’re okay. Doctors say you’ll be great in no time. Have to lay off the singing for a while, though.”

Ollie’s face dropped. “Seriously? What about the record deal?”

Eric shrugged. “What about it? It’s all good. They’re sending us to Florida as soon as you’re fit enough to travel for media training or some bullshit like that.”

Nick scoffed. “They want us to learn how to talk to the media. Like I need lessons in how to be awesome!”

Mel snorted a laugh. “Ha! You need lessons on how to speak, dress, act, and generally be human. Hello? Evolution? Yeah, I found your missing link.”

Draping an arm around her shoulder, Nick smirked.

“Want me to hit you over the head, drag you back to my cave, and start banging away with my huge club?”

Mel gagged. “Eww …”

Eric slapped Nick harshly on the back of the head.

“Ouch!”

Shaking his head, Eric rolled his eyes. “Seek fucking help, dude.”

They all gathered around the bed, and for a moment, I stepped back and watched them all. My friends. Even Nick, though it pained me to admit it, was included in that sentiment. And lying in the bed, was the man I loved. My heart thundered in my chest as I gazed at him. I was desperate to tell him how I felt. I needed him to know that he was the man for me. But first, I needed to talk to the other man who had held my heart so tightly. Goodbye seemed like such a harsh and cruel word all of a sudden, but one I needed to face sooner rather than later.

Handing me a glass of water, Jared sat beside me on the couch with a glass of bourbon. His face was serious and swirling the dark and bitter liquid around in his glass, he frowned.

“I know why you’re here,” he said, raising a brow.

“I thought we should talk before I go back to L.A.,” I replied with trepidation.

“Before you say anything, Layla, I need to tell you something.”

I leaned in and waited with baited breath.

“I’m going away for a while.”

I gave him a puzzled look. “On business?”

He shook his head. “No. I’ve decided to travel for a while. My therapist suggested it. We spent some time talking about my childhood and the plans I had for my life. My life spiraled out of control when my parents died. When I was a child, I wanted to be Indiana Jones. I was going to be an adventurer. The closest I have ever come to that dream is visiting museums across Europe. It’s not enough. I’m twenty-three and I have so much I want to do and see. I think it’s why I have a problem with control. Everything in my life has been thrown at me and forced upon me. I had no choices or time to decide what I wanted. I just did what was expected of me. And now, I expect a lot from everyone else. I need this. I need to spend some time being Jared. Not Mr. Garrett the property tycoon, business man, or socialite. Just…Jared. Being who I was almost got you killed, Layla. I can’t forgive myself for putting you in that kind of danger and I will never let that happen to anyone I love ever again. I have to get away for my sanity and the safety of everyone I care about.”

“But what about the business?” I asked, wondering what would happen to it all without him.

He smiled at me. “Lucy and Daniel.”

I looked at him with surprise. “Are you serious?”

He nodded and chuckled a little. “I know; I was apprehensive, too. But, I have total faith in Daniel’s judgments and his ability to make sound decisions. And Lucy? She’s as ruthless and hard to take for a ride as I am. She’ll be fine.”

I couldn’t help but smile as I thought of them both in the office, knee deep in diapers and paperwork.

“Jared, I came here to tell you …“

Holding up his hand, he stopped me. “You love him, Layla. I saw the way you looked at him in that hospital. The second you thought you might lose him forever, it was written all over your face. I can’t compete with that kind of love. It’s too powerful, and I won’t stand in its way. I just wish you could have loved me that way.”

“Jared, we gave it our best shot. And no matter what you believe, you have to know that I did and do love you.”

“But you love him more,” he said ruefully.

Getting to my feet, I ran my fingers through my hair and nodded. “I’m sorry, Jared. We tried. We both have to take blame for what happened between us. I never truly fit in to your world and I was wrong to expect you to change who you are for me. It’s different with Ollie. It’s so…easy. It’s not how I wanted this to be, but I love him, I can’t deny it. I do. He makes me want to be a better person when I’m around him.”

Getting to my feet, I ran my fingers through my hair and nodded. “I’m sorry, Jared. We tried. We both have to take blame for what happened between us. But I love him; I can’t deny it. I do. He makes me want to be a better person when I’m around him.”

He nodded gently and took a quick sip of his drink.

“So now what? We say goodbye, go our separate ways, and forget it ever happened?”

I shook my head “No, of course not. I don’t want to forget it ever happened. But we can’t go ‘round in this circle anymore. It’s not fair. We both deserve our chance at happiness. Even if it’s not with each other.”

Standing, he placed his glass on the table and walked over to me. He towered over me and cupping my face in his hands, he kissed me gently.

“I don’t know what I’ll do without you,” he breathed, resting his forehead against mine.

I smiled and pressed a quick kiss to his lips. “You’ll see the world, meet people, and fall in love with someone who truly deserves you.”

He chuckled lightly and held my hand in his. “And you’ll be following my ass all over the world.”

I gave him a confused look.

Turning around, he pulled down the back of his pants and flashed his tattoo at me. I held my hand to my mouth and laughed.

“Oh, Jared! Your tattoo! What will you do?”

He shrugged. “Nothing. I meant what I said when I got it. You own my ass, Layla Jennings. You stole my heart, and you’ll hold it forever. I’ll never feel about another girl, the way I do about you.”

My heart sank, and wrapping my arms around him, I buried my face in his neck. “No, it’ll feel so much stronger. It’ll be the most powerful force you’ve ever felt. When it happens, it feels like a bolt of lightning. You feel breathless and as though a part of you was never complete without them.”

He shrugged. “Maybe. But I won’t hold my breath.”

The sound of Jared’s intercom system pulled us from our reverie. Striding over, he picked up the receiver.

“Hello. Okay, thank you, Daniel.”

Replacing the receiver, he turned to me. “Daniel has the car downstairs waiting for you.”

I nodded gently and walked over to stand in front of him. I slipped my arms around his waist as tears slid gently over my cheeks. His hands brushed them away sweetly.

“Shhh. It’s not goodbye. It’s just ‘see you soon.’ I love you, Layla, and I will always be here for you. You’re my best friend.”

A smile played across his lips, and returning it, I sniffed through my tears and nodded. “You’ll always have a friend in me, Jared.”

Letting me go, he held my hand and led me to the elevator. Our hands remained connected right up until the very last second when the doors closed, separating us from each other, and it felt strangely symbolic. We were over. Our relationship had ended, but something inside me knew that though we had closed the door on our time together as lovers, a new one was opening for both of us as friends.

Stepping out of the building onto the busy New York street, I sighed with relief. Biting my lip, I pulled out my cell phone and called Mel.

“Mel, where are you guys?”

“We’re at home. Ollie is whining like a bitch about my cooking, and Amy is driving him nuts with her endless fussing. He’s been home for weeks and she’s acting like he’s made of glass. Tell me you’re done and on your way home. I don’t think I can take another minute of Ollie’s pissing and moaning.”

I giggled at her. “I’m on my way. I need a favor.”

“Anything within reason, baby girl.”

“Can you make sure Ollie and I get some time alone? I need to talk to him.”

“Sure. Call us when you land, I’ll pick you up.”

Hanging up, I held the phone to my chest and grinned. Every atom in my body was craving Ollie … his touch, his voice, the deep brown gaze of his eyes. I was truly a woman in love.

* * * *

Digging my cell out of my purse, I dialed Mel again.

“Mel? I’m seriously pissed at you right now. I’ve been in this airport for almost an hour now waiting for your ass to pick me up!”

“Oh, yeah, about that …”

A hand reached around from behind me and snatched the phone from my hand. Spinning around, I beamed as Ollie’s big brown eyes gazed back at me.

“Sorry, I got caught in traffic.”

Leaping at him, I wrapped my legs around his waist and threw my arms around his neck. He staggered back slightly before holding me tightly in his arms.

“I have missed you so much!” I squeaked.

He laughed, and still holding me, he bent down to pick up my bag and carried both it and me out to the sidewalk. The shiny red paint of his Ducati was glistening in the sunlight.

“Your chariot awaits.”

Putting my feet on the floor, I pressed a kiss firmly to his lips, making his lip ring clank against his teeth. He moved around the back of the bike and loaded my bag in the storage compartment before handing me a helmet and sliding on his own. I straddled the bike, and as Ollie sat down in front of me, I sighed with content. There was nowhere in the world I’d rather be. I assumed we’d be going straight to Mel and Amy’s place, but taking a detour, Ollie drove us to a familiar spot, our spot in the hills. Memories came flooding back. It was the place we had been when I first told him I loved him, and now it would be the place where I asked him to be mine.

Taking my hand, he helped me off of the bike. We walked across the grass a little before Ollie stopped, tugged on my hand and pulled me down onto his lap. I rested my head against his shoulder and listened to the beating of his heart.

“It’s reminds me of one of your songs,” I said with a smile.

He chuckled lightly. “It should. I wrote it about you, and it came from my heart.”

I snuggled in closer and let out a long sigh.

“Ollie, I went to New York to see Jared.”

He stiffened a little.

“I know,” he said with a slight apprehensive tone.

Sitting up, I gazed into his eyes. “It’s over.”

His eyes searched mine for a moment before his mouth closed over my own and he kissed me passionately, laying me down on the ground, and hovering over me. My hands tangled in his new, short haircut, and I giggled.

“I’m not sure I’ll ever get used to that.”

Rolling onto his side, he smiled. “Well, it should be back to normal by the time I get back.”

I gave him a confused look and he pressed his lips together.

“We’re leaving for Florida tomorrow.”

I sat up and held my hand to my chest. “But, I just got you back in my life, and now you’re leaving again? It’s not fair.”

Taking my hand in his, he lifted it to his lips and trailed kisses over my knuckles.

“I know.”

I shook my head. “Ollie, I wanted to ask you something but I need you not to answer right away. I know the knee jerk reaction for us is to jump right in, but I want you to think about what I am asking from you.”

He raised an eyebrow at me. “So ask.”

“I love you, Ollie. I’ve been so stupid and blind this whole time. I thought I knew what love was and that I’d found it with Jared. But honestly, it was with you the entire time. You make me a better person when I’m with you. You bring out the best in me, and you love me even with all of my flaws. You don’t want to change me, control me, and you even forgive me when I make stupid and horrible choices. You never gave up on me, and I know now what love really is. Love is a trip across an ocean. It’s an entire book of songs. It’s that burning passion and intense anger that only love can cause. It’s an unbearable and agonizing pain, but you can’t help but cherish every single moment because for the first time, you actually feel something so powerful. I want to be with you, Ollie. I want to be the only girl in your life. I promise that for me, there will only be you, but I also know you’re about to go into a world full of women throwing themselves at you, and I need you to be sure that it’s what you want.”

He opened his mouth to answer, but I held my fingers over his lips and chuckled as he nipped at them gently.

“Don’t answer now. I’m asking you for a lot, Ollie. You have no idea the temptations you’ll have. We won’t see each other for months. Just think about it.”

He nodded, and I took my hand from his mouth.

“I’ll think about it. We better go, I have to be up at like four in the morning, and if I’m late, Eric will lynch me.”

I giggled, and getting to my feet, I brushed myself down. Ollie took my hand and led me back to the Ducati. I was going to miss him so much. This was the second time we were leaving our spot knowing Ollie would be hundreds of miles away from me soon. It hurt.

* * * *

The light of the morning sun swept across my face. Rolling over, I smiled as my eyes drank in the sight of Ollie lying naked beside me. The hot and erotic memories of the night before were a welcome thought.

“You’re staring at me,” he murmured.

Dragging my fingernails up and down his spine, I sighed.

“How do you know? You’re asleep.”

“Yes, and you should never wake a sleeping musician. They get aggressive.”

Leaning over, I sank my teeth into his arm, over his puzzle tattoo. He immediately rolled over onto his back and gripped me by the waist, pulling me on top of him.

“You’re so violent. You should work on your anger issues while I’m away.”

I shrugged. “I’ll have plenty of time on my hands.”

He shook his head. “No you won’t. You’ll be at school.”

I stared at him in shock.

“I told you; I called in a favor. You start Monday so you better get your ass out of bed and start getting your books and shit together.”

Gripping his hair in my hands, I pulled him up to face me.

“You are sneaky, Ollie Green, and I love you.”

His hands snaked around my waist, and he smirked. “I know. It must be my rocking hot body. Or maybe my huge …“