Chapter 12

One week later…

Juliet grinned as she opened the apartment door to Caz. They were getting together for a glass of wine or two while Hannah worked late and Edie had plans with friends. Juliet had initially thought about turning down Caz's offer to come over with a good bottle of red, but this was the kind of night she needed. She and Caz understood one another. They were aware of the insecurities that came with the kind of relationship they were both in.

"I brought two bottles…just in case." Caz strode across the apartment, setting them down in the kitchen. It wasn't often they got together in private like this, but Juliet knew Paige and Hannah had likely encouraged Caz to do this. They both meant well, so Juliet had no choice but to entertain the idea. The last thing she wanted to do was alienate friends. Especially friends who had come to mean a great deal to her. "Busy day?" Caz asked, turning to Juliet. "I believe the bar is coming along nicely."

"That bar has been a pain in my arse for the last week. But yes, it's mostly running smoothly." Juliet closed the door and followed Caz into the kitchen. The wine glasses were ready and waiting. "I hope it's finished in time for Paige ending the tour. That's my focus at the minute. Making sure it's ready."

"Does it take your mind off the waiting around?" Caz asked with a gentle smile.

"Kind of. But not really. I just don't know what to do with myself, Caz."

Caz shed her jacket and hung it over a dining chair. Once they'd poured wine and got comfortable on the couch, Caz exhaled a calming breath. For some reason, Juliet always felt calm around Caz. She just had that personality. "This will all be over soon, and Paige will be back here. I know it's been tough for you, it was difficult the first time around, but the end is coming."

"That's another thing I worry about. When the end does come." Juliet mindlessly ran a fingertip up and down the stem of her glass.

"Why?"

"Because part of me wonders if it's what Paige wants. Surely, she doesn't really want this to be the end. I see the fire in her eyes when she performs. God, I'd never forgive myself if she stopped because of me."

"From what Paige has said when I'm around, she's never wanted to perform for all those people. Yes, getting a taste of it has been exciting for her, but I think it comes down to the fact that she would rather be at The Hideout with you. I don't think for one second she's planning to end touring because of you."

"I'm just struggling to understand why she would want to stand behind a bar when she could be travelling the world. The fans love her, Caz. They talk about her and her music online all hours of the day. She would only be wasted behind the bar."

"But that's Paige's choice. If she wants to be here instead of hotel hopping, then what's the issue?" Caz frowned as she watched Juliet. "Aren't you happy that she'll be home?"

"Of course I am. I can't wait until I know the tour is over. I worry that she's doing it for the wrong reasons, that's all." Juliet had gone over it all in her mind for weeks now. She hadn't aired her feelings to Paige in those weeks, not really, but it did feel like an issue that needed addressing.

"I can see your point, but on the other hand, I find it incredibly sweet that she wants to be here with you. She loves you, Juliet. She wants her life here with you, not something long-distance."

Juliet relaxed as Caz reminded her of that. She wasn't sure she would ever be cut out for a long-distance relationship, but she would try anything if it made Paige happy. "She's been through so much. She had to flee her home and run away from the man she was married to, and…I don't know. I hope she doesn't think that I'd be angry if she chose to keep doing gigs. That I'd turn out to be another James, you know?"

"No. There is no way she thinks that. There is zero control from either of you in your relationship." Caz shook her head. "I know how Paige feels when it comes to past relationships. I know that uncertainty and wariness about new people and relationships. But I also know she's a lot like me in that I've never once felt controlled by Hannah in the time I've known her. Paige doesn't feel that either."

"How can I be sure of that?"

"You'd know," Caz said, regarding Juliet with a small smile. "Paige had it far worse than I did in some respects. Naomi never once laid a hand on me. If Paige had any doubts about your relationship or where it was going, you'd know. If she thought you were potentially another James…you'd know. She would be quiet and withdrawn. She would second guess herself. Perhaps even flinch around you. All I see when you and Paige are in the room together is love. The way she looks at you…it's the same way Hannah looks at me. A look that is entirely unconditional love."

"I always thought that was all in my head. The way she looks at me…"

Caz laughed and sipped her wine. "Me too. But apparently not, since Hannah kept reminding me."

"I just want the best for her, Caz. If she truly doesn't see a career in music, then okay. But I need her to be sure of that. This could change her life."

"You've already changed her life, Juliet. Maybe she doesn't want any other changes."

Juliet smiled. Paige was forever telling Juliet she had changed her life, and to this day, she couldn't fathom how. Could love really be that life-changing?

You know it can. She changed your life!

"You're right. And I think pushing her to continue could drive us apart, so I'm not going to do that. Paige is a grown woman who can make her own decisions. If she believes this is where she wants to be, then I'm thrilled with that. And who knows? Maybe down the line, she will decide she wants to give it another go. Whatever choices she makes, I'll always be behind her one hundred percent."

"And Paige knows that. We all know it." Caz shifted forward and squeezed Juliet's hand. "You have a good thing going here with her. Paige isn't going to change that. No matter what you think is the right thing to do, Paige knows in her heart what she wants."

Caz was right. Absolutely.

"Did you ever have doubts when you met Hannah?"

Caz's brows lifted at that. "Oh, yes. Being the older woman can sometimes bring up a few insecurities. Add in the fact I'd previously been in a coercive marriage, and at times, it felt as though it was a disaster waiting to happen."

"Can I ask how you dealt with it?" Juliet ran a hand through her hair, relaxing a little more. "Tell me to mind my own business, of course."

"I didn't like her working for you," Caz said matter-of-factly. "You were her client, and then you became her boss. I didn't like it."

"We…never once spent the night together, Caz. I wouldn't lie to you."

"I know. But back then, we'd only just met." Caz shook her head. "It's ridiculous when I think about it now, but I didn't like any of it."

"I'm sorry."

"Don't be. Because when she became your employee, it gave us the chance to try again. I'd told her I couldn't be with her while she was escorting. I know she didn't sleep with clients, but it just didn't feel right to me. Maybe that makes me a terrible person, but it was how I felt, and I can't change that."

"I'm glad you figured it out. It's so nice to see you both happy."

"The first night we spent together…well, the following morning when she tried to leave without waking me, she was meeting you. You'd booked her, and she tried to slip out of the house. I had a meltdown about it and told her I didn't want to see her anymore."

"I remember that day, I think. Hannah was very quiet. She didn't want to be there, and she said as much. That was when I offered her a trial in my office. I didn't like knowing she was only having lunch with me because she had to. Because she had bills to pay. I know a lot of escorts enjoy what they do, but Hannah didn't. I'm not sure there was ever a time when she enjoyed it."

"No. I don't think she enjoyed it at all. But I can't complain. It's how we met."

"Isn't life a funny thing, hey. We meet people when we least expect it, and everything changes." Juliet smiled, but then the thought of Paige meeting someone else suddenly dawned on her. "Let's just hope that Paige meeting me was the end of that stage of her life."

"I'm sorry?" Caz's brows drew together.

"Nothing. Never mind."

"No. I want to know what you mean by that. It came from somewhere, Juliet."

Juliet sighed. She shouldn't be saying this stuff to anyone. If she had reservations about anything , she should speak directly to Paige. Still, Caz was here for her. "Last week, when I travelled to her show…I fucked up a bit."

"In what way?"

"I kind of gave Paige the impression I'd gone there to catch her out. I'd spent that morning losing my mind over social media posts I'd come across from the night before. Paige and Soraya at a club. A little close. The fans were eating it up and implying that they were together."

Caz winced. "Please tell me you didn't ask if she was cheating on you."

"God, no. And I hadn't gone there with that idea in mind, either. But I did want to make her aware of the things people were saying. It didn't help that Soraya rubbed me the wrong way from the moment we met. I don't trust her, even though she's apologised to Paige."

"I do understand how you're feeling." Caz offered Juliet a sympathetic smile, but Juliet didn't want that. She had made a mess of that conversation with Paige in the hotel room. She fully accepted that.

"Nobody knows I exist in Paige's world. As far as everyone is aware, she's single."

"And you want people to know she's involved." Caz nodded slowly. "Have you spoken to her about that?"

"Yes. She says she's protecting me. Though, I don't know what from. I've been in the papers and all over the internet many times in the past. Usually because of some bastard I was representing, but still."

"Do you…want to be seen in the papers or online?"

"Not particularly. Nor do I want Paige to do anything she doesn't want to do. I've avoided social media since it happened, and I only get alerted when Paige rarely posts something specifically now. I don't need to see those things. I know Paige would never do anything to hurt me."

"Still, it's not very nice to see, I'd imagine."

Juliet lowered her eyes to her lap. "No, it's not. Especially when she's miles away, and I'm stuck here in my own head."

"And I think that's the problem. Being stuck in your own head. I've been there myself, and it's not a pleasant place to be." Caz sighed. "Paige knows how you feel, and you know that everything is okay between you. In another week or so, this will all be over, and the four of us will be getting ready for a night out at the bar. Your new, snazzy, sexy bar."

Juliet beamed a smile. "It's going to look amazing. The floor alone has cost a fortune."

"It'll all be worth it. You already have a membership waiting list, don't you?"

Juliet finished her wine and got to her feet. "I do. One that seems to be growing. It's a good job I kept Cara on and brought Stephen in, too. Paige and I couldn't possibly manage alone. We'd never see one another."

"Cara seems nice. I haven't had much of a chance to speak to Stephen yet, but I'm sure he's great. You're far from stupid when it comes to employing people."

Juliet thought back on the early days of The Hideout. A lot had changed. For the better. "It was touch and go with Cara at one point. I wasn't sure it would work out."

"Oh?" Caz held out her glass when Juliet brought the bottle from the kitchen. "Why?"

"She was a little abrasive when she joined us. Then she tried it on once or twice with both me and Paige." Juliet laughed. Those days seemed like a million years ago now. "But in the last several months, she's really stepped up. Paige and I get days off together now because Cara finally decided to use the managerial skills that I employed her for."

"Interesting." Caz narrowed her eyes, then shook her head. "She was probably just trying her luck."

"Mm." Juliet nodded as she sunk back down onto the couch. She couldn't find a single fault with Cara these days. "Everything is really coming together."

"It is. For all of us. We just need Rachel and Andi to come around more often, and we could have a very special group of friends."

Juliet pondered that idea for a moment. She would love to have Rachel and Andi at the bar more often, but it just didn't seem to be something they wanted. Juliet could only hope that they would one day come around to the idea. Still, she knew how difficult things had been when she stopped seeing Rachel as her escort. Juliet had to understand that space was required until everyone was satisfied. "Maybe one day they will. Who knows." Juliet smiled. "Now, tell me all about work. How is the headteacher position going?"

Caz puffed out her cheeks, and her eyes widened. "Where to begin…"