CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

JAGGER

The last nearly two weeks have been nothing short of fucking amazing. She has been eating normally, and she seems happy. Really fucking happy. I almost regret inviting the guys and her friend to come with us, because I am a selfish asshole, and I don’t want to share her with anyone. Yet, I cannot completely regret it as she watches the clock with excitement. Jett was very insistent that Mia was coming with them. He has had a crush on her for years, since they first met at an awards show. And knowing they are coming here together has him more excited than he should be. Mia has never given him the time of day, because while they call me the bad boy of rock, Jett is worse. Far worse. Of course, I told him no drugs around McKinley and he agreed, but I doubt he’ll follow through on his words. He is a good man that feels too fucking much. Getting high is his way of escaping from all the emotions he has never learned to handle. I love him like a goddamn brother, but if Mia asked me if she should give him a chance, I’d tell her ‘hell no’, because Jett is practically a bomb waiting to explode.

“Come here,” I say to a pacing McKinley.

She walks over to me, and I pull her onto my lap.

“I love you. I know it doesn’t make any sense, but I feel like I’m going to lose you. I know you’re excited to see Mia, but please don’t forget about me.”

She places her small hands on my face. “Oh Jagger. I love you too, and I can promise you, no matter what happens in life, I’ll never forget you.”

I can’t shake this feeling in my chest that’s leaving me feeling so fucking unsettled.

The doorbell rings, and she just stares at me like she’s waiting for permission. I sigh audibly. “Go get it, baby.”

She walks to the door, opens it, and all but ignores my bandmates, which makes me chuckle, as she throws her arms around her friend.

Jett, Jake, and Hendrix come and plop down on the couch, and Jake grumbles, “That’s a long fucking flight, man.”

I chuckle, because I could’ve predicted his complaint. He hates to travel, especially flying. It’s not that he has a fear of flying, he just hates being cooped up. You can’t exactly pull over to the side of the road and let him take a fucking walk.

Have I noticed that her friend seems to have put on weight? Definitely, but I’m not an asshole, so of course I won’t mention it, but Jett does in his own way.

“How was the drive? Did everyone behave?”

“Everyone but me,” he says and then continues, “How the fuck is she so much hotter? Fuck. I wanted her before, but that extra weight has me salivating like a goddamn dog in heat.”

Hendrix smirks at him. “Are you a girl now?”

He slaps him in the chest. “Of course not. Trust me, I still have a huge dick.”

Hendrix chuckles loudly at the point that poor Jett is clearly missing.

“Female dogs go into heat. Male dogs do not. So you’re basically admitting you’re a bitch.”

Jett jumps off the couch and pulls his fist back, and I stand up and grab it.

“Enough. You have been here for under ten minutes, and you’re giving me a fucking headache.”

Jett sighs loud enough for the women to turn and look at us as they continue talking.

Hendrix grins, because that’s what he does when he stirs shit up.

“Maybe I’ll fuck her first.”

I ignore both of the assholes, but I know the competition is on. Neither of them will stop until they have her. It’s not about her anymore. It’s about winning, which only means she’ll get hurt, or tell them both to go fuck themselves. That would, of course, be the best-case scenario.

McKinley grabs her friend’s hand. “You have to see outside.”

I follow them, and the guys follow behind me. We all watch their excitement, as they reach the beach.

Mia gasps loudly. “Holy shit. This is amazing.”

McKinley stares at me. “Isn’t it? Can you even believe he did this for me?”

She comes up to me and wraps her arms around my waist.

“You think I could ever forget this? Not in a million years.”

I kiss her softly, before it turns into a full on make-out session while we completely ignore our company.

Sliding my hand into her hair, I tilt her head, and might never stop. She tastes like heaven, but then my bubble bursts with shouting. Pulling back from McKinley, I spot a photographer and run after him, with every intention of beating the shit out of him, before stealing his fucking camera.

“Motherfucker!” I yell, as he hops on a scooter and takes off down the beach.

I turn back to the group, and the only one that looks equally confused and surprised is McKinley.

Approaching her, I pull her back into my arms.

“They will print whatever pictures they took, with stories about me fucking everything I can. It’s always the same. As long as you know it’s a lie, that’s all that matters.”

“Should I be worried?”

“No. It’ll be about me, and Mia might get pulled into it.”

Mia shrugs her shoulders. “They’ll talk about how I’m getting fat, and likely speculate over whether or not I’m pregnant.”

She scowls at Mia. “You’re not fat. You actually look healthier.”

It was an amazing time with our friends. We ate, we drank, laughed, and jammed our asses off. Tomorrow morning it’s time to get back to work, which for the first time ever, I’m not especially looking forward to. If I could live on a deserted island with McKinley for the rest of my life, I think I would. Never before have I ever even imagined I’d meet someone I’d be willing to give it all up for. For her, no questions asked, I would.