Chapter 28

Juno

I stared out the window as the plane touched down on the runway. I was in first class for the first time, having enjoyed the special treatment. I'd never been able to afford it before, and even if I'd been paying this time, I'd have gone coach. But Kai had apparently insisted, and my agent hadn't dreamed of refusing.

Despite all the warmth and the attention the hostess lavished on me, however, I was a mess. I was about to see Jack again after a week of waiting. I hadn't dared to email him again after we'd cleared up where we were at. It didn't feel like something I could get away with despite wanting to.

It took forever to get through all the security checks and grab my bag from the luggage carousel, but eventually, I was heading out of the main doors and into the lobby, where I was supposed to see someone waiting for me.

I wasn't sure who I'd see, but I recognized Jack's driver holding up a placard with my name on it almost immediately. As I walked over, I smiled and let him take the bag from me.

Part of me had hoped to see Jack there as well, but the bigger part of me was relieved. He clearly cared enough to send his own car but felt relaxed enough to not have to be there, too.

"Is it a long drive?" I asked as we walked out to the car.

"It'll be about half an hour. That okay, ma'am?" he replied.

"Sure, but please, call me Juno. I'm not sure I'm old enough to be a ma'am."

The driver smiled and nodded before getting the door for me. Only then did I wonder if Jack had waited in the car. Of course, he was famous, so he wouldn't be waiting out in the lobby.

Inside, I sighed with relief. I was alone, and Jack had stayed behind, sending just the car and his driver for me.

"I'll just let them know we're on our way," the driver said through a pane of glass between the back and front of the car.

"Thank you," I replied, feeling my stomach flip over at the thought of seeing the whole band again. The first time I'd met them, I hadn't been too worried about what they thought of me, interested in only Jack. This time, it felt as if I needed them all to like me.

And on top of that, I had to attempt to be creative in a way I never had before. No pressure.

Moving through the traffic in New York helped calm me a little, although it took a while to get anywhere. I looked out the window at everything that passed us by, marveling at how many yellow cabs there were and how many different places to get food.

Finally, the car stopped outside a large apartment block, and the doorman rushed forward to open the car door for me. I got out and smiled, knowing this was it.

"Ms. Fernsby?" the man asked, looking sharp in his dark gray uniform.

"Yes. I'm here to work with the Vampirates," I replied.

"Fantastic. I believe most of them are here already. Top floor, penthouse three. Would you like me to escort you up?" he asked as he opened the building door for me.

"I think I can find it," I replied, grateful for a moment alone to try and compose myself.

As I found the elevator and pressed the up button, I was keenly aware I was so nervous I was beginning to shake.

Keep it together, I thought to myself. You've seen Jack before, and the rest of the band only asked you to be here to talk about your book and characters.

Thankfully, I'd had the good sense to reread the story on the plane on the way over. I'd written so many books in my decade or so as a writer that I couldn't remember all the details of each of them anymore.

The elevator let out a little bing when I reached the top floor, and the doors opened to reveal Jack himself. His eyes widened as I stood there feeling like a deer in headlights.

He stepped back, his gaze roaming my body, and still, I didn't move. I'd planned to take a few deep breaths before I knocked on a door somewhere. I'd wanted to think about what I'd say. Not to find him right in front of me.

"Come on in. I can show you the view," he said as if we'd ridden up the elevator together. It helped me finally get my feet to work, and I hurried out of the contraption just as the doors were going to close and slice me in half.

He immediately reached out a hand and stopped them, rescuing me once again. I still couldn't think of anything to say, but thankfully, Jack's door was only a few steps away, and it was already open.

"She's here," he called, and immediately Kai came around a corner.

"Juno, I feel like I'm finally going to get to meet you," he said.

"It does feel a bit like a first meeting, doesn't it?" I replied, finding my voice finally working.

"We didn't exactly have long the last time, and Jack seemed eager to have you to himself. Now, come on in, let me get you a drink, and tell us all about your writing. I find authors fascinating. And Jack's had more than a few authors as friends."

Kai took my hand and almost tugged me into the main sitting area of the apartment, making me feel much more at home. I noticed that Jack hung back and let Kai take the lead, but I wouldn't complain when it instantly helped calm my nerves and made me feel less on the spot.

I moved over to a small seat at one end of the pair of sofas and immediately perched in it, a little too near the edge to be able to sit back. I put my small bag down beside my feet before I realized I didn't have my main luggage, nor did I know exactly where I'd be staying while I was here. I'd simply been told to come and given plane tickets.

Trying not to worry about that detail for the moment, I took the soda can I was offered, not thinking about what was in it so much as giving my hands something to hold to stop them from shaking so obviously. Kai sat on the sofa nearest me, and Jack sat at the farthest point from me.

For a moment, I looked between them, wondering where the others were. There were instruments dotted around the living room, and it looked as if at least Jack and Kai had been playing before I'd arrived. I didn't know what I'd expected on my arrival, but this wasn't it. I'd assumed we'd work in a studio, but these guys seemed pretty comfortable in a simple living room.

And that made me wonder why I was there. Surely, if they could have done this anywhere, I could have been brought in on a video call or something?

"Now, tell me about your process," Kai said. "Where do you begin with your ideas? What gets you excited about a story?"

I frowned, surprised by the questions and not sure what they had to do with us writing a song, but it was something to talk about and focus on.

"My ideas, especially my dark romance, come to me in one of two ways. I want to explore a relationship dynamic. An imbalance or power struggle between two conflicting personalities and see if it's possible for two people like that to have a happy ending together. Or I have a character or person come to mind, and I almost instinctively start coming up with what I think would be a good partner for them to help them grow and move into a better life."

"So it sounds like it's all about the characters. That's what Jack said it felt like. I confess I haven't read much, but Jack has told me a lot. Why don't you tell me about the characters and what makes them special in this story?"

Exhaling, I thought about Hunter and decided to begin there. As I opened my mouth and started talking about him, all my anxiety and worries melted away. I was in my zone now, and it felt good.