Chapter 49

After I finished stuffing my face, I sat back and sighed, content and happy for the first time in a long time. Around me, the band and their partners chatted as if this was a normal way to spend the morning.

Every time I looked at Jack, he was smiling or talking about something that had him fully engrossed, and he appeared more relaxed and at ease than at any other point that I'd seen him.

"Right, if you lot are all done, I want my house back so I can start packing for the island. I hear we're all going tomorrow for some chill-out time," Alma said, collecting some of the plates.

I lifted my eyebrows, aware that was when I was also supposed to be flying home.

"Please tell us you're coming," Eve said, reaching out to gently touch my arm. "You have invited her, Jack, haven't you?"

"I hadn't yet," he replied, breaking off the conversation he'd already been having to look our way. "But Juno is very welcome."

"The island?" I asked as much to buy myself more time as to express my curiosity.

"Jack owns an island in the Bahamas. It's amazing. He likes to unwind there. and sometimes the rest of the band goes with him." Eve grinned. "Say you'll come?"

I frowned, feeling so put on the spot that I didn't know what to say. Fear made my stomach churn. What kind of island was it?

"At least give the girl a chance to check her schedule," Alma said, rescuing me. "And on that note, I want your opinion on an outfit, my dear. Let's let these guys clean up, and you can tell me what you think."

Although I was pretty sure Alma didn't need my opinion on her clothing, and it was a cover for something, I nodded and got to my feet. I felt Jack's gaze follow me, but I tried not to be freaked out or bothered by it. Alma had been a darling to me so far, and I was fairly confident I was about to receive some piece of advice or be asked a question.

She led me upstairs and then pulled me into her bedroom. For a moment, I stood near the doorway, letting her go past me to open the door to one of the largest walk-in closets I'd ever seen.

As she pulled out clothes, I wondered if I was wrong about her intentions entirely, but she soon placed some on the bed and grabbed a suitcase.

"Now, you looked like Logan had just invited you to his island down there," Alma said a moment later. "Not our Jack. So something about the idea hooked you, I'm guessing."

After biting my lip, I nodded and looked away.

"All right. I won't make you explain it to me if you don't want to, but I want you to know you'll be far safer on that island than most other places in the world. Everything poisonous has been exterminated. There's a small chance of a tornado, but it's remote, and we'd get some warning. No earthquakes. And you don't have to go out on the water or anything."

I tried to smile as Alma listed all the normal things people would be afraid of. It wasn't any of those, but could I tell her that?

A moment later, she sat on the bed, ignoring her suitcase and clothes. She patted the blanket beside her.

"Come on, chica. Sit, and let's see if we can help you get past it. I like you, and even if I didn't, Jack does. I'd do anything to see his heart in good hands again."

"Thank you," I said, pretty sure she'd just told me she really liked me.

"So, what is it about the island that scares you? There won't be any crowds, that's for sure."

I chuckled, knowing she was referring to the fear I'd already shown her.

"It's the feeling of being trapped. On a small island, I might not be able to get away if I wanted to. Here in New York, I can be back in London in less than twelve hours. I can get anywhere."

"You mean you can run away if you need to?" she asked.

"Something like that. More that I can get safe if I need to. I try not to run away unless I have no other option. But…" I trailed off, not sure I could tell her what happened between Greg and me. It was something I'd only told Jack because he'd seen the bruises and walked in on Greg trying to do something even worse.

"Someone once made you feel trapped and did something they shouldn't, and now you find it hard to trust that you'll be safe. I can understand that. But you won't be alone. I promise you, at any point, you can come running to me, and nothing will happen to you. Even if it was Jack you were running from."

"I don't think he would do anything to hurt me," I said. "But fear isn't rational."

Alma shook her head. "No, it ain't at all. I'd love to promise you Jack wouldn't hurt you, despite all the rumors about him. They're all crap. But I don't think that's the kind of promise you need. So. Let's have a code word or two. You say it, and I won't leave your side until you give me the safe word again. Got it?"

I couldn't speak, Alma's kindness overwhelming me. She was doing everything she could to make sure I felt safe and not even demanding an explanation for why it was necessary. But what on earth could we use for code words?

"What about one of your books? Or characters from something? We could talk about your books in some way, and I'd know you mean something else." Alma smiled as if she'd just had a brainstorm, and I quickly nodded.

"There's some characters of mine that help each other in a difficult situation. Lucy and Laura. They call themselves the little Ls."

"Perfect. Lucy for trouble, and Laura for ‘I'm safe.' Mention them together if you're not sure, but you want me to be aware that you're worried."

I nodded, feeling my eyes water up at the kindness she was displaying. Immediately, she reached out and hugged me.

"Oh, you're such a gentle soul. I can see why he likes you. Now, you'd better go downstairs and put him out of his misery. He'll be terrified you're going to refuse, and having to check your schedule isn't much of an excuse. I assume you're actually free?"

I laughed as I nodded, immediately feeling a lot better. After wiping away the only tear that had managed to fall, I got back up again.

"I'm not very famous or much of a socialite. Us writers tend to spend a lot of time locked in small rooms by ourselves so we can talk to our characters without being disturbed," I said as I pulled my phone out and opened my calendar anyway.

It was Alma's turn to laugh, but she returned to her packing, and I went back downstairs.

The second I walked into the kitchen, I spotted Jack leaning against the kitchen counter, his arms folded and a frown fixed on his face. Kai was near him, and they were talking too quietly for me to understand what they were saying. I couldn't see anyone else from the band at all.

As soon as Jack saw me, he looked up, and Kai trailed off, turning to me and then glancing at Jack as well.

"Oh, sorry," I said. "I didn't mean to interrupt. I can come back later."

"No," Kai replied. "We were talking of unimportant things. Is my wife happy with her clothing choices now?"

"I believe so." Walking closer to Jack, I lifted my phone. "And I checked my schedule. I'm free to come to the island too if you still want me to."

"Yeah," Jack said, exhaling a big breath. Almost instantly, he relaxed, and I felt my body doing the same.

For now, we were going to be together a little longer, but I was beginning to get the impression that at some point we needed to start trusting each other. Or this whole thing was going to explode.