Aftershock: A Charity McAdams Novella (8 page)

I shimmy into a pair of yoga pants, bra, and long sleeve shirt before going across the room and stepping into the walk in closet. Everything on one side is clearly Brandon’s but on the other side, everything is mine. Most of it still brand new with the tags still attached. I realize the boxes we had shipped down after my shopping spree day must have arrived early.

I run my hand along the line of dresses and check through the drawers on the center island and notice a few pieces of spicy looking lingerie pieces that I know I didn’t pick out. I smile and make a mental note to never leave Ashley alone with practically no spending limit in a mall.

“I must say, I’m very intrigued by a few of your selections.”

I spin around to see Brandon standing in the doorway, giving me a lazy grin.

“I think you have Ashley to thank for these additions,” I say, waving at the open drawer.

“Ah ha,” he says, laughing.

“Did you do all this?” I ask. “It’s beautiful.”

He shakes his head. “No, I copped out and called one of those master closet people to come unpack and organize everything. I figured it would make you feel more at home if everything was organized and unpacked when you got here.”

“Thank you. I love it,” I breathe. “It’s perfect.”

“Good, I’m glad. But that isn’t the surprise, come with me,” he says reaching for my hand.

I take his hand and let him lead me out of the master bedroom and back downstairs. As we walk I am craning my neck to see everything. On our way upstairs I had been slightly…distracted…and hadn’t really seen everything. The whole house is in neutral tones and beautiful, but with generic looking artwork on the walls. I don’t really get the sense that Brandon had too much to do with the decorating. Although that shouldn’t surprise me, it’s not really his forte.

He leads me through the formal living room that appears to have seating for at least a dozen people and takes me out the double doors that lead to the back patio. There is an outdoor kitchen, complete with brick oven. There is a pool with an infinity edge and a hot tub with a water feature. There are more plants and flowers out here than in the front of the house which makes it feel a little bit like a tropical oasis with the sparkling blue water and the greenery. Past that, is a view of the hillside and although I can see other houses, they are so far off that it still feels really private back here.

“This is amazing,” I say.

“Yeah, it really is. Sometimes I still don’t feel like this is really my house,” he says, grabbing my hand. “This is the first big purchase I made after I signed my movie deal. It was important to me to find something like this, a home base, where I can always go to get away from all the noise and chaos.”

I nod, trying to take it all in.

“It feels better now though, now that you’re here,” he adds after a pause.

I look at him and he meets my eyes. We don’t say anything out loud but in that moment there seems to be an unspoken understanding. I pop up on my tip toes to press a soft kiss to his lips.

He brushes a strand of hair away from my face and tucks it behind my ear. “This still isn’t the surprise,” he announces. He takes a few steps across the patio and picks up a silver bowl that has black paw prints painted on the sides. “This is.”

“You got a dog?” I ask, my eyebrows wrinkling together in confusion as I notice the fenced off section with a dog bone and another bowl matching the one Brandon is holding up for me to see.

“No, but
we
are getting one, tomorrow,” he replies, his eyes twinkling. He sets down the bowl and pulls his phone out of his pocket. He fiddles with it for a moment before turning the screen to face me so I can see the picture of a puppy. “Her name is LeeLee. She’s a six month old Boxer puppy.”

“She’s so cute!” I squeal at the phone. “She’s really ours?”

He nods, smiling at my reaction. “Yeah, the rescue place is dropping her off tomorrow afternoon.”

“This is amazing!” I exclaim before throwing my arms around his neck.

“Well it’s something we always talked about doing. She can keep you company when I’m working,” he says, holding me tightly. “Now let’s go order some food.”

“You mean you don’t have a twelve course meal, complete with ice sculpture already waiting for me?” I tease.

Brandon rolls his eyes but lets out a loud laugh as he steers me back inside to the kitchen. “You’d better be careful or I’ll have to make you do the dishes.”

“Some Hollywood treatment…” I laugh.

Chapter Fourteen

“I can’t believe you’ve already been gone a week! How’s everything going?” Ashley says. “Give me the grand tour!”

I have her pulled up on video chat and I laugh as she moves her head back and forth as if trying to see around me. I flip the tablet around and slowly scan the room. “I’m in the living room right now.”

“It’s huge!” She exclaims.

“I know, the whole place is. It’s kind of ridiculous actually. All this space just for the two of us,” I agree.

As if on cue, LeeLee barks from her spot snuggled by my feet.

“Well two people and LeeLee,” I add, scratching her ears. I scan the camera so Ashley can see her too. I had already texted her several pictures and a video clip earlier in the week.

Ashley laughs and blows her a kiss. “I can’t wait to come visit!”

“Me either, I miss you like crazy!” I say, flopping back against the couch. “I’m just bored here. Brandon is gone pretty much all day, every day and at night we hang out and have fun together but I need something to do or I think I’m going to lose my mind.”

“Can’t you go out?”

“Yeah, I’ve gone to a few yoga classes at the gym Brandon goes to. I mean I can technically go anywhere and do anything but I don’t know, I guess I just want to go out alone.”

“Well it’s only been a week. I’m sure this is just an adjustment period. It will get better.”

I nod but remain unconvinced. It’s a strange feeling to be in a city with thousands and thousands of people and still feel so incredibly lonely. I know I need to put myself out there and meet new people but the task seems daunting. Living in a small town my whole life did not prepare me to move to a big city and make a whole new group of friends overnight. I’m sure there are people out there who could do that, but unfortunately, I’m finding that I’m not one of them.

I put on a smile for Ashley’s sake, not wanting her to worry. “I’m sure you’re right. I just have to find my niche. That’s all.”

“Exactly! Now let me see this closet you’ve been raving about!” She demands with a smile.

***

“Cherry! I’m back!”

It’s half past eight when I hear Brandon come in through the garage door that leads to a mud room off the kitchen. I pull myself off the couch and go meet him in the kitchen.

He smiles when he sees me walk in. “Wow! You look great! Give me ten minutes to change and then we can leave,” he says before pressing a kiss to my lips.

“Thanks,” I say. I’m wearing the black dress that Ashley helped me pick out when we went shopping. I had even gone to a fancy hair salon and had my first blowout so my hair is actually straight with just the perfect amount of style and body but absolutely no frizz. I haven’t been able to stop myself from running my fingers through it most of the afternoon.

Brandon looks back at me before rounding the corner, nearly bumping into the wall and I smile to myself.

A few minutes he rejoins me downstairs and we head outside. Tonight is the first night we are really going out somewhere public. We’ve spent most of the nights this week at the house, keeping things low key.

Brandon normally drives everywhere himself but tonight he hired Keith to come pick us up in some sort of fancy car that I don’t know the name of.

“Ms. McAdams,” he greets with a slight nod as he pulls the car door open.

“Hello,” I answer before ducking into the back seat of the car.

Brandon slides in next to me and the door shuts. He places his hand on my bare leg, inching his way up. “Did I mention that I really like this dress?” He asks with a grin.

I laugh softly. “I can tell.”

“So, listen, I want to apologize,” he says, moving his hand from my leg to grab my hand and lock our fingers together.

“For what?” I ask, giving him a curious look.

“For being so busy and not taking you out sooner. I really didn’t think it would be this crazy. I thought we would have more time together. I feel like maybe I’m disappointing you.” He pauses, seeming to gather his thoughts. “Like, maybe you think you made a mistake coming here in the first place.”

I’m slightly taken aback by his apology. Granted, it has been quite a bit different than I expected but I don’t want him to read that as disappointment.

“Why would you say that?” I ask. I place my free hand on the side of his face. He turns his face in and kisses my palm. “I knew you wouldn’t be at the house with me twenty four, seven. I never expected that. Sure, I miss Ashley and my other friends, and God help me, sometimes I even miss my family. But I don’t want you to take that and think that I wish I hadn’t come.”

“Are you sure?” He asks. His eyes are focused as if he is trying to read my mind.

“Yes, I’m sure. I’m happy here, with you.”

Brandon looks visibly relieved, as if he had been carrying a burden that just got lifted from his shoulders. He leans close and wraps his arms around me, pulling me into his chest. I lay my head against him and close my eyes, breathing him in. The small moments like this are what make this whole transition worth it, moments where it is just him and I soaking it all in together.

The moment passes all too quickly when we pull up in front of the restaurant. Keith pulls up right out from and there are small clusters of people scattered all over the place. Some appear to be waiting for reservations and others look like they are saying goodbye, their meal already over.

Then in a flash, the energy shifts and it feels like a wave of complete chaos. There are cameras going off from every angle and it almost seems light outside with the constant flashing.

Brandon swears under his breath. I glance at his face and see the frustration furrowed between his brows.

“What’s happening?” I question, my eyes shifting between the scene unfolding outside and the growing concern on Brandon’s face.

“Vultures,” he says.

A moment later there is a couple leaving the restaurant and the people with cameras start chasing after them. I don’t recognize them but I haven’t really been checked into the whole Hollywood thing the past few years because my worst fear was opening a tabloid and seeing Brandon’s face on the inside.

“Sir?” Keith says, turning in his seat to face us. “Do you want to leave?”

Brandon shakes his head. “No, I’m not going to let them ruin our night,” he answers. He pops open the door and reaches for my hand once he exits. “Come on, Cherry, Let’s go in now, while they’re distracted.”

I nod, feeling completely out of my element. I grab his hand and let him help me from the car. We turn away from the car and Brandon escorts me in front of him, resting on hand on the small of my back as he starts to guide me toward the front doors.

We weave through the crowd and almost reach the front walkway when someone spots Brandon and the wave of chaos comes back in our direction.

“It’s Brandon Hart!” Someone in the crowd yells.

There are cameras flashing and people are pushing closer. It’s hard to see but it seems that some people are just fans with camera phones but other people, the vultures, as Brandon calls them, have photography equipment and appear to be bona fide paparazzi.

The crowd presses in and I can’t see because of all the flashes from the cameras. There is yelling and screaming. Someone makes a rude comment about Brandon’s movie.

My heart is racing and I feel sweaty and panicked. My instincts are telling me to turn and bolt back to the car but I feel Brandon’s arm wrap tightly around my waist and he pushes us forward, seeming to ignore the mob swirling around us. I keep my head down, letting my hair fall in front of my face to shield myself from the cameras and people.

It feels like slow motion but we finally reach the the front doors of the restaurant and are greeting by a hostess who holds the doors open for us and ushers us inside. She shoots a scowl at the paparazzi before turning away and letting the door swing shut again.

“Are you ok?” Brandon whispers into my ear.

I nod, blinking rapidly to try and clear the little speckles and spots floating in my vision from the camera flashes. When I can see clearly, I look around the foyer of the restaurant. It is dimly lit and very low key, compared to the madness that lies just outside the front doors.

Brandon leaves my side long enough to talk to the hostess. There is a flicker of recognition on her face but she keeps thing professional and does not acknowledge him other than to call him Mr. Hart when she offers to lead us to our table. Brandon nods and reaches back for my hand. I take it and hold on tightly as we follow the hostess.

Our table is towards the back of the main dining room. Some people would complain at the location because they cannot see or be seen as easily from this vantage point, but I know that is probably exactly why Brandon requested a table in the back, to stay away from all of that.

It’s interesting to watch how he handles his sudden fame. I consider it to be a testimony to his character that he hasn’t let it change who he is and how he refuses to get tripped up by the celebrity lifestyle that so many covet.

I study him as we settle into our seats opposite one another and again realize how incredibly thankful I am for second chances.

“That was insane!” I say quietly, once the hostess has walked away from our table.

“Yes, a real treat,” he replies, sarcastically. “Not exactly how I wanted our first night out together to go down. I was really hoping to avoid the circus.”

“Is it always like that?” I ask, slightly afraid to hear the answer.

“No, not always. But more often than I would like,” he answers. “Are you sure you’re ok?”