Private Affair (The Private Series) (28 page)

“Because someone asked me to!”

“What? Someone asked you to take shots like this? Why? Who?” I growl the last part.

“Some woman contacted me. She said she was with some tabloid site and they wanted to reveal Tony as a womanizer or player, even though he is a totally nice guy, but they want him to look like the typical sleaze rocker.”

Towers is at my side listening to her explain as well, “Seriously Jennifer?” He seems hurt, but I just want my fucking answers and could give two shits.

I put my hand up, stopping him from talking, “Shut the fuck up and let her get on with it. Jenn, why?”

“Because I have bills to pay okay? I needed some extra cash and this woman offered me a five hundred for a good shot. So, when I saw Tony and Tess I thought that would be a money maker.”

“And you didn’t think it would hurt Tess or Tony? You could fuck up their careers with this kind of shit. If Tess gets fired or looked at badly for this I swear to fucking God…” I am balling my fists.

Towers steps in closer to Jenn, “I thought you were different…”

Her face drops and her eyes start to well, “Fuck! I didn’t want to tell anyone this, I have a kid. I needed the money because her dead beat father won’t pay child support. I saw it as only money, I didn’t mean to hurt anyone I didn’t, but fucking Christ, I had to do what needed to be done.”

“A kid?” Both Towers and I ask, in shock. She only nods.

“We are getting off topic here, what was the woman’s name?” I ask.

She is searching for the name in her head when she snaps her fingers, “Nicole, Nicole…”

“Fuck!” I growl. I turn and walk away. As I am passing through a door way I throw my fist through it. Shredding my knuckles and I could care less. “I’m done!” I yell. I reach the back door and I see Tess stepping off the bus, stretching her arms up over her head.

She has a sleepy smile on her adorable little face, “Where did you run off to?” She asks me.

“We need to talk.” I gesture for her to get back on the bus.

I explain everything that had just happened, and Tess is livid and saddened. When she is looking down trying to absorb how awful people can truly be, her eyes shoot open. “When did you get that picture?”

Thrown, “Um, about half an hour ago I’d say. Why?”

She pulls out her phone and she throws her head back and sarcastically laughs. Setting the phone down, she turns and slides it to me. When I look at the screen I am greeted with the same photo. “Email?” I ask her, assuming Nicole sent it to her too. Evil conniving bitch.

“Facebook.”

I look closer and sure the fuck enough, there it is posted on Towers page. I slam my fist down on the thin table, surprised I didn’t break it in half. There are already likes and comments.

“Keep scrolling.” She tells me in a dead toned voice.

I scroll though pictures and posts by others and I see a few more photos of Towers and Tess. Her taking his photos up close. Him with his arm around her. Him kissing her cheek. “Wow, well he seems to get close, quite often huh?”

“He is just a friendly guy Ben. You know that, you know that we have been friends for a little time now. It’s not like we are screwing around.” She adds.

I can see the hurt in her eyes that I have caused. I don’t know, maybe being here and seeing it all happen is putting it in perspective. That when it really comes down to it she is too good for me and apparently Towers isn’t the ladies’ man, everyone thinks he is.

Tony and Jennifer come onto the bus and stand next to the booth that Tess and I are seated at. Neither are happy and neither are we. Tess is tearing up and is frequently wiping away stray tears. My heart aches as I feel like an ass for what I had just said to her and for my following thoughts.

I stand up and look Towers in the eyes, “Tell me the truth. Are you trying to sleep with Tess?”

“No!” He eagerly announces.

“Do you have feelings for her?”

He looks at her, wrong move mate, “Answer me!” I snap.

Towers whips his head back at me, “I do. But they have faded with each day that I see how much she loves and cares for you. I thought I had a chance, but I know now that I never did. I won’t come between the two of you. But I also don’t want to stop our friendship. She is the first person I have opened up to about many things. She is an amazing girl and any man, even you are lucky to have her.” He looks away and back at her, “That’s why I want her to go home after tonight. We are wrapping up the tour in two more stops and then the record label has set up a special show in Vegas in a week. I want her to be there, but only if you join her.”

I move around and sit next to Tess, “What do you think? I would never pressure you into doing anything, I don’t believe in that type of relationship.”

“I am exhausted. I think it is a good idea, as much as I would like to finish off the tour. Vegas it is.”

“Can I have a word with Tess alone?” Jennifer asks Ben and Tony. Ben looks hesitant, “Please?” She asks again and he gives her the okay, but with a warning glare. Tony puts a hand on Ben’s shoulder and I see him tense up, but when he sees how much that hurts me, he relaxes slightly and just goes with it.

When we are alone Jennifer breaks down. I mean full on tears and running mascara. “I am so sorry Tess! I wasn’t thinking and I needed the money…”

I snap my head back around at her, “I don’t care! Do you know how many people out there are now making death threats at me, because they don’t want their precious Tony Towers to be hooking up with his photographer? Huh! My reputation is going to burst into flames! Fuller is going to see this and not take me seriously and fire me!”

“I know and I am so sorry, I don’t know what to do to make you see that.” She is frantic and I am glad. She has caused so much pain here, not for my career, but making Ben snap and making Tony look like a bad guy. That was really unfair. “It is hard being away, but I love my job and it barely pays the bills such as the mortgage…That’s why I agreed to take the photos. I am really, truly sorry Tess.”

Then I get a light bulb, “I know.” She looks confused. I must have my psycho look on my face, that I have been accused of showing when I am really fuming. “You’re going to call Fuller and explain the whole situation. Now.”

“But she might fire me.”

“Call.”

Jennifer pushes a dark brown lock behind her ear and starts to dial. Placing the phone next to her ear she bites on her thumb nail. She better be nervous. “Ms. Fuller, it’s Jennifer Garrett…” She falls silent and her eyes slide closed. “I know, I have seen the photos and that’s why I am calling you. I took the photos for a tabloid site in the return for making some extra cash…” She drops her head into her hand and shifts nervously in her spot. “Yes, ma’am I will return tonight and hand in my badge.”

I grab the phone from her, “Ms. Fuller its Tess Martin. I know Jennifer did a very wrong thing, but I don’t wish to have her let go. She needs this job and she loves it. She made a bad decision and she regrets it fully. She was misled in the situation with the tabloid. It was a personal strike against me and Ben. I am asking that you please not fire her, but rather give her a warning.”

“I expect more from all of you and if anything and I mean anything happens like this again, I have no issue with letting you all go. Do you understand and does Ms. Garret understand?”

I look at Jennifer and she looks about as sick as I have been feeling, “Yes ma’am, fully. Thank you.”

I hand her back her phone and I shake it off. She is lucky I feel for her, but she is a mother and needs to support her family. “You’re safe,” I tell her.

Her eyes bug open and her mouth gaps open slightly in shock, “Thank you so much Tess! I don’t know how to repay you for that!”

I put my hand up to stop her from talking, “Just do your job and forget all about that Nicole woman. She is not part of any tabloid crap.”

“Who is she?” She asks me.

I sigh, “Someone that you don’t want to know, believe me.”

We have been home for a few days and I am still fatigued from the tour. I think I might be coming down with something. Ben wants me to go to the doctor, but I told him I was fine, just worn down.

It’s been a week and I am still feeling shitty. I tell Ben that I am running to the pharmacy to get some cold meds, because I am feeling congested and see if that will help me get out of this funk.

I am roaming the cold medicine aisle, looking at just about every box and I am having a difficult time finding one that fits what I am feeling. The female pharmacist comes over, “Can I help you find anything?” She asks.

I explain that I have been out of town for nearly a month and came back super exhausted, queasy, water eyes and congested. “I think it’s just a cold.”

“Are you taking any other medications?”

I blush, “Birth control.”

“And you take that every day correct? For how long?” Oh, wow, um okay…getting a little personal.

“About six months.”

She smiles and tells me to follow her, so I do. Maybe she has some secret miracle elixir that will make me feel all better and give the energy of a dozen espresso shots!

When we round the corner aisle I nearly piss myself. “This is the feminine hygiene aisle.” I say stupidly.

“Yes, it is. From what you’re describing, when was your last period?”

I stop and think, “Um…” My eyes must be bulging out, because she lightly laughs and hands me a pregnancy test. Now that I think about it, I may or may not have forgotten to take my pill every day while on the tour. I was so busy and all over the place, it just slipped my mind. Besides, Ben wasn’t always around, so it’s not like I had constant sex as a reminder. But the first visit…Oh.

I buy the test and I slip it in my purse. I drive back home and a million things are running through my head. What if Ben isn’t ready for kids? Does he want kids? I would if we’d have a boy or girl? How much does it cost to raise a child? Would we buy a larger house? Move out of the city?

Will it be as hard as Jennifer has had it? I know the father left them, but who’s to say that won’t happen to me, once Ben find out. That is if I am even pregnant. Pregnant. That sounds scary.

When I get in the garage I just sit there. How am I going to look at Ben when I get upstairs? He is going to know something is up. But, I don’t want to say anything until I know for sure. I take a deep breath, throw on my sunglasses, so he can’t read the worry in my eyes. I set out of the elevator and walk through the door. I make a mad dash to the bathroom and I hear Ben, “What are you doing?” He laughs.

“Gotta pee!” I tell him. Which is true, I really do have to which is good considering what I am about to do.

I lock the door and I open the box and go over the directions as I bounce from foot to foot. I pee on the stick, cap it and lay if flat on the sink. I wipe and pull up my jeans, avoiding looking at the fate of the pee stick. I fix the bottles of shampoo and soaps on the tub. I adjust the towels on the towel rack.

When I finally think enough time as passed, I step to the sink. I close my eyes and take a steadying breath. With shaky hands I pick up the white plastic stick and look at the window:
PREGNANT
.