Labeled Love (15 page)

“Why do you say that?” he says as we reach the car.

“I don’t know. You pulled your hair. You usually do that when you’re heavy in thought or upset.”

“The only thing I’m heavy in thought about is you being at some big-shot movie premiere with all those Hollywood boys staring at you.” I roll my eyes playfully. “I will never keep secrets from you, Shay. I’m just trying to make things happen.” I nod my head. “Give me your lips, baby.”

When our lips part, I offer to take him home, already knowing he won’t let me. He never does. My mom comes out of the center and walks toward the car. Jace smiles at me, putting distance between us. “See you later, Jace,” Mom says.

He gives her a hug and silently mouths over her shoulder, “I love you, baby.” Mom gets in the passenger seat. I blow him a kiss and get into the car. My mom lets me drive everywhere. She wants me super comfortable when I get my license.

“Do you need a ride home, Jace?” Mom asks, rolling her window down.

“No, thank you,” he answers while looking at me with a tilt of his head. I huff a breath quietly.

I’ve always been told I have a soft voice, and I don’t know if because of that, people have the impression that I’m fragile or maybe that I’m weak. You know, like the sweet, quiet girl that you have to be careful with. I can see how first impressions might categorize me in that way, but Jace knows me. I’m still the girl that had no problem getting in the middle of a huddle full of guys and making my presence known. So why he feels so adamant that I can’t be around certain things baffles me. I hate that Jace won’t let me in. He gives me every piece of his heart, but he holds me at arm’s length with that part of him. He doesn’t realize that he does keep secrets from me. I don’t know his mom or where he lives. He acts like I can’t handle his reality, and it frustrates me.

He watches me leave the parking lot. I look in my rearview mirror, like I always do, as he stands there with his arms crossed. His eyes never leave Mom’s car. “You know, Shay, that boy can’t keep his eyes off you.” I glance at my mom as she smiles.

“Do you remember how you felt when you and Dad were young?”

“Of course, I do,” she answers. I look in the side mirror, and Jace is long gone. The center is completely out of sight.

Emptiness fills me.

I’m lost in thought when I hear Mom say, “Just for the record, Shay, I still feel the same way about your dad as I did when we first dated. My feelings have only deepened over the years. When I look at him now, I see the young guy I fell in love with. I see the man that has taken care of me, that has given me the most beautiful children. I love him more as the years go on.”

“I can’t imagine loving Jace more than I do right now. My heart would probably burst open,” I say as Mom laughs.

“You’d be surprised how much your heart can take.”

Shrugging my shoulders, I say, “I’m sure you’re right. I just love him so much already.”

“DAD, WHAT TIME
do we have to be there tonight?”

“I have to check the itinerary,” he yells over Mom blow-drying her hair. “I think it’s around six.”

Tonight is Beau’s red carpet premiere for his first movie. Jules’ dad got the rights, and it’s going to be the biggest, hottest new franchise. Beau is playing the lead role. Yikes, I’m so excited for him!

It’s crazy how it all happened for Beau. It’s like he was the stud football player one day, and the next, the biggest Hollywood heartthrob in the world. That’s his story to tell, but I will say, he’s had his struggles, but he’s come to terms with his new life of flashbulbs and screaming girls.

The whole family is going, and we are meeting up with Jules’ family, too. I wish Jace could be here with me to see how exciting this is, but we are limited on how many people are allowed to attend the premiere. So, it’s reserved for family. I can’t wait to tell him all about it. He said to snap a lot of pictures for him to see.

Limos line Hollywood Boulevard, waiting to get dropped off at the Chinese Theater. “This is so exciting,” Mom says to Dad, who presses a kiss to her cheek.

“Where’s Beau?” Tristan asks, looking behind us to see another limo.

“He’s probably in the one in front of us.” She looks out her window as the limo in front of us comes to a stop. She’s right, because Beau gets out of the car followed by his co-star.

“Wow, she is so pretty,” Tatum says.

“Aw, Beau looks so handsome,” Mom beams. He does. He really looks happy. A little nervous, but happy.

We watch Beau and his leading co-star, Mila, walk over to the fans. The screams are deafening. I wonder what Beau is thinking, as they repeatedly say his name while trying to get a picture with him. Girls are actually crying. That’s just so weird.

I mean, it’s just Beau, but to them, it’s the character in their beloved book series. I will admit, it’s pretty cool. The ushers open our limo door. The cameras flash brightly, focusing on what stars are walking the red carpet next. Once they see we’re not part of the cast, no one pays any attention to us. We make our way down the red carpet to the foyer of the theater. Right away, I see Jules. She waves me over.

“This is crazy, right?” she says animatedly.

“Totally. Have you seen Beau yet?” I ask. She gives me a sour lemon face. I don’t know why, but Jules has always had a tough exterior with Beau. My brother is five years older than us, but he’s always been around, never missing events that I’ve been in. He even tries to come see me cheer when he has time. And, that’s not the easiest event of mine to watch. Football holds a special place to him, and I know he has a hard time watching and not playing. He really is the best big brother, but Jules always rolls her eyes around him. I think she just wishes she had an older brother like him. Whatever. Tonight, she better play nice with him.

“Yeah, I saw him. Mila can’t stop staring at him. She looks pathetic.”

“Jules! Someone might hear you.”

“Shay, no one is listening to us, but seriously, she is all over him. I’m sure people think they’re dating.”

“Well, they do play lovers in this movie. The first book is all about the love story, but if you’ve read the whole series, you find out really quickly that doesn’t last. Of course, there has to be the big separation. You know how authors love to make us sweat it out. Will they or won’t they get back together? Blah… blah…. blah… I can’t stand all that angst.”

Jules gives me an
“I’m not stupid look,”
with air quotes, I might add. “Duh, I know that. I’m the one that told you about this series,” she says, feisty.

“Okay, just tone it down,” I warn her. She rolls her eyes at me and laughs.

I busy myself by taking lots of pictures with my phone. It’s crazy with the cameras and the flashes going off. I wonder what Jace would think of this. God, I wish he were here. I’m going to make sure he sees everything. I snap a picture of Jules. She really looks quite beautiful. Of course, her dress is to die for. I take a full body shot, so she can see how pretty she looks in her bright red dress and cream shoes, and then I zoom in to get a close-up of her face. She’s looking rather steadily at someone, so I take the phone away from my face to get a glimpse, seeing if it’s another one of the actors making their way on the carpet.

She’s starry-eyed at my brother.

Yes, she’s definitely staring at Beau. I snap the blackmail shot to bring up at a later time when I know she’s going to say how much she can’t stand him. I get all giddy inside just thinking about her face and the stutter that will most likely come out of her mouth when she goes in full denial crisis mode.

Interesting. For someone that can’t stand him, she sure can’t stop staring at him. This is just perfection. She turns to me, and I put my phone down quickly. “Were you just taking a picture of me?”

“Maybe.” I give her a pouty mouth. She rolls her eyes.

“You better have taken a good one. Let me see it so I can approve it.” She tries to grab my phone.

“Nope, I promise it’s good.”

“Shay, don’t you mess with me. If I look funky, you better not post it.”

I give her a wide-eyed smile with my mouth open. “I would never do that to you.” One of the laws of the best friend sisterhood is picture approval before posting. I’m not posting this one; this is going into the blackmail picture vault.

“Beau doesn’t look good with his hair blond,” she whispers over her perfectly tanned shoulder.

“It’s not blond. It’s just a really light ashy brown. He had to have it like the character described in the book.”

“Fine. I’m just saying he looks better with his natural dark hair,” she says while busying herself with her nails. “You don’t think he is actually dating her, do you?”

“I don’t know, Jules,” I say, annoyed. “Does it matter? He’s just having fun. I know my brother’s heart. When he finally brings a girl home, which he never has, then I will give him the twenty questions.”

“I… just… I don’t think she’s good enough for him. She seems like a media whore.”

“Aw, Jules, did you find a soft spot for Beau?”

“No! I’m just saying.”

I know what she’s saying, because it’s written all over her face. She will never admit it, but she’s secretly crushing on Beau.

Our families gather together, and we take lots of pictures. Beau and Mila walk in with the rest of the cast and make their way into the theater. Beau comes up to my parents, giving them both a quick hug. After telling us he hopes we enjoy the movie, he walks away to take his seat. He looks back at Jules and me, who have walked ahead of the others. “You both look beautiful tonight. See you after the movie.” His eyes linger on Jules. As I look up, her cheeks are bright red. Beau walks away with Mila, who is giving us a dirty look, by his side.

“Someone looks a little flushed.”

She looks at me, wide-eyed. “Aren’t you flushed, too? It’s hot in here.”

“That’s not the kind of flushed I mean, and you know it.”

“Oh, shut up, Shay. Just because you’re so in love doesn’t mean everyone else is, too, and I’m sure the heck not in love with your brother. Yuck, I can’t stand his arrogant ass.”

“Keep telling yourself that, Jules,” I mumble to myself.