ISLA~
I was on my way back to my hotel when I remembered my best friend, Leonard, owned a bar in the city. I dialed his number as I stopped at a traffic light.
"Are you in town?" I asked the moment he picked up.
"And where exactly would I be? I don't live in airports like you do, and heavens know you'd be fucked if you left without seeing me. I mean, what is more important than me?" I stayed quiet while he continued whining.
We weren't the most compatible people. He talked too much. I preferred silence.
But somehow, we clicked. When did I last see him? Five months ago? Or was it six?
"Hello? Don't tell me this is a prank call."
"No, it's not." The light turned green. "And besides, we talk every day."
"On the phone," he corrected. "That does not count. Where are you?"
"On the road. Send me your location. I'll stop by."
The line went dead silent. Then, dramatic as always "Oh my God. Finally." he screamed.
Fifteen minutes later, I pulled into his parking lot and called him again.
"You changed your mind, didn't you" he whined immediately on picking.
"I'm at the car park. Black CVW. No plate number."
"In the car?" he asked as if trying to confirm.
"Yes."
"Why?" he asked after a short pause.
"I have…" I looked at my drenched body "a situation."
"On my way" he cut the call and I heaved a sigh. Maybe coming to a bar drenched wasn't such a good idea.
He appeared at my window less than a minute later. When I lowered it, he stared at me, looking annoyingly gorgeous.
"I don't think it rained today, or did it?" He looked up at the sky.
"I lost a fight with a swimming pool"
He blinked. "You what?"
"I jumped into one to save my client."
"The one you've been talking about nonstop."
"Leonard?." I groaned. Now he was just being a bitch.
"What?" He leaned closer. "Did she push you in, or…"
"She slipped. She can't swim," I cut in.
He studied me a second longer before opening the car door. "Get out. You're dripping on leather." I was about to, when he suddenly asked.
"And she didn't offer you a change of clothes? How rude..."
"She did. I just…"
"Parking lot conversations are illegal. Come inside darling." His lips curled up and I couldn't help but throw my arms around him.
"You're drenched Isla" he cried out. I loved how care free I got when with Leonard. He was the only part of my life that didn't feel like a lie.
Inside his office, he handed me another towel and a change of clothes.
"You wear extremely small things," I muttered, trying to pull his shirt lower over my waist. Not to mention this shorts were anything but comfortable.
"This body was not built for modesty darling" he replied calmly, then tossed me a hoodie and baggy pants. "There. Decency restored."
"You told me you owned a bar. You didn't specify it was gay."
I froze halfway into the hoodie. That smile. "What?"
"Someone caught your eye on your way up?" he grinned
"No." I answered drawing it out long enough that it formed two syllabus. I poured myself a glass of wine then looked at the hoodie label.
"You model for Zuggi now?"
He gasped. "I told you I model for Banchel. I update you about everything in my life. Heaven knows you barely listen."
He stepped closer."I see what you're doing."
"What?" I smiled nervously. Trying to avoid my growing thoughts again.
"You're avoiding talking about her."
I almost choked. Considering she had been on my mind all night. Talking about her wont help the situation in anyway.
"No. Why would I?" I dropped the bottle on his desk and walked to the sofa, his eyes following my every move.
"Why were you really drenched? Let's start there."
"I told you-"
And then I remembered, pulling her out of the water. Her arms around my neck, water dripping down her face. And fuck those eyes.
I cleared my throat."She slipped. I saved her."I took a slow sip.
"She can't swim." I added. This was going nowhere. He knew me too well, better than I did myself.
And why the hell was I getting nervous, fuck. Since I decided to manage her, I'd been fighting a war within myself.
She was so pretty I could die. If this were different circumstances I'd had laid with her long before now.
Leonard just stared at me knowing fully well there was more to this. "You like her."
Are you shitting me? That wasnt even a question. I scoffed. "Don't be ridiculous." Saying things as if it were already true.
He exhaled almost relieved."Better." I turned sharply.
"Better?"
"She's in the middle of a scandal. About a dead girl, wrongfully terminating her contract with her manager and being gay. Having you as her manager is already enough talk." He met my eyes. "Don't ask. I've been following it."
He downed his entire glass, then stepped closer. "Listen carefully. She's drowning in public opinion right now. If you cross that line…" He paused. "The world won't be kind. They'll say you used her vulnerability just to fuck her."
"Really? That's the word we're using?"
"Both of us know you don't do relationships. And there's no way you're becoming a saint over someone like her."
"Someone like her?" I raised a brow.
"She's 'homophobic.' You 'can't stand her.'" He air-quoted my own words back at me.
Classic.
"I know that's not who you are," he said more quietly. "But that's what it will look like." Silence settled between us. "And if we are being honest, you really just want to fuck her don't you"
Twelve more days to the court case, half a month of knowing her barely, half a month of pretending not to notice how breathtaking she was. Not to notice how she looked at me when she thought I wasn't watching.
This wasn't part of the plan. I poured my self another glass.
But I couldn't help it, I'd been ignoring my raging thoughts and need, and she just had to fall into water and bring down all my shields. Timing really was a bitch.
I finished the wine and exhaled slowly. "You don't do relationships," Leonard said, softer now. "And she doesn't need confusion."
'And if we are being honest, you really just want to fuck her don't you' .
As bad as it sounded, he was right. I didn't do relationships, all this built up emotions just to fuck her. I let out a dry chuckle and shook my head. "I really am a bitch, ain't I?"
"I'm gonna leave now, I'll see you some other time" I walked out his office ignoring his cry for me to stay a little longer.
"Two days". I was gonna stay away from her for two days. To set my mind straight or something.
As I got into my car my phone rang, I picked it up.
"Hello?" I shut the door close. I could only hear the caller breathing and foot steps. then he finally spoke.
"Am I speaking to Isla Matthews?"