With You By My Side -Chaennie FF-

Part 19

"Are you dating HIM now?"

Okay, so maybe texting her with a copy of the photo wasn't the best of ideas, but when she didn't pick up my calls, it was the only thing I could do. It isn't her, I reassured myself.

Jennie wouldn't do something like that. Not to me or anyone else.

As the minutes passed, the nerves in my stomach wound even tighter. Maybe it was an accident. Maybe it was a one-time thing.

I shook my head, dismissing both possibilities altogether when my cell phone rang.

"Jennie?" I asked, coughing to move the air from my lungs. "Oh, thank god. I was starting to worry."

"I'm working through this mess," she said, her words short and quick. "How about you? Are you okay? I was hoping you wouldn't see this and... well, do what you did."

"Freak out?" How could I not? "What's going on? Who is he?"

"Those stupid reporters spun the story they wanted to tell. It's as simple as that. And before you get upset over the fact that he's holding my hand, that's Kai."

Kai... Kai. I frowned, thinking back to where I'd heard his name before. "Your best friend?" No wonder the two of them looked close!

"The one and only," she said with relief. "David convinced me to get a shot with him before we did the show last night. After what you told me about being more open with my fans, I figured it couldn't hurt."

"Until the media got to it." I hadn't read past the first paragraph, but if it was the kind of article I thought it was, then someone must've spoken to them directly. "But they can't make up a story out of the blue."

"No, they can't," she agreed. This time when she spoke, there was no mistaking the pain in her voice. "You were right about him. Everything you said, it all makes sense. He's never done anything like this before, but when I told him I wanted to be more open, he suggested the photo. So much for an old dog changing his ways, right?"

"So what are we supposed to do now?" I understood it was her public image that was in jeopardy, but I still wanted her to know she wasn't alone.

"You know how you said you'd come and see me on tour? Any chance we could move up the date a tiny bit?"

My stomach churned, a big smile spreading across my face.

"I can come this afternoon. Just let me get Lis-"

"She's coming too," Jennie cut in, almost laughing.

"She'd kill you if you asked her to stay behind."

"True. Okay. Give me a few hours to wrap things up, then we'll get on the next flight."

"I'll have the tickets waiting for you."

Halfway down the steps, I hesitated. "Jennie, I-"

"Consider it our first anniversary gift."

"Our first?" I asked, placing my hand on the railing so I wouldn't fall. "But we've only-"

"Been dating a few weeks. I know. But we've been friends for longer, so let's celebrate that."

Breathing a little easier now, I gave her a nod before realizing she couldn't see me. "Okay, but I get to pay the next time we go out to dinner."

"You've got yourself a deal."

After a nerve-wracking flight with my sister rambling the entire way, we finally reached Jennie's hotel. Large white pillars stood before us, making the hotel look like a museum more than anything else. The front doors opened once we got close, the hotel opening up with a tall ceiling and a pair of spiral staircases positioned to either side of the reception desk.