A ride to Los Angeles

Chapter 7

Tiphanny

The topic of the attempted assassination at the gala isn’t as heavily discussed on TV or social media anymore. However, there are still fans eager to uncover answers, whether online or in other ways.

Recently, I’ve been attending all sorts of public events, but I’ve had to be accompanied by a ton of bodyguards. I’m not used to going everywhere surrounded by so many almost-strangers. Before I was with Martin, I used to be very solitary. I loved taking long walks, either riding my bike or just on foot. Not that Martin radically changed things—he’s one of the calmest people I’ve ever known. Most of the time, we’d go together, and I’d simply enjoy his peaceful presence. He never overwhelmed me with pointless chatter or his own issues.

The truth is, Martin has never told me about his problems or his past. But I know. I know everything in vivid detail, though I’ve never had the courage to tell him. If he found out, he’d probably think I’m with him out of pity. And that’s what I believed at first too. Yet with every passing day, I realized just how much I was falling for him.

It’s a sunny afternoon, and I’ve just returned from yet another boring event. I’m in the pool in our backyard, wearing one of Jessica’s overly sexy swimsuits. The cold water refreshes my body while the sun's rays warm my face. I’ll probably get sunburned, but I don’t care. I didn’t bother applying sunscreen, and I don’t intend to. I just want to forget everything.

Luckily, I managed to talk to Jessica. From what I understand, things back home haven’t changed much. My parents are still thriving with the café, Karlos is as obsessed with video games as ever—especially when Zane and Mike, his best friends, come over—and Martin is around, as expected.

I told Jessica about our group of friends, particularly Harper, my best friend, and Cami, Martin’s cousin. I also warned her about some people to avoid, like the girls from high school. Still, we didn’t get to discuss much, and the unusual phenomenon remains a mystery to both of us.

While I continue enjoying my time in the pool, I hear the sound of flip-flops on the slippery edge. I don’t even need to turn around to know who it is.

Great… Did he really have to show up and ruin my peaceful moment? This guy is already getting on my nerves. Still, I have to be Jessica, not Tiphanny. So I turn, resting my elbows on the edge of the pool, and look at him through my sunglasses, smiling like a loving wife.

I can’t help but notice his abs and arms. He’s clearly worked hard to get into this shape. He’s only wearing a pair of swim trunks, which suggests he’s planning to get in the water too.

Without hesitation, he cannonballs into the pool, splashing water all over me. I didn’t even have time to dodge. What an idiot.

“Hey!” I exclaim, irritated.

He laughs loudly and keeps splashing water, oblivious to how annoyed I am. Martin would’ve at least apologized.

Martin…

“Don’t be so grumpy; it was just a joke.”

“I’m not grumpy!”

Okay, maybe I am, but there’s no way I’ll admit that—especially not to a man bent on teasing me.

I watch as he starts swimming underwater and approaches me. Suddenly, I feel something grab my waist and lift me up. I scream as he tosses me back into the water in the dumbest way possible. Chlorinated water shoots up my nose and down my throat, leaving a horrible stinging sensation. I start coughing hard, while he keeps laughing and splashing me.

After regaining my composure, I get out of the pool and sit on a lounge chair, drying myself off with a towel.

Frederic gets out of the pool too and walks toward me. Hopefully, he’s coming to apologize; otherwise, I’m not in the mood for anything. He sits on the edge of my lounge chair and places a hand on my leg. A cold shiver runs down my spine.

“You look really sexy in that swimsuit.”

“I’m not in the mood for this,” I reply sharply.

“Come on, why are you so upset?”

He removes his hand from my leg, but then reaches toward my chest. Luckily, I dodge in time, quickly getting up.

“What the hell, Frederic?”

He stands without a word and walks away, leaving me alone. Much to my relief.