Trace of Innocence | Sweet and Sour (Book 4)

Chapter 74

(No Control | Holding Me Ransom - 74 - The Front Pages Are Your Pictures)

Leaving Jess the following morning is harder than I thought it would be. Maybe because we've just made the commitment of moving in together and I'm feeling more loved up than usual, or maybe because we've just spent an idyllic Christmas together with my family... either way, I squeeze her extra tightly as we say our goodbyes on the drive and we promise to Facetime each other every day. I can't stop myself from grumbling about Adam going on this holiday with Jess, and mutter some pathetic comment about making sure he keeps his grubby paws to himself. Luckily Jess takes this embarrassing show of jealousy in her stride.

"Only if you tell Kendall the same," she grins, and I laugh in spite of msyelf.

"Deal. Although you know if I'm papped on this boat with her it'll be the start of the winter girlfriend rumours."

"At least it would throw everyone off the scent of us," she reasons. 

"True," I acknowledge. "It could even work in our favour."

What did I do to deserve this amazing girl, who isn't put off by the shitstorm that comes with being associated with me?

She gives me a final kiss and flashes me her best smile. "Have a brilliant time. Let me know everything that Jeff and Irving say."

"I'll be ringing you for advice," I tell her, and I suspect she thinks I'm joking but I've never been more serious. She may not know the celebrity world but she knows me.

"I love you," she calls as she climbs into the driver's seat of her new car.

"Love you more," I shout back, sliding into the back seat of our car that is waiting to drive us to the airport.

Mum beams at us, and squeezes my knee affectionately as I give Jess one last wave before our car pulls away. "Are you looking forward to this holiday?" she asks.

"Yeah," I sigh. "I just wish Jess was coming with us."

"I know," she says softly. "But by the sounds of things you'll have plenty of time to spend with her when she moves in."

"I honestly can't wait," I admit. "It just feels right, you know? Like this is the most obvious, logical step in our relationship. I know it seems fast," I add quickly. "But it doesn't feel fast. Not to me, anyway."

"Sweetheart, you don't have to justify yourself to me," Mum says assuringly. "You know what's in your heart. If it's what you both want, then it's the right thing."

I nod in agreement, and lose myself in thought on the journey to the airport, imagining waking up next to Jess every morning, brushing our teeth next to each other in the bathroom, making a cup of tea while she gets ready for work. All the normal, mundane, everyday things that every couple who lives together does. 

I text Jess when we're boarding the plane, and again when we land in Miami (and instantly get papped, of course). Our flight to Anguilla isn't until the following day, and Mum, Robin and I spend the first night in a stunning hotel. The rest of our party are arriving in stages, and it's not until December 28th that Kendall and her people land. She flings her arms around me and immediately starts gabbling away about the flight, the weather, her boyfriend Jordan and how excited she is to be on holiday over New Year.

"How's Jordan been about me being here?" I ask, when she takes a breath and I can finally get a word in. 

"Oh, you know." She rolls her eyes. "Still being an ass. He's not happy about it. I told him he should have made more of an effort to change his plans and come with me if he's that bothered. He says it's an unspoken rule that you don't go on holiday with your ex when you're with someone else."