Trace of Innocence | Sweet and Sour (Book 4)

Chapter 87

(No Control | Holding Me Ransom - 87 - Running Over Thoughts That Make My Feet Hurt) 

When I wake up on Sunday (late) Jess has texted: Louis and I were seen by a photographer at Heathrow. They got some pictures of us . Just wanted to warn you xxx

And so has Louis: Papped at Heathrow with Jess. Don't lose your shit ;)

I roll over in bed and read the news article about it (how on earth can anyone possibly call this news?) and then check Twitter. The fans are in meltdown, calling Jess every name under the sun. They have recognised her from previous pictures of us together and of course the infamous kiss with Louis, and have decided she is coming between Louis and me, and Louis and Danielle. Some of the things they are saying about her are vile - home-wrecker, slut, bitch, skank, ugly, whore, snake... it's horrific. I can only hope Jess hasn't succumbed to the temptation of reading her Twitter mentions because I think she will be pretty upset about this.  

I ring her and she answers straight away. "Hi Squidge."

"Hi baby. I just woke up and saw your texts about the paps at Heathrow. Are you OK?"

"Yeah, I'm fine," she sighs. "Pissed off, annoyed, and wishing we could go back to the start and rewrite history, but apart from that I'm OK. I made the mistake of reading my Twitter mentions after Louis and I were spotted. I won't be doing that again in a hurry."

Damn. "I just had a quick look myself," I admit.

"Did you see the one remarking that I was happy to spread my legs in any direction? That has to be a personal favourite."

Thankfully I didn't see that one.

"Just ignore it all," I tell her softly. "Everyone will always have an opinion, and a clever comment to make, but they only matter if you let them affect you."

"Wise words."

"I'm a wise kind of guy," I smile. "I miss you."

"I miss you, too," she murmurs. "I'm literally counting the days until you're home again."

"Same," I murmur back. "Fourteen to go."

"Stop being soppy," calls a voice in the background.

"Who's that?" I wonder.

"Callie and Sarah are here. We're catching up over a couple of bottles of wine."

Ho hum. Callie was quick off the mark to get round to Jess's. Let's just hope she's working with me instead of against me now.

"Sounds like fun," I smile.

"Sarah wants to rent my flat," she announces suddenly.

"Oh!" I exclaim. "That's great news!"

"Yeah, so I'm going to have to get myself in gear to sort it out," she says. "I'll have plenty of time while you're away. It'll keep me busy."

"Excellent," I beam. "If you want a solicitor to draw up a contract I can organise it for you, or at least arrange a meeting to discuss it."

"Thanks, that would be helpful. But there's no rush."

"So, was the flight OK, apart from the paps at Heathrow? Louis keep his hands to himself did he?"

"It was fine," Jess replies, and I can hear the smile in her voice. "And of course he did. He's with Danielle. He seems pretty loved up."

I know he is, and I know I'm being a prat. But hey, she knows I'm a prat so surely she just expects this now? I don't know whether any answer she could give me to that question would make me feel good so I decide not to ask.