Chapter Thirty-Six
Grace
I woke up in an unfamiliar room. I shot up in confusion and looked around, trying not to panic.
I sagged with relief when I remembered that I was safe in the hotel room with Jaxon.
I smiled to myself as I heard his soft snores beside me, turning over onto my side and ran my hand through his soft hair. I sat up and stretched, checking the time.
I laid back down slowly, wondering where all this craziness would lead.
Would it lead to heartbreak? I wondered to myself. Obviously there was always a chance that things wouldn't work out, but I was prepared to try for him, right?
But what if things ended so badly that we couldn't even talk to each other afterwards? That was my biggest fear. I got out of bed slowly and stretched my arms. I yawned quietly, trying not to wake the beast from his slumber.
I smiled at my lame joke in amusement as I trudged across the room to the small kitchen. I had spotted a coffee machine last night when we ate our late dinner and he asked me to be his girlfriend.
I was Jaxon's girlfriend now. A warm feeling spread through my body and I couldn't stop the ear to ear grin that spread slowly across my face.
I sighed as I fiddled with the machine, trying to make it work. I was craving a coffee this morning.
I smacked it once, trying once again to make the damn thing turn on. I sighed loudly, frustrated at my lack of technical knowledge.
"Breakfast in bed it is," I sighed, walking over to the phone on the night stand.
I glanced at the bundle of blankets on our bed. He had basically cocooned himself inside so that nothing could reach him.
I decided to order him some pancakes and bacon, and ordered myself a Belgian waffle with strawberries and whipped cream.
I dialled the front desk and they connected me to the restaurant connected to the hotel.
"Hello, I'd like to order some pancakes with bacon and eggs, and a Belgian waffle with strawberries and whipped cream please," I recited to the man on the other end.
"Alright, and for which room?" He asked, seeming impatient.
I quickly checked the key card I held in my hands before answering, "Room 365."
"Okay. And will you be paying with cash or debit?"
I opened my wallet to double check I had everything before responding.
"Cash please,"
I hung up the phone to the promise of our food being delivered in about half an hour. I was bored so I decided to wander back to bed until they knocked on the door.
I debated waking him up but thought that after the paparazzi mess last night he would appreciate some sleep.
I must have fallen asleep because I woke to loud knocking on the hotel door.
I jumped out of bed, grabbing my wallet and ran for the door. "Coming!" I called.
I flung open the door to be greeted with the fresh smell of breakfast- and blinded by the flashing of cameras. Out of impulse I screamed loudly, clutching at my heart.
In moments, Jax was at my side. He tried to shield me from the photographers but it was no use. I grabbed the man who was delivering our food by the hand and dragged him inside the hotel room.
"What's going on?" Jaxon asked the man, trying not to be angry.
"I'm sorry sir- we didn't know you were staying here, if we did we would have made sure security was informed and they were kept away from you." The man looked afraid for his job.
I placed my hand on Jax's forearm for reassurance.
He raked a hand through his messy bed hair and mumbled, "Man, I'm tired."
I grabbed my wallet and handed the man two twenties and smiled, "Thanks for the food."
He gave me a brilliant smile in return as he turned to exit the room.
Jax and I stood behind the door as he exited and slammed it shut before any of the paparazzi got any funny ideas.
Jaxon sighed before walking towards the phone. "I'll call the hotel's front desk and see if they can get some security up here to get them to leave."
I shook my head, "J, you should really eat before it gets cold. They can wait; they obviously have nothing better to do than stalk you." I laughed a little as I plopped a piece of waffle in my mouth.
He looked at me a moment before he smiled in response and sat down on the floor beside me.
"Thanks for breakfast Grace; you really didn't have to do this." He smiled at me sheepishly as I handed him the things I had ordered him.
"I wanted to, I figured we could use a yummy breakfast today."
"I think we deserve a yummy breakfast every day." He mumbled to himself, his morning voice making me want to kiss him all over again.
I nodded briefly before becoming lost in my own thoughts.
"Those pictures aren't going to be good, are they?" I asked, suddenly afraid for him.
He was about to shovel another bite into his mouth but stopped and looked at me sadly.
"No, they're definitely not. That's why I got so angry- I couldn't care less if they take pictures of me, but when it comes to you, I'm protective. I don't want them to be able to just snap a picture of you and then you end up with over a million death threats from jealous teenage girls."
I just looked at him, marvelling over the fact that this perfect guy was really mine.
"I appreciate that, but you can't control things like this. Sooner or later, they would have gotten a picture. I guess I'll just have to get used to it. If I get you, then it makes all the bad things worth it." I kissed him on the cheek and blushed.
Jax laughed, "It's really a relief you feel that way. I wouldn't want anyone coming in between us." He tugged a lock of my hair playfully.
I snorted, "Them? As if."
We continued to eat our breakfast in a comfortable silence, lost in our own minds. Eventually we decided to check out the situation in the hallway.
I tiptoed to the peep hole in the door and when I didn't see anyone turned around and shrugged at him.
"I'll just stick my head out and take a look." I said, turning the knob.
Jax came to stand beside me and took my hand. I peeked out through the doorway and heaved a sigh of relief when I found that it was completely empty.
I turned to face him with a mischievous grin. "It's all clear."
We grabbed our things and tip toed out into the hallway. We made sure not to leave anything behind because he was one hundred percent sure that someone would be searching through the garbage cans for something to hold over us- not that there was anything.
He called Paul, his head body guard and let him know what happened. Paul was furious, partly over the fact Jaxon had taken our safety into his own hands, and partly because he hated the paparazzi. They were constantly in his face trying to get to the boys.
He told us that he would have a car to pick us up at the hotel in ten minutes.
Jaxon got a call telling us to head to the back of the hotel. We walked quickly down the hallways until we came to the exit door. He reached down and grabbed my hand. He squeezed it tightly and pushed the door open forcefully as we walked out into the warm sun.
There was a black car and I recognized a few of the body guards that were a part of Pauls' team. We were once again caught off guard by the flashes of cameras.
One of the body guards sighed, "Sorry mate, we got them as far away from us as we could. They're nearly impossible to get rid of when they're working on a big story." He nodded at me as if it explained everything.
I blushed, feeling bad that we were technically in this position because of me.
Once we were safely in the car, Jax still didn't let go. He rubbed circles onto the front of my hand and it comforted me knowing that he was right here next to me amongst all this craziness.
Although soon he would be on tour, and I would be here to face it all on my own.
The thought dampened my mood a little but I tried to put it out of my mind as I arrived back home. We had been trailed by the photographers and had to drive around for nearly an hour longer than necessary before we finally lost them.
I climbed out and stretched my arms. I was still in the same clothes as the day before and I really wanted a shower.
"Thanks for a great night, J." I smiled up at him as I stood on my tippy toes, reaching my face up to kiss him. He wrapped his arms around my waist and brought me closer, deepening the kiss. I sighed in contentment; I was perfectly at home in his arms.
We hugged for a few more moments before we said goodbye, Jaxon snuck one more kiss before his body guard dragged him away to a meeting with his management.
I walked through my front doors and headed up to my bedroom.
Where are Luisana and Michael? I wondered briefly, hopping into the steamy shower.
Usually they checked in with me all the time- I hadn't heard from them at all today.
I massaged my scalp until I was sure that all the pear scented shampoo was rinsed out. I dried myself off and dressed in an oversized t-shirt and shorts.
I trotted downstairs and threw open the fridge expectantly- I was starving.
I was rummaging through the drawers of the fridge when I heard someone come through the door.
"Grace?" Luisana called from what sounded like the foyer.
"I'm in the kitchen!" I called loud enough that she could hear me.
I was deciding between making myself some scrambled eggs and hash browns or taking the easy way out and making a peanut butter and raspberry jam sandwich.
"Oh good, you're home!" Luisana cried happily.
I laughed, grabbing the carton of eggs. "I sure am, and I'm starving."
"Oh, I'm sure you won't be too hungry in a minute," Luisana chuckled to herself.
I furrowed my brows, confused at her odd statement. "Why, what do you mean?" I wondered aloud, closing the refrigerator door so that I could see her.
When I realized the person standing there wasn't Luisana, I shrieked, throwing the carton of eggs into the air.
I stared wide eyed at the person before me, not fully believing what my eyes were telling my brain.
Because there in front of me, stood none other than Harper LaGrange, my former best friend.
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