Chapter 165: Chapter Three

Jaymeson

Alec's words haunted me the entire flight. I wanted to freaking bash my head against the wall; I was irritated that his little speech had affected me so much. I mean, who the hell cared?

I could play anything! I'd be whatever they wanted me to be. I'd screw whomever I needed to screw. I just wanted the damn part.

The problem with Alec and Demetri? They were hopelessly in love; they saw things through a different lens, a clouded one, to be exact. Mine was clear, and my goal was clear.

Clean up my image, get the part, do what I love. The End. It wasn't selfish. How could bettering myself be selfish? It was doing what I was passionate about.

I fought the guilt and ordered another small bottle of whiskey.

I wasn't taking any chances.

The last thing I needed was a DUI.

“You traveling for business or pleasure?” the elderly lady next to me asked, totally interrupting my thoughts.

“Business,” I said, not making eye contact lest she start screaming my name and ask me to sign her bra.

“All pleasure on my end.” She elbowed me. “I'm going to one of those fancy resorts on the coast.”

“Lovely.” I cleared my throat and tried to look interested in the magazine in my lap.

“Oh, it is. Seaside's wonderful this time of year.”

“Seaside?” I snorted. “Wonderful?”

“Oh yes.” She sighed, “My honey and I used to take long walks on that beach, camp out in the sand at midnight.” She shivered. “Kiss under the stars.”

She kept reminiscing.

And I kept staring at the magazine. Praying my mind would — at some point in my life — rid itself of the memory of Priscilla's kiss.

Her touch.

Her scent.

Everything about her that made my heart clench in my chest. Funny how one girl, one moment can change your life forever. She probably hated me.

And I couldn't blame her.

But it was easier to hate someone than deal with having a broken heart. And I knew it was best. What I did was for both of us. But mainly, it was for her. She was lucky I rejected her.

“Do you have a girlfriend?” the chatty woman asked.

“No. I don't.”

“Oh, that's alright.” She patted my arm. “You have plenty of time to settle down.”

“Right.” I offered her a smile.

Her eyebrows knit together. “You look famous.”

“I am famous.”

“Oh.” She nodded. “That's nice.”

“Yeah.” I smiled for real this time. “It is.”

“Have I seen any of your movies?”

“I'm not sure.”

She seemed to think about this for a minute. “If I text my grandkids and say I sat next to you, will they scream?”

I smirked. “How old are they?”

“Fourteen.”

“Yeah.” I laughed. “Lots of high-pitched screaming.”

“Can I have your autograph? Or do you get tired of people asking you that? I don't mean to be a bother…”

I reached into my carry-on and pulled out two pictures, signing them with long fluid letters and then pulled out my phone and took a picture. “Give me your email and I'll send this to you.”

“I can't believe—” she dabbed her eyes, “You would do that, you don't even know me.”

“Yeah, I do.” I held out my hand. “Jamie Jaymeson.”

She blanched.

Holy shit. She was having a stroke.

“Er, thanks.” I pulled back and smiled.

“You'll find your girl soon, Jamie. I just know it. A woman knows these things.”

“Yeah.” I shifted uncomfortably in my seat. “Thanks.”

Hell, I needed more to drink. The last thing I needed was a sweet grandma telling me she loved me and then telling me I was going to settle down soon. No way. Not gonna happen.

Because if I ever did settle down.

It wouldn't be with anyone.

But her.