"Okay…explain this to me…" Carmen began as sat up in his bed after a long night of talking and sex with very little sleep. "You're famous, beyond famous. Why are you still living in the Palm Woods?" she asked as she turned towards his reclining form.
"Well…I'm not sure actually. At first, before I found out about Derek's lies, I thought he was house hunting for me. You know, doing all the hard work. With my schedule on the show, I haven't had time to find a bigger place…one that was right enough to suit me. Besides, it'd be harder to for me to leave now…" he said and Carmen looked confused. "You're still here…"
"Oh, please…" Carmen said with a laugh. "I know you wouldn't want to stay in this tiny ass apartment in the Palm Woods just to be closer to me…"
"Why is that so hard to believe?" Jett asked in a defensive tone as he sat up. "I do care about you a lot, Carmen. So, you still think I'm an asshole…I'll work on it. What do I have to do to make you…like me?"
"I like you, Jett. More than I should. More than well, you deserve, actually." she said and he looked offended. "I'm sorry…the jerk version of you is still stuck in my brain. Give me some time to adjust to the nice you. Is anyone else going to see the nice you or is this exclusive for my viewing pleasure?"
"Only if you're there to let me know I'm still being an asshole…" Jett said as he leaned in to kiss her. Carmen was very sleepy and she wanted nothing more than to lie back down and sleep, but talking with Jett seemed to overpower her fatigue.
"I can't believe we spent most of the night talking and fucking. The sun is coming up…" Carmen said as the early morning sky illuminated the room with a bright blue hue.
"Do you want breakfast?" he asked and she let out a sleepy chuckle. "Why is that so funny?" Jett asked as she began laughing.
"I know you're not about to cook breakfast for me. I'm not sure Bitters would appreciate you burning down the Palm Woods…"
"I wasn't going to cook breakfast!" Jett said with a shiver at the thought of cooking. "I wanted to go out and eat."
"In public? You sure about that? Don't you have anything in your kitchen?" she asked before she realized who she was talking to. "Of course you don't. Why would a big star like you have any use for an actual kitchen?" she said in a sarcastic tone.
"Hey, I resent that. Well, I'm not really that hungry. I was thinking of you. See? The first step in me not being an asshole. I considered your appetite."
"Thanks…I think…" Carmen said as she stared out the window. She was drifting to sleep when she heard Jett snoring beside her and she snuggled deeper into his arms and slept.
A few hours later, she woke up to the sound of her phone ringing. She searched for it and found it lying on the floor. Rachel was calling her.
"Is that yours?" Jett asked in a sleepy tone and Carmen couldn't help but love the sound of his voice in the morning…so husky and deep.
"Hey, what's up?" Carmen said as she answered the phone. She tried to ignore Jett's hands caressing her back and tracing his fingers down her spine.
"Hey, Carmen. I was wondering if Jett was busy this weekend. Actually, today. Eric and I were thinking of making a day trip to Napa Valley tomorrow and I wanted to talk to Jett. Let's see, it's about noon right now, would 2:00 be good for him. Eric and I are planning on having dinner with a few of his friends."
"Um…I could ask…hold on a sec." she said before turning to Jett. "Jett, are you free today, around 2:00? Rachel wanted to meet with you, today…" she said and Jett sat up immediately before nodding. "He's free. Where?"
"My house. Give him the address. Oh, and…I want to talk to him alone. Relax, I won't hurt him or anything. I just think…"
"I get it. I don't think it's a good idea if I was there, anyway…"
"Good. Tell him I'll see him then. And get out of bed, I can't believe you and him are sleeping in this damn late."
"Whatever…" Carmen said as she rolled her eyes. "He'll see you then. Bye." she said as she hung up. She took in a large breath before letting it out. "This is the moment of truth for you, I guess. You can always turn back, now."
"No, I want to know. I know Derek won't tell the truth. So, what are you going to do, today while I talk to your sister?"
"Nothing. I was about to work on a song, but I'm so tired…" she said with a yawn.
"You can sleep here if you want. I want you to be here when I finish."
"Thanks. First, though, I need food. Are you sure you don't have anything to eat in there?" Carmen asked as she found her clothes and began putting them on.
"I'm sure. What if we…went out and got breakfast together?" he asked and Carmen began to cringe. "Come on…" he said as he pulled his pants on.
"Jett, I don't know how to make this any clearer. That is a bad fucking idea. Look, I'll run to my apartment real quick, get food…"
"No!" he said as he bolted from the bed and she rolled her eyes. "Carmen, you're always telling me to not be an asshole or a jerk. I think I can stop being that guy if you let me be seen with you in public…at least the Palm Woods."
"Fine…Bitters is pretty good about keeping the paparazzi out of this place, anyway. There's a taco truck that's usually parked outside the Palm Woods on Saturday mornings…how about a taco?" she asked and Jett nodded. "Great, let's get that taco…"
"Okay…" Jett said as he pulled on his shirt. Once they were dressed, they walked out of his apartment and onto the elevator.
"Jett…" Carmen said as she felt him grab her hand. "Really? Hand-holding? You're not that cheesy, I know it…" she said as she tried to rip her hand out of his grasp, but he wouldn't let go. "Why do you have to be so damn persistent?"
"I'm Jett Stetson, that's why…" he said with a cheeky grin and Carmen couldn't help but smile. The elevator doors opened up and she realized the entire Palm Woods lobby, including Reginald Bitters, was staring at them in shock.
"Everyone is staring…" she said as they walked out into the lobby. "Jett…" she called out to him, hating that he was totally oblivious to the unwanted attention…well, unwanted on her part. She knew what an attention whore he was.
"Let them…" he said before squeezing her hand tighter as they went outside. Just then, Carmen snatched her hand away. "Why'd you do that?"
"You took it too far, Jett. The hand-holding was a bit much, you ham. I felt like I was on a fucking reality show. Let's not, okay?" she asked and Jett felt bad. "Forget it…let's just get the tacos, I'm fucking hungry."
"Yeah…" Jett said as he was confused why Carmen was so upset. He wished she would stop being so paranoid and just like him as much as he liked her. Maybe after he talked to her sister, she would loosen up and like him more.
