It's the beginning of November –the first day to be exact. It's Erin's last day in England with her father and while normally she would return with him on Air Force One, she chose to purchase herself a first class ticket for a flight to Chicago instead of D.C. Being that it's now the first of November, a month with a multitude of plans, she was in for a good time. The awards show is in two weeks in Los Angeles, the charity dinner is in a week before that in Indianapolis and there's a fundraising gala a few days before that in downtown Chicago. And she has absolutely nothing to wear to any of the events.
The first thing she planned to do when her flight touched down in Illinois is go shopping; she needed to be fitted for a dress for the awards and she needed an outfit to wear to her other planned events. Erin was going to arrive the night before Jay is supposed to return from Boston; she was going to come and stay with him during her time in Chicago. He had already told his housekeeper to leave the door unlocked for her return and he trusted the building security to ensure no one went to the floor of his penthouse.
Jay is in Boston; it's the last city on the tour. In two days' time, they will be reunited, back in each other's arms for the next month. It would be a whole month together with no interruptions besides the occasional career responsibility a rock star and an attorney may have to do while on an unscheduled vacation. She purposely ensured she didn't schedule any new clients during the month of November; she double-checked her calendar to make sure she had no planned trials or court appearances. November was going to be a great month and she was claiming it. With a few hours left in England, she spent it in her hotel room while her father ventured out for one last dinner with the royal family. She chose to skip it, instead faking sick because she honestly wasn't up for associating with people today, especially after a full week of meeting new people, shaking hands, making small talk, touring countries, walking in heels –even on cobblestone which is a huge no-, sitting through meetings, getting less than five hours of sleep every night and so much more. She needed this moment to herself which is why her father didn't pressure her in attending with him. Instead, he kissed her cheek and sent her on her way and for the first time in the week, she arrived back to her hotel room while it was still day time.
I reminded my housekeeper to leave the door unlock for you tomorrow, -JH
She yawned and covered her mouth with one hand while the other typed out a reply, thank you, you're the best, -EV
She was scheduled to arrive to Chicago around eleven at night and all she could think about is the comfort of Jay's bed. She wasn't going to be up to doing anything but sleep, especially since he won't be coming back to Chicago until a day after she's scheduled to land.
Anything for my girl, -JH
Erin kicked her white heels off and they landed somewhere near the window seat. She tossed her clutch purse onto the coffee table as she continued to venture off towards the bedroom in her suite. All she could think about was the bed that awaits her and a room service menu she's destined to look through. Just as she reaches for the zipper on the side of her magenta colored dress, her phone starts to ring. And her hands paused above the zipper as she walks over to her phone which had landed on the bed the second she entered the room and tossed it. Jay was calling. And she didn't hesitate to answer it, "Hi baby," she greeted the second the image cleared up and revealed his pearly white teeth and his enthusiastic eyes. He was in a good mood.
"So guess what?" He was in his hotel room; she watched him crack open his beer as he waited for her to take the bait of his open-ended question.
"What?"
"Our Mouse is growing up," he stated like a proud dad, "he's got a girlfriend. She's an everyday citizen. She's actually a nurse at Chicago Med."
This intrigues her, "When did he meet her?" She doesn't bother taking off her unzipped dress, instead, she flops down and falls onto the mattress, lying on her bed.
"…last night."
"Hmmm, and it's serious enough to mention it?"
Jay nods in the camera, "He's head over heels for this girl."
"Well good for him."
"Yeah, apparently she was at some medical conference for nurses and she went to the bar with a few coworkers to celebrate their last night in town and that's where they met. They hit it off and come to find out she's from Chicago."
"It's destiny," she sighed like a love-struck teenager. She held the phone above her head as she looked into her boyfriend's eyes through the screen, "What's her name?"
"It's like Hannah, Holly, Helen, it's H-something."
She laughs at that, "You are absolutely horrible with names."
"I'm horrible remembering names after only being told them once."
"How many times did it take for you to remember my name?"
He doesn't have to think long to answer that question, "Once," he stated matter of fact.
"Good answer," Erin sits up in bed; she set the phone beside her as she eased her dress down her body. The fabric fell to her feet and she stepped out of it.
Her phone buzzes but she ignores the incoming text. Whatever it is can wait until she's no longer on the phone with her boyfriend.
"What's on your schedule for the rest of the day?"
"Television and room service," she unclips her bra and tosses it towards a faraway corner. Hopefully she remembers where it landed when it's time to pack up her suitcase.
"…sounds productive."
Erin chuckled at that as she ventured over to the arm chair in the room, the same chair that she tossed the shirt she had slept in last night onto. She lifted it and gave it a short whiff. It still smelled like him. It was his shirt after all.
"I'll have you know that my entire week was productive," she argued after pulling the shirt over her head, "I needed a break. You try spending your day with Hank Voight and other world leaders. Shit gets exhausting. It's the same thing. I shake hands, I'm complimented on my beauty and then I listen as they talk foreign policy. New country, same conversation."
"It can't be that bad."
"Seriously," she scoffed, "next time I'm bringing you then."
"Politics aren't really my thing."
She laughed at his attempt to back out of whatever web he had spun himself in. She heard her phone buzz again and whoever was texting her was very persistent. Yet, she still ignored it. Her boyfriend took precedence over whoever couldn't take a hint right now.
"…maybe we can change that."
He shrugs, "I don't know if it can be changed. I honestly don't really understand it all that much. I couldn't imagine being the president and running the country."
"What about being the first man or the first gentleman?"
"What are you getting at?"
She smirks, "I'm just saying…if I decide a career in politics in the future and if we're heading towards where I think we'll eventually head towards, politics will only become more embedded in your life so maybe instead of shunning it, we can kind of do a crash 101 course involving it."
Jay snorted, but inevitably nodded along, giving in without much argument. She sat back down onto the bed and grabbed her phone, "First the basics, how involved are you in politics?"
"Um, I'm registered to vote in Illinois…at least I think I am."
Her fingers pinch the bridge of her nose, "You have to register to vote so you can have a say in what goes on, but registering to vote isn't the only thing you must do. You have to actually go out and vote in every single election, both small and big, but in order to vote, you have to listen to the information and the policies spoken by all candidates so you can make an informed vote."
"You sound like Natalie," he grumbled.
"Yeah, well I always thought Natalie was a smart girl," Erin retorted, "Now where do you want to start? What exactly don't you fully understand?"
"…the electoral college."
"Oh, you're shooting for the advanced crash course."
He chuckled in response, shaking his head in confusion, "It's just," he's scratching the back of his head, "I don't understand the concept. Why vote if the popular vote isn't enough? Why vote if the Electoral College has the actual say?"
"It's only used in presidential elections so remember when you go to vote in local elections, the Electoral College has no say in the matter," she slowly starts to explain, watching a crease indent in the center of his forehead, "this is why those local elections are so important. The Electoral College is basically there to ensure that smaller states have just as much say in an election as bigger states. Typically electors vote for the popular vote winner in their state but they are not legally obligated to do so. You should-"
"Why vote if the Electoral College will just end up deciding?"
Erin sighs at his interruption, "Babe, just hear me out for a bit. The members of the Electoral College are chosen by the people based on the people's support of a specific party's candidate. It's really confusing and now that I think about it I may not be the best person to explain it," now he's laughing all over again, "when I offered to provide a crash course in American politics, I assumed you were going to ask me questions about the president's cabinet, tax reform, health care, foreign policy, gun control, the constitution, passing laws, vetoing bills, etc. I'm sorry baby, but you'll just have to google it."
"Giving up on me already?"
"This time," she looks at the camera to meet his eyes, "yes."
"Fair enough," he holds her eyes and laughs, "but you do know running for office all those little skeletons in your closet can come out. Tell me a secret of yours -one that no one knows about."
Erin paused. She searched the far crevices of her mind for something. She was an opened book, at least when it came to her family and friends. They knew most things, if not everything. He knew most things; he knew more things than her parents. It was a long pause, a moment in time that extended for so long he was close to changing his mind. But, suddenly a memory came to mind. She moved closer to the screen, "This stays between us."
"Who am I going to tell?"
"I'm serious, Jay," she replied, her tone becoming serious.
He ran his fingers across his lips, mimicking a zipper, "My lips are sealed."
"I taught myself how to pick locks," she started and when Jay opened his mouth to interject, she held up her hand to pause him, "I know I know, but hear me out. I was a rebellious teenager with a curfew and bodyguards. I snuck out of my house and I had to learn how to sneak back in. I've managed to pick the locks at every place I've lived; to a few cars that I have to admit weren't exactly owned by me, to my high school and even to my dad's office."
"Wait, wait, wait," Jay appears impressed as he leans closer to the camera, "you mean you've picked the lock to your father's current office- the oval office?"
"I'm not incriminating myself any further."
The smile on his face was instantaneous. If it was possible for him to fall more in love with her in this moment then consider it done. He adored this perfectly imperfect woman. He planned to talk to her at least for the next hour, to probe for further information about her lock picking days, but when Will came knocking at the door to his suite, he sighed disappointedly. He had to go. Once again their time together was cut short because of outside interference.
"I know you have to go."
He nodded solemnly, "Yeah I do. My brother keeps knocking and I'm close to turning him away."
"There's no need for that. I'll see you in two days."
"Two days."
She grinned, "Let the countdown begin."
Another text messages comes to her phone just as she hangs up. It's from Charlie. All of the previous text messages were from him as well. She should have blocked his number after the first text. This time though, she learns from her mistake. She screenshots the message, the threat, the warning he gives her. And she sends it to her father with no caption added. The text speaks for itself. She sits her phone down on the bed. She's too restless to lie down. She needs to move, to walk, to actually pace. So she paces back and forth, biting her nail cuticle until her phone buzzes against the bed.
In a hurry, she speeds across the room to grab it. Her eyes skimming her father's brief response, It's all under control, -HV
You keep saying that, -EV
She's starting to lose faith. She's impatient. How is it all handled and under control when he's still texting her, blackmailing her?
Trust me Erin, she nods at his message even though he cannot see her, trust that I have this handled. That should be the last message you ever receive from him, -HV
His reassurance was enough for her. She has nothing to worry about. Tomorrow she will be back in Chicago and the day after that she should be back in her boyfriend's arms. There is nothing worry about. Absolutely nothing. President Hank Voight has this handled. That's enough for her to relax, clear her mind, and splurge on room service. It's enough to grant her reprieve until her flight tomorrow. She takes a deep breath and exhales it slowly, "It's all handled." It was the afternoon, but the way her sleep schedule has been set up, she already knows it's going to be an early night. But, she's totally fine with that. The sooner she goes to sleep, the sooner she'll wake up, head to the airport and fly back to the continental United States. The countdown was on.
-x-
Jay opens the door to his bedroom and his eyes immediately scan the room and land on Erin, sleeping peacefully on his bed. Even though she had practically guaranteed him that she would wait up for him, he couldn't blame her for falling asleep. She had been running herself ragged these last few months and she deserved to sleep no matter where it was and when it happened. And besides, he told her he would be back in town around ten at night and due to an unforeseen car accident and major traffic delays, he walked in a little after midnight. Her hair is in one large braid, falling down to her upper back. Her hands are linked together and lie beneath his pillow, her eyes are shut tight and her breathing is even as her face presses into his favorite pillow case. He starts to wonder how long she's been asleep. Jay had already kicked off his shoes and lined them up next to hers near the front door and as he makes his way towards his side of the bed, he strips himself down to his boxers. He lifts the covers on the side of the bed that's still made and he eases himself onto the mattress, lying behind her.
He shifts himself over, reaching out to bring her into his arms so her back is flushed up against his chest. She's wearing his shirt and that does something to him. Erin moans in her sleep the second he buries his nose into the scent of her hair. She moans again, rolling over until her face was now buried in the crook of his neck. His fingers play with the end of her braid as he waits for the inevitable exhaustion to take over. It's close; he knows it's coming, but when he hears her voice, he feels a sense of vitality spread through him, "Jay?" She poses his name as a question.
"Yeah, it's me." And his voice sounds more tired than expected, even as he attempts to tease and joke around with her, "Were you expecting someone else?"
Erin never answered because she had fallen back to sleep. And he was seconds behind her, shutting his eyes and drifting into a peaceful slumber now that everything and everyone was where they belonged. She was in his arms exactly where she should be. And a few hours later his eyes were fluttering open, waking up in a dark room because the sun had yet to come up. Her leg was hitched over his waist with her left arm draped over him. Her face was lying against his chest and he could feel the rise and fall of her chest against his. She was practically covering him with her body and it comforted him enough to fall back asleep.
By the time his eyes opened again it was due to a light chill up his spine. They were in a new position. She had rolled over to her side of the bed and he was left exposed. The comforter covered his legs and due to the slight chill in his bedroom, goosebumps started to appear on his skin. He pulled the blanket up and felt the immediate warmth it provided. But, he was still unable to fall back asleep. This wasn't the only reason he had woken up. It was more than that. It was Erin fast asleep, laying a significant amount of distance away from him. He felt instantly colder considering that. It was a coldness that no amount of blankets would fix; turning up the heat in his penthouse wouldn't do it any good either. He reached for her, pulling her back towards him brusquely, selfishly because he needed her back in his arms even if it woke her up in the process.
"Jay?" She blinked, opening her eyes carefully and squinting in the dark room.
He was instantly satisfied with her back in his arms; he pressed a kiss against her forehead, "Go back to sleep, Erin."
"Are you okay?"
"Yeah, I uh," he caressed the skin beneath her shirt which had risen to expose the side of her stomach as he admitted, "you…you kind of rolled away from me and I needed you back…in my arms where you know, where you belong."
And she gave him a well-earned dimpled smile, "You, Jay Halstead, sure do have a way with words," and to seal her words, she laid her hand against his chest and leaned forward to kiss his lips. A sleepy kiss was given; one that held no passion and no energy.
The hand that was caressing her side tightened around her waist and he used his grip to pull her closer, so close that there was no more room between them. He initiated a groggy kiss with her this time; one that was left unfinished the second he remembered something important.
"Before you go back to sleep," he started and he cleared his throat in an effort to stall while he worked up the confidence to continue, "I wanted to um…I wanted to kind of tell and maybe give you something, you know?"
"You have something for me."
And against his better judgment he rolls over to face the opposite side of the bed. He reaches into the end table and pulls out something small, something that is able to fit inside of his closed fist. He rolls back over and doesn't say anything until she's back in his arms, until they're both back in their original positions. It was close to four in the morning and he's about to have a heavily weighted conversation with her because it was something about how his features are hidden in the darkness that gives him the confidence and the push to talk.
"I do," he whispers, "have something for you, I mean."
"Oh…" there's a dramatic pause between her words, "and what is it?"
"My housekeeper cleaned out the drawers on the right side of the dresser," he admitted but she was not following along, "and my housekeeper cleared some space in my closet."
"…I don't think I'm following you."
And he sighs at that; he's not going to be able to beat around the bush with this, "My housekeeper, I told him to clear out some space for you because I want you to leave some of your things here. That space is all yours. I uh," he holds out his fist and slowly turns his hand around to unclench his fingers, "I actually want you to have this."
Her breath hitches in her throat at the sight of two keys resting in the palm of his hand. It goes without saying the keys belong to the front door of his home –the top lock and the bottom. He was asking or implying that he wanted her to have access to this portion of his life, to this idea of them growing closer and moving a step forward in their relationship. She's speechless. Her hand is actually shaking as she reaches for the two keys, "Jay…" her voice wavers.
"I just figured with the tour coming to an end we'll have more time to spend with each other and I want you to move in, officially, unofficially, whatever works for us because I know that D.C. is your home and your job is there and your home is there, but I want this to be your home too. I want you to be able to come here whenever you want whether I'm here or not. I want it, Er."
"Jay…"
"You don't have to say anything."
"I know," she tightens her hand around the keys and pulls her fist up to her chest, clenching the keys tightly in her hold as if someone will try to take them from her, "but I want to say something. I want to emphasize how much I love and adore you, how much you make me happy and how I can only hope that I make you just as happy in return. I…I…want you to move in with me, officially, unofficially and maybe my place can be your second home or your first."
For someone who was prided on for her ability to formulate her words, she was unable to in this moment. She didn't know how much she wanted this until she got it. She didn't know how much she wanted to move in and wanted him to move in with her until the moment presented itself. It was time; it had been seven months since they started dating. She brought the keys up to her face and kissed her closed fist, "Jay, I just…I think your idea is the perfect idea."
He smiled and she could see it in the moonlight, "…we'll have a home in Chicago and a home in D.C. and who knows where the future will take us, but we can have as many homes as we want."
Erin leaned back to set the keys gently down on the end table before rolling back into his arms. If it was possible, she was even closer than she was before she rolled away. Her hand came up to trace the scar above his eyebrow, "I like that idea. I can see us now," she whispered, rolling onto her back as Jay hovered above her, "a beach house, a house in the mountains-"
"…a cabin maybe somewhere in Wisconsin," he mumbled through kisses that he pressed along her neck, "a lake house," he gripped the bottom of her shirt and lifted it above her stomach, "maybe a bungalow or a cottage somewhere." He peppered kisses along her stomach and only retreated backwards when her hands gripped her shirt to pull it over her head.
"Where is all of this money coming from?"
He chuckled, climbing back above her the second her shirt is thrown to the floor, "Between my income and yours, we can at least have a house on every continent. That's seven."
"I don't think we'll have many options in Antarctica."
He continued pressing kisses down her body, "…maybe we can get an igloo there."
She laughed at that; chuckling hard enough that the only thing that stopped her from laughing was the feeling of him pulling her underwear down her legs, tossing the thin garment over his shoulder the second he tugs them off. His hands fell to her legs and her white skin was smooth and soft beneath his calloused hands and he dropped kisses along her thighs until he reached her core. He smirked in the darkness and the only thing that can be seen in the nightfall is his blue eyes and his white teeth as a piercing smile stretches across his face.
"Jay!" Her voice reached a pitch that none one of them has heard before as he plowed in, devouring her essence with every kiss, nip, nibble and flicker of the tongue. She bit her lip to contain her screams, reaching back to grip the headboard in an effort to minimize the building pleasure coursing through her body. He quickens the speed of his mouth on her. He's silent. The room itself is quiet with the only sounds coming from his mouth and now his fingers dragging her to the precipice of pleasure, a height she once thought was unattainable, a cliff that he has brought her to many times before yet no other man has managed to do so in the past.
Jay's fingernails dug into her hips as he tried to keep her from squirming around, but that didn't prevent her legs from wrapping around his shoulders. If she could, her nails would probably be digging into the wood of his headboard. He tightened his hold on her, holding her down to the bed as his mouth ravaged, consumed and devoured her. He had missed her. She had missed him too. In seconds, his name fell from her lips as she exploded around him. At five in the morning, only he could have the energy to bring her pleasure after getting less than a few hours of sleep.
"I love you so much," she said, panting slightly and trying to catch her breath, "so much."
Within seconds, his boxers were on the floor and he was climbing back into the bed. It was the sight of his, actually her, keys sitting on the end table that sent heat rushing to her core. He's kissing her. She's kissing him back just as hard. Her hand tugs at his hair as she devours his mouth; the taste of her essence on his lips sends her into overdrive. Nothing can take away the love she feels for him. Nothing can steal the overwhelming sensation of affection she feels when her hand slips from his hair, to his cheek and he bites the heel of her palm teasingly. That same palm he bites, she uses to push him over onto his back before seductively clambering over to straddle him.
"I love you too," he finally finds his voice to respond as he pulled himself up to a sitting position against the headboard, "I love you more than you will ever know."
"You, Jay Halstead," she asserts as she sits straight on top of him; his hands come to rest on her splayed thighs, "are absolutely everything. The way," her voice catches in her throat as she shuffles back a little to trap the length of him underneath her, "The way you look at me makes me feel like the luckiest woman in the world. You've ruined me for other men because after you, I could never be with anyone else."
And that was music to his ears. He was a possessive guy and to know and be reminded that she's all his like he's all hers was rejuvenating and refreshing.
"My heart beats only for you, Erin."
She's exposed; the blankets pool somewhere behind her but she doesn't care. It's nothing he hasn't seen before time and time again.
She's flushed; the warmth of his body resting below hers. She rocks over him, sliding over the hardness of him, not even thinking about the time and the fact that they have to be up soon.
"Erin," his voice cracks and she stops movement; he needs her. And he voices that, "I need you."
And then she resumes her ministrations in his lap –forwards and backwards and forwards and backwards until Jay's had enough, until he takes charge and grips her hips, lifting her up just high enough while she grabs hold of his member and eases herself down, all the way down until his length completely disappears inside of her, until she's filled to the brim. She sits still. She takes a few deep breaths because she doesn't want this to end too fast.
Down she went, her walls tight around him, both sets of eyes closing in pleasure and relief and both lips involuntarily being bitten and nipped. It began slow, with her hips rising and falling with the gentle rhythm he set forth, but her impatience eventually took over and being on top put her at an advantage to take charge and increase the speed. He sat up. His chest pressed against hers. Her nails dug into his back as their pace quickened, his thrusts increased and her climax began to build and build until it brushed against the edge. A pressure was building below; a pleasure was coursing through her veins and mixing in with her blood that's being pumped by her heart. She buries her face in his neck, her heart strumming in her chest as he quickens his pace; his phone rings across the room and neither makes a move to acknowledge it. Her hair is messily being thrown around as she rode him, "Jay!"
He shouts her name. It comes out as a grunt. Sweat appears on his forehead and his hands clench her waist tighter as he meets her pound for pound and thrust for thrust. Jay moans when her kisses move to his neck, feeling the vibrations tremble under her lips as he moves his palms over her waist, thumbs brushing along her sides. He delights in the stutter of her breath as she rocks forwards and backwards and kisses him deeply. His breath is stuttering just as much; he's almost puffing out steam in the crisp air in the darkness of his bedroom. Her arms wrap around his shoulders and she looks to meet his eyes but find him looking downwards; she follows his gaze. And they both watch, they watch as he appears and then disappears inside of her seconds later, this is continuous, this is steady and intense and it's something about this moment with the keys on the end table, the declarations of love in the air and the physical connection they have with him inserted and thrusting inside of her that has them tumbling over the edge together in perfect harmony, perfect bliss, perfect pleasure and perfect love.
-x-
"So, what do you think?"
Jay helped Erin step down from the passenger side of his truck. She walked off to the side as he slammed the car door shut. Her guards parked directly behind him but chose to keep their distance to grant the couple some semblance of privacy. She stood, facing the establishment that played such a large role in the development of District 21. She saw a picture hanging inside of his penthouse of the band in their young adulthood grinning in front of the same restaurant that she's peering up at, yet it appears different. A lot different. It's like he read her mind because before she could answer the question he posed moments ago, he's stepping towards her and answering the thought that just went through her mind.
"Since we became famous and people found out that this place really helped us get started, it's become a hotspot in Chicago," he mumbles, tucking his hands in the front pockets of his dark jeans, "and from time to time, we'll come back and perform for free and it keeps business up for them and I don't know," he shrugs his shoulders, "I guess with all the extra revenue, they've been building up the place and I like it because they didn't change it too much. It still has the vibe it had years ago back when no one knew our names. And maybe because not many places were cool with a bunch of teenagers performing and driving away customers, this place did and I will never forget that so when they were close to closing down, I paid their rent for the next year and I don't even think they know it was me, but I don't really care because they're still here and open and I guess it was a way for me to say thank you without actually saying it."
He could see in his peripheral that while her body faces the restaurant, her head is turned, facing him and he watches the corners of her mouth stretch far and wide into a bright and infectious smile, "That is just…that's genuinely nice and sweet and I didn't know until now that I was capable of loving you even more than I already do."
Jay shrugs it off and purposely avoids the intense look in her eyes, "It's nothing…I mean it's not like I donate to charity or volunteer at shelters or something."
"It's not nothing; it's something," she waits for him to turn his head in her direction, "It's definitely something."
The current location, the bar and restaurant allowed his band to perform before they became the famously known band of District 21. They performed for tips. They performed in front of audiences who barely paid attention; the crowd was too focused in on their drinks at the bar or the food on their plates to pay any mind towards the unknown band performing the cover of a popular song on stage. From time to time the band would come back and perform in front of a crowd for free, drawing publicity to an establishment that came close to closing down at least three times before the band made it big in the entertainment industry.
The couple stands across the street from the restaurant. Erin turns back to face it. She watches as a large crowd gathers in front of it and they stand just out of sight, feet away from the streetlight that would notify the gathering crowd of their arrival. She takes a deep breath, preparing herself to maneuver through a crowd that was not allowed inside of the restaurant. Most of the fans that congregated outside only arrived to take pictures and fangirl as the band enters the restaurant; some have even planned to camp out and wait to do the same as the band leaves. She rolls her shoulders and takes another deep breath in preparation and before she could step up off the curb, he's pulling her into his arms, he's holding her against his chest, he's burying his face into the crook of her neck and he's brushing his lips along her collarbone, "You smell absolutely divine," his breath ghosts across her skin, "and regardless of everything I just said, there's a large part of me that is thinking we should just ditch this place, go back to my…go back to our place and just get back into bed. Why did we leave it in the first place?"
"As appealing as it all sounds," she chuckled, settling her hand upon his chest to gently push him away, "you already agreed to perform at this spot. You wouldn't want to renege on your word."
Halstead takes another step back in order to scan his eyes over her from head to toe. He stood astonished, absolutely amazed at the woman who stood before him, "You have the most beautiful soul."
The band was back to perform. Jay couldn't bow out. Technically, he could, but he truly wouldn't. He gave the owner his word and Jay never backed out on his word. So, after Erin's little reminder, he intertwined his hand with hers and pulled her up against him, "You know it's going to be a crowded event," she nods, "and there are going to be people there, including Kim," she nods again, "and she's probably going to talk to you to death and since you're back on our turf, you have to promise me that you won't agree to any plans that Burgess makes."
"Plans like what?"
He shrugs, "…just plans."
"Only on one condition," she holds up her finger to emphasize the number one.
He shakes his head, "I don't think I should compromise with a lawyer. You get paid to persuade and I'm a little suspicious of your motives."
"Oh come on," she tugs the bottom of his shirt to draw him in, "aren't you just a little bit interested about what I'm interested in getting out of this deal."
He pushes at her neck with his nose, slanting her head back with the hand he just twisted in her hair. He kisses her softly, teeth pressed against her in a wide grin. He sighed against her lips and silently nodded for her to tell him what she wants out of this, "I want to meet your dad."
And that wasn't what he expected.
"I don't think that's a good idea."
He hoped she would leave it at that but he's been dating her for seven months and he should have known better. She was shaking her head and holding his forearm with both of her hands, refusing to move from the spot until he gave in or at least discussed it.
"Why do you want to meet him so badly? He's not that special."
"He's your dad though."
"Yeah," Jay rolls his eyes, "and he doesn't need to meet you. You're too good for him. He doesn't deserve to shake your hand or even breathe in the same room as you."
"How about you let me be the judge of that?"
An exhausted sigh escaped from his mouth, "You really want to do this?" she nods and he sighs again, "you won't drop this until I agree?" she nods and he sighs once more, "alright, fine, but don't say I didn't warn you about how great of an asshole he can be and if he so much as insults you Erin, you can't hold me accountable for my actions."
"You have yourself a deal," she whispers, quickly rising to the tip of her toes to smear a sloppy kiss against his lips. He grabbed onto her hips, holding her against him for as long as time would permit until the sound of one of her guards clearing their throat interrupted the moment.
Erin stepped back and traced the tip of her finger along the bottom of her lip. She took deep, quiet breaths to tame her racing heart as she tucks her hands into the pocket of her leather jacket, "I should have brought a thicker coat."
"Here," he slides his arms out of his coat, "Take mine." He held it out to her. She didn't take it.
"…then you'll freeze."
"I rather freeze than you," he opened the coat up and draped it around her shoulders.
"Jay," she was ready to complain, but a quick press of his lips against hers silenced it. She had actually forgotten what she was about to say. It was a pleasant distraction. It was a move that was followed by him taking her hand and leading her across the street.
It was obvious the second everyone caught on to their presence. High-pitched screams, shouts and cries and wails erupted along the crowded street. Bright flashes of cameras flickered back to back with no moment of reprieve or a chance for them to blink the spots out of their vision. The hands of fans reached out to touch, to yank and pull at them because the restaurant didn't hire security and the crowd had moved in so fast that they had unintentionally caused for them to separate from her guards and for him to unintentionally separate from her. She lost him.
His hand was no longer in hers. She couldn't see him anywhere. Yet, she could hear his voice. She could hear him calling out for her, shouting her name and ordering his fans to move out of the way in his quest to reach her. And before long, he does and this time he ensures he doesn't make the same mistake. This time he's throwing his arm around her shoulders and pulling her in, up against him. His lips brushed across her forehead the moment she turned inwards, laying her hand against his chest, "Are you okay?" He was concerned for her.
"I'll be better once we get inside."
That's all he needed to hear. He threw his hand outwards to push through the crowd; his face was masked in indifference and he set his mind on one thing –getting Erin inside. Her face remained buried against his chest and her hand was shielding her eyes from the bright lights and she wasn't used to all of this. She actually hated it all. She was prepared to steer clear of the spotlight. She wasn't made to be front and center in front of cameras unless it was in an official capacity. This wasn't. She wasn't working or volunteering or campaigning with her dad. This was her personal life; this was date night with her boyfriend. When she thinks she can handle the fans and the paparazzi, she is always reminded that she can't.
"Sorry babe," his apology was genuine and he only dropped his arm from around her shoulders when the door shut behind them and her guards, "maybe when we leave, we can take a back exit or I can go out and bring the car as close up to the front as possible."
"That's really not necessary."
"I don't mind."
"Yeah, but I really need to start getting used to this. I mean," she sighs agitatedly; she was frustrated, not at him, but at herself, "I've been in the public eye since I was a kid. I should be used to this, but my dad made sure we had as normal of a life as possible. I didn't have fans. I didn't have paparazzi following me around. Yeah, they captured the occasional photo of me, but I never knew about it. I'm just…I'm just trying to get used to this."
"I'm sorry."
She shook her head at that –unaccepting, "You don't need to do that. It's not your fault. And besides, you're worth it. I'll go through all of that every day, all day, if it means I can be with you. I don't want you apologizing for things outside of your control."
And he said nothing else after that. There were no words that came to mind for him that would encompass all he wanted to say. Instead, he circled his right arm around her waist and pulled her up against him, thrusting his chest against hers before bringing his mouth down, moving his lips against hers in a desperate attempt to tell her exactly what her words meant. His girl definitely had a way with words and for some reason; she always knew what to say.
When a throat clears, he feels her pull away. He would have continued. He actually had all the intent to continue. He started to lean back in but she stepped out of his embrace, "You're rejecting me?" The smirk on his face let her know that he wasn't upset by it.
"You have a show to do," she reminded, nodding her head over towards the makeshift stage that's usually used for karaoke on Friday and Saturday nights.
He doesn't respond –at least not right away. Right now he's calculating how long it would take for him to pick her up and carry her out of the restaurant and through the crowd to his car with the intent of taking her back to the penthouse. He craved her. He needed her. And she knew it because if he could read her as well as he thinks he can, by the way she's biting along her bottom lip, she's just as turned on as he is, but…and he hates to think it and admit it, but the show must go on and Will is currently waving for him to come over to help set up.
Damn. This is the first time since he's been back here to do a show that he didn't want to do it.
He snaps out of whatever glare he was shooting towards his brother to notice both of her hands on his chest. Her fingers are toying with the three buttons on his shirt and her body is arched into his and she's such a perfect fit. He doesn't even notice or pay attention to the seated guests dividing their time between drinking, ordering, eating and watching him and his girlfriend interact. Jay sees Burgess waving over at him from the table closest to the stage, "I see Kim."
Erin stays in his arms, but she does turn her head to glance over her shoulder, "I guess that's my hint to go on over."
"Remember our deal…"
"…as if I could forget," she places the gentlest of kisses against his cheek.
"Oh," and when she starts to walk away, he reaches for her wrist and pulls her back, "this place serves some great mozzarella cheese sticks."
"I'll order me some."
"Order me some too please."
She grants him one final, parting kiss, "We can share." And then she walks away; her guards following but maintaining a certain amount of distance. He sees her maneuver through and around the tables, speaking when spoken to in her quest to get to Burgess and he only turns to walk towards the stage the second his brother decides waving for him to come over isn't good enough and starts shouting his name across the crowded restaurant. God, he's ready to go home.
Kim had left the seat to her right open and Erin made her way around the table to it. Burgess rose to her feet and helped her out of her black, leather jacket and Jay's coat before draping them over the back of her chair which had already been pulled out for her. Erin reluctantly took her seat, "You know you didn't have to do any of that. What's up?"
"How are you when it comes to meeting new people?"
"I'm fine I guess," She answered as a glass of ice water was placed in front of her, "Thanks," she whispered to the waiter before he walked away, "Why?"
"…because I invited Mouse's girlfriend, Hallie, to come out to see them perform," Burgess admitted somewhat bashfully as she purposely stared at the club manager set up the stage for the band's performance in order to avoid meeting Erin's suspicious gaze, "…and I uh…I…I invited some old friends of mine who have been dying to meet you."
"Kim…" Erin expected it to be more.
And she was right.
"Okay, so they're not really friends of mine, but I went to high school with them. I went to my reunion last night and I had to go alone since the guys were still away and talk turned towards the tour and I mentioned that I'm friends with you and they didn't believe me so I invited them out to kind of prove it to them."
Erin sits dumbfounded. She's staring at Kim and only glances away when she checks out the guys setting up their instruments on stage. After briefly getting distracted by the way her boyfriend's jeans hug his ass, she focuses back in on the matter at hand and now she realizes that she's going to need a stronger drink. She waves her hand for the waiter to come back over, "I need something strong," she tells the waiter, "just give me a glass of your top shelf and I need an order of your mozzarella cheese sticks."
"Are you going to say something?" Kim asks the second the waiter walks away, "Are you mad?"
She looked over to Kim, raising a brow in question, "Fine."
She squealed in delight, leaning over to hug Erin tightly, "Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!"
"I'm only doing this for you because you're my friend but I typically don't like to find myself in petty beefs and squabbles and situations where people try to one up the other person."
"How'd you know?"
"I've been to high school. I've also been to a high school reunion. At my reunion, I brought Kelly with me because I refused to show up alone. So, I'll play nice and do what you need me to do and say what's needed, but just so you know in the future, you don't need to prove anything to anyone. Okay?" Kim nodded eagerly, already bouncing up and down in her seat, "Okay, so what exactly did you tell them?"
"…that we hit it off the second you and Jay started dating and we text almost every day and we're probably going to be vacationing together soon and that I met both of your parents and they absolutely adored me and that we're practically best friends and-"
"I don't use that label lightly."
This confuses Kimberly, "What label?"
"Best friend," she answers, smiling up gratefully when the waiter sets a drink down in front of her, "I take that label very seriously. I…I'll go along with everything you said but that one."
And Kim wanted to poke and prod at the defensiveness behind it but she saw her three former classmates walking over and she didn't have the time. She sat up straighter, grabbed the glass from Erin's hand and swallowed down the rest of her drink before handing it back to a disgruntled and annoyed Erin, "I'm sorry but I think I needed that more than you."
"I think that's up for debate," she waves for the waiter to return.
"Kimmy," a chorus of squeals erupt the second three women surround the table, "oh my gosh, I know we just saw you, but it feels like forever." It's the brunette that's talking.
The blonde speaks up next, "We cannot wait so long to see each other again," she says to Kim, but she's staring at Erin, "Kimmy, are you going to introduce us?"
"Oh, yes, yes," Kim jumps to her feet and her elbow bumps into Erin and causes for the glass of water she's forced to drink since Kim had snatched her alcoholic drink away to spill onto her blouse. The ice and the water spills and forces her to jump up to her feet.
"Same old Kimmy, just as clumsy as she used to be," the third girl, the one with dirty blonde hair that seems to match the shade of Erin's hair exactly speaks up for the first.
Jay had seen from the stage. And he made a move towards her but she waved for him to return to his previous task. God, she should have taken him up on his offer to ditch this place. She gratefully accepted a napkin from the waiter and put in an order for the top shelf alcohol, but this time requested two glasses. She's definitely going to need it.
Kim whispered, "Sorry Erin,"
"It's okay," Erin may have been frustrated but it was truly an accident and she wouldn't hold it against her, especially with the three women already making comments about it and guilt tripping Kim enough for the both of them.
"Um and Erin," Burgess begins her introductions, "this is Stephanie," she nods towards the blonde, "Melanie," the brunette waves, "and Daphne," she points towards the third woman.
Erin stands and stretches her hand out towards them, "It's nice to meet all of you."
"You know when Kim told us that you guys were friends I could barely believe it," Stephanie shakes her hand first, "I mean…I knew you guys had met just because of the whole you dating the lead singer of District 21 and her being married to the little drummer boy," Erin had picked up on the hint of malice, "but I didn't know the extent to your relationship with her."
"Kim is pretty amazing. My parents already adore her," Erin shrugs, easily falling back onto the information that Burgess caught her up on, "and I do too. She's a good friend."
"Enough about Kim," Melanie waves that topic off, ignoring the confused expression that crossed Burgess' face. She takes the seat on the opposite side of Erin and scoots her chair closer, "I have been dying to meet you. I," Melanie is elbowed in the side by Daphne, "I mean we are huge fans of your fashion style. I mean huge fans. And we're also fans of your boyfriend."
"By fans," Kim briefly interrupted, "they mean they have huge crushes on him."
Stephanie chimes in, "Can you blame us though? That face, those muscles, that body…"
"Should we really be talking about this?" Erin shifted in her seat. And by some good luck, both of her drinks arrived and were placed down in front of her.
"How is he?" Daphne decides to cut to the chase. And Burgess reached for one of the glasses Erin had ordered only to get her hand slapped away.
"How is who?"
"…your boyfriend," Melanie answers, winking.
"I'm not sure I'm following."
"How is your boyfriend in the bed? We've heard great things but you know we don't really know how accurate it is? And you kind of took him off the market before we could find out for ourselves." It was Stephanie who felt the need to answer. It was Stephanie who became Erin's least favorite person in the night. And she looked at Burgess, she looked at her friend and told her with a harsh glare that if she didn't get rid of her friends in the next minute, she was going to happily cause a scene that one could blame on jealousy or possessiveness. Pick your poison.
Kim got the memo. She excused herself and waved for her friends to follow. They didn't. They didn't budge until her guards gently grabbed their arms and led them away from her and towards Burgess who was now sitting in the bar area. Erin finished her first glass and watched from afar as Kim spoke to her friends, or rather, as her friends spoke and chastised Kim. Whatever was being said led for Burgess to walk away angry, approaching the table with a stomp in her feet and a huff in her breath. She sounded like a teenager. Erin wouldn't say that though because she didn't want to upset her further.
"You shouldn't let them talk to you like that," Erin whispered, smiling up at the waiter as he set down her order of mozzarella cheese sticks. She knew the performance was supposed to start soon so with a quick wave of her hand she motioned for Jay to come over.
"That's easier said than done, Erin." Kim mumbled in response and she failed to meet her eye even if her body was facing her.
Jay approached. He took the seat next to her, the one that Melanie had vacated as he started to eat some of the mozzarella cheese sticks. One of his hands resting on her thigh and the other dipping the cheese stick into the marinara sauce. Erin broke her cheese stick apart and smiled at the sight of the string of cheese stretching as far as she pulled, "It'll only get worse. They don't respect you, Kim. They talk to you any way they see fit and that isn't right. You have to stand up for yourself because if you don't then no one will."
Erin silently eats her cheese stick before deciding to take another approach, "You remember when I told you that it reminded me about when I was in high school," she waits until Kim nods before continuing, "well those girls used to pick on me and tease me until I punched one of them in the face," at this, Kim's eyes bulge and Jay almost chokes on a cheese stick; he has no idea about the backstory or what caused the confession, but this admission intrigues him, "yeah and I got sent to the principal's office and was almost kicked out of private school but my dad pulled some strings, but what I'm trying to say is it should have never gotten to that point. In the beginning, I never said anything. I never stood up for myself. I never defended myself and because of that they felt like they could do and say whatever they pleased and I just let them and then it kept happening and kept happening until it was too late and I just snapped."
"It's not an everyday thing though. I don't see them every day."
"If I were you, I wouldn't see them at all. Some friends are toxic and it's best if we cut those loose. You weren't your happy and carefree self today and it was weird seeing you so meek and mute around those girls. That's not you and you don't want that to be you and if it's them that's causing you to be someone you're not then cut that branch off the tree. You don't need them."
"…but they're my friends."
"Yeah, well friends don't make friends feel like shit."
And with that the lights started to dim and the restaurant's manager began to make an announcement. She saw Jay eat one last mozzarella cheese stick before leaning over to press his lips against hers and then depart to walk onto the stage. He was brushing his hands together to rid himself of the crumbs. The show was starting. And she was absorbed by the music even though Kim wasn't. She saw her debating this. She knew her words were circulating and on repeat in Kim's head. She looked over at the bar and met the eyes of her so-called friends and they all waved at her eagerly and excitedly as they rocked and swayed to the music. Erin simply scoffed before kindly waving back. She had to be nice. She had to play nice. She had to be the dotting first daughter, the respectable young lady and the proud girlfriend. Her dad was running for re-election.. And her mother didn't raise her to be a rude ass.
Be nice. She kindly reminded herself. Be nice.
She turned to face the small, makeshift stage just as Mouse began strumming his fingers along the bass. She watched Jay close his eyes as he started to hum into the microphone. The audience was entranced. None of them were focused on their meals or their drinks, but on the famous band owning the stage. There was no tip jar. They stopped playing for tips the second they made it big. Instead, they played for free as a way to say thank you for listening. It was a peaceful atmosphere, a calm one that was the complete opposite of their concerts. The audience was filled with middle aged adults –old married couples who came out for date night, business executives who were having a corporate meeting and young adults who were on their first or second date.
Erin sat in her chair, swaying her body side to side, completely consumed by the melody in her boyfriend's voice. She was so proud of him. To come from nothing and to reach your goals was the American dream. Her boyfriend was living it. And she couldn't be prouder if she had tried.
It took her breath away.
There weren't many things that distracted her from food. This though, this was one of them.
She felt a warm, fuzzy feeling growing inside of her when his eyes reopened and connected with hers.
It buoyed her spirits.
She continued to sway and the only thing that diverted her attention away from the stage was a woman -Erin had never seen before- approaching the table. Her guard stepped forward but Erin waved Dawson away. She may have never seen her before but Erin knew who she was.
"Hallie," Kim jumps to her feet. And the music still plays in the background.
"Hi Kim," the young nurse nervously waved; her body faced Burgess but her head and eyes were directed towards Erin. Her presence was strong in the room. It commanded attention.
"Oh, Hallie, this is Erin," Burgess takes it upon herself to introduce, "and Erin, this is Hallie."
And that's her cue. Erin stands up, brushes the tips of her fingers against an unused napkin before extending her hand, "It is so nice to meet you. I've heard great things."
"You did?" Her surprised eyes were fringed with long lashes. She felt a shortness of breath the second she shook Erin's hand.
"I did," Erin grinned. Her smile turned into a laugh when Hallie's hand continued to shake hers. It was a handshake that went on a little longer than what was socially acceptable.
"Guys, people are starting to stare," Kim whispered, interrupting the shaking of their hands.
Erin took a hold of her seat and Hallie scurried around to take the empty one next to her, "So, is this your first time watching," she pinches herself for the stupid question, "sorry dumb question. I already know the answer to that," Erin arched her brow, "I…I just mean that anyone who hasn't been living under a rock knows the answer to that because your relationship is on all cable news networks and social media so I would have to be living under a rock if I didn't know." Her face was flushed; Hallie felt embarrassment rack her. Never in a million years did she think she would get the opportunity to date a celebrity nevertheless meet the first daughter of the country.
"There's no need to be embarrassed," Erin whispers, patting Hallie against the back.
"Yeah well," she shrugs in response, "that's easier said than done. I'm talking to Erin Voight."
For the remainder of the show, Hallie struggled to focus on the music. She felt torn between her boyfriend currently playing the bass and the woman sitting next to her who was completely absorbed by the lead singer stroking his fingers along the strings of his guitar. She was so focused on splitting her mind between the two that she hadn't realized the show was over. She didn't see the band setting their instruments down, bowing at the round of applause and stepping off the stage to walk towards their table. On their quest over, they had been stopped by a few fans and groupies in need of autographs and selfies.
"Does it ever bother you?"
Both Burgess and Erin looked up at Hallie's question. They kind of knew where the conversation was going. It was months ago when Erin had a similar conversation with Kim, in Chicago, but in a diner on the opposite side of their current location.
"Does what bother us?" Kim questions, leaning forward to glance around Erin to follow Hallie's eyes, "Oh, you mean the endless supply of girls," Hallie nods, "No…not usually."
Hallie turns to face Erin, "And you?"
Erin didn't answer the question right away. Instead she watched. She watched as the women threw themselves at the guys and she watched as Jay struggled to make his way through the crowd. Papers awaiting autographs were shoved in their faces. He could feel her eyes on him and he lifted his gaze to meet hers. His expression alone helped her shape an answer.
"It doesn't bother me," the smile on her face matched the smile on his, "as long as he's coming home to me, it'll never bother me."
By the end of her answer, Jay had managed to get through the crowd of fans and overwhelming support. He moved up to the table, wrapping his hand around his girlfriend's and pulling her to her feet. He nods towards Hallie in a silent greeting before turning his main focus and undivided attention onto the girl in his orbit. Jay buried his face into the crook of her neck as he held her tightly and securely in a left armed embrace, "What did you think of the show?"
"…perfect," she pecked his cheek, "like always."