July Above Novel – After 6 years, this man is back again. Why does he think I still love him? “We need a way to polish over Jack’s reputation. With your help of course.” “Can you get to the point already?” “We want you to pretend to date Jack.” The room is dead silent. “No.” I almost don’t hear the words. My ears are ringing. “Miss Miller can we be sensible about this and think for just a minute.” Shaking my head at his agent I move to stand up. “Sunny, please.” That all familiar knee-buckling, heart-breaking feeling is back. It makes me sick to my stomach. His voice, that nickname. It’s all too much for me. I let out a shuttering breath before I turn around and face him for the first time in six years.
“And this is when the feeling sinks in. I don’t wanna miss you like this. Come back, be here, come back, be here.” I’m startled awake by the sound of my phone ringing. I had no idea I even fell asleep but I’m so grateful that I have today off otherwise I would have had some pretty pissed off customers trying to open the store this late. Fumbling around on the soft couch I have propped against the outside wall, my fingers finally grasp my phone. It’s 8:30 am and a random number is calling me. One I don’t recognize. “Hello?” My voice is filled with sleep. It’s dripping past the corner of my lips and I know that the person on the other end can tell they just woke me up but they don’t seem to care. “Is this Lennon Miller? “This is her. What can I do for you?” “Good morning Miss Miller, my name is Angela White. I was able to contact your agent who put me through to you regarding a meeting. Do you have any availbitly this week?” My eyebrows cross in confusion.
“Please. Call me Lennon. I have some free time during the week. Does Thursday sound okay?” “That sounds just fine.” “Can I ask what this meeting is about?” “I would prefer to talk to you in person. This is a face to face conversation and your agent already approved.” “Okay. How about Thursday at 10?” I cannot possibly guess what this meeting could be about. Anyone who would need to get into contact with me regarding my book or my store has my number already. I’m sure it’s nothing big maybe someone who wants me to do some sort of media appearance. As much as I hate the idea I know that it sort of comes with the job. I’ve accepted that if my book was to gain any sort of popularity I’d have to put my face in front of a camera. “Wonderful. I’ve already sent your agent all the details regarding the meeting place. I look forward to seeing you soon.” The phone call ends shortly after that. I send Zoe a text because the longer I sit here the more curious I become.
What do I wear? How should I act? I’m assuming this person is important enough to request a very secret meeting with me only two days from now. Zoe unfortunately gives me nothing and I’m left to stew in the possibilities and the what if’s for the rest of the night and into the next two days. ~*~*~ Thursday came around fast and before I know it I’m walking into the elevator of a random agency building. It’s very clean and white. I sort of hate it. As I step out of the elevator I’m guided by a random person towards a room at the end of the hallway. Raising my knuckles to knock on the door it’s whipped open before I get the chance and a tall woman with long brown hair is standing in front of me. She has a smile that rivals a shark and now I’m suddenly extremely nervous as to what I’m about to walk into. Entering the room I see Zoe seated at the table and a few other random people. The door shuts behind me and is locked. My back straightens slightly. I take a quick look around the room and notice a man standing in the corner, his back is faced towards me and his broad shoulders are curved in on themselves. He turns his head slightly to the right and my knees actually give out on me.
Zoe rushes to help me stand. I could recognize that side profile even if we were in the dark. “What is going on?” My voice is about as wobbly as my legs. Zoe helps me sit down in a chair directly across from an empty one. I know he’s going to sit there and a horrible feeling breaks into the cracks of my heart. I can’t look at his face. “Lennon please, sit down and just listen.” “Jack you should sit down as well.” The confirmation from who I assume is his agent has anger blooming across my chest. I have been blind sided. Completely and utterly tricked by people and I know and people I don’t. I can’t even look at him as he sits down across from me. It’s a haunting reality. I can smell his cologne and feel that he is in front of me but my freshly broken heart is protesting. Zoe reaches a hand over to smooth down my back and I almost snap at her. I feel like a dog being cornered. I don’t mean to bite but I am angry, I am scared, and I am hurt. My chin is tilted towards my chest. A few locks of curls fall forward and shield my face like a veil. It’s hard to breathe in this room, he’s too overwhelming.
“Okay now that we are all settled I think it’s time we get into this meeting. Lennon, I’m sorry that we all kept you in the dark. I imagine this must be hard but all we need is some time to explain.” “You think this is hard? You have no idea. I only have about 5 minutes left on my patience meter so please, tell me why you felt the need to drag me into this room before I explode.” The room is tense. Every person in here can feel just how angry I am. There’s a sudden wave of quilt and sorrow that is wafting off of Jack. He hasn’t said a single world since I sat down but his eyes have never left my face. Even now as I tilt my chin higher, I refuse to look him in the eye. He doesn’t deserve any of my respect and I sure am not going to give it too him. He can stare at me all he wants but I won’t give in no matter how much I want to turn and look into the eyes of my childhood. The eyes at the root of my every dream and nightmare. “I appreciate your cooperation.
Are you aware of the recent attention Mr. Hughes has been getting?” “No. I couldn’t care less about what is happening in his life.” Lie. That is one huge, fat lie. Ever since I saw that article I have been keeping tabs on him like my life depends on it. “Alright. We can divulge into all the details later but I need to give you a short run down in order to explain why you are here. Jack was recently named captain of the New Jersey Devils. It is a incredible accomplishment so early in his career. Being captain means you are in constant scrutiny of the public eyes. Jack has received some unsatisfactory attention recently and we are desperate to change his reputation.” Out of the corner of my eye I can see Jack’s shoulders jerk. It’s like he’s cringing over something that is entirely his fault. It was his wrong doings that led him here he doesn’t have the right to cringe like he’s looking from an outside view. His agent looks from him and back to me. Her lips are pulled tight like she too doesn’t want to be doing this. “I don’t see how this is any of my business.” “Well actually we have something to ask you. Trust me, this is the very last option and we wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t so important. Jack filled me in briefly on your history.” A dry laugh huffs out of my lips. “Yeah, I’m sure he did.” “Lennon.”
Zoe grunts in my ear like I’m a dog once again and in order to keep me from biting she needs to tug a bit on my metaphorical chain. I pay her no mind, she has another thing coming if she thinks I’m ever going to forgive her for this. Zoe knows absolutely every detail of my past with Jack and for her to agree to this is the ultimate betral. “We need a way to polish over Jack’s reputation. Something that will make people think that everything they read about him isnt true. We don’t want to erase his history, instead we would like to rewrite it. With your help of course.” “Can you get to the point already?” “We want you to pretend to date Jack.” The room is dead silent. The type of silence that makes you think you can hear your blood rushing through your veins.
I don’t think i’m breathing and I know I’m not when Zoe slaps me on the back and a loud sputtering cough punches through my airway. I’ve only been speechless one other time in my life and it’s so ironic that Jack is at the root of both. I don’t know what to say. Well, I do know what to say but I am so stunned at the absolutely ridiculous request that I can’t get the words to come out of my mouth. “No.” I almost don’t hear the words. My ears are ringing but I know that I said them because everyone around me is gaping like I have two heads. “Miss Miller can we be sensible about this and think for just a minute.” Shaking my head at his agent I move to stand up. The legs of the chair squeak loudly as I shove it across the floor. “Sunny, please.” That all familiar knee-buckling, heart-breaking feeling is back. It makes me sick to my stomach. His voice, that nickname. It’s all too much for me. I let out a shuttering breath before I turn around and face him for the first time in six years.