"Emily, are you and Reed Alexander an item?"
"Emily, over here."
"Emily, can you tell us any details on the Black and White event?"
"Emily, look right here."
I felt arms wrap around me, pulling me into something hard and solid. My feet were no longer on the ground. Everything happened so fast I barely had time to process it when I heard Reed's voice loud at my ear.
"I've got you. Just keep your head down." The strong arms wrapped around me tighter as the yelling and flashes continued.
What the hell is going on?
A few more steps and then I felt myself being placed inside the car. Reed climbed in quickly after me.
"Let's go!" Reed yelled at the driver, and then the car lurched forward.
My breaths were coming heavy and fast, as I was trying to figure out what the hell just happened.
5
THE CAR sped away from the restaurant as I sat in the backseat trying to catch my breath. Reed was already on his phone, looking over at me with wary eyes.
"Robbins, I need you to meet me at my place." He spoke firmly, keeping his eyes on me, watching carefully. "I just walked out of a restaurant and a swarm of paparazzi and reporters were out there waiting for me and Emily. I thought I was done with this shit." He closed his eyes to hide his frustration. When he opened them back up, he was again looking at me with something new in his eyes—sympathy and pity.
He ended the call and put the phone down before scooting across the seat, coming closer to me, slow and cautious. My face must have said it all. Even I could feel the fear and confusion all over it.
"Are you okay?" he asked.
He was still a few inches away, but he was close enough that I could feel the heat of his body and smell the scent of his cologne. I could still feel his arms around me. I could still smell him on me.
"I'm fine," I mumbled, feeling my heart beating wildly in my chest. I didn’t know if it was still going crazy from what had happened back there, the feeling of his arms around me, or from his close proximity right now. Maybe a mixture of all three.
Quickly, I looked away, not expecting the rush of heat to my cheeks or the pain in my chest. I blew out a large breath and tried to focus on what had just happened: the flashes, the yelling, the pictures, Reed mentioning the paparazzi and reporters. Then it all fell into place and the realization sent my heart into my throat. They were all taking pictures of me. Pictures that could be published in magazines and newspapers. Pictures that could get back to Jake. He could figure out my new name. Where I was living.
"Emily, you don't look so well," Reed said. I turned toward him. He scanned my face, which I was sure was white as a ghost right now.
"Um." I forced down my panic. I didn't want to lose it in front of Reed. I just wanted to go home. "I'm fine." I shook my head and tried to empty the negative thoughts, at least for a few more minutes anyway. Maybe they just wanted pictures of Reed, and I had nothing to worry about. Maybe they didn't get a good picture of me. Maybe Jake wouldn't even see it. Even if they did happen to get a shot, there was a good chance they wouldn't print it. I was a nobody. "I just really need to get home," I said, shifting away from him.
"Are you sure? That had to have freaked you out, considering…" His voice trailed off.
"Considering what?"
He sat back, clearly regretting what he just said.
"Considering what?" I asked again, this time my voice held some annoyance and anger. I didn't want him assuming anything about me.
"Nothing. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said anything. I just know where you and Lexi met, but she didn't tell me anything. My assumptions are my own."
Of course Lexi didn't tell him anything. She didn't know anything about me.
We stared at each other for a long second before Reed's phone rang, making me jump. He held the phone to his ear, staring at me with the same serious yet regretful expression.
"Peters," he said, never taking his eyes off me. "Yes, I know." He paused and listened. Then he pulled his bottom lip into his mouth and bit down, clearly angry about something. "Dammit. I'll head there now. They were waiting for us outside a restaurant, too. Would you call Robbins and have him meet me at the back of Lexi's building? Yes. Thank you, Peters." He set the phone back down on the seat and let out a long, steady breath, not saying anything for a few seconds.
"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said anything. It's none of my business," he finally said.
"It's fine." I sensed a change in him. The phone call he just received clearly upset him. He wouldn't look me in the eye and he was tapping his fingers nervously against his bouncing leg.
"What was the phone call about?" I asked, knowing it was none of my business. I couldn't help but be curious when he mentioned Lexi's name.
"It's Lexi." His voice broke on her name and he had to clear his throat. "The press swarmed her outside her apartment, asking questions, talking about the attack, saying horrible things. I guess trying to get her talking. It scared the shit out of her and now she won't come out of her bathroom. I'm headed over there after I drop you off."
"Oh my God." I shook my head. "Why can't they just leave her alone? She's been through so much already." My heart ached for her. I couldn't imagine how scared she must have been. "I want to come with you."
His head turned to the side and his eyes locked with mine. "You don't have to, Emily. I can take care of my sister."
"She's my friend. I want to be there for her."
He and the driver exchanged a brief look and then the car pulled into the right lane, turned around, and headed back toward the Upper East Side.
"This is the reason I left the city, the reason I stayed away for so long," he stated, staring out the window. "I left because I wasn't strong enough to deal with what happened. It hurt too much to look at Lexi and know what she’d gone through. To know that I wasn't there to save her and my parents." He raked his hand through his hair and then down his face. "Do you think I'm a horrible person for leaving her all alone?"
My stomach twisted and my heart squeezed. What am I supposed to say to that? It’s difficult to judge someone’s actions unless you’ve been in their shoes, and even then, it’s still pretty difficult. To be honest, if it were me, I probably would’ve run, too.
"Hey." Without thinking about it, I reached out and grabbed his shoulder. I just wanted to do something to comfort him. The pain was clear on his face and in his voice. "She's going to be okay." I consoled him. "She's strong. She'll get through this."
He looked at my hand and then up at me through hooded eyes. By the look on his face, he was feeling what I was feeling—the connection between us. My heart ached as I knew there was something there. I had felt it the last time I’d touched him or when we were within a few feet of one another. Our pasts were so different and yet we were both running from them. Reed was trying to get away from the guilt and agony over what happened to his parents and Lexi. I was running from fear and pain, trying to start over. I wanted to help him. I wanted to do whatever was in my power to erase any pain or guilt he was feeling. But I knew what that meant. In order for him to let me in and tell me his feelings, it meant I had to let him in and tell him everything about myself. But I wasn’t quite ready for that… I wasn’t sure I’d ever be.
Taking my hand away slowly, I sat back in my seat. I knew touching him last night was going too far and here I was doing it again. Even if I wanted to get to know him better, I knew things could never work between us. His life was too public, surrounded by reporters and paparazzi. Those were the last two things I needed in my life. Those two things didn't match up with the low profile I was trying to keep. I was starting to wonder if maybe working the Black and White event was a mistake, too.