Write or Wrong (Common Threads #9)

Chapter 28

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

HARDLINERS

ASA

He let out a slow breath. “Okay,” he muttered under his breath.

He knew the place would be full of people. But it was still jarring to walk into the living room and have so many eyes turn his way.

And none of them were Zara.

“She and Cas had a meeting,” Gregor informed him, handing him a cup of coffee. “They’ll be back later.”

Asa took a sip. It had half and half already stirred into it. That wasn’t weird.

“Kenna has some questions for you when you’re ready,” Gregor said, indicating the blonde on the phone who held up a finger in their direction. “But I can make you some food first if you’re hungry.”

Asa took a deep breath, his head spinning. It wasn’t like he didn’t know that her professional life would completely steamroll him the moment it returned. But he didn’t know if he could adapt that quickly. Especially since he didn’t know how she was doing.

Last night had been intense. Actually, intense wasn’t a strong enough word.

He wanted to check in with her, make sure she was okay. And he wanted to do that before he did anything else.

Though if she was with Cas, she was probably doing fine.

It wasn’t like she’d waited around for him to follow her. She had a whole team of people looking out for her. He was just…the guy she slept with.

Who was also hopelessly, uselessly, in love with her.

“I know it’s a lot,” Gregor said, dropping his voice. “I will try to make the transition as easy on you as possible.”

Asa’s frown deepened as he narrowed his eyes at the assistant. Why? Had he been instructed to do so? And transition into what? Or where? Back to his regular life? Or maybe…

Gregor opened his mouth to say more when they were interrupted by a knock at the door.

The energy in the room shifted as all focus turned that direction.

The door opened and Asa blinked in surprise when Logan Black stood there. Before he could even acknowledge what was happening, his legs were already carrying him toward Zara’s ex.

The security at the door moved aside and he tried not to notice.

Logan looked through most of the people in the room. He paused on Gregor and his cheek twitched. Finally his eyes landed on Asa.

“She’s still got you around, huh?” Logan said.

“What are you doing here?” Asa asked.

Logan rolled his eyes and took a step further into the apartment. “I just want to check on her. See if she’s okay.”

Like hell he did. He saw an opportunity to reinsert himself. That’s the only reason he was there.

“She’s fine. You can leave now.” Asa positioned his body to block more of Logan’s view into the apartment. How the hell did this guy even find out where she was at? Though maybe it was an unspoken rule that all celebrities were allowed to know more than the general public.

“Listen, I get it, okay? You think you’re her hero, you want to protect her. But I know her. You can’t just erase the kind of history we have.” Logan shrugged like he was apologizing for having to deliver the truth. “You’re not the first guy she’s fucked to get back at me.”

Asa took a slow, deep breath, relaxing his hands at his side. Wow, this guy. He really thought he had something to say, didn’t he? His lips twitched with annoyed amusement.

Logan’s gaze narrowed on Asa’s face. “What’s that look for?”

“Nothing,” Asa said, shaking his head. “Just get out of here.”

“She’s still in a snit? She’s such a fuckin’ brat.” Logan snickered and rolled his eyes.

Asa knew he shouldn’t. He knew there were better ways to handle himself. But he didn’t care about any of that. Logan Black had it coming.

It happened so fast, the moment between thought and action. Asa’s balled up fist connected with the singer’s nose in one single pop. A quick as lightning punch to the center of Logan’s face.

He didn’t think he’d hit him that hard but Logan cried out and dropped to his knees, covering his nose. Logan’s security surrounded him and pulled him to his feet.

“What the fuck?” Logan yelled, blood starting to seep from his nose. He pulled his hand back and looked at the red there, his eyes going round and wild. “I’m gonna sue the ever-loving shit out of you!”

Asa expected as much.

Still worth it.

Someone grabbed him by the arm and tugged him aside. Gregor put himself between Asa and Logan.

“That’s crazy how you tried to push your way into a room—uninvited—directly after an attempted attack on Zara. And her security accidentally bumped your nose because they didn’t know who you were. What an insane set of circumstances. Wouldn’t you agree, Kenna?” Gregor said, his voice one of over emphasized shock and wonder.

Kenna slipped past Asa to stand by Gregor’s shoulder. “So crazy, who would even believe it? Good thing we have an entire room of witnesses.”

Logan’s angry expression slowly melted to incredulity as his gaze bounced from person to person in the room and he found no allies.

“Fuck you all in your fucking faces you fucking fucks,” he said.

“He’s such an orator,” Gregor said with a solemn nod.

“Best of our time,” Kenna agreed.

Logan sputtered, squealed a bit, and then left in a huff.

“He’ll be fine,” Gregor said, turning around after the door closed. “His mom has a plastic surgeon on retainer. No one will even know.”

Asa didn’t know what to think. On one hand, he’s been fully ready to go to jail for punching that asshole in the face. On the other, he was confused and grateful for Gregor and Kenna’s intervention.

“How about some food?” Gregor asked, patting him on the shoulder once.

“I could eat,” Asa replied. He slid onto a stool at the breakfast bar.

“Do you need ice for your hand?” Gregor asked, moving around the kitchen like he’d been there for ages and not just a few hours.

Asa flexed his hand a few times. “It doesn’t hurt. His nose crumbled like a sandcastle.”

Gregor chuckled and Asa watched him work in the kitchen.

He didn’t look the way Asa had assumed he would. Not that he knew a lot of personal assistants. Gregor looked a lot like Cas. Not in the face so much, but the build, the size, the mannerisms.

“Why did you guys do that?” Asa asked, not specifying.

Gregor smiled to himself and kept working. “She hasn’t had any stomach issues since she’s been here.” He put a sandwich on a plate in front of Asa. “She’s never not had stomach issues.”

“Until last night,” Asa pointed out.

Gregor nodded in agreement. “A lot happened last night. I didn’t say she was cured.”

Asa thought about the last night and wondered what would happen next with them. Sure, she’d asked him to stay but like Gregor had said, a lot had happened last night.

“Asa Young,” a woman with dark brown hair and a meticulous pantsuit sidled up to him at the island. “I’m Sonja, Zara’s manager.”

He shook her hand and braced. Was this where he got his walking papers? It was one thing for everyone to be happy he’d punched Logan. It was another to let him stick around when he wasn’t wanted.

“Do you have management?” Sonja asked curiously.

Asa recognized something in Sonja’s tone and the shrewdness of her gaze. This woman was a shark.

“No, ma’am,” he replied.

Her lips twitched with the “ma’am” comment but she let it slide.

“I’ve been over your career?—”

Asa held back his laugh. Career. Hilarious.

“And Zara has told me of your invaluable talent. I trust her judgement. She has yet to make me anything other than insidiously rich. Let’s have a meeting, the three of us, and chat about the future.”

It wasn’t a question. She slid her card across the counter and held Asa’s gaze for a beat before smiling and turning to Gregor.

“I am going to the hotel now for a rest. Will you tell our darling girl that she may call me at any time?”

Gregor nodded once and Sonja left, taking three of the bodyguards with her.

“She’s scary, right?” Asa asked after Sonja was gone.

“Terrifying,” Gregor replied. “I heard heads rolled before she left Boston last night. Kramer bribed someone in her office to find out where Zara was. I guess it wasn’t pretty when Sonja figured it out.”

The knot in Asa’s stomach started to loosen. These people were good, kind people. They adored Zara. Probably loved her more than she knew. She was in good hands. It started to make sense now. How she’d been able to hold onto her sunny outlook on life through all of the shit the industry threw at her; she was surrounded by people who encouraged her, cared about her.

She didn’t need him. Not really.

Huh.

Instead of feeling terrible about that fact, it eased his conscience.

She didn’t need him.

She didn’t need him to protect her, or take care of her, or validate her. She was wonderfully and completely whole. She had a team that took care of those things.

But out of all the people in the world, she’d chosen him. Trusted him. Asked nothing of him except to love her.

And he could do that.

He could do that better than anyone.

ZARA

They left Quinn’s office and headed back to the apartment.

“How do you feel about your options?” Cas asked from the front passenger seat as Devan drove.

Zara smiled and it felt like her first genuine smile since the day before. “Really good,” she answered honestly. “Thank you.”

Cas shrugged like it wasn’t a big deal. Maybe to him it wasn’t. But she knew what it meant to her. His phone chimed and he glanced at the screen and snorted.

“Logan Black stopped by while we were gone,” Cas said.

Devan growled low in her throat.

“Why?” Zara asked, instantly annoyed.

Cas, still reading the message on his phone, started to smile. “Asa punched him in the nose.”

Devan barked a laugh and Cas chuckled. Zara sat there, stunned. She wanted to laugh. She also wanted to cry.

Because they were the same.

She’d just dealt with Asa’s sister in order to protect him while at the same time he’d dealt with her ex.

She loved him so much. She needed to tell him as soon as possible.

They made it back to the apartment and it wasn’t as full of people as when she’d left.

Her eyes found Asa immediately.

Her heart lurched his direction and she obliged its request.

He was standing near the balcony door with Kenna and Gregor who looked like they were prepping him for some kind of PR stunt.

He spotted her on the way over and the deep lines in his face relaxed. His brown eyes got lazy and a crooked smile curved his mouth. “Hey, killer,” he said when she was near enough. “Nice shirt.”

She wrapped her arms across her middle, pulling the flannel closer. “Thanks. It’s new.”

He looked her up and down, taking his time in both directions. Like he was verifying she was all in one piece.

He’d showered and changed his clothes; his shirt was plain black and probably not one of his own.

“What’s going on here?” she asked Kenna and Gregor who were openly watching their interaction.

Kenna clucked her tongue. “How much do you trust me?”

Zara blinked at her publicist.

“Don’t scare her.” Gregor chuckled. “We just want the both of you to step out onto the balcony.” He tilted his head toward the door.

“And do what?” she asked.

Kenna pursed her lips and looked away.

“Do whatever you want. Chat or say nothing. Do a dance if you’re so inclined,” Gregor encouraged. “Whatever it is you kids do.”

“I have a photographer positioned below. It’s someone we’ve worked with before and we can get some tasteful, candid shots of you two being relaxed and happy,” Kenna explained.

“Ah, yes. The staged candid. My favorite,” Zara said dryly.

“It’s the best idea to counter the stories out there right now. We verify you’re in Chicago but not in Lincoln Park, and that yes, you’re with Asa, but that it’s not necessarily romantic.” Kenna eyed Zara’s shirt. “If you’re not together, you need to change your shirt.”

Zara’s gaze darted to Asa. She’d wanted to have a conversation with him, privately, before having to make any kind of public declaration.

“Unless you’re ready to go public with a relationship,” Gregor suggested. “If that’s the case, may I recommend a snog with an ass grab.”

“Gregor!” Zara chastised.

Kenna rolled her eyes and held up a hand. “Honestly, you don’t have to do that. If being out there together makes you uncomfortable then we can just have one of you do it. Either is fine, but Devan doesn’t want Zara out there alone. We need you to be out there for at least thirty minutes so Lacie—the photographer—can get several shots from different locations.”

Zara sighed. She had to do this in Rome once. When she’d been spotted having dinner with an actor well-known for his superhero movie franchise. It hadn’t been a date. It had been business. But a picture had been taken of both of them laughing while they were leaning in towards each other. The internet fed off that for weeks.

She’d had to stand on a balcony for an hour so they could prove she was alone in Italy, not a romantic vacation. He had to be seen in a farmer’s market on another continent having cider with his costar.

That had been a weird month.

Light pressure on her lower lip had her sucking in a startled breath and her eyes snapping to Asa.

“Please stop chewing on that lip,” he said, his thumb lingering on her mouth.

Her skin caught fire where he touched her and she found herself leaning toward him. His lips tipped up on one side and his gaze softened.

He dropped his hand only to take hers and back toward the balcony door. She followed him outside; Gregor closed the door behind them. She looked back over her shoulder at her assistant who gave her a thumbs up.

For fuck’s sake.

It was weird to have Gregor and Kenna be so…encouraging with Asa. The only experience she had with them and her relationships was with Logan. And they openly hated Logan.

But that’s because they had come along later. After Logan had already transitioned into his final form. They didn’t know him when he was sixteen the way she had. They weren’t there to see him struggle through auditions and bad reviews and disappointment.

But she remembered all of it.

That’s probably the main reason she’d stuck around for so long. Because she still remembered the kid in him. She still didn’t hate that kid. But he was so far away from who he used to be, it was like he’d become a different person.

“What are you thinking about?” Asa asked.

He’d let go of her hand and they stood together, side by side, looking out over the city, elbows resting on the railing.

“I was thinking about what it means to grow up,” she answered honestly. She took a breath and focused on the clouds in the distance. “Growing up is so much more than getting older. It’s choosing to learn about yourself; learning to let go of certain ideas; learning to explore new ones. It’s scary. Sometimes the person we used to be is better. Growing up doesn’t necessarily mean positive things. We hope it does. We hope that we get to a certain point in our lives that we’re proud of.” She smiled a sad smile as a multitude of past regrets sprang to mind.

He bumped her shoulder with her own but didn’t move away. Instead their arms stayed pressed together, sharing warmth and stability.

“I punched Logan,” he said.

She nodded. “I turned Shelby over to her own consequences.”

He looked at her for a beat and then back out over the city.

“I’m sorry,” Asa said into the silence. “About last night. I shouldn’t have gone behind your back like that.”

“But if you hadn’t?—”

“Doesn’t matter,” he cut her off. He turned his body to face her. His dark eyes searching and sincere. “I won’t ever do anything like that again.” His Adam’s apple bobbed with a hard swallow and a muscle jumped in his jaw. “I keep thinking about how you looked at me when you found out.” He shook his head and blinked like he was seeing it even now. “I never want to be the cause of that. I’m sorry I hurt you.”

She didn’t know how much she needed to hear him say it. To hear him acknowledge what he’d done. She didn’t have to walk him through and tell him the right things to say. He’d gotten there all on his own.

And the tattered edges of her belief stopped flapping in the wind and started to stick together.

“I can work on being more sensitive to your concerns,” she admitted. “If I’d listened to you, we probably would have come to the same solution anyway.” She smiled apologetically. “We usually do.”

He brushed her arm with careful fingertips, his gaze asking something he was afraid to ask.

“It won’t be the last time my life is in danger,” she admitted, hating every word even though it was true. “Is that something you can live with?”

His eyebrows lifted and he huffed a humorless laugh. “I don’t think I have a choice.”

She licked her lips and blinked away the sting in her eyes. She didn’t like the next part. The part that felt like stepping onto the edge of a cliff. “But you do. You don’t have to do any of this. You don’t have to…stay.”

His gaze turned soft and he curved a hand around her jaw. She leaned into his touch. God, she’d missed him. She missed his warmth and the connection they’d shared since the beginning. It had grown and taken deep roots inside her.

She’d be okay if he decided this was all too much. She’d cry and parts of her would be changed forever. But she’d be okay.

“It’s like you’re trying to convince me I don’t need air to breathe,” Asa said, his voice warm and thoughtful.

She put a hand over his on her face because she didn’t want him to move away.

Asa’s eyes drifted over her face. Slow, calm, earnest. “Don’t you know what you mean to me?” he asked.

She inhaled, trying to fill her lungs and flood her brain with oxygen so she could think clearly. Her heart pounded like a demigod’s hammer on her sternum.

“Zara,” he said, the sound of her name on his lips soothing and exciting at the same time. “I love you.”

Her entire world stopped. He curved his other hand around her neck and jaw, cradling her face in both hands. His long fingers threaded through her hair and wrapped around the base of her skull.

“I love you,” he repeated. His eyes were like dark hot springs, full of healing and warmth. He held her gaze, making his meaning clear.

“But…”

He cut her off with a headshake. “No. Wherever you are is where I want to be. I don’t care what happens or where, I’ll choose you every time.”

“Really?” she asked, the disbelief in her voice betraying more honesty than she’d wanted. Not because she didn’t believe him; she just didn’t believe someone would choose her. After seeing what would happen, knowing the chaos and the drama and the lack of privacy. Who would choose that? Who would love her enough to put up with all the extra stuff she brought to the table?

He studied her, his eyes dropped to her mouth for a beat. “I love you so much,” he said, voice rough. “I love your mind and your laugh and your heart. The way you feel and create and dream. Everything that comes with you is worth it. You’re worth it.”

Maybe he had more to say, she didn’t know. Her arms had encircled his neck and she pulled him down while simultaneously pushing up on her toes as high as she could go. When their lips met a small sound of relief echoed through her chest and throat.

His hands moved, one across her back and the other to the back of her head.

And he kissed her.

He kissed her and kissed her and kissed her. Sweet relief and tender tastes mingled between them. Their bodies pressed together, as close as they could get and everything inside her came to rest.

All of her doubt and fear and apprehension ceased their chattering and she was left with a peaceful knowing.

This was it.

She was kissing the rest of her life.

ASA

How could a kiss feel like redemption? He didn’t know, but there it was anyway. Such was the power she had over him.

He pulled back just enough to look into her beautiful eyes. “I am yours. I will always be yours,” he promised.

“I love you.” She inhaled swiftly as if those words were terrifying to admit. But he already knew it. He’d known it for a while. He wasn’t sure when it had become clear. Just that one day he’d looked at her and he could see it. Love shining out of her eyes directly at him.

“I have so many things to tell you,” she whispered.

He kissed the corner of her mouth. “Tell me.”

Her amber gold eyes wandered over his face like she couldn’t quite believe he was there. She touched his bearded cheek with her fingertips.

“It might take a minute but I’m going to change some things about how my life is managed and organized. To insulate us from…all of that.”

“I told you, I’m with you in all of it,” he said. “You don’t have to change anything.”

A smile fluttered on her lips and she pressed her palm flat to the center of his chest. “This,” she emphasized with pressure on his sternum. “This is worth protecting.”

His heart pulsed against her hand, deciding it would be better off with her than him. He couldn’t argue.

“There will always be cameras and opinions and liars who don’t want us to be okay,” she went on. “Love and happiness are a threat to the status quo. We will always be surrounded, photographed. Watched.” She swallowed, observing his reaction. For him to realize he didn’t know what he’d promised.

But he knew all of it.

And he wasn’t afraid.

Not when he was with her.

“It’ll be us at the center then,” he said. “Together.”

Her eyes glossed over and a soft smile graced the most beautiful lips in the world. “I am so in love with you,” she said.

Just before his mouth descended on hers again, intent on stealing her breath, he hovered over her lips. “I love you,” he said once more before sealing it with a kiss that was also a promise.

In the face of what he felt for her, all of that other stuff didn’t even register anymore. Maybe it was because he’d returned to music so life couldn’t overwhelm him the way it used to. Maybe it was because what he felt for her was so enormous, it made everything else small by comparison.

He’d been dead. Lost in the darkness for way too long. And she’d slowly and tenderly loved him back to life. He’d spend the rest of that life trying to make her as happy as she made him.

They were different. Together they could get through anything. And when one of them needed to be carried, the other would be right there. He knew it as surely as he knew the sun was going to rise again tomorrow.

Their lives wouldn’t look like anyone else’s. That’s because their love wasn’t like anyone else’s either.

CONFIRMED!

Even though both parties denied it months ago, Zara Lorna and Asa Young were spotted on a balcony in Chicago. And if the pictures are anything to go by, they aren’t “just friends.”

The two were photographed sharing an intimate moment just hours after news broke that Lyle Kramer had been apprehended.

Fans pointed out that Zara was wearing the shirt Asa had been photographed in the day before. It’s safe to say the two have a very close relationship.

CELEBX received a statement from Lorna’s publicist seemingly confirming the relationship. “Zara and Asa have asked for privacy as they step into this new chapter of their lives.”

Friends say Asa Young, musician and former bass player for Winking Pete was only in town to visit family when he ran into Zara at XY Records.

The award-winning songstress has been in hiding for months after a very public breakup with Logan Black.

Sources say she and Asa are taking things slow. What do you think? Drop your comments below on what you think of the new couple.

COMMENTS

He’s so hot.

They look really good together.

Get you somebody that looks at you the way Asa Young looks at Zara Lorna.

She deserves to be happy.

Logan Black really fumbled the ball.

OMG, their babies are going to be so cute!

This makes me believe in love.