CHAPTER X
"James..." Kristen said sleepily, still nestled in his chest in the warm water.
"Yeah?" he asked, resting his chin on the top of her head.
"I've been wanting to ask you this... please tell me the truth, will you?"
"O... Ok..." James frowned.
She straighten her head and look for his eyes, "You told me you left your last ex before going on tour,
'cause you better tour single
would you do that to me too?"
"What?" he replied warily.
"I want to know if that is something you do."
"I just came back from tour!" he spat at her.
"That only lasted 10 days... and you already cheated on me..."
"Oh, c'mon!" this time he replied angrily.
"Wait," she pleaded, trying to calm him down. "I'm not trying to bring that out again... it's not about that... I... I'm scared... would you do that to me?"
James l took an uneasy look around the room, taking a finger to his chin, lost in thought for a few seconds. Meanwhile she awaited for his response with anxiety.
"Look..." he started to say, staring down, "I don't know what I'll do until I do it." Then looked in to her eyes, "I just don't go planning every fucking move, I act as I fucking feel in the moment..." And took a hand to caress her neck, "I thought you already knew that about me".
"I know that..." she replied sadly. "So you're telling me you don't know if you'd dump me?" Kristen felt like crying.
"No! No, no, no... that's not what I meant... I mean, I don't have a rule about
breaking up with my chicks
before touring. Has happened that way, but they've been more casual relationships, Kris," he looked at her eyes tenderly, "I love you."
"So?" her eyes lighted in relief.
"No, I don't plan
dumping you
in my next tour, " he replied rolling his eyes. But still she smiled, and went back to rest happily in his shoulder.
As soon as Kristen's head touched her pillow she was deeply asleep. James laid sleepless by her side for a while. The warm bath left her cheeks all pink, and the sight brought made him think of their second night together.
***
The morning after breaking his arm he woke up late, his arm felt numb and stiff, but overall felt pretty fine. Suddenly Kristen came to his mind, looked for her but she wasn't around anymore. A rush of guilt ran trough him as he wondered how did she manage to get back home, or if she did it avoiding trouble. Then he noticed the scribbles in his palm:
Nursing services: 5556663
P.S. Take pills at 11 am
He smiled and dressed as fast as he could to call her back.
"George's Garage, may I help you?" A man's voice he clearly recognized came through the receiver.
Fuck!
"Good morning, Sir. May I speak to Kristen?"
"Ah, the
not-yet-boyfriend
, huh?" the man sounded a bit angry.
"Yes, Sir. No! I mean, no, Sir, " he stumbled nervously at his words. "I mean, I'm officially dating Kristen, Sir."
Shit!
"Mhm!" the man just growled. "Wait there," he heard him call her in the foreground, "Kiki! Your
boyfriend
is on the phone!" Followed by several male voices howling. Then heard her dad's voice again, asking, "What's that?"
"Nothing!" her nervous voice shrieked near.
"I'm watching you, boy!" the man yelled at him in the background as she picked the phone.