Page 15 of Everything In Between

ELEVEN

jersey

“Jersey’s here!” I hear someone shout as I step out of the limousine and then all the cameras turn my way.

I wave at a few fans who are lingering on the sidelines of the red carpet. Kelsey appears moments later and hurries down the carpet to meet me. She gives me a hug as the cameras flash around us.

“Thank you so much for coming,” she says softly to me.

“I wouldn’t have missed it.” I pull away and grin at her. “You know this is one of my favorite events of the year.”

“Ladies over here!” a paparazzi shouts. Kelsey and I turn toward them and pose together.

When they’re satisfied with their shots, Kelsey leans in. “Let’s get you inside so you can get a drink and sit for a while. Those heels look treacherous.”

Inside, Kelsey leads me through the main lobby to the ballroom where the gala is taking place this evening. The space is ornately decorated with beautiful flower arrangements adorning the center of each table with delicately lit candles encircling each piece.

“Oh, Jersey!” a woman calls my name and hurries over to me—Kelsey’s mother. “I’m so glad you could make it again this year!”

I hug her back, accepting her air kisses on both sides of my face. “Thank you so much for the invitation again.”

“I don’t know if you had a chance to meet my son or his wife the last few times you’ve been in attendance,” she says and motions to the couple standing behind her.

“Theo and I met in passing last year, but I’m not sure I’ve met your wife,” I say to Kelsey’s brother.

He gives his wife a warm smile when he looks down at her. “This is my wife, Whitney. Whit, this is Jersey Matthews.”

“Lovely to meet you.” Whitney offers me her hand. “It’s such an honor to have you in attendance.”

“Really, the honor is all mine,” I say, graciously as I accept her handshake.

“Kelsey has spoken very highly of you,” Whitney says, beaming at me. “We appreciate your generous donation to the charity auction this year.”

“Hopefully, it will raise good money for your organization. I’m always happy to be involved when it’s for a charitable cause.”

“We’ll let you get settled in for the evening,” Kelsey’s mother says, breaking up the introductions. “I’m glad I got to catch you before everything gets crazy. Kelsey”—she looks to her daughter standing by my side—“will you show Jersey to her table?”

“Sure. We have you at your usual table tonight.” Kelsey motions for me to follow her and then wraps her arm through mine.

I wave at her family. “It was a pleasure to see you all.”

“Have a great time this evening.” Whitney gives me a warm smile.

As Kelsey and I weave our way through the many round tables adorning the ballroom, I say, “This is a good turnout this year. I don’t remember there being so many tables the last few years.”

She nods in agreement. “This is the largest number of attendees we’ve had so far. We’re very fortunate that so many people are willing to donate and show up.”

“I love that.” I pat her hand looped through my arm.

Before we make it to the table, there’s a commotion by the front doors. “Oh, someone important must’ve just walked in,” Kelsey muses and tilts her head. We take a few steps closer until the new guest comes into view.

“Oh my gosh,” I exhale when I catch sight of him. He’s unmistakable with his athletic frame, broad shoulders, muscular thighs, and his sharp jaw.

“Is that—”

“You didn’t tell me he’d be here,” I whisper to Kelsey.

She looks as surprised as I feel as she shakes her head. “I had no idea. My mother handles the guest list.”

As if he can feel the weight of my gaze on him, Hayes straightens up, his neck craning to peruse the room.

When his eyes land on me, it seems to knock all the breath out of my lungs.

My heart jackhammers in my chest when his face splits into a wide grin, eyes gleaming with unabashed delight.

His expression beckons to me like a bright light shining among the dim ballroom.

In the weeks we’ve been talking over text and our FaceTime call, I seemed to have forgotten the sheer impact that being in his presence has.

He wastes no time pushing past the people crowding him and making a beeline toward me.

Kelsey makes an amused sound and then slides her arm out of mine. “I better go see if my mom needs help with anything. I’ll leave you to it.” With a wink, she leaves my side.

Moments later, Hayes is standing in front of me. He rakes his eyes over my body, and I’m seconds away from spontaneously combusting. His hands twitch at his sides and I wonder if he’s going to hug me, take me into his arms, cup my face, touch me.

I surprise myself when I realize I want him to.

“Hi, Jersey,” he says, his voice low, only for me. His deep timbre sends a delicious shiver down my spine, and I inadvertently take a step closer to him.

“Hi,” I say back, my voice barely a whisper.

“You look stunning tonight,” Hayes says, the corners of his lips turning up a bit as he takes in my dress, eyes trailing from my face down to my shimmering navy-blue skirt. He’s looking handsome in his black tuxedo, too. It fits him seamlessly. “I can’t believe you’re here.”

“You either,” I admit. “I keep expecting for someone to walk up and pinch me. Surely, I’ll wake up from this dream any second.”

“How did you even get involved with this charity?” he asks.

“Kelsey, my publicist. This is her family’s event. I’ve been in attendance the last few years, but this is the first time I donated anything for the auction. What about you?”

He clears his throat and leans forward. “There’s a facet of the organization that specifically works with child poverty both in the US and on the global scale. I’m pretty involved in that side of it, and I’ve done work with them for the last year or so.”

Would it be possible for this man to be even more attractive? I love a man involved with charity.

Then something else occurs to me and I blink. “Have you been to the gala before?”

An amused smirk arises on his face. “I have. Not last year, but the year before.”

“I can’t believe we never crossed paths.”

He shrugs a shoulder. “I guess I wasn’t looking for you before.”

“But you are now?” I ask him, biting my lower lip.

His eyes dart from mine down to my lips and then back up again. “I’m definitely looking now, honey.”

I feel breathless. “I like the sound of that.” Clearing my throat, I ask, “Are you in New York for the weekend? I can’t believe this didn’t come up in conversation last week.”

“No, just for tonight. I guess that’s why I didn’t think to mention it.”

“Well then, I guess I better make this time count, huh?”

He gives me a crooked smile, and my cheeks flush. I look away, ignoring the fluttering in my belly. “Where are you sitting?” he whispers in my ear, and a shiver runs down my spine.

I point at the table two away from where we are standing. “Right there.” Hayes looks determined as he walks over to the table I pointed out, perusing the name cards. I follow him, curiously. “What are you doing?”

He plucks one up and then waves it between his fingers. “Just doing a little rearranging. I don’t think anyone will mind.”

I catch sight of the name on the place card he grabbed and my heart stutters. Corey Shrader.

What the hell?

Kelsey mentioned Corey would be in attendance tonight.

He was always my plus one for the event in years past, so his attendance isn’t completely out of the blue, but she conveniently forgot to tell me he’d be seated at my table—right next to me.

This must have been a mistake her mother didn’t catch when she was finalizing the seating chart.

Hayes walks over to the table he’s supposed to sit at and picks up his own place card, replacing it with Corey’s. Tilting his head toward me, he gives me another coy smile. “Come on, let’s sit for a while.”

I follow him back to my table where he places his card next to mine, then he pulls out my chair for me and motions for me to sit down. Shortly after I’m settled, a waiter comes by and delivers two flutes of champagne for us.

Hayes holds his up to me. “To unexpected surprises.”

My heart skips a beat, and I clink my glass against his. “Cheers.” I take a sip, letting the flavor of the bubbles hit my tongue.

“What the hell?” a voice protests and I stiffen, my muscles in my back and my shoulders going rigid. I can’t help but think to myself that it’s a voice I wouldn’t mind ever hearing again.

I look away from Hayes to see Corey scowling down at me. Keeping my face as neutral as possible, I take a deep breath and ask, “Can I help you?”

Hayes easily reads the tension between us and extends his arm across the back of my seat, leaning toward me slightly. The heat from his large frame seeps into me and I find myself inching closer to him too. Corey tracks his movement and glares at Hayes. “You’re in my seat, man.”

Hayes narrows his eyes and then reaches for his place card, holding it up. “Nope, don’t think so. This is my name. Sorry, there must’ve been a mix up.”

“I think you’re at table seven,” I add, pointing over to the table Hayes used to be seated at. I can’t fathom why Corey would assume we’d be seated next to each other again this year. We’ve been broken up for months now.

Corey crosses his arm and stares at me. “Real mature, Jersey. This isn’t over.”

Thankfully, he stalks away and takes his seat at table seven. Hayes turns back to me with an eyebrow raised. “So that was the infamous Corey Shrader, huh?”

“Unfortunately,” I acknowledge and shake my head. “I don’t want to talk about him. Distract me.”

“You’re better off without him,” Hayes mutters. His expression changes then, and I can physically see him moving on from the thought of anything to do with Corey. “Are you going to bid on anything tonight?”

“I’m not sure. I haven’t really had the chance to look at the listings yet.”

“Let’s go have a look.” Hayes sets down his champagne flute and scoots his chair back. Standing up to his full height, he offers his hand to me. I look at it for a second before sliding my fingers against his. He helps me up but doesn’t release my hand.

We walk together to the table holding the items listed for auction and peruse them together.

He doesn’t let go of me the entire time.

When I slide my hand away from his, he gently moves his touch to the small of my back, as if he’s afraid I might disappear if we lose contact.

It makes my head spin, and my heart takes off at record speed.

I must admit, I like being by his side. I like watching him listen to every word that leaves my mouth, interested in anything I have to say.

It’s such a contrast to what I had become accustomed to at the end of my last relationship.

Corey would rather abandon me to hang out at the bar with other A-list attendees than walk with his arm around me. He was always so focused on himself.

As the evening progresses, and I spend more time with Hayes, I somehow find my interest in him increasing to new heights. The magnetism he exudes is inescapable. I, too, seem to find myself leaning in closer to him when he speaks, itching to hear him talk more or tell me another joke.

And when he throws his head back with a laugh, the full, deep sound makes my belly tighten and my face split into an uncontrollable grin.

The joy he brings me is unparalleled. And I could find myself quickly becoming addicted to the way he makes me feel.

For a short time, I forget that I’m Jersey Matthews, the pop star, feeling like any other woman standing at the precipice of a new romantic relationship. The desire to jump headfirst overshadows any other rational thought. It’s lovely, it’s addicting, it’s . . . refreshing.

As much as I want to hold on to these feelings he’s evoking in me, I should know better by now that they are always short-lived.