What It's Like // Everlast

"I'm not feeling sushi." Char says as we pull up to the restaurant.

"Say what?" The attendant for the five-star establishment opens her door as I speak, stunned confusion filling the air.

I had my assistant secure a car with a driver to take us on the town. We're dressed to impress. Me in some kind of designer anti-suit with a weird jacket that doesn't have a lapel and a shirt without a collar. The pants don't even have pockets. Kind of ridic actually. But I'm playing the part of an A-list actor in my real life lately, so I went with it.

Char is in a gorgeous dark green dress, hugging all her curves in just the right places. She kept her natural curls but had the stylist my assistant sent over put her hair in an updo with all the little curls around her face. She's so fucking hot we almost didn't make it out the door on time for this table, another task I gave David to secure. For an assistant, he has the right connections and came through on every single one.

"This is the most popular place in town," I argue gently. I should know. I used to work here. It's the first place I thought of when I decided to take Char out on the town. This is the only early night I have while she's here and I wanted to make the most of it. But now I'm confused about her not 'feeling sushi'. Does she not like it? Isn't that something I should know? Or is it something I do know but forgot. That wouldn't be out of the norm for me, forgetting details about my date, but I'm not that guy anymore. I've paid close attention to everything Char. I'm in shock that there might be something about her I didn't know.

"Mmmm, just not feeling it tonight."

"They have stuff that's not raw. Other dishes you could order. It doesn't have to be sushi."

Char turns to look at the restaurant, sighing in a way that physically hurts me. I lean across her to make eye-contact with the attendant who's still waiting for us to get out of the car.

"We've changed our minds," I say. The guy nods and closes the door. I tell our driver to head east until I let him know where we're going.

"Okay, how about tacos?"

She shrugs.

"Burgers and fries."

Char twists her mouth to the side before shaking her head.

"Pizza? No, pasta. Scampi or linguini or something with capers."

This time she shakes her head immediately. "Too many carbs. You're still in training." It's sweet that she's looking out for me but I'd rather she goes for what would make her happy.

We sit in silence for a few blocks. My arm around her, her head on my shoulder. I don't know what's going on. This feels off. We got all dressed up and fancy. Got into a chauffeured car to be driven to our destination. She's not a diva. She's not picky. This isn't about not liking sushi.

"What is it, Char?" I whisper.

She runs her hand up and down my chest, over my ridiculous shirt. I want her hands to undo my buttons. I want her fingers on my skin.

"It will change things and I'm not sure I'm ready for the scrutiny."

"What will change?"

"The sushi place is a hot location. Lots of celebrities which means lots of photographers. We'll be out in the world in a big way."

I deflate a little. "I thought you were cool with us being out there." She said so on set, when she let me kiss her.

"I am. But being on set together is one thing. If we're seen again, in a hot Hollywood celebri-zone known for the presence of in-your-face paparazzi, it's like inviting them to follow us, hunt us down for the dirty details and make up stories about us. I watched it happen to Brianna again and again and again."

"I get it."

"Don't you want to keep them out of our business? Zack took Brianna to his family's ranch to get her out of the limelight. She said it was one of the best times of her life."

"I don't have a family ranch."

Char laughs. I clear my throat. She sobers, looking up at me.

"This isn't about us. Or you. This is about our relationship and protecting it from the perils of public life. We don't owe them a story, but they'll make one up anyway. I don't want our relationship to also take away from your debut. You deserve the accolades for this role, not for who you're dating."

I lean toward the driver once again, giving him the address of my apartment complex.

"Okay, baby. I hope you don't mind hanging out in the hood."

Char relaxes next to me. "It's far from the hood, but I definitely don't mind the lack of flashbulbs that will be in our faces."

We get to my place forty minutes later thanks to L.A.'s apocalyptic traffic. I instruct the driver to leave us here, planning another mode of transportation to get back to the hotel whenever our adventure is over.

"To be honest," I say after we get into my apartment, "I'm very happy to be taking off this stupid suit. What constitutes high fashion isn't very comfortable."

"Same," Char says as she pulls off her heels. I watch as she drops them by the front door, burning their location into my lacking memory in case I decide she needs to wear them later, and nothing else. "I can barely breathe in this dress."

"It's fucking gorgeous on you."

"And fucking painful." Char turns for me to undo her zipper and I oblige.

"As hot as you look in this dress, I think naked Char wins the prize every time."

"I'm not taking it all the way off. Just loosening the zipper so I can inhale normally." I eye her for a second. "I may be comfortable with you, but I'm not hanging around your apartment in the nude."

"Whatever you want, baby. I still have t-shirts and sweats here. Want to change?"

Char's shoulders drop, her eyes flutter shut, and a blissed-out look takes over her face. "Heavenly." She hasn't even changed yet and she's the picture of relaxed satisfaction. I hate to ruin the moment, but...

"You haven't smelled them yet."

One eye pops open, aimed at me. "Why would they smell?"

I laugh. "I'm a guy living in a rat-hole in Hollyweird. Something stinky is always getting on my clothes."

Char takes what I offer and disappears into my bathroom to change and wipe the fancy make up off. I head right to the kitchen and root around for something to eat. I kept some things in the freezer and a few non-perishables in the cabinet.

Char returns a few minutes later.

"Can I request a health shake a-la-Jacob?" She says, wrapping her arms around my waist from behind.

"But that's just a milkshake." I used to piss Zack off with my version of his health shakes.

"Chocolate is a plant. Milk has vitamins. Sounds healthy to me."

"You sound like me from before Zack indoctrinated me."

"You mean I sound normal?"

I laugh. "Zack does have a little bit of health food OCD."

I feel Char nod her head as it brushes against my back.

"I've got the ice cream but not the milk."

"Perfect. Chocolate milk shake, hold the milk."

We take the carton and two spoons with us to the couch, settling in with reruns of Friends while we snack. Eventually, our spoons hit the bottom and we clean the thing out. A couple of commercial breaks later we're full on making out on couch.

"This couch is too small," Char says against my lips.

"My bed is bigger."

"Then why aren't we there?"

That's all I needed to hear. I scoop Char up like my own personal spoonful of ice cream and carry her to my bed, all while my lips are locked with hers. I lay her out and slowly push her shirt—my shirt that looks fucking hot on her—up to her waist. My fingers travel back down, first left then right, teasing her supple skin.

"Jacob."

My name is a plea and I'm drunk on the sound. Char relaxes under my touch as I find ways to make her whimper with desire. I've never been so satisfied by the simple act of touch. I've never felt as settled as I do with Char. No one has ever made me so wound up and so at ease, all at once. She's a temptress, a confidant and a soulmate, something I swore couldn't possibly exist. Yet, here she is in my arms.

"God, I love you," I say, no longer able to continue on my slow burn path of pleasure. I need to take as much as she'll offer to give.

"Yes, baby, I love you, too."

With that we unleash on each other, the last remnants of clothing flying off as our hands explore one another. It's better every time, deeper, more satisfying because our hearts are in it as much as our bodies.

I didn't know I could feel this deeply. And I can't imagine ever giving her up.

Much later, after wringing out every last drop of pleasure, we lay together and whisper in the dark.

"I remember when Zack got the call for the video, his first impression of you." I say, running my fingertips up and down her spine. Our limbs are still intertwined, and our bodies are warm, but I don't want to let her go.

"And what impression was that?" Her voice is playful.

"Oh, he totally pegged you as a cheerleader in high school, every sentence punctuated with an exclamation point."

"Not a cheerleader," she shakes her head, "but I was part of the theater department."

"Ah, drama kids. Gotta love us. Feel kindred with you now."

"Not so fast, Jakey. I was a prop mistress. Then when Bree got her recording contract, I stuck by her because I knew no one would be looking out for her."

I say nothing, just continue caressing her skin and giving her time to speak.

"Her parents saw dollar signs and I never trusted Logan. Turns out my instincts were spot on. I just wish I'd had the same instincts with Curt."

"Stop beating yourself up over him. That guy's a user. His entire existence is focused on one goal: manipulation. It's not your fault he's good at it. He snowed his own bandmates."

A long, weighty silence spreads out between us before Char speaks again.

"You're right."

I'm dumbstruck for longer than I care to admit.

"What was that? What did you say? Not sure I heard you. Say it again."

"You.are.right."

"Yes! Only took twenty-four years but I finally did it!" I throw back the sheets and stand on the bed. "I'd like to thank my mom for believing in me, my agent for always shooting straight with me, and Char. For never pulling any punches. And for admitting what we all know to be the truth." Dramatic pause.

"I.AM.RIGHT!" I end with both arms in the air. "This day shall be marked in infamy."

"Oh my god." She covers her eyes and shakes her head, laughing. "The epitome of hyperbole."

"Muuuh, what? Hyperbole? No, no, ma'am. You have that backwards. The height of accomplishment, that's what that is."

I crawl up her body on the bed, a smirky grin plastered across my face, kiss her neck, and work on marking my woman.

"Are you giving me a hicky?"

I howl like a wolf, shooting a victorious fist in the air. "I have done it! I am effin' right! Jacob is back, baby!"

I love Jacob's energy. I wish I had that much, haha! I wanted to give them some fun together and a chance to reminisce about their beginnings. Jacob's been so stressed about his role that time away was needed.

And now back to the drama. It's on its way!!

This is a strange song to attach to a chapter of a romance novel, but it fits in a weird way. Jacob feels understood, seen by Char. That sense of finding the kind of connection you didn't know existed. This song is about understanding someone else's struggle (loosely) so that's why I snagged it for this chapter.

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Don't forget that Charmer is on Kindle Vella! We're up to Chapter 9 so far, and the first 3 are free to read!

I see my binge readers out there! Thank you for devouring my backlist and loving this universe as much as I do. 🥰❤️🥰