Chapter 184: Chapter Twenty-Two

Priscilla

Smith ordered some candy and pop, then wrapped his arm around my shoulder like he owned me. I thought I'd like it — the possessive attitude.

Our meal was interrupted probably twenty times by girls wanting autographs, but Jaymeson took it in stride. Each girl that approached got a full dose of his British charm, and the weird thing?

He didn't seem to be bothered; if anything, he was being himself. He talked to them like they were special, he asked for their names, he smiled, and he didn't get cranky.

Our food even got cold and he didn't complain.

I hated how much it endeared him to me. He was so sweet — underneath that whorish habit of sleeping around — he had a heart.

I about died when a girl around seven years old walked up to him and told him she was going to marry him someday.

Instead of laughing, he swooped her up into his arms and put her on his knee and said, “Honey, it would be an honor to wait for you.”

And insert swooning out of my chair.

The little girl giggled and kissed him on the cheek. He gave her an autograph and then pulled something out of his pocket that looked like a hotel key card.

Confused, I watched him slip the card to the mom without saying anything.

Later, when I asked what it was, he blushed and answered, “They drove up in a car older than me. It didn't look safe.

“The little girl had rags for clothes and the mom looked like she hadn't slept in weeks.

“They weren't customers of the restaurant, and the little girl's shoes had holes in them.” He popped a cold fry into his mouth. “I keep those cards for gifts.”

“Gifts?”

“Each card has fifteen grand on it. They're Visa gift cards. She doesn't know that, at least not yet; by the time she figures it out, I'll be gone.

I'd dropped my fork onto the plate. “You can't just give people money like that!”

“Why not?” He shrugged. “I have more money than I can spend in a lifetime. Why not pay it forward? Why not make their life? Hell, why not make their year? I've always had this theory…”

“What?” I felt tears well in my eyes.

He shrugged again, his eyes shining with excitement. “That if I was put on this earth to act — I should at least change lives doing it.

“I'm doing what I love — and I've been blessed enormously — I think that our success is tied into how much of ourselves we give. That's all.”

“I don't know what to say.”

“I may like nice things and talk about myself way too much. Oh yeah, and sleep around, but…” He winked. “I'm not heartless.”

“No.” My smile was weak, he was amazing. He was… perfect.

The rest of the afternoon had been spent in such warm bliss that I almost forgot that I was pissed at Jaymeson for pushing me into Smith's arms.

“Pris?” Smith nudged me, jolting me back to the present. I gave my head a slight shake. “The movie's starting but you look a million miles away.

“Yeah.” I faked a yawn. “Just really tired.”

“Aw, babe,” he sighed. “I'm sorry, I wouldn't have asked you out if I'd known that. I just wanted to see you, even if it meant waving from a distance.

I felt a silly grin come on as I took in his compliment. “Thanks, Smith, that's nice of you to say.”

“I'm a nice guy.” He rubbed my shoulder with his hand. “And I have a confession.”

“What?”

“I can't stop thinking about you.” He leaned in, his lips so close to mine I could almost taste the peppermint gum he was chewing.

The movie started. He jerked back and caressed my face with his free hand. “I'm going to kiss you tonight.”

“O-okay.” My body went up in flames. But not because Smith was looking at me like he wanted to devour me.

It was because he said kiss and the only thing my brain could conjure up was the memory of Jaymeson's lips on mine.

Would another kiss ever compare to that? Why did he have to ruin me for all future boyfriends? It wasn't fair. Nothing about my situation with Jaymeson was fair.

I tried to snap out of it. I gave a bright smile to Smith and turned my attention to the movie, and tried desperately not to imagine it was Jaymeson's hand reaching for mine — instead of Smith's.