Capítulo 6: chapter 6
He extends his body even more over me. While I drive, he's careful not to block my vision of the road, but I'm more concentrated on the fact that his shoulder brushes up against my chest. And one of his knees sits between my legs.
Farell rolls down the driver's side window. He turns his head, just slightly, our faces literally a breath away. Focusing on the paparazzi, he yells, "Tell the Honda to drive off or I'll shutter Maximoff's windows!" Shutter, meaning he'll tape up sheets to block their money-shots.
The cameraman says, "One more minute! Get out of the way!" He makes a shoo motion to Farell.
"Hey! Now or never," Farell threatens, his tone so caustic that I'm not surprised when the cameraman disappears inside his SUV. Moments later, the Honda takes a left.
Freeing the road.
Freeing us.
I speed off as quickly as I can. Declan never had that kind of affect on paparazzi. It stuns me silent for a minute.
Farell eases back in his seat, and I roll up the window. He picks up his papers, and I glance at him, then the road, then back to him.
He arches his brows. "Want to say something?"
"Where'd you learn that?"
Farell snaps his seatbelt locked. "When you're the bodyguard to the most famous woman in the world, you can't be a passive bystander."
My mom.
My mom is the most famous woman in the world. She's the reason her sisters are famous. The reason I'm famous.
The reason we're all famous.
Lily Calloway is the origin to the public scrutiny, the media harassment, the paparazzi invasion in Philadelphia of all cities—but it's not her fault.
It's never her fault.
I wish I could say our fame derived from a pure act of love, of kindness, of rainbows or motherfucking magic—something other than what actually happened.
But it was a scandal. Years before I was born.
Someone leaked information when she was only twenty-years-old.
Lily Calloway, the heiress of Fizzle soda empire, is a confirmed sex addict. The headline about her addiction rocked the globe. A salacious, shocking headline—that's all it took. The news caused every Calloway sister to go from rich obscurity to instant notoriety.
Our fame burns. And burns. None of us need to stoke the flames for it to stay lit.
And me—fame is my friend and foe. It's a part of me. A tangible thing that lives inside of me. This is the only life I've ever lived.
It's the only life I know.
These days, I currently reside with Jane in an old, historic Victorian townhouse that's just shy of 900 square feet. All hardwood floors. Interior brick walls. And a kitchen so cramped that a third person has to play Indiana Jones and scale the counters to fit.
I'd live a more minimalistic lifestyle if I could. I don't need much.
And I'd say the three-bedroom, one-bath is extremely modest for someone with my bank account, but I'm well aware that living in Philadelphia's Rittenhouse-Fitler Historic District isn't cheap for most people.
I may be obnoxiously wealthy, but I try my best to understand what I have, what I can give, and what others need.
I drive into a three-car garage, which is a real luxury in this Philly area, and I park next to Jane's baby blue Volkswagen Beetle.
My car clock blinks 8:12 a.m. before I shut off the ignition. Farell already unclips his seatbelt and tucks the folded papers into his back pocket. He acts like he's just visiting, but my bodyguard is moving in.
That's right.
This isn't a welcome to my life sitcom. This is a you've joined my life drama or possibly, a horror story.
It's too soon to tell which.
At least we're not about to be roommates. Above this garage are two identical townhouses that sit side-by-side and share an adjoining door on the first floor. All for easy access.
Security stays in the right townhouse.
Jane and I stay in the left one.
Farell barely even takes a second to digest his surroundings. I know that he knows he's moving in—there are two suitcases and a black duffel in my trunk to prove it.
I unbuckle. "Do you need anything else? I can pick up something for you at the store." I almost groan at myself. Why the hell am I asking Farell this? I'm on automatic and someone needs to switch me to manual, quick.
He pauses, his hand on the door handle. As he glances at me, his lips rise. "That's cute that you're pretending you can go to the store without me."
"I wasn't pretending." I pocket my keys and push open my door. "I just omitted the fact." For my own sanity. I'm highly aware that Farell is now obligated to follow me everywhere. Highly aware. I can't exactly pretend that this twenty-seven-year-old tattooed guy is some random barnacle that attached itself to my ship.
He's my fucking co-captain right now.
And I'm not thrilled.
In case I didn't make that vitally clear.
We climb out of the Audi and shut our doors in unison. I pop the trunk, and while I grab his largest suitcase, I tell him, "I retract my offer."
"That's too bad," Farell says in a serious tone, slinging his duffel on his shoulder, "I forgot shampoo and conditioner."
"You can borrow mine—Jesus fucking Christ," I growl at myself, wanting to be an asshat to him for at least two seconds.
Farell laughs like he won. "I just now remember. I have shampoo and conditioner."
I glare and remove his second suitcase while holding the other. "You're an asshole."
"You're pure of heart. What else is still the same?" Farell tries to take the larger suitcase from me.
I tug it out of his grip. "I can carry it for you."
He gives me a look. "You're not earning a valor merit badge. I can carry my own shit." He adjusts the strap of his duffel. "But to be kind, I'll let you roll in the little one."
"Oh thanks," I say dryly and then I shove the little one in his chest and keep the larger one.
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