Sea Breeze 01 - Breathe

safely inside her apartment and Kane was headed back to the beach house, I called my mother back. The missed call from Marco earlier today probably had something to do with my mother’s determination to get ahold of me.
    “Where have you been? Marco has tried calling you, and I have tried several times. You can’t just go on a vacation from everything, Jax. It doesn’t work that way. The public, your fans, expect some of you. You need to remember why you are where you are. Now call Marco. You have a movie premiere to be at tomorrow night. He is setting up publicity photos, and you need to make an appearance. No arguing. Just do it.”
    And without allowing me to respond, she ended the call.
    I dropped my phone into my lap and laid my head back on the leather seat. I didn’t want to go to some damn movie premiere. I wanted to stay here with Sadie. Why couldn’t they all give me a break? My phone started ringing again. I picked it up and Jason’s face flashed on the screen.
    “Hey.”
    “Dad was looking for you. He’s back here from whatever meetings he’s been at. He wants us to go golfing as soon as you get back from the movie premiere. And I need you as a buffer. Don’t make me go play golf with him alone.”
    Jason already knew about the movie premiere. That meant Mom had been bitching about it all day.
    “I’ll find him when I get home. We can golf when I get back, but it needs to be an early morning tee time.”
    Jason chuckled. “Got it. We need to be back before Sadie gets off work.”
    “Exactly.”
    SADIE
    A note greeted me when I arrived at work the next day. Ms. Mary sighed heavily and handed it to me as soon as I walked in. I glanced over at the table, and a wave of disappointment hit me at the sight of the empty seat where I had hoped Jax would be sitting.
    “No need to be so upset. Read the note, then hurry along and get ready.”
    I walked back to the laundry room before opening the letter. I didn’t want to read anything in front of Ms. Mary’s prying eyes.
    Sadie,
    I am sorry I won’t be at breakfast this morning. I have been so busy wallowing in my not being able to have you, and then being given the gift of . . . my air . . . that I forgot about a movie premiere I am expected at tonight. I am flying out to Hollywood early this morning, and I will be back as soon as this is over. I intend to get on a plane and head right back to you as soon as possible. Please forgive me. I will see you soon. Miss me.
    Jax
    I swallowed the lump in my throat, aggravated with myself more than anything. Jax was a famous rock star. He had a band and people who depended upon him. He had to go to things such as movie premieres. I knew the more time I spent with him, the more things like this would be hard on me, but I also needed to decide whether or not I wanted to be with him enough to get over this. I changed quickly and splashed my face with cold water. I needed to focus, not to think about Jax and his real life. It was something I would never know or understand. I needed to get a grip. I dried my face on a towel and walked back into the kitchen.
    “Where do I start?”
    Ms. Mary turned to me. I gave her a smile, and she frowned, then reluctantly smiled back. “I got ten pounds of potatoes over there fresh out of my garden. Start scrubbing ’em, then get them all peeled for me.”
    I nodded and went right to work. Cleaning potatoes proved to be a great way to get my mind off other things. I wished I didn’t miss him so much. Two days and I was so addicted to his presence I was lost without him. But then I remembered my iPod, and I jumped up and went to my bag and pulled it out. I’d sat in my room the previous night figuring it out. I found Jax’s latest album and put the earbuds in my ears. Listening to him helped. I didn’t see a star on the stage when I heard him sing. I saw the guy sitting on his bed with his old guitar, grinning at me. His voice helped the potatoes, and the morning, go faster. I got so lost in my thoughts and the music I jumped when someone tapped my shoulder. Marcus gazed down at me.
    “Lost in the music, I see,” he said, smiling.
    I nodded and slipped the earbuds out of my ears. “Yes, I guess I was.”
    Marcus pulled up a stool and sat down beside me. “Let me guess who you’re listening to. Could it be the number one chart topper for the past three weeks, Jax Stone?”
    I was glad Marcus seemed to be in a teasing mood. I nodded and grinned up at him. “I guess