Home Again by Lisa Fisher

man’s voice,” she called through the door.
    Easton stifled a laugh and I shoved him lightly. “No, Mom, just me.”
    “I can go get John, if you want.”
    “No, Mom. Please don’t,” I groaned. “Give me five minutes.”
    “Okay, sweetie. I made scrambled eggs and bacon. Make sure you eat.”
    She meant well, she really did. Yet I couldn’t help but want to bang my head against my headboard repeatedly. Once we heard her footsteps retreat down the hall, we couldn’t help but laugh.
    “I’m surprised she didn’t bust the door down.” Easton laughed.
    I got up out of bed and stretched. “You ready to make your grand escape, green eyes?”
    He groaned. “I don’t suppose I can use the front door?”
    I leaned down for a kiss. “Sorry, hon.”
    He sat up. “All right, but before I leave, tell me you’ll go out with me tomorrow.”
    A smile automatically crossed my face. “Do you even have to ask?”
    He threw his t-shirt over his head and started to dress. “I believe that’s the gentlemanly thing to do, yes.”
    “Then, yes. I would love to.”
    “I’m looking forward to it, babe.” He met me for a kiss. “I’ll call you tomorrow, Carter.”
    “Wait,” I said with a blush. “You don’t have my number.”
    “Don’t I?” He winked, and then he disappeared through the window.
     
    Easton and his damn butterflies were going to do me in.
     
    ***
     
    After a shower, I made my way through the kitchen in search of the scrambled eggs, and ran straight into John. “Aren’t you proud of me?”
    He grunted. John was definitely not a morning person. “What for?”
    “I’m still here.”
    “Yeah.” He chuckled under his breath. “I’m pretty sure I know why, kid. And, no. I don’t want to know any more than I already do.”
    My face must have turned seven shades of red. “You’ve got to be kidding me,” I muttered.
    “What kind of bodyguard would I be if I didn’t know what you were up to all the time?”
    “I don’t know, maybe the kind that has boundaries?” I joked.
    “Relax, kid. I hightailed it back down to my room as soon as I knew who was up there, and that you weren’t planning to leave. I heard nothing.”
    “I really hope that’s true.”
    “Well, next to nothing.”
    I groaned. My cell phone rang and I grabbed it off the counter. I couldn’t stop myself from groaning a second time. Devin’s name flashed on my caller ID.
    “Better answer it. He’s relentless, you know,” John said, pouring us both a cup of coffee. He handed one to me and I mouthed ‘thank you’, before answering the phone.
    “Hey Dev.”
    “Aisley, what the fuck were you thinking?”
    “A simple ‘hello’ would have sufficed,” I said sarcastically.
    “Well, a simple ‘stay the fuck out of the press’ didn’t,” he shot.
    “I have no idea what you are talking about, Devin.” I rolled my eyes, even though he couldn’t see me. I dished myself up two pieces of bacon and a big scoop of scrambled eggs, while I listened to a stream of curse words filter out of his mouth. He cursed more than a drunken sailor.
    “Does the impromptu show you put on for your little friends last night ring a bell?”
    Oh that. “Yeah, about that. I’m—”
    “Don’t you dare say ‘ sorry .’”
    “Well, what would you like me to say then?”
    “I don’t fucking know, Aisley, but get used to the camera again real fast. It’s all over the internet.”
    Great. Apparently, confidentiality agreements meant nothing anymore.
    “Maybe I should send a second bodyguard.”
    “No!” I practically yelled. I set my plate of food on the table, and took a seat. John was eyeing me from his place at the table. “Please, one bodyguard is enough. Really.”
    “Fine,” Devin said. “But, the good news is, people are starting to say good things about you again.”
    “That’s great,” I lied. What did I care? But deep down, I cared more than I should have.
    “Try to lay low, Aisley. I mean it. Now that the