Falling Down(73)

"True story," Jace replies.
I just sigh. Ben's on the phone with their realtor but I'm just not in the mood for any more house hunting crap.
"Looks like I'll be renting out a floor in the hotel again."
"Meh," is Sera's response.
"Max? Can we stop at the house?"
"Can do, Luce."
"I need to pick up some more clothes and shoes."
"Me too," Sera replies.
Ben hangs up the phone. "She said she's got a couple that fit what you're looking for, gated community and all that. She's going to look around for more and get back to me in a couple days."
"Oh, thank God. I didn't want to go anymore today."
"Fuck no."
"Frank, any press hanging out at the house?"
"There were only one or two yesterday but I didn't see any at all today."
"Well, we're about to find out," Sera says as we turn the corner.
Jace whistles. "Nice digs, Luce."
I shrug. "Thanks. Too bad we can't stay."
"There's no one here."
"Right now. But the minute they find out I'm here, they'll show up. It's how they roll."
"And to think, you and Jesse hadn't even f*cked yet."
"I know, right? Kind of a shitty deal there. Alright, let's go in so I can get my stuffs."
"Stuffs?" Jesse asks.
Sera pats him on the arm. "When it comes to clothes and shoes, Lucy goes into her 'stuffs' zone."
Jesse just raises a brow.
"If you want the ten cent tour, I'll be happy to show you around," Frank says.
"Perfect. Thanks so much, Frank."
"You got it, Luce."
"I'm going to go up and pack."
I head up the white carpeted stairs and hold on to the black wrought iron railing--the one thing Jesse's mansion and my home have in common.
I grab a suitcase out of my closet and put it on the bed.
"Need help?" Jesse asks from the doorway.
"Hmm, maybe."
He hands me a diet soda. "Figured you'd be thirsty."
"Figured that out, did ya."
"Mhmm. You were singing and it's hot and dry out today. Plus you were singing under your breath all day. Makes for a dry throat."
"Seriously dry. I just always sing. I never notice I'm doing it." I take a long drink of the soda and recap the bottle, setting it on my dressing table.
I walk into the closet and grab a bunch of tops and some jeans and Capri pants.
I lay them on the bed and start folding them and packing them into the suitcase as Jesse takes a seat on the bed, his elbows resting on his knees.
"What's going on, Jesse?"
He takes a long drink of his soda then toys with the label.
"I was thinking…"
"Oh, don't do that, Jesse. That'll be painful," Sera says with a laugh as she walks in my room and flops on my bed.
Jace and Ben follow, but stand near the door with their beers.
"Need help?" Sera asks.
"Shoes."
"On it."
"What were you thinking, Jesse?" I ask as I follow Sera into the closet to get more tops and some dresses. He's about to speak when my phone rings.
"What's up, Max?"
"There's press all over the f*ckin' place, Luce. We better get a move on."
I blow out a long breath. "Okay. We'll hurry."
"Press?" Sera asks.
"Yeah. Lots from what Max said."
Jesse nods from where he's leaning against the wall, arms crossed. I signal to him to hold his arms out and lay my clothes across them.
"For just a second."
"No problem."
I grab a few more tops and we all head into the bedroom where Jace and Ben are talking with Frank.