Page 1 of Any Kind of Life
Chapter 1
The smallest sliver of light shone through the side of the curtain, just the sound of Juliet’s soft breathing greeting Paige with the early morning sun. They’d fallen into bed at two-thirty this morning—the bar growing busier as each month passed—but Paige wouldn’t wish to be anywhere else. This life…was the stuff of dreams.
She slowly rolled over, a lazy smile spread on her mouth when Juliet stared back at her. Neither of them said anything. Their hands found one another’s, and the silence remained. These were the moments Paige lived for. Lying beside the woman she loved, no immediate rush to get out of bed, the stillness carefully waking them.
Juliet was Paige’s everything.
“Coffee, babe?”
Juliet shifted closer, nuzzling into Paige’s chest. She didn’t speak, but words were rarely needed in the morning. Juliet wanted to be held; it was that simple. Paige smoothed a palm up and down her back, kissing Juliet’s hair. If she could bottle up this feeling for the moments when they were apart, Paige would be set for life.
“I don’t want to let you go.” Juliet sniffled, gripping Paige against her. “I hate it when you have to go.”
Ah. Paige had wondered when Juliet’s ‘meltdown’ would kick in. “It’s only a month in this country this time, babe.”
“A day is too long! Never mind a bloody month.”
“And you have plenty to keep you busy.” Paige shifted further down the bed, lying nose-to-nose with Juliet. “And I don’t leave for another week.”
“I’ve been trying to prepare myself. That’s impossible, though.”
“Hey,” Paige whispered, bringing her hand to Juliet’s cheek. She knew this day would arrive, but she hadn’t expected it with a week to go. “I’m not far away this time. Just in different cities. If you want me to travel home each night, you know I’ll do that for you.”
“No. This is all about the experience for you. I’d never ask you to do that for me. It’ll be too much for you. You need to rest when you can.”
“You haven’t asked. I’ve offered. You and I both know I’d rather wake up like this…with you…every morning. Not in some stuffy hotel room on my own.”
Paige hadn’t expected the phone call five months ago from the agent of a well-established musician. She’d initially thought it was Hannah and Caz playing games. That was until the contract arrived via courier. Paige was officially the supporting act for one of the fastest-selling artists of the last decade.
“Are you sure you don’t want to join her on the second leg of her European tour? I know how much you enjoyed it last time.”
Paige trailed her thumb across Juliet’s bottom lip. She had enjoyed the European leg, Juliet was right, but there was a reason she had told Soraya she couldn’t continue once it had finished. The reason being the woman in her arms right now. “I have too much going on here. Soraya understands, and she’s looking for another support act for when the UK leg is over. I’m just glad to be a part of it at all.”
“I’m so proud of you, Paige.” Juliet’s sadness turned to that ever-present pride that shone from her eyes. “I know you were in two minds about whether to do it, but I’m so proud of you for taking that step and focusing on your dreams.”
“I wouldn’t have done it without your support. You know that.” Paige untangled herself from Juliet, climbing from the bed. She pulled a hoodie on and moved towards the bedroom door. Paige turned and grinned. Juliet was watching her, wearing a pair of Paige’s boxer shorts. “I’m making us coffee and then we’re continuing this conversation.”
Juliet stretched in the bed, arching her back. Paige knew what she was doing, she was teasing as she always did, but they really needed caffeine if this day was going to be remotely successful.
“Stop that. We have to meet the builders at the bar in a few hours.”
Juliet sat up on her elbows, narrowing her eyes. “Are you telling me you can’t satisfy me in those few hours?”
Paige snorted. “Babe, I could satisfy you in the next twenty seconds.” She loved the adoring gaze Juliet always watched her with. The very gaze she had in this moment. “Do you want something to eat too, or are we going to get something on the way to the bar?”
“Just coffee for me.”
Paige slipped out of the bedroom, heading straight for the coffee machine. Once the beans started to grind, she braced her hands against the counter and lowered her head on her shoulders. She hated leaving Juliet for any period of time. While Paige’s ex-husband, James, no longer interfered with Paige’s life, Juliet’s personal security guy, Henry, still had eyes on this apartment and the bar. The threat to Juliet had never been called off, and they were wise to still watch their backs. Juliet more so than Paige. But they came as a pair now, so if the threat was still there for Juliet, it was also there for Paige. The people Juliet had found herself tangled up with didn’t care if a significant other had nothing to do with their supposed ‘war’. They threatened anything they could. But that was the life of the criminal underworld. Anyone was fair game.
If Paige could have encouraged Juliet to travel with her, to be a part of the incredible experiences she’d had so far, it would make life much easier. It would also help with Paige’s terrible sleeping pattern while she lay alone in a hotel or on a tour bus she was unfamiliar with. Regardless of the fact that Paige wanted to be here, this tour was another opportunity she couldn’t turn down. People were already talking incessantly about her sets on social media. The jump from three thousand Instagram followers to a not-too-shabby thirty-seven thousand followers had shown her the potential future she could have. If she stuck with Soraya, Paige could really go places.
But is that really what you want? Paige thought, swallowing hard. The European tour had been more than enough for her. While people craved fame, Paige didn’t. Perhaps if she’d been single, it could have been a different story, but Paige simply missed Juliet too much. That was what this all came down to.
She carried their coffees through to the bedroom, slipping beneath the cover when Juliet reached out for her cup. The room fell silent again, but Paige knew Juliet struggled with being apart. Paige did, too.
“So…”
Juliet turned her head to Paige as she sat up against the headboard. “Don’t worry about me. I’m just being dramatic.”