Escaping LA
With butterflies in his stomach, Rome ran to his apartment and quickly packed a bag. He had no idea how long he’d be gone, so he grabbed three or four days’ worth of clothing. He also grabbed a few items he often wore to hide his identity from fans. When he’d been out shopping the day before, he’d picked up some for Ella as well, thinking she might need them someday when she was out with him. Now was that time.
He had a feeling everything was going to come to a head sooner than later. Lloyd Sinders had to know by now where Ella lived. If he could find that out, he could probably figure out that Rome lived there, too. Whether he’d put two and two together remained to be seen, but he hoped they’d at least have time to make it to Vegas and get married before any of that happened. Once they were married, it would be much more difficult for either of their fathers to drive them apart.
Grabbing his birth certificate and his passport, just in case, he sent Ella a text reminding her to do the same. He hoped she had a birth certificate with her. If she didn’t, they’d have to send off for one before they could get married, and that might take a while.
“Got it,” she texted back a few seconds later. He didn’t know if that meant she had it with her already or she understood. He doubted she’d gotten rid of Tim and made it to her apartment to get packed so quickly, but it was possible.
“Let me know when you’re ready to go,” he said and then looked around his apartment again. What was he forgetting?
He grabbed his charger and his toiletries and then sat on the edge of the couch for a few moments, wondering what else he needed to do. Earlier in the day, he’d considered asking Ella to run off with him and get married, but he had no idea it would be under these circumstances. He didn’t care how it went, though, as long as he was able to make Ella his forever.
Realizing it would be easier to check in once he got to Vegas if they already had a room booked, he pulled out his phone and made reservations at The Venetian in one of the nicest suites. About the time he finished, he got a text from Ella. “All done.”
“Great. Meet me at my car so that no one sees me walking to your apartment with a suitcase, okay?” He wasn’t sure if it would make any difference since people might see them putting their bags in his car, but she agreed, and Rome headed out the door.
“Where are you going?”
The sound of that blonde girl who was always asking him out made Rome jump. He finished locking his door and said, “Oh, just a quick trip. Hey, could you do me a huge favor?”
“Sure. What’s up?”
He took a deep breath and thought carefully about whether or not he could trust her. “Federal agents are looking for my friend. For some reason, they think he’s staying around here, maybe even with me. If you see them, could you just keep an eye on them, let me know what they do? You have my number, right?”
“I do.” She gave him a wide smile, and Rome didn’t have the heart to tell her she actually had Bart’s number. She didn’t need to know that at the moment. He’d call Bart on the way to let him know what was going on.
“Awesome. Whatever you do, don’t mention my name--if they should ask you anything. Which they won’t, unless you accidentally run into them. I just need to know if they come, what apartment they go to, and if they leave. Okay?”
“Sure thing.”
“Thanks a lot--you.” For the life of him, he couldn’t remember her name.
She shook her head and then said, “Bridgette.”
“Right. I knew that.” He widened his smile, giving her a glimpse of those dazzling white teeth of his. When he got the swooning expression he was waiting for, he rubbed her arm and then headed down to his car, thinking Ella was probably waiting for him already.
Bridgette was going into her room, but he knew she’d have her eyes glued to the window from now on, looking for the agents, because he’d asked her to.
Ella was pacing when he got there. “Sorry. Got hung up.” He’d explain why later. He took their bags and put them in the trunk and then got into his car. “Ready to rumble?” he asked.
Smiling, Ella said, “I’m so ready.”
Rome gave her a quick kiss and then backed out of his parking spot, headed out of the lot, on his way to Vegas to change his life forever.
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