“What’s the good part?”
My stomach churns, and I feel sick thinking about what’s going to happen to me in six weeks. “I’m going on tour.”
He narrows his eyes. “What am I missing?”
“Mike asked for six million. They countered with much less. When Mike and I were talking in the hallway, I told him it wasn’t about the money. I just wanted recognition. So we came up with a backup plan to get them to hire me as their opening act. They didn’t want to do it, so they said I could sing the song at every concert and open for them three times.”
“Holy shit, Reece. Are you serious? You’re going on tour? When?”
“End of March.” I tell him every detail about the meeting, then hug him. “Thank you so much. If it weren’t for you, this never would have happened.”
“I’m so happy for you. Finally the world will know what I’ve known for two years—that you’re a star. Think of how many people will see you, Reece. Maybe ten thousand a night. When you’re out there, opening for them, it will be you everyone is seeing. All eyes will be on you. Damn, girl. Your life is about to change in a big way.”
I feel sick and start to shake uncontrollably. Maddox pulls me close. “Hey, I didn’t mean to scare you. This is what you’ve dreamed about, right?”
“Of course it is, but for most people it happens gradually. I’ve done what, played at some weddings and had a few gigs in dive bars?” I sink into him, suddenly terrified. “What if I can’t do this? I have to find a band for those three shows. We have to practice. If Reckless Alibi doesn’t like us, they won’t let us play. We have to be good. I have to be good. And Garrett hates me. He hated me six years ago, but I thought maybe after all this time—”
“Reece, you’re suing him. It shouldn’t come as a shock that he’s not jumping up and down over seeing you again.”
“But it’s not my fault. He stole my song.”
“He did, but in a way, it might have been the best thing that’s ever happened to you. Why don’t you look at it that way?”
“I’ll have to see him every day for months. What if his bandmates hate me too? What am I saying? Of course they’ll be on his side.” I rub my temples, feeling a headache coming on. “I’ll have to ride on the tour bus with them. Sleep at the same hotels. I think I might be in way over my head, Mad.”
“You’re going to do great. First thing’s first. We have to tell Skylar you need time off. Hell, you should just quit. By the time you get back from the tour, you’ll be famous.”
“I can’t quit. I have bills. I have no idea when I’ll get a royalty check, and it’s only for the one song, split six ways after the label gets their cut. How much can it really be?”
“I’ll cover your rent while you’re gone.”
“I told you before, I’ll never borrow money from you, no matter how rich your parents are.”
He laughs. “I’m a bartender at my aunt’s restaurant, Reece. It’s not like they’re knocking down the door to give me money. They want me to find my own way or some shit like that.”
“Your mom is a best-selling author, and your dad owns two production companies, not to mention one of New York City’s best fitness centers. There are ways to make more money if you need it.”
“I’ve tried everything they’ve thrown at me, you know that. I worked three different jobs at his production company and hated all of them. Tried my hand at the gym—we both know how that worked out. Hell, I was even an apprentice for my Uncle Griffin’s photography studio.”
“And yet it’s bartending you seem to have settled on.”
“It’s not permanent.”
“Two years is a long time, Maddox.”
“I like it. It’s fun, and you’re there, but it’s not a long-term gig. I’m waiting to be inspired, I guess.”
“You could learn to play an instrument and work for me someday,” I joke.
He holds up his hands. “Not with these two left thumbs.”
I lean into him. “We’re quite the pair, aren’t we?”
“Just don’t forget me when you get famous.”
I kiss his cheek. “I’ll never forget you.”
“Tell me again how come we never hooked up?”
“Because we’re best friends, and we don’t want to ruin that. Besides, we kissed once and you kind of sucked at it.”
“I was drunk, Reece.”
“Are you saying you want another shot?”
“No, you’re right, it would ruin what we have. I just don’t want you thinking I’m a bad kisser. I’m not. Ask anyone.”
“If you dated anyone, I’d ask them.”
“I date.”
“You went out with four girls last year and what, twelve dates? That’s hardly dating.”
“I’m waiting for the right woman.”
“You’ll never find her if you don’t get out there. Girls ask you out all the time at work.”
“I’m not dating someone who tries to pick me up at the bar. I’m looking for someone with more, I don’t know, substance.”
“We’re twenty-four, Maddox. Time won’t wait forever.”
“Now you sound like my mother.”
“Gross.” My phone pings with an incoming email, and my heart pounds. “It’s from Indica Record Label.”
“Read it.”
“It’s from someone named Ronni Collins. Says she’s Reckless Alibi’s agent. They want me to rehearse ‘Swerve’ with them every Friday afternoon before the tour.” I look at Maddox, a sick feeling washing over me. “Tomorrow is Friday. Oh, God, Mad, I’m going to have to see him. Play with him. I think I’m going to throw up.”
He fetches me a cold bottle of water.
I press it to my forehead and then take a drink. “I’m terrified.”
He picks up his phone and texts someone.
I pout. “Who can you possibly be texting while my life is in chaos?”
“Skylar.”
“You didn’t just tell her I’m quitting, did you? Because I’m not leaving Mitchell’s. I love my job, and I’m not about to burn that bridge.”
“It wasn’t about you. You’re off tomorrow, and I asked her to find someone to cover me until six.”
“Why?”
“I’m going with you to rehearsal.”
My stomach calms. “You are?”
He nods. “You need someone on your side. I’ll be there to make sure they don’t bully you or pull some shit to make you back out of the whole deal.”
I link my arm through his. “It’s like you’ll be my bodyguard.”
“Hell, yes.”
“Thank you. Knowing you’ll be there makes me feel better. I’m scared to face him again.”
“You faced him today.”
“But I didn’t talk to him. Mike did most of the talking. I’ll have to speak to him tomorrow. All of them. And I’ll be the bitch who sued them into this situation.”
“It might be awkward for a while, but they’ll come around. Even if Garrett doesn’t, I bet the rest of them will.”
“They’re a band, Maddox. That’s like family.”
“For more than two months, you’ll be a part of their family.”
I laugh disingenuously. “Yeah, like the bastard child nobody wants.”
“Or maybe they’ll surprise you, and you’ll be like the long-lost cousin they never knew they had.”
I suddenly remember something. “Garrett thought I was still married.”
“How is that possible?”
“I don’t know. It’s like he left behind everything in his past the day he walked out my door.”
“How’d he react?”
“Called me a gold digger. Told everyone my husband left me penniless, and I was looking for money. I think he actually used the word extortion.”
“What an asshole. Do you think I could take him?”
I have a hard time trying not to smile. “It’d be a pretty even fight.”
He clutches his chest. “Ouch, Reece, way
to emasculate me.”
I eye him suspiciously, knowing how he reacts to men who treat me poorly at work. “You’re not going to start anything with him, are you?”
“Not unless he deserves it.”
“Maddox, I’m serious. I know this is super messed up, but I can’t do anything to ruin this. It might be my one opportunity to make something of myself. You said it yourself—this could be the best thing that’s ever happened to me.”
“You’d have made it happen eventually. With your talent, it’s a given. This will simply escalate the process.”
Nerves take up residence in my stomach again. “Do you really think I can do this?”
“I know you can. Now come on. Let’s get ready for work.”
We go to our separate rooms, but I don’t change clothes. I find the shoebox in the back of my closet, the one I haven’t touched in years. I open it and go through old pictures of Garrett and me. He was so different then. Younger. More innocent. I trace the edge of one of his tattoos. I used to do it often when we were together, but today I could barely make them out. He’s got a full sleeve of them.
I wonder how fame might have changed him. He seemed edgier than he used to be. But there was a moment, just a fraction of a second, when it looked like he felt remorse. For stealing my song? For the way things ended between us?
I fall back on the bed and close my eyes, recalling our first day together. How quick I was to fall in love back then. I was young. And a fool.
I throw everything back in the shoebox and resolve never to be one again.
Chapter Seven
Garrett
Six years ago …
I can’t keep my eyes off her. Even with hair still damp from the shower, she’s gorgeous. And those eyes—I’m not sure I’ve ever seen that exact shade of blue. The freckles dotting her nose and cheeks make her seem more youthful than eighteen.
I don’t want her thinking I’m trouble, because I’m not. But I let her think it, and now I regret it. I told her I was a rebel. I’m not like my pretentious father, but because I refused to go to college and law school like Rob, he thinks I’m a deadbeat; a spoiled heir waiting to get his hands on the family money. I don’t give a shit about that. All I want to do is play drums. Except for right now. Now, I want to find out everything I can about the woman sitting next to me.
“What is it you do for Sheila, other than housesit?”
“I waitress for her.”
“What kind of restaurant?”
“It’s a diner.”
I glance around the high-end SUV. “She owns a diner and drives a luxury car?”
“She owns eight of them.”
“Cars?”
She laughs. “Diners. I work at the one on South Street.”
“That explains why I’ve never seen you before. That’s all the way across town from me.”
“You mean in the slums.”
“There are no slums in Stamford,” I say. “It’s Stamford.”
“But it’s what you were thinking, right? That it’s on the other side of the tracks.”
“I wasn’t thinking anything. I was wishing I had met you sooner, is all.”
She momentarily takes her eyes off the road to gauge my sincerity. When she looks back out the windshield, I swear I see the hint of a smile.
“Where do you work?” she asks.
“I play drums for a local rock band. Music is pretty much my life.” The car swerves a bit as she looks at me. I reach out and steady the wheel. “Easy, there. You okay?”
“Yeah, sorry. It’s just that … music is my life. I play guitar. Sing, too. I’m going to be famous one day.”
Something twists my gut. I can’t recall how many times I’ve said those seven words. Hundreds? Thousands? I can’t help feeling I was meant to meet this girl. “I’m going to be famous one day.”
She glances at me, and we laugh.
“What’s the name of your band?”
“Cryptology. We mostly play parties and stuff. Some bars, too.”
She chokes. “You play drums for Cryptology?”
“You’ve heard of us?”
“I saw you play at a bar in Old Greenwich last month. I went with a few of the other waitresses. You’re good.”
“Thanks. What about you? Do you play anywhere when you’re not waitressing?”
“Nope. Can’t afford to. I know how things work. New artists don’t make money for years, even if they’re really good. I’m barely making rent as it is. But someday when I can save up enough, I’m going to record my songs and send them to as many record labels as I can.”
“What do you mean, you’re barely making rent? You’re eighteen. You don’t live with your parents?”
Her hands tighten on the steering wheel. “I don’t have parents.”
It hurts all the way in the pit of my stomach. “Ah, man, I’m sorry.”
“They died when I was six. Single-engine plane crash. My dad was learning how to fly. They were both only children. My mom’s parents were already dead, and my dad’s didn’t want to raise me, so I went into the system.”
“You grew up in foster care?”
She glances at me. “Don’t look at me like that.”
“Like what?”
“Like I’m damaged.”
“I’m not.”
“You are. Everyone does. I’m not even sure why I told you. Forget it.” We pass the ‘Welcome to Stamford’ sign. “Tell me where to drop you off, and we can pretend all this never happened.”
“But I promised to help you unload.”
“I can do it myself.”
“I’m helping. Besides, if I don’t tell you where I live, you have to take me with you.”
“You mean after hearing my sob story, you’re afraid to have me see your house. Don’t be. I couldn’t care less.”
“I don’t give a shit about my house. It’s not mine anyway, it’s my mom and dad’s. I didn’t choose to be born into a rich family, just like you didn’t choose the crappy hand life dealt you.”
“Who said I got dealt a crappy hand?”
“Reece, your parents died. I’d say that’s pretty crappy.”
“I’m only kidding, Jerry.”
I stiffen. “It’s Garrett.”
She laughs. I hit her playfully on the arm. She hits me back. I trap her hand under mine and hold it there. She lets me. Her skin is soft, and I feel her touch all the way to my core. I’m not sure I would let go of her even to hold a drumstick.
She pulls away and turns onto a side street. “We’re here.”
We take a left into a driveway, park, and exit the car. She retrieves keys from her purse as we approach the front door. I eye the keys in her hand. “You do know how those work, don’t you?”
She attempts to swat me, and I duck. She loses her balance and almost topples off the porch, but I pull her toward me, steadying her. Face to face, we gaze into each other’s eyes.
“You won’t deck me if I kiss you, will you?”
Her tongue comes out to wet her lips. “I guess you’ll have to find out.”
“I mean, we probably kissed a dozen times last night. It would be a shame not to remember what it felt like.”
“Do you always talk this much?”
I chuckle as my lips capture hers. And I kiss her like it’s our first kiss. I kiss her long and hard. I kiss her soft and sweet. I kiss her so she’ll never be able to forget what it feels like. I know I sure as hell will always remember.
A bark behind the front door causes us to part. I’m the one left standing breathless as she inserts the key in the lock.
“You coming in?” she says over her shoulder as if nothing happened.
“Sure.”
I follow her in, and she greets a golden retriever.
“This is Reggie.”
My eyes latch on to her tight little ass that fits snugly in her jeans. The lacy edge of her panties becomes visible as she bends over to scratch Reggie’s belly. I wish I could r
emember what she looks like naked.
To keep my pants from getting too tight, I drop to the ground and play with the dog. “Hey, buddy.”
He licks my face. I don’t miss how Reece is intently watching us play. Is it me she’s staring at, or Reggie?
“He needs to go out,” she says. “In fact, can you look around and make sure he didn’t go in the house? Sheila will kill me if he did. I was supposed to be here by ten.”
She leashes him and takes him outside. I wander through the rooms Reggie has access to and examine the floors. One of the bedroom doors is open. A guitar case is propped in the corner, and a suitcase is on the bed. I guess this is where Reece is staying. When she finds me ten minutes later, I’m sitting on the bed, strumming a tune.
“I thought you said you play the drums,” she says from the doorway.
“You pick up a thing or two after playing in a band a while.”
“How long?”
“I’ve been with Cryptology for a year. Before that, there were four others.” I hold out the guitar. “Play something for me.”
“No.” Reggie appears at her side, and she leans over to pet him.
“If you’re going to be a star, you can’t be shy. You have a rock star name, you know. Reece Mancini. I like it.” I push the guitar at her.
“Fine.” She takes it from me and sits on the bed. Reggie lies on the floor and puts his head on his front paws.
She plays, and I’m entranced. To be honest, I’m fucking turned on. She’s that good. When she starts to sing, I have to keep my jaw from hitting the carpet. I don’t think I’ve ever heard a better voice. She looks like an angel and sings like the devil—a deadly combination. She’s right. She’s going to be famous.
After she finishes the song, she puts the guitar away. “It’s not polished yet.”
“Shit, Mancini. If that’s not polished, I’m afraid to hear one that is. You’re fantastic. You should definitely share your music with the world.”
“That’s the plan.” She goes to the door. “Someday.”
I hop off the bed, unable to get her tune out of my head. “I guess we should unload the car.”
After all the gifts have been moved into the den, I get on the floor with Reggie.
“You’re good with dogs,” Reece says.
Reckless Reunion (The Reckless Rockstar Series) Page 5