Reckless Reunion (The Reckless Rockstar Series)

by Samantha Christy

I look out to the stage. “A little. I’m not sure that will ever go away.”

  The stage manager gives me my cue, Crew introduces me, and I run out, blowing Maddox a kiss. It’s strange singing the one song with RA after doing the opening act as Reece Mancini. What had me cowering in the bathroom before the first show seems insignificant now. I realized today that I’m having fun. I’m having more fun than I can ever remember.

  My song ends, and I go back to Maddox. He puts an arm around me. “You nailed it!”

  “Thanks.” I take a bottle of water handed to me by a roadie. “Want to stay here or go backstage?”

  “I haven’t ever seen them in concert before. Can we watch?”

  For the next ninety minutes, I follow Garrett’s every move. It’s always amazed me how he can do four things at one time. Sometimes five, if he’s singing backup. His sticks move effortlessly from one drum to the next. His feet step on pedals for the bass drum or the cymbals, and it seems he never looks at what he’s doing. He closes his eyes while he plays. Then he opens them and scans the audience. Then he looks at me.

  I try to ignore the feeling I get when our eyes meet. One minute he’s convincing me to go onstage, the next he’s treating me like I don’t exist.

  He’s nothing like he was six years ago. Time has changed him, hardened him in some way. Or maybe fame has.

  When the concert ends, Maddox and I go to the massive room that’s been set up for the after-party. There is a fully stocked bar with two bartenders. A few scantily clad waitresses talk in the corner. The finger food on multiple banquet tables could feed an entire village in Ethiopia.

  Maddox says, “Holy shit. Is it always like this?”

  “Wait until they let everyone in. It can get pretty crazy.”

  “Who decides who gets to come?”

  “Some roadies go out in the audience during the show and hand out passes.”

  Guests start to funnel inside. “You mean chicks with big tits,” he says.

  I roll my eyes. “It does seem like there’s always a disproportionate number of them.”

  Once the room is sufficiently packed, Reckless Alibi walks in and women scream. A line forms to get pictures and autographs. Garrett steps away and heads for the bar, followed by at least four groupies.

  Iggy joins Maddox and me. In his usual fashion, he spins me around. “Great show tonight.”

  “You too.”

  “Can I get you something from the bar?”

  I hold up my glass. “I’m good. Maddox?”

  “Also good.”

  I gesture to the people standing behind Iggy. “Looks like you’re wanted for pictures.”

  He greets them, but they step around him. “Can we get a picture with you, Reece?” one woman says.

  I put a finger to my chest. “Me?”

  Maddox laughs and gives me a nudge.

  “Yes, of course,” I say, flustered.

  I pose for pictures and sign autographs. My smile feels like it could quite possibly split my face in two. I rejoin Maddox, whose grin is as wide as mine.

  “That was surreal,” I say.

  “Get used to it. This is only the beginning.” He gets me a fresh drink then nods to the other side of the room. “He can’t keep his eyes off you, you know.”

  “Who, Iggy?”

  “No.”

  I follow the direction of his gaze and see Garrett sipping his whiskey. He’s surrounded by beautiful women, but he’s staring at us. I avert my eyes. “I think he’s looking at you, Mad. He hates me.”

  “There’s a fine line between love and hate, Reece.”

  I make a face. “He can barely tolerate being in the same room with me.”

  “He’s jealous.”

  “Of you? Impossible. He knows we’re just friends.”

  “Tell that to the daggers coming out of his eyes and piercing my chest.”

  “He hates you by association. Ignore him.”

  “Speaking of Iggy, what’s the story there? You two have something going on?”

  I try not to gag. “No way. He always reeks of cigarettes.”

  “But the way he talks to you. And he’s always touching you. You want me to shut that shit down?”

  “He’s harmless. He feels we have a kinship because we’re both new. Oh, and I walked in on him doing a line of coke the other day.”

  Maddox’s eyebrows shoot up. “Seriously?”

  “You shouldn’t be surprised. If I’m going to hang out with musicians, it’s a part of life.”

  “Does the rest of the band do it?”

  “I don’t think so, but I’m not sure. Could be they’re more discreet.”

  “If I ever find out you’re doing that shit, I will hunt you down, drag your ass back home, and lock you in my parents’ basement until you’re clean.”

  I laugh. “You have my permission to do all of that. Actually, it might be kind of fun spending time in Baylor Mitchell’s basement. She’s a famous author. Maybe she’d write a book about it.”

  “She writes romance novels, Reece.”

  Jeremy joins us and raises his glass. “To Reece Mancini. It won’t be long before parties like this are all for you.”

  My heart beats wildly at the thought.

  Maddox raises his glass and says loudly, “To Reece Mancini.”

  A dozen people around us do the same. “To Reece Mancini!” they all shout.

  I’m sure I turn a deep shade of pink and then I’m asked to pose for more pictures.

  “Can I get one of the whole band?” a girl asks.

  “I’m sure they’d be happy to,” I say.

  “I mean with you, too.”

  “I’m not part of Reckless Alibi. I’m a guest singer.”

  “Please?” She takes my arm and pulls me over to where the others are standing. “Stand here.” She pushes me right up next to Garrett; close enough that our arms are touching.

  My heart thunders. This is as close as I’ve been to him in six years. I can feel his breath on my neck. He even smells like he did back then. I think it’s the whiskey on his breath. Uninvited tingles shoot through me. I dare to look up. He’s looking right at me. What is he thinking?

  Iggy worms his way between us and drapes a hand over my shoulder as the picture gets taken. “Want to come to my room later?” he asks loudly.

  Garrett snorts and walks away, nabbing the first big-busted woman he sees.

  “You’re drunk,” I say to Iggy, “and probably high, so, no.”

  He holds me close. “You know you want it.” He puts my hand on his crotch.

  I jerk away, offended. “I do not want it. There are about a hundred women here who would be happy to go to your hotel room.” Though I say the words to Iggy, I’m thinking of Garrett.

  “Is there a problem here?” Maddox says.

  Iggy runs a finger down my arm. “Just trying to get laid, man. You know how it goes.”

  Maddox removes Iggy’s hand from my arm. “Hands off.”

  Iggy looks at Mad and then me. “Didn’t realize you were a thing. Hey, you want a threesome?”

  “No, dickhead, we don’t want a threesome. Get your rocks off with someone else.” Maddox gets the attention of a nearby groupie. “Have you met Iggy? He’s the bass player.”

  She looks him up and down. “I was hoping to go home with the drummer, but I guess you’ll do.”

  I get handed another drink, along with a proposition. “I noticed your glass was empty,” the woman says, “and I heard something about a threesome.” She gives me a flirty look.

  “Sorry, no.” I pull Maddox away.

  “You’re a popular girl,” he says, amused.

  “Is this what it’s going to be like? Drunken hookups and threesomes?”

  “You’re the one who wanted to be a rock star.”

  I glance back at Garrett, who has three women draped over him. I wonder which one he’s going to take home.

  “Maybe all three,” Maddox says.

  I sigh and lean
against the wall. I didn’t know I’d spoken aloud.

  “I would say him staring at you all night was creepy if you weren’t doing the same thing.”

  “I’m not staring at him.”

  “Oh, but you are.” He pulls out his phone and shows me a picture. “See for yourself.” I’m standing next to Garrett, looking up at him, and he’s gazing down at me. “These two people don’t hate each other. I’d say quite the opposite.”

  He’s right. We look like we want to devour each other. And not in a kill-you-and-roast-you-on-a-stick kind of way. “Take me back to the hotel.”

  He swipes two bottles of liquor from the bar and calls for an Uber.

  ~ ~ ~

  On my way to bed, I toss the empty bottle in the trashcan, missing it completely. Maddox trips over a table, curses, and then lies next to me.

  “Thanks for being here,” I say, taking his hand.

  “I wouldn’t have missed it for anything. I love you, Reece.”

  I smile sadly. “I know. I love you too.”

  “But you’re wishing it was some other guy lying next to you, saying those words, don’t you?”

  Hot tears flow. “How is that even possible, Mad? I haven’t seen him for six years. How can I still have those feelings?”

  “My mom always says you can’t help who you love.”

  “Always and forever,” I slur.

  He cocks his brow. “What?”

  “That’s what I used to say to him. He’d say he loved me, and I’d say always and forever.” I shake my head. “Your mom is wrong. I can control this. I don’t love him. It’s ridiculous to even think he’d want me after what I did. God, Maddox, how could I have been so stupid? Forget it. I am not going down that road again.”

  “Good luck with that.”

  “With what?”

  “Damn, you’re drunk.”

  “You’re drunk, too.”

  “Go to sleep, Reece.”

  I turn off the light and try to close my eyes, but I can’t. “You’re right, Mad. About all of it.”

  “I know.”

  “How?”

  “You’ve been hung up on the guy since the day we met. Even when you hadn’t seen him in four years, I knew you still had a thing for him. And now you’re touring with him. Girl, you might be fooling everyone else, but you can’t fool me. You’re still in love with him, and he might still be in love with you.”

  The room is spinning. I focus on the numbers on the clock to keep it still. Then I try like hell not to remember the night I first said those three momentous words. Always and forever.

  Chapter Nineteen

  Garrett

  Six years ago …

  Reece licks her lips. “This brisket is wonderful.”

  “I wish I could take credit for it,” Mom says. “It’s all Zola.”

  “I’ll have to tell her she’s a fantastic cook.”

  “I hope you know you’re welcome here anytime. It’s especially nice to have company while Daniel is away on business.”

  “Thank you.”

  I know Mom means well, but everyone at this table knows that after her first dinner here, Reece isn’t about to sit at the table with the likes of Daniel Young.

  “How was your concert in the park last night, Garrett?” Mom asks.

  “It was good.”

  Rob points his fork at me. “He’s being modest. They were on fire.”

  “You were there?” Reece asks, obviously upset she couldn’t find anyone to take her shift.

  She tries to come to all of Cryptology’s performances. She loves to watch us play, but at the same time, I know she wishes she were up onstage. I’ve tried to convince the guys to let her play with us for one song. They know how good she is; I’ve played them a few of her recordings. But they refuse. Sometimes I think I should leave the band, and Reece and I could start one of our own. But it’s a big risk. Cryptology is getting more gigs. Nobody will follow a no-name drummer and a new face behind the mic.

  Rob says, “I took Kendall. We had a good time.”

  Reece and I share a look. My brother is working his way through all the waitresses at the South Street Diner. Reece has resorted to calling herself his pimp. Joanna really did do a number on him. My brother has never shied away from commitment. He had girlfriends through high school and college, some of them long-term, but now no one seems to last more than a few weeks. Reece says it’s become somewhat of a contest at the diner to see who will be the one to settle him down.

  My phone pings with a text. It’s from Gus, the singer in my band. He’s letting me know what time to be at the gig on Friday.

  “What have I told you about phones at the dinner table?” Mom says. “I don’t care how old you are. It’s rude.”

  “Sorry, Mom.” I’m putting it away when an email pops up. My heart stops for a moment and then beats wildly.

  “What is it?” Reece asks, seeing my reaction.

  “I, uh, just got an email from Australia.”

  Suddenly Mom isn’t upset about my phone. “What are you waiting for? Open it.”

  “It’s early,” Rob says. “That must be good, right? You weren’t expecting to hear for a few more weeks.”

  My palms sweat. This is it, my last shot. After I open this email, my life will change in one of two ways. But it’ll never be the same.

  “I’m not sure I can do it.” I hold the phone out to Reece.

  She refuses to take it. “Don’t look at me. I’m as nervous as you are.”

  Rob snatches it from me. You could hear a pin drop as we wait for his reaction.

  He chews his lip as he reads, then he puts the phone down. “Bastard doesn’t know what he’s missing. I’m sorry, bro. You deserve to be there. We all know it.”

  I pick up the phone, sure he’s messing with me, or maybe he misread the email. But it’s clear as day. It’s a standard “thank you for your interest, but you did not make the list of top candidates” rejection. I get up, my food practically untouched. Reece tries to follow me, but I stop her. “I need a minute.”

  I go down to the music room and sit on a chair in the corner, eyeing my drums as I contemplate the possibility that everything I’ve ever thought about myself is all in my head. Maybe I wanted it so badly, I overestimated my ability. Maybe I suck and the zenith of my fame will be playing dive bars and county fairs.

  What will I tell the guys? I’ve been talking about this for years.

  I slump in defeat. I’ve finally proven my dad right. I’m a failure.

  ~ ~ ~

  Sometime after midnight, Reece crawls into my bed. I turn and face her. “I thought you’d gone home.”

  “I wanted to give you space, but I didn’t want to leave. I’ve been in the kitchen with Zola. She taught me how to make flan.”

  I wrap her in my arms. “Thanks for staying.”

  She turns so I can spoon her. It’s her favorite position to sleep in. “Are you okay?” she asks.

  “Honestly? I don’t know.” She shakes and sniffs over and over. “Hey, what’s wrong?”

  “It’s my fault.”

  “What are you talking about?” I stiffen. “You didn’t contact Gunther Grumley, did you?”

  “Nothing like that, but I didn’t want you to go. I prayed you wouldn’t get chosen. I didn’t want you to leave me. What kind of girl hopes her boyfriend doesn’t get to follow his dream?”

  “A pretty normal one if that dream means being apart.” I kiss the back of her head. “This wasn’t your fault.”

  “So you don’t hate me?”

  “Of course not.” I hop over her so I can look her in the eye. “I would have taken you with me, you know. I never said anything because I didn’t want you to get too excited. I guess it doesn’t matter now.”

  She squeezes out a tear. “I love that you said it, but I couldn’t have gone.”

  “You don’t think Sheila would hire you back after?”

  “It’s not that. My parents …”

 
; It finally dawns on me. “Oh, shit, Reece. I didn’t even think about that. You don’t like to fly, do you?”

  “I’ll never get on a plane.”

  I narrow my eyes at her. “But you’ll have to go on tour someday if you want to be famous.”

  “They have busses for that.”

  “A bus can’t cross an ocean.”

  “So I’ll travel by boat.”

  “Whatever you say, Mancini.”

  She snuggles close and grinds against me. “I know something we can do to take your mind off things.”

  I think for a second. “But isn’t this your time of the month?”

  “Any day now, but we’re good at the moment.”

  I sit up. “Reece, you always get it every fourth Tuesday.”

  “Not always.”

  “As long as I’ve known you.”

  “Are you seriously keeping track of when I get my period?”

  “Yes, I am. You know I can’t have a kid. I made that clear from the start.”

  “I’m not pregnant, Garrett. I’m on the pill.”

  “Sometimes girls do things to cause accidents.” She looks at me in disgust and tries to get out of bed. I pull her back. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that. I’m mad at the world right now.”

  She sits on the edge of the bed. “I don’t want kids either. You have nothing to worry about.”

  “We just can’t take any chances, is all. We have so much to lose. And we do have sex a lot.”

  She giggles and moves closer. “The best sex of my life.”

  “Are you trying to inflate my ego in light of what happened with Gunther?”

  “It’s true, Garrett. You’re an incredible lover.”

  In two seconds flat, I have her on her back, pinned to the mattress. “You haven’t seen anything yet.”

  Thirty minutes and two orgasms later, she falls asleep in my arms. I lie here wide awake, watching the clock. After hours of failing to sleep, I extract myself from her and go to the music room. I sit at my drums and run a finger across the edge of the snare.

  I’m not sure how long I’ve been here when the door opens.

  “Figured this is where I’d find you when I woke up to an empty bed.” Reece comes over and sits on my lap, then picks up my drumsticks. “Show me how to play.”