That’s when things got serious.
We all shut up.
Lola teared up.
Audrey smiled.
Nia burst into tears.
“I just love you so much, Jack,” she whined.
That caught me off guard.
She was crying like the guy was going to drop dead after their first kiss as a married couple.
Or maybe Nia was crying because she’d never sleep with another man again.
Then again, maybe she and Jack would have some kind open relationship.
Why the hell am I thinking about this?
The announcement was made.
They were married.
They kissed.
Jack picked Nia up and spun her around.
Lola and Audrey clapped.
I watched the newlyweds and felt myself frowning.
Audrey elbowed me.
I looked at her.
She smiled big and clapped harder.
That was my cue to wake the hell up.
I smiled big and clapped.
Then I whistled.
Then I screamed.
Audrey touched my shoulder. “Too much.”
The newlyweds walked down the aisle as music played through hidden speakers.
A guy walked in front of them, facing them, taking pictures.
When they were out of the room, then it was our turn to leave.
We went back in the main lobby area and hung around.
I looked at my phone and it was after midnight.
I wanted to call and check on Grams.
Bethany had already texted me five times, knowing I was going to be worried.
I was in Vegas, drinking, supposed to be having fun, and I was thinking about home.
“She’s fine,” Audrey said to me.
“I know she is,” I said.
“Then what are you doing?”
I looked at the front counter again and saw Nia and Jack hugging and kissing.
“Holy crap, Wren, stop it,” Audrey said.
“What?” I asked.
“Come here,” she said.
She dragged me outside.
She then got in my face.
“What is this? This isn’t you. You’re not some jealous bitch.”
“Says who?”
“Says me.”
“I just don’t… I don’t get it.”
“Get what?”
“Nia?”
“Wren, listen to yourself. Not everything can fit into a contract.”
“Oh, great, we’re going to have this conversation,” I said. “I’m drunk. I’m emotional. My grandmother is going to die. I’m alone.”
“You’re not alone,” Audrey said. “You want to convince yourself that you are. That’s your fault.”
“Yeah, well fuck you.”
“Nice,” she said. “So much for having fun. Those two are going to take off and have wild sex all night. I thought the rest of us could hang out.”
“You’re just going to pick on me all night,” I said.
“Hey, there you two are,” Lola said. “What’s… whoa. Wren…”
“Nothing,” I said.
Lol grabbed my hand. “Is it Grams? Is she okay?”
“She’s fine,” I said. “It’s just the night. Everything’s catching up to me.”
“Is it because you’re not married?” Lola asked.
“Exactly,” I said.
“This is insane,” Audrey said. “Wren, you can have any man you want. You choose not to. Whether you like it or not, you choose not to.”
“I feel terrible for this,” I said. “Okay? I feel terrible.”
“Then just stop,” Lola said. “Let’s just all be happy. Let’s go do something crazy. Let’s go to a male strip club. Or let’s go gamble. Okay?”
“I’m in for anything,” I said.
“What about the concert?” Audrey asked.
“That’s got to be over by now,” I said. “We missed it. We should…”
Nia came out of the wedding chapel and let out a yell.
Jack followed her, smiling ear to ear.
Right on cue, a white limo pulled up.
“This is our ride, wife,” Jack said.
He grabbed Nia’s ass and pushed her toward the limo.
She threw her head back and laughed.
They got into the limo and we didn’t even get a goodbye.
Then it was just the three of us.
Alone. Together. Whatever.
“I think I’m going to take a walk,” I said. “I don’t want to put a damper on the night any more than I already have. I’m mad at myself.”
“We’re going with you,” Audrey said.
“No,” I said. “You two go somewhere fun. I’ll text you in a little bit. Okay? I just need to clear my head.”
“Wren…,” Lola said.
“Just listen to me,” I said. “I’m happy for her. I really am. I’m happy for you both. Keith and Tyson are great. I’m sure Jack is great too. I’m just lost. I feel drained. Everyone tells me it’s okay to date and have fun but it’s not that easy with Grams. And the last thing I want is to bring some guy into this. You know? Am I really worth that? Imagine dating me… and you know that my grandmother is going to die. You’re going to have to watch it, be part of it, watch me grieve… who wants that?”
“A good man would,” Audrey said.
“Any man would be lucky to see you like this,” Lola said. “You’re real. You’re not fake. Nia is fake. Is she happy and in love? Yes. But she’s fake. Is that what you wanted me to say?”
“No,” I said. “But thanks. I promise, I’ll be okay. I just need a minute. I’m away from home and the office. I want to walk the street and take in the lights and sounds.”
“Alone?” Audrey said. “That feels dangerous.”
“Audrey,” I said. “Do you remember our first party in college? And that guy walked up to us and asked who would be first and who would get the messy seconds?”
Audrey smiled. “Yeah.”
“What happened?” Lola asked.
“I grabbed the guy by the balls and twisted so hard, he burst into tears,” I said. “And when he fell to his knees, I kneed him in the nose.”
“Then he pissed himself,” Audrey said.
“In other words, I’m fine,” I said. “I’m in a mood. If someone looks at me the wrong way, I’ll take them down.”
“So you’ll either text us to meet up or call from jail,” Lola said. “This is fun.”
“I love you both,” I said. “Go have fun. I’ll meet you soon.”
I walked away.
I knew they were going to talk about me, wondering whether they should help me or not.
Sometimes I just liked to be alone.
To walk and clear my head.
Nothing bad was going to happen.
I just needed a minute… or a year.
I really had no direction.
I was just walking.
Sometimes I just liked to walk alone and think.
Sadly, I couldn’t remember the last time I went for a walk alone.
My life had essentially become a rinse and repeat situation that played out every single day. There was no use in complaining about that, it was just the way things were.
Grams had raised me and made me into the person I was. Now she was dying. It was the least I could do to be there for her, take care of her, and try to spend every second possible with her.
As I thought that, I looked around and stopped walking.
I felt like I could cry.
To spend every second possible…
Then what was I doing in Vegas?
Of course, I had my reasons.
Grams even told me to go away. She wanted me to live my life like normal. There was a balance between taking care of her and making her feel like a burden.
I shook my head.
I couldn’t believe this was what I was doing.
I was in a
city that thrived off of making wild stories.
And I was just walking down the sidewalk with the neon lights above me, acting like I wasn’t even there.
I stopped walking and looked around.
There was a little bit of everything around me.
Gambling, sex, and other bad decisions within my grasp.
Something did catch my eye.
I noticed a group of people near the side door of a building.
Curiosity entered the frame and I walked that way.
There were probably famous people all over this town.
When I got to the group, I nodded to a woman in ripped jeans and a jean jacket, looking bouncy and drunk.
“Who’s here?” I asked her.
She looked at me. “Were you at the show?”
“No. I missed it.”
“They’re here now,” she said.
“They…?”
“The band,” she said. “My girl Theresa sleeps with this cook and he texted her that the band was coming here tonight. I didn’t believe her but then she showed up and saw Nash going inside. They’re actually in there!”
“Wow,” I said. “Wait… you said… Nash…?”
“Yeah. FILTHY LINE?”
“I know,” I said.
“It’s crazy,” she said. “We’re so close!”
“So close,” I said.
I faked a smile and kept walking.
I went around the other side of the building.
It was much darker, which I preferred.
I like my thinking walks to be dark and lonely.
However, I wasn’t so sure walking in the dark like this was smart.
I spotted another door.
This one had a large man standing in front of it.
He was in a suit with an earpiece.
He looked right at me. “Keep moving, sugar.”
“Fuck you,” I spat. I gasped. “Sorry. I didn’t mean that. But… I’m just going for a walk.”
“They all are,” he said. “Keep moving.”
“Oh, so I’m not allowed in there?”
“No.”
“Why not?”
“You’re not invited. You’re not their type.”
“I’m not?” I asked.
Wren… relax…
The tornado that was my thoughts began to get stronger.
Between the drinks, the sadness, and the stupid jealousy, I half considered hitting the guy.
Now that would have been a phone call to make to get bailed out of jail for.
“Just keep walking,” the man said. “Save yourself the trouble. You’re not getting in there.”
“Oh, what, am I not pretty enough? Sorry my tits aren’t fake. Oh, wait, is this where I have to offer to blow you? Better yet, want me to show you my tits? Will that work?”
I was now screaming at the guy.
I had no idea why.
I had no desire to go into that club or event or whatever it was.
Part of me just wanted to win something tonight.
And this guy was my target.
And I was going to take him down.
He stepped toward me. “You want to make offers, go ahead. I’m not promising a thing.”
He slowly smirked.
My right hand tightened into a fist.
I pictured myself hitting him just as the door opened.
Someone stepped outside and when I looked at him, I froze.
I had an idea of who it was…
And he was the worst possible decision to have cross my path tonight.
7
JAY
The event was a mix of fancy and filthy.
You could easily spot the business people. The men and women dressed like Toby, there to rub elbows, talk money and music, and act as though they really mattered to the band.
Did they matter?
Of course they mattered.
The FILTHY LINE brand was a machine.
But when it came down to the music, it was us. If we really wanted to, we could just write and record on our own, toss it up on some streaming service, and collect some cash. Just like the old days.
The days when Mitchy knew how to have fun…
Goddamn, Jay.
I couldn’t believe I had that guy on my mind again.
That was what Mitchy did though.
He’d show up, pick one of us to swoon over, and then fuck the band.
This time, it was my turn.
The last time he pulled this shit, he did it to Reed.
He started calling Reed. Sending Reed some song ideas. Then he sent Reed a demo. Reed got hooked on the music and that’s what brought Mitchy back.
Reed staged a meeting to talk about Mitchy and what he was up to.
It all fell apart shortly after that.
Just like it always did.
I paused mid step and looked around.
There were drinks, women, and maybe some bad yet good decisions to be made.
The guys were with their women.
Except for Sab.
He was off in some corner, sitting in a leather chair, a woman on each side of him, talking, telling stories, laughing. He looked like a young king, almost unsure of what to do next.
Sab knew what to do.
We all did.
I smiled and helped myself to another drink before slipping into the back of the club. Away from the people and the music. Just to take a second to breathe.
I was still feeling the show too.
It had been a great show.
The crowd was packed tight and loud as hell.
We took the stage with fire and left it in ashes.
Normally, we had an after show routine, but tonight we had to shower and get over here. So that was another reason I felt a little off.
As I walked through the back area of the club, more than a few of the workers looked at me then nodded and smiled. They knew the drill. Out front, they needed to act like we were just regular people. In private, they could show their fandom. But nobody was ever allowed to ask for autographs. For these events, however, we would sign some stuff and give it to the workers. Just as a thanks for being cool.
I approached the back door and stopped when I heard someone yelling.
“Oh, what, am I not pretty enough? Sorry my tits aren’t fake. Oh, wait, is this where I have to offer to blow you? Better yet, want me to show you my tits? Will that work?”
“Hmm,” I said to myself.
Now that sounded like a party out there.
A crazy party.
Just my type of party.
I opened the door and stepped outside.
There was a woman in a dress yelling at the security guard who was paid to make sure nobody got near the door.
A group of fans gathered at the side entrance, which was the entrance we were supposed to use. But because of the group, we went with the back door and had it protected.
But there was this woman… with dark hair pulled back, done nicely, wearing a black dress that wasn’t slutty or tight, but nice, wearing flat shoes, with her right fist balled up like she wanted to hit the guy.
She looked at me.
Time stopped for a few seconds.
How is this going to play out…
“She’s with me,” I said.
The security guard looked at me. “What?”
“She’s with me,” I said. “She’s running late. I thought you knew about her.”
“No,” the security guard said. “I’m just trying to do my job out here.”
“You are,” I said. “Take a walk for a minute. Go to the corner of the building and get a head count on who’s on the side of the building.”
“I’m not supposed to-”
“Do you know who I am?” I asked.
“Yes.”
“Then listen to me.”
The security guard showed his hands and walked away.
I let the door shut behind me.
The woman in the dress hadn�
��t moved an inch.
“Do I want to know what that was about?” I asked.
“Just me being dumb,” she said. “Sorry to get involved in your night.”
She tried to take a step. “Whoa, whoa, whoa… you’re not getting away that easily.”
“I’m not?” she asked.
“I heard what you said to him.”
I grinned.
“Ah, right,” she said. “That’s what got you out here. You think I’m some slut.”
“That’s a bad word.”
“Is it?”
“I think it is.”
“I think you’re full of shit.”
I laughed. “You’re a ball of fire tonight, aren’t you, sweetheart?”
“Really? You’re going to talk to me like you know me?”
“Let’s be honest… you’re the one wandering around here when you don’t belong here.”
“Exactly. Which is why I’m leaving. And it’s why I apologized.”
She tried to take another step. I moved with her.
“Or maybe you can come inside with me. Be a buffer for me.”
She laughed. “Not enough women in there for you? What good would I be? You don’t want to know who I am.”
“Are you a serial killer?”
“What? No.”
“Are you married?”
“No.”
“Engaged? Boyfriend?”
“No, and no,” she said.
“Have any warrants for your arrest?” I asked. “Eh, wait. That doesn’t bother me. Wouldn’t be the first time…”
“Funny,” she said. “Trust me, I’m the most boring person you could meet.”
She took another step.
“Wait, I think that’s a lie,” I said.
“A lie?”
“You stood up to a security guard.”
She laughed. “So you caught me in a moment. The one moment in my life where I decided to be a raging bitch. Again, I’m not who you think I am.”
“Then tell me who you really are,” I said.
She looked at me, confused.
She was beautiful.
I liked the way the dress subtly hugged her curves. I liked the way the dress covered her chest but there was no hiding that she had something to offer.
And, yes, I went for the fun physical features over the others…
Like her eyes.
They were rich and dark, like the kind of chocolate that was good for your heart.
She had little wisps of hair that just did what they wanted. Meaning she was the type that would only fight with her hair so much before saying screw it. Her nose was like a little button. And when she smiled at me, her dimples were uneven, but that was okay.
A FILTHY Marriage (Filthy Line Book 4) Page 6