Crazy on You

by Crystal B. Bright

  He nodded. “It’s what I want to do, babe. You’ll be going on other tours. We’ll split up. A relationship like that won’t work.” He pulled a joint from his pocket along with a lighter. “Besides, everyone knows you and Aaron are kicking it.”

  Tassia shook her head so hard that her neck hurt. “Will you stop saying that? We’re not. I don’t know why he did that whole dance thing on stage tonight. That wasn’t my idea, and we hadn’t talked about it.” She pointed at him. “How could you, of all people, think that? If I wasn’t on stage, I was with you.”

  Dorian shrugged. “There are rehearsals where you’re alone with Aaron. And roadies are on a different bus, so…”

  “You’ve been with me this whole time but thought that I was cheating on you?” She had to put her hand to her chest when it felt like her heart would explode at any moment.

  He snickered. “Yeah, but to be linked with Aaron and have folks thinking that I’m tapping the same girl he’s hitting, that’s tight.”

  “No, that’s pathetic.” Now she had to move her hand to her stomach when it lurched.

  Dorian started to move back from her. “I’m sorry if you felt like this would go somewhere.”

  No use feeling sorry for herself. She should have seen the writing on the wall, but she had hoped that Dorian would have been different since he didn’t sing for a living. She should have stuck to her rule when she first got into this business: stay away from men in the music industry. Now she would have to include roadies in that group.

  “Thanks.” She started loading her luggage on the bus by herself. “I can’t believe this is happening. You used me.”

  He snapped the lighter before dousing it. “Don’t be all like that. We used each other. You needed a distraction on the tour.” He licked his lips. “I wanted the ‘Ride Me’ chick.”

  Tassia could have reminded him that the few times she did have sex with him, it had felt more like a chore than pleasure. She wouldn’t stoop to that level. She still had to leave this situation with her head held high, and she had a good opportunity for that as long as Dorian kept his attention on his recreational distraction and not on her.

  “Fine. Have a nice life, Dorian.” Tassia headed to the open door of the bus.

  “See you, hotness. Hope you’re not simply a hook girl.” Dorian sneered at her before he walked away.

  Damn. Dorian voiced a concern that she also had. Would her mark in music be reduced to a line she hated singing night after night? Something would have to change.

  Chapter 2

  “I love you, Hyde!” A female fan screamed through the darkened window of his limousine.

  Thankfully the fan couldn’t see Hyde’s expression. Even his deep love of his fans got beaten down by exhaustion. He rubbed his eyes while hanging his head down. “Can we go, please?”

  “What? You don’t like this attention?” Hyde’s father looked at the chaos happening around the car. Clever Love, who liked the media’s moniker of C. Love, enjoyed this attention more than Hyde, especially when the young women pulled their tops up and pressed their naked breasts against the glass.

  The first time he saw faint pink nipples and areolas, Hyde couldn’t believe his luck. Of course, he saw his first set of naked boobs when he started in this business at eleven. Fifteen years later, the allure of this strange unconditional love from people he didn’t know all seemed foreign, unreal, unnatural. After all this time, Hyde longed for something real, something substantial.

  The limo eased up a little before finally pulling away from the ravenous crowd. Once on the interstate, Hyde removed his blue cap, now an expected signature trademark since his days on the Ratty Rat’s Fun Crew, and tossed it on the seat next to him.

  “Great show.” Clever pulled out his phone and started typing over the screen. “Put the hat back on and smile.” He held his phone up to Hyde’s face.

  “Will you give me a break? No photos right now, all right? I just want to chill. Can’t I just…” He leaned back, kicking his legs out in front of him and crossing them at the ankles. He couldn’t wait to remove his boots.

  “Your fans want to know all about you.” Even with his eyes closed in the darkened ride, he saw a bright flash through his eyelids. “They’ll have to accept a picture of you sleeping.”

  “Damn it.” Hyde shook his head. “Does every part of me have to be for sale?”

  “If you want to sell records and sell out arenas, yeah. You have to give up a bit of yourself. Besides, you have more sales that that Justin kid out right now doing the pop thing. That’s unheard of in country. Not since Garth Brooks and Taylor Swift.” Clever knocked his foot against Hyde’s. “You have broken barriers, but there are still some walls you can break through.” He cleared his throat. “That reminds me. Are you awake enough to discuss business?”

  “No,” Hyde replied flatly.

  He really didn’t want to talk about anything except for maybe a scheduled break. He hadn’t had one of those in several years. Between recording, touring, interviews, and other appearances, Hyde’s life no longer belonged to him. Record labels and fans dictated every part of his existence.

  “Fine. Let’s talk about you and Shelby Lynne.”

  Hyde groaned and lifted his head. “I damn sure don’t want to talk about her.”

  What started off as a promising relationship turned out to be an orchestrated pairing set up by his own father and Shelby Lynne’s manager. Hyde put himself out there more in the relationship, something he never thought he would do. Then the truth came out.

  Even their breakup had been carefully scripted. Hyde couldn’t have cared less what anyone thought of him severing the fake relationship. From the way the rising country singer bounded onto her next relationship, it looked like Shelby Lynne bounced back without a scratch. Meanwhile, Hyde looked at every woman with a suspicious stare. Could anyone be trusted?

  “Shelby Lynne has dropped her newest album.” The hopeful lilt in Clever’s voice snagged Hyde’s attention.

  “Is that supposed to mean something to me?” Hyde glared at the man he should have been able to trust with his life but couldn’t.

  Hyde couldn’t forget his father’s critical comments about Hyde’s weight as a youngster. Too bad the man knew how to conduct business and get Hyde in front of the right people.

  “Yeah. Might be a great time to rekindle the relationship.” Clever rubbed his hands together. “People love second chances, and they loved you two as a couple.” He nodded. “You and a cute little blonde on your arm.”

  “Who just loved the fame and limelight as much as you.” Hyde widened his eyes. “Hey, maybe you two should hook up. You could do wonders for her career.”

  “I don’t think you want a stepmother, particularly not her.” Clever snickered. “Might be a little awkward around holiday meals.”

  No, Hyde knew his father didn’t want a wife. Maybe the fact that Hyde’s mother simply walked out of the marriage to his father, according to Clever, should have reflected more on Clever than his mother.

  Hyde scratched his head. “Besides, you’re overlooking two important aspects in your suggestion. One, I don’t want to be with her anymore, and two, she’s moved on to someone else already. It’s apparent she no longer wants to be with me, either.”

  “I’m going to chalk up your salty attitude to lack of sleep and food.” His dad returned his attention to his phone. “I have a spread waiting for you back at the hotel.”

  Sounded good, but Hyde wanted to conk out on his bed, preferably for days. Unfortunately, he didn’t have that luxury. Always another show, another interview, another appearance. When would his life be his?

  “That’s all that had better be waiting for me in my room.” Hyde didn’t need any surprises like he had gotten a week ago when Clever filled his room with groupies willing to do anything for Hyde.

  As tempting a
s the prospect seemed, Hyde knew not to use women like that. Plus, none of the women saw him as a normal man with an unusual job. They all saw Hyde Love, the country music star.

  “You seem chatty now. Care to talk about—”

  Hyde cut him off. “No.” He wanted sleep and peace more than anything. He also had to get something off his chest. “I don’t want to talk about business. The last day of my tour is in two days.” He took a deep breath and cleared his throat so that his words would come out clearly. “I want to take a break.” Recognizing that he sounded like his eleven-year-old self, Hyde quickly amended his comment. “I’m taking a much-needed break.”

  Clever held up his overly tanned hand that went with the rest of his leathery body. “Whoa, whoa, whoa. Hold on, champ.”

  Hyde shook his head. “No hold on. I’ve been busting my ass ever since I can remember. Home schooling, acting, recording, touring, performing, interviewing. I’m exhausted. I just need a break before I break.” He didn’t think he would have had to beg for this time, but considering his current circumstance, he knew he would have to assert himself.

  “I understand, kid.” Clever adjusted his jacket. “You’re tired. I get it. Let me look at your schedule and see where I can fit in a week or two.”

  Hyde snickered. “A week or two? Great.” He leaned his head back. “I guess I had better get a jump on some sleep, then.”

  “Okay, I’ll tell you what I wanted to mention before. If you fall asleep and miss what I’m saying, I’ll tell it to you again later.” Clever clicked the overhead light in the limo.

  “Light off.” Hyde didn’t ask for much, and he couldn’t really be qualified as a diva. Quiet and silence came at a premium. Whenever he could get it, he demanded it.

  “Fine.” Clever turned the light back off. “So, I had an interesting conversation with Truman Woodley.”

  Hyde lifted his head and tried looking at his manager in the darkened car. Although Truman started recording professionally only a few years ago, Hyde liked his style. He especially liked the fact that Truman recorded songs with heart and substance, post “Beer and More Beer.” Being married to Shauna Stellar must have changed his whole perspective.

  Hyde almost wished he could find a true love like that. In this business, he didn’t know who wanted what from him. Fans wanted his time. Some women who went after him wanted his money. Other artists, especially the newer ones, wanted his fame. Truman didn’t seem to fit in either of those categories. Truman had married the most famous woman in music.

  “What did Truman say?” Hyde hated that his father baited him into this conversation. His curiosity got the better of him.

  “Truman and Chantel are looking to do an album of duets. They checked out your catalogue of music, and they like your style. They want to know if you want in.” Even in the darkness, Clever’s teeth shined brightly.

  “Are you serious? Truman wants to do an album of duets with me, not his ultra-famous wife? Doesn’t make sense.” Hyde sat up and drew his feet back.

  “The duets wouldn’t be with Truman or Shauna or Chantel or whatever she’s calling herself nowadays. It would be with you and one of their artists.” Clever looked at his screen and started typing something over it.

  “Do you know who? They have lots of different artists signed to them.”

  “You’re interested?” Clever nodded.

  “I’m curious. There’s a distinct difference.” Hyde scratched the back of his head.

  “We’re in North Carolina. It’s a hop, skip, and a jump to Virginia. I can set up a meeting with Truman and his wife. That is if you’re still curious.” His dad had a playful inflection in his voice. “I can fit it in after your final show.”

  Hyde thought about the possibilities. Lately he had lost the love he had with country music. Maybe this would give him the boost he needed.

  Then he shook his head. “No. I need a break. I can’t go into another project, especially one where I don’t know all the details.”

  Clever chuckled. “That’s the easy part. They called me. They’re waiting to hear back from you. The ball is in our court. All they need is the word and they’ll meet and give you all the details.” He leaned forward and put his hand on Hyde’s knee. “What do you say? This could be big. You saw last year the two of them got Album of the Year at the Grammys.” He patted his knee. “You could have the same.”

  Despite the money and fame, industry recognition eluded Hyde. He assumed since he started recording at such a young age and because of that kids’ TV show that he had done at age eleven, that no one took him seriously at his craft. As much as he needed the break, he wanted the respect more.

  “Set it up.” Hyde settled back in the seat.

  “Done.”

  Hyde would see if this new project would give him the love that he lost in music and the respect he thought he should have earned over the years. If it didn’t, it would give him the reason to take a break. Or maybe he had to reevaluate his desire to stay in the business.

  Maybe the new pairing would expand his musical career to morph into continuing as a duo. He could be the next Brooks and Dunn or Big and Rich. At least with a partner, the other person could shoulder some of the work and burdens.

  At the hotel, the limousine pulled around back to allow Hyde to go into the building relatively unbothered. Fans normally didn’t crowd around the back doors. No. They made their presence in the front of the hotel and the lobby.

  A hotel staffer escorted him in the service elevator up to the top floor that only housed Hyde, his band mates, and Clever, who always demanded a room on the same floor as his son but on the opposite end. Hyde trudged to his room with Clever fast behind him.

  “I’ll call you around seven so that we can hit the road early.”

  Hyde heard his dad talking behind him, but his full focus went to getting to his room and going to bed. He swiped his badge over the reader and opened the double doors that went into his suite.

  Before taking off a stitch of his clothing, he did what he had always done in hotel rooms since he started touring. He looked under the bed first before opening the walk-in closet and looking behind his clothes to make sure no fans camped out in those locations. He even checked in dresser drawers and the in-room refrigerator for recording devices.

  Satisfied with his search, he sat on the bed and removed his boots first before resting his back against the headboard and crossing his legs at his ankles. When he could muster the strength, he would get up to take a shower before sleeping off the day’s events.

  Hyde turned on the flat-screen TV that hung on the wall in front of the bed before the smell of the food his father had ordered him caught his attention. He peered over at a table in the dining room area of the expansive hotel room.

  His nose hadn’t betrayed him. He thought he smelled the distinct aroma of red velvet cake with cream-cheese icing. Sitting in the middle of the spread sat a slice of cake along with lobster, fruit, vegetables, breads of all kinds, and steak.

  Clever definitely didn’t want Hyde to starve. The gesture resembled the most fatherly act Clever had done in years. Hyde brought his attention to the TV screen and absentmindedly flipped the channels. He only stopped when he caught the local news and spotted performers on a large stage.

  Hyde assumed the news story would be about him and his band performing that night. Instead the newscasters mentioned a rapper, someone named Aaron. Hyde had heard of him, although he hadn’t listened to his music.

  He started to turn the channel when he caught a voice that grabbed his attention. The singer on stage with Aaron sounded good until he really listened to what she had said.

  “Christ. Did she just sing about wanting to ride a guy?” Hyde snickered and shook his head until he spotted the singer.

  The African-American woman wore a short black leather skirt with a matching bikini top. With a body like
hers, she didn’t need to sing a song about wanting to have sex with a man. Men probably lined up to be with her.

  Her cascading brown, wavy hair caused his fingers to tingle like he wanted to dive his hands through it. When she turned to the camera, Hyde bolted up in bed.

  She looked so familiar. No way could he have encountered this woman and not remember her. Her green eyes had him spellbound along with her bow-shaped full lips. It hit him when he really looked at her eyes. Tassia Hogan. How could he have forgotten about her from his Ratty Rat days?

  He still remembered her final day on set when she had struck up a conversation with him that at the time he had wanted. As a shy kid except when the cameras focused on him, he didn’t put himself out to meeting new people, not even the kids performing with him. Tassia had been different. He recognized that early.

  His father must have noticed something as well. After her abrupt exit, Clever had shared that Tassia’s father had tried minimizing Hyde’s role on the show. When the producers didn’t want to do that, Tassia’s father took her away.

  Good riddance.

  No matter how adorable she used to be back then, or how hot she looked now, no one used him.

  When Aaron got behind Tassia and wrapped his arm around her waist, Hyde settled back on the bed.

  The way the two of them looked, he wouldn’t be surprised if they dated or hooked up as Hyde’s contemporaries would say.

  He lifted his hand to change the channel when something caught his attention. Hyde thought he spotted a shadow on the floor moving behind the bathroom door. Hell, he hadn’t checked that location when he had gotten to the room.

  Hyde placed the remote on the bed and slipped out of it slowly. He padded over to the buffet of food first where he knew a knife would be with the steak. He picked it up before creeping over to the bathroom.

  His heart pounded with each step, but the hell if he would allow someone to scare him out of his place or worse, encroach on his space and time. Hyde took a deep breath before he swept his hand up the wall to turn on the light at the same time he rushed into the room.