by Lydia Cole
“I’ll get a recording schedule worked out soon and call you all when that happens. Until then, why don’t you try to get to know one another?” Johnny glanced around the room.
“Tiff,” I grabbed her before she walked out. “Hey, if you need any help, just call me, okay?” I grabbed her hand and scribbled my number on it. “And don’t give that number out. It’s my personal cell.”
She nodded quickly and blushed a little. “Thanks, Lucy. For everything.”
I shrugged. “It’s what I do.”
Chapter Ten
My phone rang just as I was climbing back into the car. My original plan to take Tiffany out had been foiled because the guys were anxious to get to know their new singer. I didn’t blame them. I was excited for them.
I located the singing object in the bottom of my purse and answered without looking at the screen. “Hello?”
“Okay, what the hell happened?” Ben asked quietly. “He’s being an even bigger ass than normal.”
I rolled my eyes. “Nothing happened.”
“Bull.” He sighed. “What’s going on, Lucy?”
“What’s going on is I’m hungry and I don’t have a lunch date.”
He was quiet for a second. “Come get me. I’ll meet you outside the hotel.”
“You got it, buddy.”
I hung up and tossed my phone into the passenger seat. I thought about calling Hayden and telling him to stop being such an asshole, but then decided that wouldn’t go over so well. I hadn’t intended on causing such a big mess. I just wanted him to go away for a little while so I could think. Not that I was getting much thinking done at the studio. Maybe I was the one being the asshole…
I tapped my fingers on the steering wheel along with the song playing on the radio. It was Johnny. I loved that I heard my dad on the radio regularly. Maybe I wasn’t a normal girl, but I did have those normal emotions. I did feel insecure and scared. And thinking about Hayden scared me. So, I didn’t.
Ben was standing outside the hotel, a hat pulled firmly over his head. He climbed into the warmth of the ‘Vette quickly, groaning and pulling my phone out from under him.
“Oops,” I laughed as I took the phone from him and slid it between my legs. “So, where to?”
“First, you tell me what’s going on.”
I sighed. “Party pooper.”
“Yeah. That’s me. I’m all about pooping. Now, spill.”
I decided to veto his vote and headed for my favorite diner. “I just needed space.”
“Did you tell him that?”
“Sort of.”
“Sort of,” Ben repeated. “How sort of?”
“I don’t know!” I threw my hands in the air, hitting the roof of my car. “Look, it doesn’t matter. You guys are going to sky rocket and he won’t remember me this time next year.”
Ben laughed quietly. “He won’t remember screwing Lucy Gold. Sure.”
I whipped my arm out and caught him in the chest. “I mean it won’t seem like such a big deal. Guys love me, Ben. I can’t help it. I’m a dream come true. It’s been like that my whole life. Eventually, the new wears off and the truth is that they just don’t like me as much as they thought. I’m not bitchy enough. Or exciting enough. By that time, I’m attached. And I’m the one that gets hurt.” I took a deep breath to still the anger. “You’re right. I’m Lucy Gold. Ridiculously famous and insanely loaded. But, deep down, I’m just a girl and I can’t handle this continual rejection.”
“So, you just quit?”
I shrugged. “Johnny seems to be doing just fine.”
“He has you.”
“And I have him. I’ll always have friends, Ben. I’ll always have someone I can get sex from if I need it. I’ll never be that girl that just wants to hook a guy and get married. In fact, I don’t even see myself ever getting married. That’s not in the books for me. Kids, maybe.”
“So, kids, but no husband?” Ben shook his head. “You’re backwards, Lucy.”
I nodded in agreement. “I’m too independent. Hayden was giving me his freaking schedule, as if I needed to know where he was at every moment. I just snapped. I don’t need that. I don’t need to know where he is every second.”
“I’m sure he was just trying to be considerate.”
“I’m sure.” I sighed. How could I explain it to him? “Look, I’m all for him. He’s amazing. He makes me laugh, he’s great in bed. God, he’s so damn good in bed. He’s got this thing with his tongue. Shit…”
“Ewww, Lucy. I don’t wanna know what he does with his tongue.�
I shook my head to clear it. “But, I’m just not ready for anything monumental, you know?”
Ben was cringing by the time I was done. “Thanks for all that information.”
I chuckled and pulled into the parking lot behind the diner. “You’re welcome. And I’m not trying to cause problems, I swear. I just don’t want him to get attached.”
“You don’t want him to or you don’t want to?”
“Either,” I snapped as I climbed out of the car.
We kept conversation down to a minimum while we ate, choosing not to broadcast my dirty laundry in the very public area.
“So,” Ben glanced over as he took a bite of his sandwich. “How was the band today?”
“Awesome. We signed them. They start recording with Tiffany next week.”
“Great.” He smiled slightly. “We’re going out on a date.”
My eyes widened and I resisted the urge to jump across the table and hug him. “That’s so cute!”
His cheeks pinked. “Shut up.”
“Um, excuse me.” A small voice interrupted our conversation.
I turned to my right and looked at a girl who couldn’t have been more than eight. I cringed internally. My music was not meant for girls that young. “Hi, sweetie.”
“My brother didn’t believe me when I told him you were Lucy Gold.” She pointed toward a booth with three guys. “You are, right?”
I smiled and nodded. “Yes ma’am. I am.”
“Oh. My. Gosh,” she swooned. “Can I have your autograph?”
“Of course. What’s your name?”
“Amanda,” a deep voice answered. I looked up to a body that had moved from the table. “Her name is Amanda. I’m really sorry. I tried to stop her from ruining your lunch.”
“Nonsense.” I grabbed a pen from my purse and smiled when I found a copy of my last album in there, too. “Look what I have.” I pulled the CD out and slipped the cover from behind the plastic. I scribbled a personal message and slid the paper back into the case. “Just for you, Amanda.”
“Thank you!” She squealed, running back toward the table to show the other guys.
“Thanks,” her brother smiled down at me. “She loves you.”
“What about you?” I asked with a wide smile, catching him off guard.
He slipped momentarily, but caught himself. “Well, of course.”
I chuckled and turned back to my purse, coming back with one of the proofs from the photo shoot I’d done the day before. “These are brand new. Consider yourself special.” I scribbled my name, then wrote, “To hot stuff,” on top since I hadn’t gotten his name.
“Thanks,” he said quietly. “And I’m sorry again, for interrupting.”
“No problem.” I sent him another smile as he walked away.
Ben was shaking his head when I turned back.
“What?” I asked, taking a bite of my lunch.
He leaned back and smiled. “I think it might have been more efficient to just go ahead and throw yourself at him.”
“What? He was hot.” I chuckled when he cringed. “Besides, I know it was all a ploy. A girl that young doesn’t listen to my music.”
We headed back to the hotel after lunch. I resisted, but Ben insisted. He said I needed to talk to Hayden. He seemed to think I could stop the asshole attitude. I knew better. I would probably just make it worse. But, I didn’t have anything else to
do so I didn’t have an argument.
Ben poked his head into their suite, looked around, then came back. “He’s not here.”
I shrugged. “I didn’t get the itinerary, remember?”
He rolled his eyes. “Between the two of you, I don’t know which one is more strong headed.”
“Me,” I said quickly. “I know it. I embrace it.”
Nate came out of his room just as Ben and I left the other. “Oh, there you are. Hayden’s in there raiding the mini fridge.”
“You have alcohol?” Ben asked incredulously.
Nate cringed. “Well, we didn’t. Hayden ordered it.”
I grabbed the key out of his hand, opened the door, and stomped into the living room where Hayden was bent over, digging in the fridge.
“It’s just past noon! What the hell are you doing?”
Hayden jumped up, hitting his head on the top of the fridge. “Dammit, Lucy. What the hell do you care?”
I rolled my eyes and shoved the fridge closed. “You’re being cut off.”
“By who?”
“Me.”
We were toe to toe by this point, looking at each other with equal parts rage and sexual tension.
“Screw you.” He turned and plopped onto the sofa, watching the blank television.
“What is your problem?” I asked, standing in front of him.
“You are, you psycho!” His breath had a slight alcohol smell.
“How much have you had? Are you drunk?”
“No. Now go away.” He waved me off.
Nate came into the room slowly. “Um, he really hasn’t had much. Maybe a couple shots.”
Hayden’s eyes glassed over in rage. He started to get up, probably to yell at his brother, but I pushed him back down and held him there.
“You stay here.” I flung my purse down and sat on the coffee table, facing him. “I’m not good at this, Hay. I’m not all lovey-dovey. I don’t talk about feelings. That’s not how I roll. But if you have a problem, you talk to me. You don’t go home and get drunk. That’s the most twisted way to handle anything.”
His eyes narrowed. “I can’t talk to someone who doesn’t talk back.”
“Yeah, well. You have to give me time to cool off first.”
“It’s all about you, isn’t it, Lucy?”
That hurt a little. I tried my hardest not to be a spoiled brat, but really, I couldn’t help it. “Ouch, Hayden.”
He sighed and averted his eyes. “Sorry.”
I ran my hand through my hair. “Look, I’m sorry. I went a little psycho, I admit. But you were throwing too much at me.” I glanced around and noticed the other guys had left. “Don’t try so hard. Just let it be. We have fun, we’re good together, but don’t make this more than it is.”
His guilty face was quickly changing on me. The frustration was coming back. “More than what it is? What exactly is it to you, Lucy?”
I sat back, caught off guard. “Well, I mean…” I sighed and stood to pace the floor. “I can’t do this, Hayden. I’m not your normal girl. I have…”
“Why? That’s what this is all about, isn’t it?” He stood up and stopped my pacing, holding me in front of him. “Be my girlfriend.”
“Hayden…” Breathing was becoming difficult. “Don’t.”
“I want you, Lucy. And you want me. Don’t lie to yourself. You just said we were good together.”
My eyes were locked on his, unable to look away. If I was the crying type girl, I’d have been bawling. “Hayden…”
He released me and took a step back. “Fine. I won’t push you.” He turned and headed back for the fridge. “But you have no say in the amount of alcohol I chose to drink. I’m off and I’m legal.”
I wrenched the bottle from his hands and threw it down. Then, I reached into the fridge, pulled the other bottles out and added them to my pile. Before he could stop me, I had them all in a bag and was headed for the trash.
“Don’t you dare,” he called as he followed me.
I started to put them in the trashcan, but decided he might just dig in there and get them out. So, I turned and headed for the door. “Later, Hayden. Have fun without the alcohol.”
“I’ll just buy more!” he yelled as I closed the door to the room.
“No you won’t!” I yelled back through the closed door.
Ben was standing in the hallway with an amused smile on his face. “This was such a bad idea.”
I shrugged and headed for the elevator, pulling my phone out of my purse. “You staying?”
“Hell, no.” He stuck his head into his room and yelled for Nate.
“Where’s Grant?” I asked as I punched the button in the elevator.
Ben looked at Nate, who shrugged, then turned back to me. “Dunno.”
“Call him. We’re having a party.”
They both chuckled and Nate slid his phone out of his pocket. I walked into the lobby and got three steps before my bag ripped open. I cursed and grabbed the bottles off the floor. Ben reached for one, and I swatted his hand away. He was underage. I didn’t need that all over the tabloids. I shoved everything into my oversized purse and headed back for my car.
We made it back to the mansion and Grant met us there, along with Jack, Vernon, and Billie. I threw all the alcohol into the trash compactor and listened with an amused smile while the bottles were crushed. It was a horrible idea, I knew. There would be shards of glass everywhere. But it was so satisfying, I couldn’t help it.
“Let’s head downstairs and jam,” I told everyone after the merriment was over.
“Where’s Hayden?” Billie wanted to know.
“Screw Hayden,” was my mature response.
Chapter Eleven
I figured it would have taken him longer, but I got the call within a few minutes of being home. I smiled and wandered away from everyone so they couldn’t hear him yelling. “Hi, honey.”
“What the hell did you do?” Hayden was mad. Very mad.
“I canceled your card,” I said with a smile.
“I figured that out.” He pulled the phone away from his face and screamed. “You’re impossible! You’re freaking impossible!”
I waited until I heard him breathing again so I knew he heard what I was saying. “Listen to me, asshole. I’m not impossible. I told you it was too early to be drinking. You were just going to sit around and get plastered. Grow up!”
“Grow up?” He laughed slightly. “You’re the one who needs to grow up!”
I took a deep breath and counted to ten. “You still think we’re good together?” I asked quietly.
“Yes,” he answered quickly, all trace of rage gone.
“I don’t think I can do this, Hayden,” I said, sliding onto the steps and putting my face in my hands. “I can’t handle it.”
“Handle what? I’m not that bad.” He chuckled, then sighed. “Why is everyone else at your house and I wasn’t invited?”
“I was letting you cool off. And I didn’t want to be alone.”
He was quiet for a moment, then took a deep breath. “How about this? No more yelling. No more arguing. No labels.”
I nodded slowly. “No labels.”
“But no sleeping with anyone else.”
I sighed. “That’s a label.”
“No. It’s a promise.”
“It’s a promise,” I repeated. “Okay. Okay, I can do that.”
“Good. Now, since everyone else is over there, how about you come over here?”
“Wait. What happens when one of us wants to sleep with someone else? How long does this promise last?” I was starting to get anxious again.
“Lucy,” Hayden growled. “You’re killing me. It lasts until we agree it’s over.”
“That sounds like a label. That sounds like a relationship.”
“Jesus Christ.” He got really quiet, taking long, deep breaths. “I give up. I’ve got nothing left.”
“You give up?” My voice cracked a little. Apparently
, it didn’t want him to give up.
“Aw, baby. Just come over here, please?”
I stood up and headed up the stairs. “Okay. I’m coming.”
“Lucy-Lu, where are you going?” Tiffany bounced at the foot of the stairs.
I scrunched my eyes. First of all, no one had ever called me that and I couldn’t decide whether or not I liked it. Secondly, I didn’t remember her showing up. “Uh…I’m going to get Hayden.”
“Oh,” she smiled deviously. “Okay, then. See you when you get back.”
It took me way less time than it should have to get to the hotel. I practically ran to the elevator and punched my pass card in. Hayden was standing outside his door, waiting. I stopped a few feet in front of him. He was just wearing a pair of lounge pants. They were black and white plaid and all I could think of was tearing them off.
“Come here,” he said, wigging a finger at me.
I shook my head. “Huh-uh. You’re just going to take advantage of me.”
“I intend to, yes.” He got to me in two steps and pulled me into his arms, crashing his lips down on mine. “I don’t understand how you can make me so mad and yet, when I look at you, all I want to do is take you to bed and worship you.”
I melted. What else could I do? He picked me up and carried me into the hotel room, depositing me on a large bed and crawling over me. His eyes were deep with desire and I was ready and willing to give him everything again. How did he manage to do that to me with just one look? I was all strong and hardheaded until he looked at me, then I crashed to the floor.
“You drive me crazy,” he said as his lips tortured my neck. “And I think I like it.”
I giggled, running my hands along his warm back. “Likewise, lover boy.”
He rid me of my clothing quickly, then slowed down to lay kisses all over my naked body. It killed me how slow he went. I was all pent up anger and passion, and he wanted to spend time kissing me.
“Hayden,” I pleaded after a few minutes.
“Always rushing,” he said with a smile, ignoring my request and continuing his tongue search.
I growled in irritation and flopped him over, pinning him to the bed under me. “Let’s see how you like it.”
My lips started on his, kissing him softly. I moved down his jaw and spent time on his neck, enjoying the moans I got in return. As I moved down his firm chest, it became harder for me to control myself, but I did just to get him back. By the time I hit his delicious six-pack, I was a goner. I ripped his pants off and went back, venturing lower until he was squirming under me.