Westside Series Box Set

by Monica Alexander

  Reid raised his eyes to meet my gaze as he smirked haughtily at me. He obviously thought I wasn’t his competition in the least. But he was so wrong. I’d fight for Andi if I had to. I wasn’t about to back down, regardless of whether she was moving home or not. That didn’t exactly change things for us. We still had a country separating us, and I still had the ability to travel to see her whenever I could. It would just be in a different city.

  “Well, I guess I’ll go say hi to Andi,” Reid announced. “Ya’ll enjoy the rest of your meal. Nice to meet you, Cameron.”

  “Camden,” I corrected him.

  “Right,” he said smugly, and I glared at his back as he walked away.

  As soon as he was gone, the conversation shifted to Andi and Reid, and it was almost like I wasn’t sitting there. Her parents talked about him and how they thought Reid and Andi were so perfect for each other. I watched in awe as the conversation continued as if my presence wasn’t even a factor. That pissed me off. Not that I was about to put a ring on Andi’s finger, but still. We were dating. That should have been a deterring factor from talking about her ending up with another guy.

  “Oh, I’m so glad he stopped by,” Mrs. Cutler said to her husband. “Reid has always carried a torch for Andi, and she’s always said he would be the perfect man to marry. Once she moves home I think it’ll only be a matter of time.”

  Again with the moving back to Atlanta. Andi had seriously never mentioned that to me. Was she really moving?

  “I agree,” Mr. Cutler said. “He’s a fine young man. Perfect for our Andi.”

  “Um, so not to be rude or anything, but you do remember that Andi introduced me as her boyfriend, right?” I interjected, not able to hold back any longer.

  “Oh, yes dear. Of course,” Mrs. Cutler said, her voice all honey. “For now.”

  “What does that mean?” I asked, taken aback that she would say that. I thought these people were supposed to hold back their feelings and skirt around real issues.

  Mrs. Cutler shrugged. “Nothing, dear.”

  “I’m not sure I understand what’s going on here,” I said to no one in particular, feeling like I was having an out of body experience.

  That was when Andi’s father turned to me. “Camden?”

  “Yes?” I said warily, unsure what he was going to say, but I’d had a bad feeling about it.

  This whole night had felt weird, and it had gotten worse since Andi had left the table. She’d been gone for ten minutes. I really wished she’d come back soon – or at least Gabe or his parents. They seemed to like me.

  “Son, you seemed to have done well for yourself, am I wrong?” Mr. Cutler asked me.

  “Yes, I have. My career has been very successful so far.”

  “That’s great to hear. You should be very proud of all you’ve accomplished. I’m sure you’ll make some girl very happy someday.”

  I was so taken aback that he’d actually said that out loud, like it was no big deal, that I wasn’t sure how to respond, so I just tightened my napkin in my fist as my cheeks got hot. Had I heard him right? I knew by the look on his face that I definitely had.

  Some girl. Some day. Not Andi.

  I suddenly knew where this conversation was going, but I wasn’t going to give the Cutlers the satisfaction of knowing that, especially since I could clearly see their endgame.

  “I’m sorry, I don’t follow,” I said faking misunderstanding and playing into their game.

  “Camden,” Andi’s mother interjected. “You seem like a very nice boy, but Andi is our only child. She is our world, and we want the best for her. The best is someone like Reid Pruitt, who is a prominent doctor and a respected member of our community. We never envisioned her with someone like you.”

  “Someone like me?” I questioned, not exactly sure what was wrong with me. I had a feeling I was being brash, but I couldn’t help myself.

  “Yes dear. Someone like you – a rock star who didn’t exactly grow up like our daughter did – which was made evident through your misunderstanding of which utensils to use.”

  My cheeks got even hotter at her jab at the fact that I’d used the wrong fork to eat my salad. I wasn’t an idiot. I’d just gotten nervous and grabbed the wrong fork. It was an accident.

  “I’m not sure how that’s relevant,” I said my voice sounding strained. Who were these people?

  Andi’s mother gave me a tight, sardonic smile as her husband said, “Son, we did our homework when we found out you were dating Andi when we saw the pictures of you two splashed all over the Internet several weeks ago. It was quite a surprise, especially since she didn’t tell us she was seeing someone new, but what was more unsettling was how it seemed that dating you put her in the spotlight.”

  “Mr. Cutler, I can’t exactly help that. I don’t like that the media follows me around and takes an interest in my life, but I also can’t stop them.”

  Mr. Cutler held his hand up. “I understand that, son, and if that’s the life you’ve chosen, then that’s your prerogative, but we always tried to instill in our daughter that once something lands on the Internet, it’s there forever. Because of that, she’s always been careful with what she shares on social media. Her reputation is important to her.”

  I swallowed hard as his words resonated with me. He was partially right. Dating me had put Andi in the spotlight. I didn’t like it, but there wasn’t much I could do about it.

  “So, you don’t want her to date me because I’m famous and people will know the details of our relationship? Because I can tell you that most of what is printed about me is either fabricated or an assumption. I keep almost all parts of my life private, and I intend to ensure my relationship with Andi remains as private as possible.”

  Mr. Cutler nodded. “We appreciate that. I’m glad to see you’re the kind of man who doesn’t seek out the spotlight. That gives us a little reassurance, but at the same time, with as famous as you are, there’s no way to keep everything completely away from the media. Keeping a relationship as ‘private as possible’ is not the same as keeping it completely private.”

  I sighed in defeat, because he had a point, but what could I really say? I couldn’t guarantee a hundred percent privacy, and Andi knew that. She was okay with it.

  “There are also other concerns,” Mr. Cutler continued.

  “Okay. Like what?” I asked him, hearing the irritation in my voice.

  “Well, Andi’s safety for one.”

  “I assigned one of my bodyguards to her. She’s fine.”

  “Well, thank you for doing that. But can you guarantee that her reputation will be protected? Dating someone famous will undoubtedly lead to others judging her. It also leaves her open to judgment for the things you do. Anything unsavory associated with you could hurt her and how others’ perceive her.”

  “Mr. Cutler, I don’t do anything unsavory. I’m a good person and an upstanding citizen.”

  “That may be true, but the past does come back to haunt us, as does the present if the company we keep does things that draw negative attention.”

  “What are you talking about?” I asked sharply, because I was seriously confused.

  I had no idea what he was referencing. I had no record to speak of, and I hadn’t been in trouble with the law since I’d gotten into Westside. I didn’t do drugs, I didn’t drink and drive, and I kept a relatively low profile.

  “We’re talking about your family and your friends, dear,” Mrs. Cutler said, still with that voice like honey. It was making everything she said ten times worse.

  “What about them?”

  “Well, we know your home life wasn’t exactly stable while you were growing up.”

  I felt my eyes get wide. “And that was my fault?”

  “No, it wasn’t your fault,” Mrs. Cutler explained “But it did affect you.”

  “Not really,” I snapped, my patience wearing thin.

  “I’d beg to differ,” Andi’s father interjected. “We’re well-aware
that you were arrested for fighting.”

  “When I was seventeen,” I countered. “And I was defending myself. My best friend and I were jumped on our way home from school, and we fought back. The police arrested everyone involved, and he and I got off with a warning. Besides, my record was sealed when I turned eighteen. How did you see it?”

  “Don’t worry about that. Just know that we know everything about you. We know that one of your bandmates got a DUI two years ago, one made a sex tape with a stripper, and another one is currently seeking treatment for a drug addiction. We also know that your brother struggled with a drug addiction, and your father battled both an alcohol addiction and a gambling addiction. Now I’ve always lived by the mantra that the company we keep and what they do is far more important sometimes than what we ourselves do. I’d be concerned that there are influences in your life that could sway you down a wrong path. You’re only twenty-one. You have a lot of time to make foolish mistakes. We just don’t want Andi getting caught in the crossfire.”

  “She won’t!” I told him, appalled that he knew things I’d never told anyone. “And I’m not headed down a bad path!”

  He held up his hand. “Now there’s no need to raise your voice, son. We’re just talking.”

  I took a deep breath to try to center myself. I was flat-out pissed, but this wasn’t the place to show it.

  “But you’re defaming my character. You don’t even know me,” I said in as level of a tone as I could muster.

  “We know enough,” Mr. Cutler said, and it was with that firm statement that I knew I’d lost. Fighting for my cause would do me no good. Their opinions were made up, and I wasn’t going to change them.

  “Got it. So in a nutshell, you don’t think I’m good enough for Andi. Is that what I’m hearing?”

  “Yes,” Andi’s mother chimed in. “That’s exactly what we’re saying. Now I know she likes you. That’s evident, but I’m sure it’s just a crush. Andi has never been terribly responsible when it comes to men, and she let go of the one man who was right for her. We’re just trying to help her get her head on straight, and dating an unstable rock star isn’t smart at her age.”

  “Unstable?” I questioned, feeling like I’d just lost a fight. I literally felt beat down.

  “It’s just an assumption, but let’s be honest,” Andi’s mother continued. “You’re young. You live most of your life on a tour bus, traveling from city to city. I can tell you that is not the life Andi wants. If you knew her at all, you’d realize that. She needs someone who’s there for her, who can take care of her, and who will be around in the long run.”

  I wanted to tell her that Andi and I had been dating for five weeks, and although I had strong feelings for her, I wasn’t exactly ready to get down on one knee. But I also knew nothing I could say right now would carry any weight. My opinion meant shit to these people.

  “Andi grew up different than you did,” Mrs. Cutler continued. “It might seem like you have a lot in common now, but she isn’t familiar with the ways you were raised, and differences like that breed incompatibility later in life. We know that she wanted to move to New York City to experience life, but her plan was always to move back here, get married, and raise a family. And although she might not want a family right away, we know she’ll want her children to grow up like she did. Being from a broken home, you can’t possibly understand what that’s like.”

  A broken home? Holy shit.

  “So, it’s not okay that my parents are divorced?” I asked.

  Andi’s mother shrugged infinitesimally. “I’m sure your parents had their reasons for separating. That’s not our business, but I question the morals of a mother who abandoned her children and left them to live with an unstable man.”

  My eyes got wide as she flat-out defamed my mother. “You know nothing about my family,” I said through gritted teeth, “but for the record, my mother’s job had her traveling four days a week. We couldn’t live with her. That’s why we stayed with my dad.”

  “Semantics, Camden,” Andi’s father chimed in. “There are just too many factors pointing to you not being a good fit for our daughter. I think you can understand the predicament we’re in, and it would be easier on everyone if you took yourself out of the picture.”

  “Took myself out of the picture?” I questioned, still in shock that this conversation was happening.

  “Yes. Give Andi her freedom. Let her find someone more suitable for her.”

  “Someone like the guy who was just here?” I questioned.

  Her mother beamed at me. “Exactly. In fact, if you were to say head home to your family sooner than you’d planned, Reid would be here for Andi. You wouldn’t even have to worry about her.”

  Oh fuck that.

  “But we’re supposed to stay for the next four days.”

  “I’m sure you can change your plans,” Andi’s mother said, her voice dripping with discontent.

  “What if that’s not what Andi wants?”

  “It will be,” her father said, and then he gestured outside where I could see Andi and Gabe talking and laughing with Reid. She looked happy, and it sort of broke my heart. I hated to think that maybe her parents were right.

  I nodded. “Right. Okay then.”

  Was I really going to leave? That seemed crazy, but I felt like I didn’t have another choice. They didn’t want me there. How could I stay – in their house, for a major holiday – when they didn’t even like me?

  Andi’s mother smiled. “I’m so glad we had this talk, Camden. Thank you for understanding. You seem like a nice boy. I’m sure you’ll be able to find another girl in no time.”

  Fuck that.

  Those were the only words I could think as Andi’s parents changed the subject and continued on eating their meal like nothing had happened, like they hadn’t just openly trashed me and accused me of being less than worthy. It was bullshit, yet they felt completely justified in what they’d said, because in the end, all that mattered was that Andi married the guy they liked.

  Fuck.

  Everyone returned to the table soon after, and it was all I could do not to tell Andi I was leaving. I had to sit there for another forty-five minutes and sip port and pretend like everything was fine. It wasn’t, and I was so quiet that as soon as we got in the car, Andi had asked me what was wrong.

  I’d lied, because how in the hell was I supposed to tell her that her parents had flat-out told me I wasn’t good enough for her. She’d refute that, because she liked me. I just didn’t know what to think. What if she really was moving back to Atlanta in the summer? What would happen when she did? Would she still want to be with me? I needed to ask her about it, to know for sure what the truth was, but I knew now wasn’t the time. It was Christmas.

  I knew once we had that conversation that one of two things would happen. One, I would get my heart broken because I’d learn that Andi’s parents were right, or two, Andi would get pissed at her parents for what they’d said, and it would ruin their holiday. I couldn’t do that. She adored her parents, and she loved Christmas. Our talk would have to wait until after the holidays, so until then I’d have to just deal with the agony of not knowing the truth.

  And part of that truth was knowing if she’d rather be with Reid than me. Jealousy was a dangerous emotion, and I’d tried like hell not to let it get to me. Andi had assured me that things with Reid were over, that she wasn’t interested in him, and I’d been good with that. I’d believed her. Then I’d seen that text, and every doubt, every fear had come back in full force. She’d lied to me. She’d told him she’d have a drink with him, that she’d see him while she was in town – while I was supposed to be with her. That was what had gotten me on the first plane to Detroit. And now my head was so screwed up I didn’t know what to think.

  What made everything worse, though, was that my feelings for her were so damn strong that I knew if Andi sided with her parents, or if she chose Reid over me, I’d be shattered. That had never happened to
me before. No girl had ever broken my heart because I’d never cared enough. I cared about Andi so much more than I wanted to admit. Losing her scared the shit out of me.

  I was pretty much torn apart, and I felt like I couldn’t even call her. If I did, I’d run the risk of blurting everything out in an attempt to get answers. I figured the best thing to do was create some space. I’d call her in a few days and go from there. That gave me some time to harden my heart against her so I could move on if I had to. It wouldn’t be nearly enough time, but it would be better than nothing

  For now, I figured it was best for me to be with people who cared about me. It was why I was going back home. I hadn’t even called my mom to tell her, but I knew when I showed up at her house, she’d be happy to see me. I was just glad she had the next three days off of work. She usually traveled so much that she’d be gone for several days at a time, but since she’d left the day after Andi and I had dinner with her, she’d be back now. I wasn’t sure what I would have done otherwise. My father wasn’t exactly a comforting force, my brother was currently mad at me, and Dillon was on an island in the South Pacific.

  “Andi’s parents are assholes,” I said to Chris as he navigated us out of the airport.

  “Was it really that bad?”

  “It was worse, man,” I said, settling back against the seat, remembering the last time I was at the airport – Andi had been with me. “They don’t want me to be with Andi – at all.”

  I told him the story from start to finish, hoping I’d feel better after I got it all out. I didn’t.

  “I’m sorry, Cam,” he said, and I wondered what he would have done had he been at the table with us at dinner instead of at the bar because he’d wanted to give me space.

  He probably would have defended me, which wouldn’t have gone over well. It was better that he hadn’t been there.

  I sighed as I let my head fall back against the seat. My phone dinged with a text from Andi, but I didn’t respond to her. I felt like a dick for doing that, but I couldn’t talk to her. I didn’t want to be the guy to come between her and her parents, and I definitely didn’t want to put her in a position where she had to choose. She’d choose them. They were her family. I was a guy she’d known for a month. It would kill me, and I wasn’t ready to face that.