MASON WILDER: Radical Rock Stars Next Generation Duet Book 2

by Jenna Galicki

  “Go away, Kendall,” Tessa’s mom said. “You know Angel doesn’t want you on stage. Just go back out front and stop trying to make trouble.”

  Kendall gave a garbled reply, then abruptly left.

  A weird feeling fluttered through Tessa’s belly and rose into her chest, and she stopped the DVD. She wished she’d never watched the video. It felt as if she invaded everyone’s privacy, especially Mason’s. She had no right spying on Kendall. It wasn’t her business. In a way, she was glad she did, though. The shabby clothing, messy hair and slurred words couldn’t be more different than the classy woman Kendall was today. She had changed, just like she had said a half dozen times. Tessa felt as if the woman was being judged unfairly because of things that happened in the past, and she was remorseful that no one wanted to give Kendall a chance.

  “So, what’d you think?” Sindy asked, cautiously.

  “It was horrible. They were so mean to her. All she wanted to do was sing, and they chased her away without even checking with my papi.” It was close and personal for Tessa. She was a singer and couldn’t imagine how broken she’d be if people stomped on her dream and dismissed her the way they just dismissed Kendall. Her family, women that she loved, admired and looked up to, had bullied Kendall. Tears stung her eyes, and she lowered her gaze to the floor. “I feel so bad for her.”

  Later, after the design session with her mom, Tessa asked Sindy to wait in the studio so she could talk to her mom. She needed to clarify some of the issues with Kendall and caught her mother alone in the kitchen. “I’ve been spending some time with Mason and Kendall,” Tessa began, hoping to open up a dialogue.

  Her mom froze, and her fingers tightened around the glass in her hand.

  “I wasn’t sure at first, after the way everyone warned him about her, but I think she really cares about Mason and is sincere. She just wants to be part of his life.”

  The agitated look of annoyance on her mom’s face disturbed Tessa, specifically because of the way her mom had treated Kendall on the video. She understood that they didn’t like each other, but she didn’t understand why there would be a grudge to last twenty-something years, and she wanted to know exactly what went down. “What is it? Can you please tell me exactly what it is about Kendall that has you so angry at the mention of her name?”

  As expected, her mother’s jaw clenched and her nostrils flared. The heated flame in her eyes slowly waned and her expression relaxed as she let go of whatever was eating at her. “There’s a lot of history between me and Kendall,” she explained. “I don’t know why, but she hated me from the minute we met.”

  “Why, though?” Tessa wanted concrete answers as to what caused the intense dislike. It didn’t make sense. There had to be a reason. No one disliked her mother. There was never any unfavorable publicity about her or rivalry by other designers. She was revered and respected by all in the industry – not just the fashion industry, but the music industry as well. Rock stars, male and female, adored her. Immortal Angel fans took to her as if she was part of the band. Her mom was always honest, so this vague camouflage of the truth frustrated Tessa.

  “Let me tell you something that happened when we first met,” her mother said. “I set up a merch table for Immortal Angel at the famed Quadrangle. I had designed and constructed these corset tops. They were a big hit. Everyone loved them and I was so proud. I was still an associate designer at that time, working at someone else’s fashion house making boring mundane clothing, so these corset tops were a big deal for me.” She paused. “Kendall tried to steal one from the merch table. I caught her and we ended up in a little tug of war with the garment and it ripped. Right down the seam.” Her mother’s eyes grew hard and there was vehemence in her voice when she spoke next. “She ripped my garment. These corset tops were the first garments I ever constructed and sold. And she destroyed one.”

  Tessa’s eyes widened and her lips parted. She knew that a designer put their heart and soul into a garment. Kendall may as well have ripped out a piece of flesh along with the seam of the top. Tessa understood her mother’s anger and resentment on the subject, but it hardly seemed like enough to warrant the hostile reaction her mother displayed any time Kendall’s name was mentioned. “That’s it? She ripped your garment? That’s why you hate her?” Tessa shook her head. “There’s more.”

  Her mother let out a deep breath. “Baby, it’s very complicated. And some of it’s very personal. Believe me when I say that I’m very concerned that you’re spending time with her. She’s manipulative. And she seems to have some kind of vendetta against me.”

  “Why?” Tessa pressured her mother, determined to get the real story.

  “I guess she thinks I stole her thunder. Or something like that.”

  Tessa replayed everything in her head. Her thoughts were swimming. She pulled at snippets of conversations, with Mason as well as with the family. Since her mother was skirting around the truth, Tessa had to piece it together. Suddenly, a thought washed over her that made her sick to her stomach. Mason had been the one to mention it initially, and it was so absurd that she had immediately dismissed it. Now, it seemed like the only viable answer that made sense. It crushed her and she wanted to vomit. “Oh my God.” She barely whispered the words as realization hit her. Fear made her squeeze her eyes shut as if to block out the ugly truth, and her breath heaved. She braced herself to ask a question she didn’t want to know the answer to. “Did Dad have an affair with Kendall?”

  “What?” Her mother’s hand flew to her chest and her eyes nearly popped out of her head. “Of course not!” She got all flustered and her cheeks burned red. “I can’t believe you’d even think that your father would do something like that to me. With her!” Her hands came down, hard, on the countertop, startling Tessa. She leaned forward, eyes ablaze. “Has she been saying things about him? Or Papi? Has she been spouting lies about how she and Papi were best friends and then I came along and she got tossed aside?”

  Tessa took a step back. Never had she seen her mother so irate. “No. Why are you so mad?”

  “Because that woman gets under my skin. I thought she was finally gone. But she keeps coming back, like a virus, infecting everyone she comes in contact with. What has she said to you?”

  “Just that everyone dislikes her and no one wants her around. But she doesn’t dwell on that. At all. She stresses that she’s changed, Mom. And I think she has. She’s nothing like how everyone describes her. She’s poised and sophisticated. Her clothes are expensive and her hair is neatly styled. I know she loves Mason. It’s not a charade.” Tessa paused as she thought about the one thing that still nagged at her. “Kendall said that she and Papi have been friends since they were kids. Is that true?”

  Her mother looked visibly calmer, although her cheeks matched the color of her hair. “Yes. Part of that’s true. They took voice lessons together. That’s how they met, but their friendship was one-sided. I never speak badly about anyone, Tessa. You know that about me. But she’s poison. She’s tried to ruin my life. On many, many occasions. And I give you my word that I never did anything to incur her wrath. Everything she’s done is for her own agenda. Both you and Mason say she’s changed. But I don’t trust her. She comes off sickeningly sweet, and it’s all a ploy. I’ll never trust that woman, and I don’t want her in my life again.”

  “She’s not in your life. She’s in Mason’s life. And she’s only in my life because of him.”

  Her mother leaned forward with one hand on the breakfast bar, jaw rigid. “If she’s back, she will be in my life. I’m just waiting for the bomb to drop.”

  The vehemence, the resentment and the animosity that her mother harbored for Kendall scared Tessa. Her mother loved everyone – strangers, fans, friends. She was sociable, amicable and friendly. And everyone loved her back. Tessa had no idea what to make of her mother’s rant, but she prayed her mother was wrong because she couldn’t bear it if Kendall was only playing games with Mason’s heart for her own selfish reason
s.

  Mason snuck up behind Tessa and wrapped his arms around her waist.

  She jumped, then laughed a little. “Don’t do that!” She shoved him lightly, but her small hand on his left pec barely dented the muscle. “I could have fallen over the balcony and killed a pedestrian.”

  “It’s early.” Mason leaned over the railing. “There’s barely anyone walking down the block.”

  Tessa exhaled. “I love the City, but I’ll never get used to the noise and so many people practically running down the street. Why are they in such a rush?”

  “Places to go and people to see.” He knew she loved Long Island and all of its greenery and beaches, but most people didn’t realize that the City offered a lush oasis hidden in the middle of the island. It was probably too far to walk to the Pool, but he could show her the beauty of Central Park. “C’mon. Let’s go for a walk.”

  “A walk?” She looked at him as if he was crazy. “I’m wearing heels. Oh, wait!” She held up her index finger. I left sneakers here once, didn’t I?”

  “Yep. They’re in my bedroom closet. I’m surprised you remembered.”

  “A girl always remembers where she leaves her footwear,” she said before she disappeared into his bedroom to retrieve them.

  He forgot why she had brought them, but it was years ago. He used to remind her that they were here, but she had always said to keep them in case she needed them again.

  Tessa appeared, hot pink leopard sneakers on her feet, modeling the footwear. “I can’t believe I never brought these home. They’re adorable!”

  “You’re adorable.” He put his arms around her waist, but when he went to kiss her, she had a crazy smile on her face, causing him to emit a small laugh. “What’s so funny?”

  “I have a confession to make.” She covered her face and laughed behind her hands. I can’t believe I’m about to tell you this. It’s so lame.”

  Lightness filled his chest and he smiled wider. “Tell me what?”

  “I always knew these were here. I left them here on purpose. I loved the idea that something of mine was tucked away in your closet.” Her voice took on a dreamy inflection and a faraway look covered her eyes. “I used to imagine that you’d come across them one day when you were searching for something to wear, stop what you were doing and think about me.” She ran her fingers down the length of her arm. “At that exact moment, goosebumps would rise on my arms and a chill would race down my spine as an image of you popped into my head. For a few brief seconds, our worlds would still and we’d be thinking about one another at the exact same time.” She burst out laughing and covered her eyes for a second. “I told you it was lame.”

  He put his arms around her again as happy laughter bellowed from his mouth. He smiled so hard he could feel his cheeks dimple, and he beamed at her so brightly that he could practically see the sparkle his eyes projected. He wondered what took him so long to realize that she was the girl for him. He’d always been a happy guy. A smile on his face, never in a bad mood, he was the eternal optimist. Now, it seemed as if he’d been thrust into another dimension and lifted to another realm where everything in the world was right. It was as if he’d been living in the dark before and now that they were a couple his heart opened and let the light inside. “I don’t think it’s lame at all. I think it’s incredibly romantic. Only you would dream up something so amazing and vivid. You, Tessa Blade Garcia, are the most romantic person I know.”

  She sighed dreamily and placed her arms around his neck with a whimsical smile. “It’s my Latina blood.”

  “Whatever it is, I love that your mind is so creative and your heart is so big.”

  She stiffened and swatted his chest. “You love my mind? That’s not romantic!”

  He lifted his chin and laughed up to the ceiling, then drove a deep kiss onto her mouth. She wilted in his arms and he held her tighter. The closeness of their bodies, the way her breasts pressed against his chest and the tiny little moans that escaped her, stirred his desire for this amazing girl. He’d known her for her entire life, yet he only showed her how much he loved her for such a short time. He pulled back and ran his hand over her glossy dark hair. The passion that filled his soul eradicated all smiles and laughter, so that he was deadly serious when he spoke. “I’m not a romantic guy. I’m sorry I don’t think about bringing you flowers or taking you for a walk on the beach at sunset.”

  “I don’t need any of those things, Mason,” she whispered. “I only want you.”

  “You deserve them. You deserve the world. And you already have me.”

  Her eyes glazed over and she sighed deeply. “Then I have the world.”

  His chest ached with the love he had for her. Never had his heart ballooned and swelled with so much intensity. “I love you,” he said, softly, before touching his lips to hers. Somehow, the barely there meeting of their mouths conveyed so much more than a hard passionate kiss, and he knew she felt it. He vowed to be more romantic and spontaneous, and he was going to start with a walk through Central Park.

  They headed out of the building and actually made it all the way to the Park before a group of fans stopped them. It was probably the car that had blared its horn at them as they crossed 59th Street that tipped off the small crowd. At first, Mason thought the driver had honked because he was annoyed that they darted across the street, but it turned out to be a car full of fans that just wanted to wave and call his name.

  Most of the small group hung back and whispered while they stared, but a young couple brazenly approached.

  “Oh my God!” The girl gushed. “Mason Wilder! I can’t believe I ran into you! You’re my first star sighting in New York!”

  The guy with her looked even more star-struck. “You’re an incredible drummer. I’ve seen you live and it’s totally blown me away. You’ve inspired me to take lessons.”

  No matter how many times fans reacted, whether it was a girl crush or genuine respect for his talent, it still made Mason’s cheeks flush. He knew his cheeks were red because his ears were hot. He flashed his signature smile. “Thanks, man. It’s really nice of you to say that.”

  “And Tessa Blade Garcia!” the girl fawned over Tessa. “You’re so beautiful. And your voice. It’s incredible. I love watching you on stage. And your clothes.” She scanned Tessa from head to toe. “Are you wearing Jessi Blade?”

  Mason couldn’t help the bubbly laugh that left his lips. This girl sounded like she was interviewing Tessa on the red carpet.

  “Look at your dimples!” the girl suddenly exclaimed, hands on her cheeks. “Oh my God. You’re so cute!”

  Tessa smiled at him and squeezed his chin in her hand. “He sure is.”

  “I have to get a photo of the two of you. You look so adorable together. You make the perfect couple.” She held up her cell phone. “Do you mind?”

  “Of course not,” Tessa answered. After the girl took a photo of Mason with his arms circled around Tessa, she asked a bystander to snap a photo of the four of them together, which was probably the wrong thing to do because then everyone started asking for selfies. It was a miracle they got out of there in only 15 minutes.

  “I wasn’t expecting that,” Tessa said, enamored by the rush of fans.

  “Get used to it, babe. You’re famous. And not because of who your parents are. You’re famous because you’re the frontwoman of Prodigy. Did you hear all those people ask when our next album is coming out?”

  She nodded, full of enthusiasm. “I did. I always knew Prodigy would top the charts, but I still can’t believe it.”

  “Believe it, because it’s only going to get better.”

  “I guess word got out that we’re a couple.” Tessa glanced at Mason. She was smiling, but there was a look of apprehension in her eyes.

  “Does that bother you?”

  “No. I want to scream it from the rooftop of Lucas’ apartment. But, to be honest, I was a little worried. After all, you were the most eligible rock star bachelor in America.”

>   He laughed as he remembered the interview with the TV host who had flirted with him. “Well, I’m off the market now.” He slung an arm over her shoulder as they walked through the park, leaving the concrete behind them and continuing on a new terrain. Squirrels ran across the path and climbed trees. People sat on benches quietly reading. Children’s happy laughter and voices echoed from the playground. “I should have brought a blanket. We could have sat in the grass.” He clucked his tongue. “I was trying to be more romantic.” He gave her a lopsided smile, but she wasn’t looking at him. She was staring straight ahead, her entire face bright with excitement. It was the carousel. He cocked his head to the side. “Really?”

  “I love carousels.” She stood up taller and gave him a playful smile. “It’s romantic.”

  In that case, he’d have to take her for a ride. He steered her through the people who walked leisurely through the park. Ironically, once New Yorkers stepped inside the expanse of rock and greenery, their pace suddenly slowed. They stopped to look at nature, as if they left their stress and impatience back on the sidewalk.

  “What are you doing?” Tessa asked when he bought two tickets.

  “I’m taking my girl on a magical ride on a unicorn.”

  “You’re kidding, right? I was only giving you a hard time. This thing is filled with kids. We’re the only adults.”

  “No we’re not. Look.” He pointed to a woman with three children, darting from one to the other making sure the safety belts were securely strapped around their waists, and to a young couple with a small child.

  “That’s different. They’re parents.”

  Mason stepped onto the platform, bowed at the waist and extended his hand to Tessa. “Your chariot awaits.”

  She laughed. “I haven’t been on something like this since I was 10.” He lifted her up so she straddled a beautiful white horse with sparkles on its hoofs and a mane made from long white silky fibers. It wasn’t a unicorn, but it was close. She threw her arms around the horse’s neck and hugged him, her long black hair mixing with the white mane, and he snapped a photo.