Believed (My Misery Muse)

by Betzold, Brei

  X laughed. “Max loves that girl, but he’s not interested in her like that.”

  I glared at X. “Yes, he does.”

  “Nope,” he said, “check his Facebook, he has a date with some chick named Emory tonight.”

  I stood stock still looking at my longtime friend, there was no way I’d gotten that wrong, right? I mean they spend so much time together, he’s always worried about her; I’ve seen them kiss. Granted it was a kiss on the cheek but still, I couldn’t have been wrong about that.

  “Ready?” Cooper asked and quickly led us away from the front lobby and out a back door. Thankfully, no one was out there, we were able to get in our SUV, and head back to the arena. I had work to do and I needed to call my brother. If he was stringing Jules along while he was out dating other women I’d beat the shit out of him.

  Chapter 17

  Jules

  The rest of the day in Salt Lake City was uneventful. I laid with Seth in the back bedroom arranging ice packs to various bruised places while we watched a movie. When the rest of the band came back, Xavier and Eli laughed at me and my bruised forehead then piled onto the bed with us. We spent, up until they had to get ready to play, making fun of movies, throwing popcorn, and laughing. It was a terrific way to spend a day that had started with klutzy flair. Though when Sam never joined us that was a bit of a letdown, he seemed to be ignoring me since last night.

  I had decided not to go to the show, instead I hooked up my iPod to the ridiculous sound system the bus had and worked. I zoned out with the monotony of what I was doing so I was surprised when the guys all came piling on. I watched as Eli and X climbed on board a girl with each of them. I rolled my eyes, turned the music up louder, and continued to work. I so did not want to hear the sounds that came from the back of the bus. As long as they stayed the hell away from my bunk though, I didn’t care what they did. I was turning out to be the worst X babysitter ever. I scrolled through my playlist until I found Casual Sex by My Darkest Days.

  I grinned up at Seth and Sam when they walked in, Seth just shook his head at me and went to get a water from the fridge. Sam didn’t even acknowledge I was in the room. I sighed quietly I didn’t know what I was expecting but not that. I went back to work on the bracelet I was making and ignored Seth and Sam as they talked shop. Only I couldn’t get lost in my work this time, instead I decided to bug my best friend.

  Me: you up?

  Max: yep just got home

  Me: ooo big date?

  Max: kinda

  Me: anyone I know?

  Max: nope

  Me: details?

  Max: Emory and don’t want to jinx it

  Me: 

  Max: what did he do this time?

  Me: who?

  Max: Sam

  Me: nothing

  Max: something, now spill

  Me: spent last night talking about my past

  Max: wow, all of it or just the facts?

  Me: most of it

  Max: okay so how’d he react?

  Me: last night he was sweet

  Max: okay then?

  Me: today he’s ignoring I breathe the same air

  Max: stupid fucker

  Me: 

  Me: hey you didn’t tell her about me did you?

  Max: WTH?

  Me: Emory, you didn’t talk about me right?

  Max: uh no learned that lesson last time

  Max: *shivers* just thinking about that

  Me: hehehe what you wouldn’t want to go on a date with me?

  Max: love you and all but not like that

  Me: love you too, and you’re right too weird, I’ve seen you in your holey boxers the mystique is lost

  Max: shush woman

  Me: so what do I do?

  Max: let me think, I’ll get back to you

  Me: K, night romeo

  Max: night Juliet

  Seth looked over at me and smiled. “How’s Max?”

  “Good,” I said while looking through my emails. “He just got back from a date.”

  “How’d it go?”

  “He wouldn’t tell me, said he didn’t want to jinx it. Which I take would probably mean it went well in a roundabout way of him telling me.”

  I looked up and saw both Sam and Seth’s confused faces and shrugged. What can I say sometimes I confuse myself with my convoluted thinking.

  “I don’t care; I’m just glad he’s dating at all.”

  Sam made a noise and I glanced over at him but he was buried in his own phone.

  “After Sondra, I wasn’t sure if he’d ever be interested in dating again.”

  “That was a train wreck waiting to happen.”

  “Right,” I said and looked up at Seth. “This is why we must now vet his dates beforehand. The fact that this one he told me about must mean she passed. This is the second date he’s been on since twatface got the boot. The first he spent talking about his best friend and what she does and doesn’t like, he couldn’t figure out why the date didn’t go well.” I snickered.

  “Who’s Sondra?” Sam asked.

  “Huh?” I asked confused.

  “Sondra?” Seth asked looking just as confused.

  “She’s Max’s ex,” I said slowly. “They dated on and off for like a year.”

  “He dated someone for a year?”

  My eyes widened and I stared at Sam. How in the hell did he not know the woman his brother had at one point thought of marrying? The woman who was using him for over a year and broke his heart.

  “Are you serious?” I blurted.

  “Damn,” Seth said then whistled. “Do you ever talk to your brother?”

  “Yeah, we talk,” he mumbled.

  “Sondra was the bitch who your brother thought he was in love with, she’d break things off with him then come back a few weeks later saying she made a mistake. Come to find out, what she really wanted was to tote that she’d fucked a rock star and found Max an easy way to reach that life achievement.” I said sarcastically. “About six months ago, she finally got her chance and came on to Xavier, X turned her down flat when he found out who she was. It was also the same day your brother planned on proposing.”

  “Devi’s still plotting her death,” Seth said with a small grin.

  I couldn’t help but smiling. “We have a plan that will lead to her ultimate destruction.”

  “Wait, she used him to get to a rock star, why?”

  I did a slow blink unsure if I heard him correctly. “Uh, because his brother is a rock star? She’s not the first one to try to play him. Only in the past, he figured it out before it got serious.”

  Seth nodded. “Devi said Ivy’s been having the same problems, part of the reason she wants to take a break from school. She’s tired of trying to weed out people who like her for her, or those who have found out who her brother is.”

  “Yeah, she and Max were talking about creating a support group before I flew out.”

  Seth snorted. “That would be an interesting group.”

  “They were talking about mud wrestling to figure out who the president is.”

  “Why hasn’t he said anything to me about this?” Sam asked.

  Seth looked at Sam and shook his head. “He probably has. Who knows Max is not one to let things bother him, if he did he probably joked about it.”

  “I’ve been a shitty brother,” he mumbled.

  Sam

  I stood up and walked outside. I still had twenty minutes before the bus was scheduled to leave. I leaned against the side of our tour bus and pulled up my brother’s phone number. I watched as crew ran around packing things up while I waited for my brother to answer his phone.

  “Why didn’t I ever meet Sondra?” I blurted when he answered.

  “Well hello to you too, brother,” Max drawled. “Nice to hear from you.”

  I let out a breath. “Sorry, hi Max.”

  I heard him sigh on the other side of the line. “I tried to introduce you to Sondra but you were always bu
sy, I didn’t want to bother you.”

  “Oh,” I said quietly.

  “I guess it’s a good thing you never met her, it sucked when she tried to get into X’s pants if she’d made a pass at you it would have been worse.”

  “I’m sorry, Max.”

  “Pfft it’s fine, I’m over it.”

  “No, not for that, well I’m sorry for that too, I didn’t know and that was wrong on so many levels. I’m sorry for being a crap brother.”

  “You’ve been busy, I get it. I’m just glad you hired some people who can help you now. I knew you didn’t trust all of the people who have been in your and the band’s business. Now you have Drake and you can let him take care of things.”

  “Yeah, going to have to learn how to do that,” I said quietly.

  “We’ll teach you,” Max said and I could hear him smiling. “What’s up with you and Jules?”

  “Nothing,” I said quickly. “I wouldn’t do that to you, man.”

  “Do what to me?” he asked confused.

  “I mean, I would never poach.”

  “You think, oh god,” he started laughing on the other side of the line. “You think… that’s the funniest thing I’ve heard in ages. Samuel, me and Jules are not like that,” he chuckled. “Though people seem to get the wrong idea.”

  “What do you mean you’re not like that?”

  “She’s my best friend, my little sister. I’ve never even thought, okay, well I have, because damn that would make my life so much easier. Only I don’t see Jules as anything other than a sister.”

  “Oh, but I thought…” I trailed off. Hadn’t both Seth and Xavier told me I was wrong? There were signs everywhere that she and Max were only friends. “I’m an idiot.”

  “No, you’re not, like I said people make that mistake all the time.”

  “How’s Dad doing?” I wish I could tell you the things he’s told me, I need someone else to know.

  “Doing okay, Mom now loves the nurse and swears that it was the best idea she’d ever come up with. She’s decided that Dad needs around the clock care so she can spend more time just being with him.”

  I smiled at that. “Do what needs to be done; the agency has my credit card on file.”

  “Already working on it, Sam. Mom is interviewing nurses this week. She’s hiring three more two for days and two for nights.”

  “Good, I’ve been worried about her.”

  “She’s worried about you, you need to call her. Jules has been calling every day and telling Mom that you’re good but she still wants to hear from you.”

  “Jules calls Mom?”

  “Yep, they talk every day have for the past few years.”

  “I didn’t know that either,” I muttered.

  “Now you do, just ask Jules to let you know when she calls. She’ll hand the phone over so you can talk to Mom for a minute, and it gives you an excuse to get off the phone quickly.”

  “Know this from experience, little brother?”

  “Damn right, I love our mom but that woman will talk for hours if you let her, and well, Jules, she lets her. If I’m around, Jules hands me the phone I get away with the quick, love you, how are you, before she’s demanding to talk to Jules again.”

  “I’ll give that a try,” I said smiling.

  “Alright, I need to get some sleep. I’ll talk to you soon, yeah?”

  “Yeah, I’ll call you soon, bye Max.”

  “Night Sam.”

  “That was nice of you,” Jules said quietly.

  “I didn’t realize I had an audience,” I said snidely.

  “Well I was coming out to ask if you wanted something to eat,” she said kicking her foot at the asphalt. “Didn’t want to interrupt.” She looked up at me. “He’s missed you.”

  I nodded. “Next time you talk to my mom let me know, will you?”

  She grinned. “Sure, but don’t think you’ll get off as easily as Max does.”

  I shrugged. “So who’s cooking and what are they making?”

  “I’m cooking,” she said proudly. “I’m quite skilled with a box of mac ‘n’ cheese and a package of hot dogs.”

  I laughed. “Sounds good, anything is better than one of those frozen dinner things we have in there.”

  “Well I need to go check on the water,” she mumbled and quickly walked up the stairs.

  I stood out there and watched as the crew quickly finished packing up everything.

  “Sam,” someone said beside me and I jerked my head over.

  “Good evening, Ian, glad you made it back on time.”

  He nodded and went up the stairs. I glanced around once more and followed him up. I walked in to find Jules plastered against the counter in the galley as Eli argued with tonight’s conquest. X was quickly ushering his out of the bus. I quickly walked to the galley, grabbed Jules wrist and began to pull her away just as the groupie shoved Eli. Jules was pushed into the counter and cried out.

  “Fuck-fuck-fuck-fuck,” she mumbled holding her side.

  I pulled her the rest of the way out and pulled her into my chest.

  “Eli get her the fuck out,” I yelled.

  X and Eli grabbed the woman and hauled her off the bus while I pulled up Jules shirt to look at her side. I sucked in a breath when I found the bruises along her side. “What the hell happened?” I asked her.

  “She fell down in the shower,” Seth answered eyeing her bruises that ran down her ribs to beneath her pants. “I didn’t realize it was that bad though,” he grumbled.

  I pushed the hair from her face and saw the tears swimming in her eyes. I quickly swept her feet out from underneath her and brought her to lay down on the sofa in the lounge. I sat down beside her, pulled the waistband of her sweats down and sucked in a breath noticing more bruises covering her creamy skin.

  “Jesus, Jules,” I whispered.

  “I’m fine,” she mumbled.

  Seth looked at more of the bruises and sighed. “Damn independent women are going to be the death of me,” he grunted.

  I looked up at him. “You didn’t know?”

  “No, I knew about the forehead and the back of the head. I asked but she said she was fine.”

  “Back of the head?”

  Jules grunted and glared at both of us. “I am fine, I just bruise easily.”

  “She fell down in the shower and said she banged the back of her head and her elbow,” Seth answered.

  “So how did she bruise her forehead,” I asked confused.

  Jules sucked her lip ring into her mouth and stared straight ahead, her cheeks flushing a pretty pink.

  “She, uhm, said she rolled off the couch this morning before she woke up,” Seth said trying not to smile.

  I looked at her and grinned. “You need to be covered in bubble wrap.”

  “Shut up,” she growled.

  “You’re a safety risk to yourself and anyone near,” I added just to get her to make that cute growling sound.

  “You suck,” she growled again and I smiled wider.

  “Stay there,” I ordered. I stood up and went to get her some water and ibuprofen.

  “Here, take these,” I told her handing her the loot, “and no arguing.”

  Chapter 18

  Jules

  “Stupid cavemen antics,” I grumbled but took the pills and water.

  “She’s okay?” X asked peeking over Sam’s shoulder at me and made a goofy face that made me giggle.

  “Yeah,” Sam answered glaring over at Xavier. “What was that about anyway?”

  “She didn’t want to get off, well from what I heard, I think she did get off, but she didn’t want to leave the bus. She wanted to stay here forever and ever and have little Eli babies,” I told him.

  “You suck,” Eli called over.

  “Apparently not as well as she did,” I called back. “Oh god baby, yes just like that, suck it hard, baby,” I mimicked.

  Sam sat down beside me again and covered my mouth with his hand while X and
Seth started teasing Eli.

  “Always starting trouble,” Sam murmured against my ear and my breathing stuttered at the feel of his lips grazing my earlobe.

  I shook my head no.

  “Behave,” he whispered.

  I shook my head no.

  He laughed quietly. “I’ll tell my mom you’re being mean.”

  I stilled then pulled his hand from my mouth. “I’ll behave.”

  He chuckled. “That’s what I thought.”

  “She’s evil with that wooden spoon,” I mumbled.

  “Trust me, I know,” he said smiling.

  “What do you want us to do with this water, it’s boiling,” X called.

  “I got it,” I said slowly watching Sam. “I’m fine, really,” I reassured him.

  “You sure?” he asked pushing a piece of hair behind my ear.

  “Yeah, I’ve had worse,” I said quietly. Then I sat up and stood to check on dinner. I pushed everyone out into the lounge so I had more room. I wanted to have dinner finished before we left, the idea of trying to do anything with a boiling pot of water while the vehicle was moving didn’t sound like a bright idea.

  After stirring the phosphorescent cheese powder into the pot of noodles with milk and butter, dinner was ready. I covered the two burners and put everything out on the counter. I made my plate and another for Stan then called the guys into eat. I set my plate down and brought Stan some food while he worked on getting everything ready for us to leave.

  “Thanks, honey,” he said taking the plate.

  I smiled and went back to collect my own, I sat down on the booth sliding into the inside and tucked into my own dinner. Sam slid in next to me, then Seth and Eli took the other side. X glared and flipped us off before walking to one of the captain chairs to eat.

  “So what exactly did you do to the shower, Sugar?” X called.

  “Nothing,” I muttered and kept my eyes on my plate.

  “Really? Because when I went in there earlier the shower had standing water and the floor was soaked.”

  “Not my fault your shower tried to kill me.”

  “Uh huh.”

  I could feel everyone’s eyes on me but I ignored them. I wasn’t going to give them a detailed account of my shower experience.

  “What were you working on earlier?” Seth asked.