Love Like Crazy

by Crystal B. Bright

  “That’s a pretty long contract. I’m sure you have other questions for me about it.” He plucked the pages.

  “I do, but this conversation is way more interesting.” She placed the paperwork on the bed next to her and moved in a bit closer. “Where did the stage fright come from?”

  “You don’t let up, do you?” He unlinked his hands to rest one on her thigh.

  She shook her head. “Nope.”

  Laz sighed. “Isn’t it enough that you know I have it?”

  Avery shook her head. “I find it hard to believe that a man who is so confident in other areas of his life can be so afraid of performing in front of an audience.”

  He took a deep breath, and Avery did the same. She knew he would be revealing something heavy. She wanted to be prepared.

  “As you saw in the video, I was a shy kid. I had an older sister, so if someone asked me anything, she would answer for me, and I was fine with that until my dad told me to assert myself more. That put into my head that I wasn’t good enough, that the way I was wasn’t the best. I would withdraw, but as I got older, girls noticed me more. One on one, I was confident with them. But to perform meant you were exposing part of yourself, and I already felt inadequate.” He scratched his head. “So I studied really hard. I figured an education would save me, and it did. I could talk music and business because I studied it. But because I couldn’t control how people reacted to me, no matter how hard I tried or how well I performed, I would freeze.” He shrugged. “I can’t shake it.”

  Avery placed her hand on Laz’s chest. “Call me crazy, but I think the opposite. I always feel like the audience is rooting for me the entire time. I never think anyone who is listening to me is against me. Maybe that’s my trusting nature again. It gets me on stage. It got me to get in the car with you. It’s keeping me from going crazy with not knowing where we’re going tomorrow.”

  Laz smiled. “I’m a protector. I want you to rely on me.” He patted his chest.

  “You’re also protecting yourself too much. I believe you can do anything you want.” She leaned forward and kissed him.

  “Nice of you to think that.” He still looked like he didn’t believe in himself as a performer.

  Since Avery had him out on this ledge, she thought she might as well keep pushing him. “So tell me about your parents.”

  “Only if you tell me about school. How’s that going?” He kept up the pleasant expression that did disarm her.

  “Um, good. It’s fine.” For a brief moment, she had almost forgotten the assignment her professor had given her.

  “That doesn’t sound either good or fine. What’s the deal?” He squeezed her thigh.

  “Why are you trying to change the subject?” As much as she could, she tried looking indignant by putting her fists to her naked hips.

  “Why are you doing the same thing?” He cocked his head. “Come on. Show me yours and I’ll show you mine.”

  That line made her laugh. “Fine. I have to do a special project. I have it covered. It’ll be fine.” She didn’t want to delve into too many details. She didn’t need saving.

  “I’m sure you will be. But I’m here to—”

  “I will be fine.” She nodded to assure him. “Now tell me about your parents. I know a little about your mother, the Broadway star who never was. What about your father?”

  Laz stared at Avery for a moment. “If you were having problems in school, you would tell me, right?”

  Avery rolled her eyes and growled. “You’re doing it again. School is okay. I have a few more weeks and I’m done.” She clapped her hands together. “Now you and your father. What’s the scoop?”

  This time he shrugged. “No scoop. He’s like every other dad out there. He wants me to visit more often. My parents’ divorce was surprising. No one saw it coming, especially my mother. But she had managed to move on and find someone who respects her.”

  “So your dad didn’t give your mother any respect?”

  Laz shook his head. “I didn’t say that.”

  Avery sighed out loud. “Not this again. Say what you’re not saying.”

  This time he got out of bed and paced. Watching a naked man pace should have been sexy as hell. With Laz, he looked conflicted. He ran his hand over his head, but then stopped to scratch it when he halted his marching.

  “I always thought my parents had the perfect relationship.” Laz shook his head. “When Marissa graduated college, they told us kids they were separating.” He snickered.

  “What?” Avery hugged her knees to her chest.

  “I should have seen it coming. My dad is a terrible flirt.”

  “That must be where you get it from.” She meant for the joke to lighten the mood.

  Instead Laz stood by the window far from her. “I always suspected that my dad cheated on my mom. She never said he did, and my father never admitted that. It’s always been in the back of my mind. I was determined not to be anything like him.”

  Not content to let him stew in his own thoughts, Avery got out of bed and sauntered over to Laz. She stood behind him and interlaced her fingers with his while wrapping her free arm around his waist.

  The warmth of his skin soothed her. She hoped holding him calmed him as well. It seemed to have done the trick. Laz patted her arm and even started rocking back and forth.

  “I don’t know your dad, but I know the kind of man you are to me.” She kissed the center of his back. “You haven’t steered me wrong yet.”

  “I can’t imagine not being seen as trustworthy, especially by…” Laz stopped.

  Avery didn’t know what he had planned on saying. She knew holding him tighter worked as the best response. “We can talk about the contract some more in the morning, maybe during breakfast.”

  Laz laughed. “You talking about the terms in front of my sister? That’ll be funny. She’ll make you add clauses like foot massages and free ice cream.”

  Avery walked around his body to face him. Then she wrapped her arms around his waist. “The foot massage thing actually sounds really good.”

  “You think?” Faster than a blink of an eye, Laz bent over enough to hoist Avery onto his shoulder and carry her back to bed.

  Avery squealed. “Laz! Put me down.”

  As soon as she made the demand, he plopped her down on the mattress. “I think I’m ready to talk about additional perks for you.” He straddled her body.

  “Ohh, perks. I like the sound of that.” She rested her hands on his thick thighs.

  “Good. These perks I would like to show you before you agree. Are you game?” He ran his finger over her nose to her lips.

  “I can take anything you want to dish out.”

  Avery meant every word. Laz came from a business where she had every right not to trust him. From the way he treated her, she felt a bond she never had expected to feel in this business. She headed for an adventure that could lead to every dream she’d ever had. Once she made a name for herself, she could tell her parents that she had been right all along.

  Sleep came easily, but not quickly. Laz pushed her body to its limit and then some, but Avery enjoyed it all.

  Exhaustion filled Avery even as she felt light kisses on her bare shoulder. The sensation reminded her of the first time she and Laz had had sex. She dreamed he kissed down her body, until she opened her eyes and saw she hadn’t imagined the sensation.

  Although she wanted to prolong the feeling, Avery slowly opened her eyes and turned her head toward the kisses. She found Laz behind her pressing his lips against her bare skin. Until she turned over to take full stock of him, Avery didn’t realize that Laz had already dressed.

  “You took a shower already?” Avery rubbed her eyes with the heel of her hand.

  Laz nodded. “I wanted to wake you up, but you look so tired.”

  She laughed. “I wonde
r why.”

  Feigning surprise, Laz widened his eyes and placed a hand to his chest. “Are you implying that I’m at fault?”

  She gave him a quick peck. “You wore me out.” Then she slid out of bed.

  “Says the woman who said you could take anything I dished out.” He got out of bed and followed her to the bathroom.

  “I spoke too soon.” She turned around in the doorway.

  Walking around naked in front of him felt good, natural.

  Laz rested his hands on her waist. “As much as I would love to feast on you, we do have to go.” He patted her hip.

  “I’ll take a quick shower and be ready to go in less than thirty minutes, unless—” She let the implication hang in the air as she backed into the bathroom.

  She hoped Laz caught the intention in her eyes.

  Laz got to the doorway and stopped. “You are very tempting.” He kissed her forehead. “Go.”

  Avery huffed. “This could have been our final moment before things got crazy. You know that’s coming, right?”

  Laz regarded her for a moment and simply smiled.

  Not waiting to hear his assessment of their situation, Avery turned on the shower and got inside. This would be the last day before meeting the label that would, hopefully, sign her. Things would be changing for her, and Avery had to be ready for it.

  After getting dressed, Avery and Laz packed up their few belongings and headed back to Marissa’s place. On the way to her front door, Laz held Avery’s hand.

  The intimate touch surprised her, but she liked it. She loved feeling needed.

  Laz rang the doorbell and knocked. “If you liked dinner, you’re going to love Marissa’s breakfast.”

  The door opened and an older gentleman stood on the other side. When she saw the smile sliding down Laz’s face, she suspected she knew the identity of this man with more salt than pepper hair, squinty blue eyes, and a well-manicured beard that matched his hair. He stood eye to eye with Laz.

  “There’s my favorite son.”

  Chapter 16

  Laz should have expected to see Bradley Kyson at Marissa’s place. His sister kept their father in the loop about everything, just like she did as a child. She would have told their dad about Laz’s trip and his subsequent return.

  Laz had hoped he kept his true feelings in check. From Avery’s rosy cheeks, he suspected she felt embarrassed for him.

  To lighten his mood, Laz smiled and embraced his father. “Hey, Dad.”

  Bradley hugged him back. “What happened to you calling me when you came to town?”

  “I got busy.” Laz pulled back from the hug in time to catch Bradley staring at Avery.

  “I’m sure you did.” Bradley’s comment only came off as charming because of his heavy Southern accent.

  Otherwise the comment would sound as lecherous as his old man had meant it.

  Marissa moved from her stove top to her double oven. “Breakfast will be ready soon, but coffee is ready, and I have juice.”

  Laz cleared his throat.

  “Oh, yeah.” Marissa nodded her head back. “A pack of tea bags are up in the cabinet. Help yourself.”

  “Before anyone moves, I need to introduce myself to this lovely woman.” Bradley held his hand out to Avery, who smiled and politely accepted it. “Bradley Kyson. And you are…?”

  “Avery.” She peered at Laz. “Avery Shields.”

  “What an interesting name. Powerful.” He winked at her, and then turned her hand over so that he could kiss the back of it. “Very nice to meet you. My son is a little slow on his manners.”

  “I was going to introduce you. You’re just a little faster with other women.” Laz let the implications of his statement hang between the two of them. When his father gave him a cutting look, Laz continued. “I’m working on getting Avery a record deal.” He put his arm around her shoulders, which he hoped would have encouraged his father to release her hand. “She’s a very talented singer.”

  “Very good.” Bradley bowed his head. “Do you know that Laz has a wonderful voice, too?”

  Avery nodded. “I’ve heard him.”

  “He should be the one out there filling arenas.” Bradley followed Laz and Avery into the dining room area.

  “Nice of you to say, Dad, but I know what I bring to the table.” He turned to Marissa. “Speaking of which, anything I can put on the table to get this meal going?”

  “In a rush to go somewhere?” His father stood next to him in the kitchen area.

  “Yes.” He looked at Bradley. “Going back to New York.”

  “And Avery is going with you.” Bradley glanced at her.

  “Of course.” Laz placed a bowl of fresh, hot biscuits on the table, and then returned to the kitchen. “She’s coming with me to meet the label owner.”

  “I’m sensing something here.” His dad put his finger to his lips in a pensive manner.

  “Probably my frustration from not eating anything yet.” Laz glared at his baby sister. “You know how I get when I’m starving.”

  “And horny.” Bradley laughed. “I swear. That summer I grounded you after you took that trip to Florida, you were fit to be—”

  “Dad.”

  “What? I’m just talking about the good ol’ days. I thought you like reminiscing.” Bradley shrugged.

  “Maybe not in front of company.” Laz gripped the back of a chair. “Marissa went through all this trouble to make this happen.”

  When Bradley had his attention diverted and Laz kept his gaze on Marissa, she stuck out her tongue. She looked like her younger, brattier self.

  “Son, I rarely get to see you. And your calls have been very infrequent.” Bradley turned to Avery. “I hope you treat your parents a little bit better than this one.”

  Avery flashed a very polite if not tight smile. “They probably feel the same way you do. I don’t call enough. I don’t visit enough. I don’t do enough.” She rested her hand on top of his. “When is enough enough?”

  Bradley volleyed his attention between the two of them. “Good answer.” He kept his stare on Laz. “And you’re right. Marissa made us a great breakfast. We should all enjoy it.” He started to come around to pull out Avery’s chair when Laz beat him to the punch.

  Marissa came to the table with the rest of the food and assumed a chair next to Bradley instead of the head of the table. So Laz sat there and hoped the position spoke volumes to the group.

  The meal started off in silence. Laz watched as each person served themselves a little bit of everything Marissa had prepared. The scent of bacon caught Laz’s attention. The sweet meat became a treat to him as he chewed on a strip while he observed the group.

  “So, Mr. Kyson—”

  Bradley put his hand on top of Avery’s, a move that made Laz bristle. “Please call me Bradley. Mr. Kyson is my son.” To punctuate his joke, he winked at Laz.

  “Okay. Bradley, what was Laz like as a kid?” Avery smiled at Laz.

  “You didn’t get enough stories from Marissa last night?” Laz shook his head.

  “Nope.” She giggled. “He told me about his spur-of-the-moment Florida trip. And I saw videos of him singing.”

  “Or trying to sing.” Marissa snickered before taking a big chomp from a fluffy biscuit.

  “Don’t tease your brother.” Bradley wagged his finger at Marissa. “Laz was a great baby.” He stared at Laz for far too long.

  Laz had to lower his gaze to his plate of food that he now found impossible to swallow.

  “He rarely cried.” Bradley wiped his mouth. “Only when he needed something, but that’s it. He was an incredibly shy kid. I remember it took two summers for you to ask out the neighbor girl.”

  Marissa had to cover her mouth when she started to laugh. “That’s right. I had forgotten about Amy.”

  Laz wi
shed they had all forgotten about that time in his life where he didn’t feel worthy. “It wasn’t exactly two years. And I was seeing someone else at the time.”

  Bradley cocked his head. “Dorinda was simply a friend, and you know it. Besides, nothing wrong with dating around. Life is too short to stay saddled with one person.”

  Laz wiped his mouth and put his napkin on the table. “That’s it. I’m done.” He looked at Avery. “Are you ready to go?”

  “What’s wrong with you?” Bradley wiped his fingers before resting his hands on the table.

  “Yeah, we were just teasing you. You used to be able to take a joke.” Marissa leaned back in her seat and ran her tongue over the ring pierced through her lower lip.

  “A joke I can take. I can’t take advice from someone who thinks it’s okay to cheat when you have a committed partner.” Laz stood.

  Bradley stood with him. “I asked you nicely not to bring up things you know nothing about between me and your mother. What you think you know, you have no idea.” He kept his stare on Laz.

  As a young child, the look used to reduce Laz to a puddle. Today, he stood strong.

  “I don’t? Why don’t you school me?” Laz put his fists to his hips.

  “Laz, not the time or place, man.” Marissa shook her head. “Why don’t you take a walk and cool your head?”

  “No.” He shook his head. “I want Dad to explain to me how beneficial it was to him to date around while Mom cried each night.”

  “That’s enough.” Bradley came around from his side of the table to get into Laz’s face. “I don’t owe you any explanations about my past relationships, and that includes the one with your mother. But I will tell you this. People don’t only cry for pain. There could be other reasons.”

  Laz studied his father’s eyes. Although Bradley could be a terrible flirt, Laz always found truth in his father’s stare.

  “What other reasons could there be?” Laz didn’t want his voice to come out so hushed, but he didn’t think the thought he had rolling in his head would materialize.

  Bradley didn’t answer. Or maybe he did with his steely stare. His eyes gave a full story of hurt and pain that Laz wanted to delve into more. Then he felt a hand on his arm. He peered down and saw Avery touching him.