by Wendy Louise
I have him back again.
I prop my chin on Gray’s chest and look up to his beautiful face. “Your mom told me about your heart condition when you were a baby. Why haven’t you ever told me about that?”
I try not to sound too hurt by that fact but for some reason an ounce of hurt has crept into my voice all the same. Gray sighs loudly and moves further up the bed, taking me with him. We prop ourselves against the pillows.
“I hate talking about it. My parents have always treated me like I’m breakable, like I’m not fully capable of doing anything that involves physical exertion. It’s not that I was keeping it from you Liv, I just hate living my life with that hanging over it. No one knows about it apart from my family and Ethan.”
I run my fingers across his lips and give him a light kiss. “I always wondered how you got that scar on your chest, now I know.”
“Yeah. I had to go through a few surgeries. They were pretty much done by the time I was three years old and I’ve been fine since. I get regular checks and I really do take things pretty easy. I’m not stupid enough to go jumping out of a plane or doing anything that would cause great strain to my heart, so I’ve always been good. There’s nothing for you to worry about baby, trust me, I’m fine. The last thing I want is for you to be concerned for no reason, or for you to worry unnecessarily.” He leans forward and kisses me gently.
“I’m glad I know about it baby, it makes you even more precious to me,” I reply against his mouth, deepening the kiss. “I do have one issue though,” I say cautiously, “are you sure you should be driving in the race Gray?”
Gray pulls back and his face looks serious. “Liv. This is why I didn’t want you to know. Please don’t start wrapping me up in cotton wool and treating me like my parents did. You have to live life to the fullest Liv, make every day count. I’m not at all concerned about the race. The only thing we should consider is that this could affect any kids we have. It’s a genetic condition, although neither Si nor Christian has it, so that’s something. I’m worried that I may pass it on to any children I have.”
I cup his face in my hands and kiss the frown that has taken residence between his eyebrows. “Grayson Adams, I don’t want you to worry about that. When it comes time for us to have kids, we can seek medical advice, find out what the chances are and go from there. No need to be concerned about something that may not even happen.”
He smiles a heartbreaking smile and runs his tongue over my jawline and up to my ear where he bites down gently on my lobe. “Enough talk about kids Liv, plenty of time for that. Let’s get to the fun stuff. Let’s practice making them!”
With that he rolls me beneath him and plunges his tongue into my mouth, stealing my breath.
Putting a stop to any further conversation.
Reckless Ruby
The show tonight was the best of the tour so far. I’m sure it has something to do with the fact that my family and my heart are sitting in the front row.
I tried not to focus on them too much during the set, but it’s hard when Liv and Si are singing along to all the lyrics and dancing up a storm under your nose.
Distracting is one way to describe it, but breathtaking is more like it.
We’ve just finished an after-show meet and greet with some competition winners and now we’re headed to drinks with the band and crew at a local nightclub. Liv went ahead with my folks and Ethan and Ava, so I’m anxious to get to her. The boys and I are heading out.
“Guys?” we hear from behind us. We turn to see Rafe and Ruby making their way over.
“Great news. The album just hit number one. I just got the call from the label. You did it.” Rafe slaps me on the back.
“You’re fucking kidding me?” Coop says.
Rafe laughs and shakes his head. “Nope. You did it boys, number one on the charts. You have two singles in the top ten and the album at the top. The label is fucking ecstatic.”
We all high-five one another.
Who could believe that two weeks into the tour, we already have a number one album.
This is a dream come true for all of us, and all I can think about is sharing the news with Liv. I can’t wait to tell her.
Ruby hugs each of us in turn, lingering a little too long for my liking, but not even that can sour my mood.
Number one, fucking hell, who would have thought; all those times I dreamed of this, it never felt as satisfying as it does now.
“Things are going to move to another gear now boys,” Ruby says. “I’m already getting calls for you guys to perform on all the late night shows. There will be more publicity to do and more media around us. It’s all the more important now that we portray the right image.”
She fixes her gaze to mine. “Grayson. Rafe and I have discussed this, and we think it’s important to maintain media focus on Awesome Rebel and not on your personal relationship.”
I start to protest when Rafe cuts in. “Gray, it’s not that we don’t want you to be with Olivia, it’s just that we don’t want the focus on you and her together. We need the media to concentrate on the band. It would probably be best if you limit your contact with her publicly, then they’re less likely to get the money shots.”
I shake my head.
This is freakin ridiculous.
“How do you expect us to stop the damn paps that hunt us relentlessly? I sure as hell don’t want them there but they seem to find us at every move. I will not stop spending time with my girlfriend just to promote the band. I will do any publicity you guys need me to, but it won’t be at the expense of my relationship with Liv.”
Coop comes up beside me and cups my shoulder. “I’m with Gray on this. The band is our focus, but our personal lives should not be touched.” Will and Matt nod in agreement, and Ruby’s face reddens with frustration.
“You boys have hired me to do a job. I need to be able to do that to get the best results for all of you. Marketing you boys as unattached will widen the fan base. Every girl that listens to the album wants a piece of you and we need to make them believe that it’s possible. Showing them that you’re all in committed relationships will not do that. It’s public suicide.”
Will speaks up as the voice of reason. “Ruby we appreciate everything that you’ve done for us so far. You’ve done an incredible job of getting our name out there. We understand what you’re saying, but we’re not interested in altering every aspect of our lives for the fame. Some things need to remain untouched.”
“Okay,” Rafe says, “leave it to Ruby and I. We can revise the game plan. Just think about what we said. We don’t want to alter your personal lives; we just want what’s best for the band. I’m fuckin’ proud of you boys, you’ve all worked hard for this and you deserve every success that’s coming your way.”
With his words we all soften.
“Thanks Rafe,” I say as I shake his hand. “Couldn’t have done it without you man.”
Rafe smiles. “Let’s get to this after party and celebrate shall we?”
We all make our way out to the waiting car on a high like none we have ever felt before.
Our album is number one, and life sure as hell couldn’t get any better than this.
As we enter the VIP area of the club we are met with a loud round of applause. Apparently good news travels fast and they’re all aware of the success of the album. Liv throws her arms around my neck.
“I’m so proud of you baby, number one, can you believe it?”
She kisses me hard on the mouth and pulls back to let Ethan in. He pats me hard on the back, “I always knew I’d be here with you one day, with your album at the top of the charts man. I’m so fuckin’ proud of you Gray, you deserve this and more.”
“Thanks E.”
Mum, Dad, Si and Christian engulf me next, throwing their arms around me and cocooning me in a family hug that makes me feel warm and fuzzy. “Gray, we couldn’t be happier for you.”
“Thanks Dad,” I say, trying not to get choked up by the overw
helming emotion and sentiments that are swirling around me.
Ethan hands me a drink and raises his glass.
“To Gray and Awesome Rebel, may you enjoy long success.”
Everyone mimics Ethan’s toast, and we all down our beers, ready for another straight away. Thankfully a waitress replenishes our drinks quickly and we all settle in for a night of celebration.
“I’m heading over for a dance baby,” Liv says, as she places a light kiss on my cheek and rises from the seat beside me to follow Sienna and Ava to the dance floor.
Ethan sits down in the seat that Liv has just vacated, and clinks his beer bottle to mine.
“Big night hey man?” he says.
“Yeah,” I reply, feeling overwhelmed, buzzed from the alcohol and so happy that I am sharing this with all the most important people in my life. “Pretty damn big. I’m glad that you’re here to share it with me E, it means a lot.”
“To me too,” Ethan responds. “How are you and Liv doing?”
I can’t help the smile that spreads across my face. “Great man, I miss her like fucking crazy while I’m on the road, but so far we’ve done okay.”
“We’ve been busy with the film back home so that has kept her occupied. Ava and I are keeping our eye on her and she’s not short of company with having Sienna at the apartment.”
I decide to confide in E over the whole publicity issue. If anyone is going to understand he will.
“Rafe and Ruby spoke to us after the show tonight. They want me to try and keep my relationship with Liv out of the media. They think the band will go further if the fans think we’re all single and available.”
Ethan laughs. “Now where have I heard that before? The studio tried to do that to me once news of Ava and I got out there. It’s fucking impossible though Gray. The paparazzi follow us everywhere we go. To stop them getting a shot, we would have to live our entire lives behind closed doors. No fucking way am I letting them have that power over me and you shouldn’t either.”
“I told Rafe and Ruby that. The boys were behind me too. I’m happy to do whatever they need me to do to promote the band, but I won’t hide my relationship with Liv from the media, and even if I tried, I don’t think I could.”
“Good on you man, enjoy the wave you are on and live life the way you want to. You’ve worked hard for this; you deserve to enjoy the rewards.”
We clink bottles again and turn our attention to the girls on the dance floor.
“Look at the three of them would you,” Ethan says chuckling.
Liv, Sienna and Ava are all throwing themselves around to some boppy One Direction song. They all look fucking incredible up there.
My sister is a stunner and of course, she can move. I’m not biased; it’s just the way it is.
Liv and Ava are both gorgeous girls, and it has not gone unnoticed by the looks of things. There are a few groups of guys lining the dance floor all looking like they would like a piece of something that they cannot have.
Well fuck that.
“Let’s get up there man,” I say to Ethan, as I notice him scowling at the men staring at his wife.
I pat Coop on the back as we pass and grab him by the elbow, moving him towards Sienna. He understands my mission as soon as he locks eyes on the girls moving to the music.
“Hell yeah,” he says as he reaches for my sister. She gives him a sexy grin - which I choose to ignore - as I wrap my arms around Liv from behind.
She deepens her movements, swivelling her hips against mine and running her hands up the back of my legs. I splay my hands out on her stomach and kiss her beneath the ear as we sway in time to the music.
Ethan has taken Ava into his arms and they’re in their own little world. I keep my gaze averted from Coop and Si; I don’t want to see her gyrating against him in any way, shape or form. I’d need to bleach my eyes if I did.
I look up from Liv’s shoulder to see Ruby eyeing me on the other side of the dance floor.
She is not happy.
Clearly, she thought that following our discussion prior to the party that I would not be going anywhere near my girlfriend tonight. In an act of defiance I turn Liv in my arms and place my hands on either side of her face before lowering my mouth to hers and kissing her stupid.
Take that Ruby.
When I pull back from the kiss, Ruby turns on her heel and stalks back into the crowd, no doubt to whine to Rafe about the fact that I’m not abiding by her decree.
Well fuck her, right now I don’t give a shit.
I have a number one album, the girl of my dreams in my arms and everyone who means anything to me in the same room celebrating.
Life is fuckin’ good, no scrub that – it’s fuckin’ incredible.
She can kiss my ass.
“You want a drink baby?” I ask Liv as the song comes to an end, and I place a kiss on the tip of her nose. She runs her hands up and down my arms sending shivers to every inch of me.
“Yeah, thanks. I’m just going to head to the ladies room.”
I watch her head in the opposite direction, still mesmerised by the fact that she is mine and that she wants me. That will never cease to amaze me.
I see the eyes of at least a dozen men following her there, a sight that pisses me off no end, but I calm myself with the realisation that she doesn’t even notice.
All she sees is me.
I puff my chest out, my inner caveman making an appearance, and smile.
Mine.
She’s mine!
After talking with Christian for a good ten minutes I start to feel restless. Liv hasn’t returned from the restrooms and I can’t see her anywhere. Ava and Si are in a corner chatting with E and Coop, and she’s not with my folks.
I make my excuses to Christian and start to head towards the toilets. Not that I’m going to bust into the ladies room, but I can sure as hell find out if she’s in there and if she’s okay.
As I enter the hallway towards the amenities I bump into a red-faced, pissed off looking Ruby. She blanches when she looks up at me, looking guilty, but quickly recovers her features and heads away. Looking past her I see Liv against the wall looking slightly shell-shocked.
I head to her.
I pull her hard against my chest wanting to erase whatever has upset her.
“Baby, what happened?”
I pull back to cup her cheeks and look into her watery eyes. Her bottom lip quivers but she takes a deep breath to collect herself. I pull her towards a quieter area of the club and settle her next to me on a large cushioned sofa. A waitress heads towards us, tray aloft, flirtatious grin in place. I shake my head at her, silently asking for privacy, and she frowns but turns away.
I keep my arm tight around Liv but pull back so I can see her face.
“Liv?” I say willing her to tell me what’s going on.
She takes a deep breath and tries to pull back from my arms. I’m not allowing that. She looks so stricken that I would climb inside of her if it would help. I need her close to make sure she’s okay.
“What has you so rattled? You were fine when you headed to the restroom. Did someone say something… hurt you?”
I start to look her over to make sure that she isn’t hurt, that she didn’t fall, or worst still if someone put their hands on her. Outwardly she looks fine, but inwardly, there is anguish and concern in her eyes.
It freaks me the hell out.
“Ruby…” she says, and immediately my shackles are up. If Ruby has said something to upset Liv then I’ll have her for breakfast.
“What did she do?”
“She just had one of her little chats with me baby. She didn’t say anything that I didn’t already know; it’s just hard to hear it from someone else.”
“Liv I have no idea what the fuck you’re talking about baby, you need to be more specific. What did she say?”
“She just reminded me that I’m hindering the success of the band and you. She made it very clear that your image is suffering from
being tied to me. She thinks that I’m going to be the ‘Yoko’ to your ‘John’ – her words not mine. She says she can already see that you’re putting me before the band, and that it will be the downfall.” A stray tear runs slowly down Liv’s cheek. I catch it with my thumb and kiss her where it fell.
“She wants us to stay behind closed doors Gray. She said she can’t be responsible for what stories they run in the tabloids if we don’t.”
“Wait, she threatened you?” I ask incredulously.
“I guess so. She said she has a lot of contacts in the business and if she wants to plant a story about the demise of our relationship that it would be easy for her to do. She also said that she could throw some juicy details in there to scandalise me if she needs to. She made it crystal-clear that her job as your Publicist is all that matters, and she would stop at nothing to promote the band in the best way possible.” Liv takes a deep shuddering breath and expels it from her chest to suppress threatening tears.
“Fuck that.” I growl. “If she thinks that she still has a gig as our Publicist then she is sorely mistaken. No-one and I mean no-one upsets my girl. No-one gets involved in my business. No-one has the right to tell us what we can and can’t do Liv. She’s toast.”
I pull Liv tightly to my chest and squeeze her tight. “She has one thing right baby. I do put you before the band; I put you first in everything Liv. I would give it all up if I had to. You and me, us together – that’s important - the rest can go to hell. If she thinks that she can slander us in the press just to promote the band, then I’m in no way interested in anything that comes from that. Just us Liv. Nothing else matters.” I press my lips to Liv’s to punctuate everything I’ve just said.
“C’mon, let’s go spend some time with my folks. I won’t let Ruby ruin this night, but I can promise you that she will be hearing from me tomorrow, and it won’t be pretty.”