UNBROKEN (Friends, Lovers, or Nothing Book 5)

by Jackie Chanel

  “Don’t worry about it,” I told Mona. “Shay and I go way back. Let her in.”

  I winked at Spence when Mona left with a huff. Shay was a name that I’d never forget and I was sure that he remembers Shay. He has to remember her. She’s been backstage with me enough times plus her body was unforgettable.

  I haven’t seen Shay in a couple of years because Sunny hated Shay. She probably still does. The only reason she hates her is because my relationship with Shay was the closest to being in a real relationship she’d seen me in since Ramey. Without Sunny’s interference, Shay and I might still be together. She was making all the right moves to become a pretty good girlfriend until TMZ aired footage of us taking Summer to Disneyland. Sunny’s overreaction caused a chain reaction that ultimately ended with Shay giving me back my key and taking all of her stuff back to her apartment. Although we stopped dating, I don’t believe there’s any bad blood between us.

  “Shay?” Spence laughed. “The Laker Girl you used to date? Is she back in the picture?”

  “That’s her,” I nodded with a grin. “And no, she’s not back in the picture like that. I kinda wanna see what she wants though.”

  “You know what she wants. Since you and Cash announced that concert series at The Hollywood Bowl, the ladies are lovin’ A.T.”

  “What are you talkin’ about? The ladies have always loved A.T. Don’t hate.”

  “Is Shay still a Laker Girl? I don’t remember seeing her at the last game.”

  I hunched my shoulders. “I don’t know. I hope so. With that body, she needs to be out there on the floor.”

  About twenty minutes later, Mona called me downstairs. Shay was sitting at my bar in a pair of yoga pants and a crop top. She looked bangin’! I watched her fix a gin and tonic and sip it for a few seconds.

  Shay is gorgeous. Not girl next door gorgeous, not Sunny gorgeous…she’s Playboy centerfold gorgeous. Her body is tight and compact. She looks amazing in a bikini. But she looked her absolute best when she was naked and standing under the skylights in my bedroom with the moonlight making her nipple rings sparkle. Nothing had changed as far as I could see.

  “Why are you drinking my liquor? You don’t live here anymore,” I joked as I walked into the room. I leaned against the edge of the pool table and watched Shay nearly jump out of her skin.

  “Oh my God, Aiden! You scared me.”

  Shay sat her drink down and walked over to me. I couldn’t help but stare at the way her shirt emphasized her natural breasts. I opened my arms for a hug. Shay stepped right in and pressed her body against mine.

  “What are you doing here?” I asked into her chestnut colored hair that still smelled like shampoo.

  “I came to talk to you,” she answered. “Were you busy?”

  “Spence is upstairs.”

  “You’re going on tour?” she asked.

  “Yeah, in June.”

  “Perfect timing then,” Shay smiled showing her East Texas pearly whites.

  She let go of me and walked back to her purse. When she returned, she was holding a flash drive. She handed to me with a flourish and smile.

  “Can we go out to your studio?”

  “What is this?” I asked as I led her through the house out to the studio.

  “My demo. I want you to be the first to hear it.”

  I burst out laughing. Demo? I admit that Shay could carry a tune but never, in all the time that I’ve known her, did I ever think she’d be in my studio asking me to play her demo. I decided to humor her and inserted the drive into the sound system.

  “So, I was expecting Sunny to be here,” Shay spoke up. “Word around town is that Miss Rain has you on a short leash.”

  “What?”

  “Yeah,” Shay nodded. “No one’s seen you at the usual spots. You’re here being a family man and we all know how possessive Sunny is.”

  “Nah, it’s nothing like that,” I replied absently. Surprisingly, I was really into the song that was playing. “Do you have a vocal coach?”

  “Yes. I’ve been working with Sandra Martin for a year. I’ve been writing my own songs and working with the best producers in my price range. I’m serious about my music.”

  “When did you start wanting to sing? You never said anything to me about singing.”

  Shay gently placed her hand on my knee and smiled warmly. “Baby, you know like I know that you wouldn’t have given me a chance if you thought I was trying to get a record deal out of you. I liked you, Aiden. All I wanted from you back then was a date. I saw a future with you that didn’t have anything to do with my music. It’s a shame that it ended the way it did.”

  “It ended because you left,” I reminded her. “I didn’t want us to break up.”

  “I left for the same reason every girl you’ve ever dated left. We can’t compete with Sunny. I’m just glad that you finally got what you wanted. You seem really happy, Aiden.”

  There was something genuine in Shay’s tone and truthfulness in her dark brown eyes that I appreciated. Shay has never had a bad word to say about Sunny. She was always respectful of the fact that Sunny and I had a child together and she didn’t even bitch when Sunny moved to LA and into my house. Sunny was the one with the problem. Looking back, I know why she had a problem but that didn’t change the fact that she has called Shay and every other girl whose number is in my phone all types of names and virtually ignored them whenever they were around.

  “I’m happy,” I replied. “So, what’s up with you? Are you still dancing for the Lakers?”

  “Yeah. I just left rehearsal. In between that and recording this demo, I haven’t really been on the scene that much. Kinda like you.”

  “You’re really serious about this music thing, huh?”

  Shay nodded. “I see all these so-called reality stars getting deals and they can’t sing a lick. If Kim Zolciak can put out “Don’t Be Tardy for the Party”, I know I can make a platinum album at least.”

  She was right. She was definitely right. Female pop music is seriously lacking at the moment. They could use some new blood. If Cash had a label, I would have passed her along to him. There’s no way Joey’s going to approve me signing a pop artist, especially when he’s trying to assist “real R&B” with making a comeback.

  “You should look for a manager,” I advised Shay. “Your demo is good and the right manager will get it in the hands of the right label. Or you could release your stuff independently.”

  “That’s cute,” Shay laughed. “I am a Laker Girl. I don’t have the money to release anything independently.”

  I gave her Roxy’s number and told her to make an appointment. Roxy probably wouldn’t sign on to manage her but she’ll lead her in the right direction. Roxy has three other managers working for Steele Management. One of them could take on a pop singer. Shay can sing but there isn’t anything I can do with that music.

  “Thanks, Aiden,” Shay said before she left. “And you might want to call Tati. Word around town is that she’s putting out a tell-all book and you’re definitely in it.”

  “We went out about three times in the course of a week or two,” I laughed. “She doesn’t have anything to write about.”

  Shay smiled and patted my shoulder. “From what I know about you, that one week could fill a few chapters. You better call her, A.T.”

  ***

  For a couple days, I thought about what Shay said about Tati. Tatiana was one of Ramey’s close friends but I didn’t find that out until later. I’d hooked up with Tati before Ramey. She was one of those model mistakes that I ran through right after I moved to LA. I thought we were having a good time but at the time, I wasn’t used to all the attention I got from the media for dating a model. Unlike Ramey, Tati wasn’t worth the attention. We had fun, but, after a week of being followed all around all the time, I had to cut her off. She attracted too much attention. Out here, whenever two celebrities are seen together, someone posts a picture and everyone assumes that they’re practically engage
d.

  Tati ate that shit up. She didn’t want to go anywhere unless I was with her. I was pretty sure that all three times that I actually took her out on a real date, she called the paparazzi from the bathroom. I couldn’t complain about the sex though. Tatiana was a little freak. We had great sex, even after we “broke up.”

  Obviously, she was still trying to catch a rich dude. That’s why she was letting Mike feel all over her ass the other night. Even though Tatiana fake cried in from of the cameras like I really broke her heart, I couldn’t think of anything that she could say about that would detrimental to me if she really is writing a book. I just can’t imagine someone who is as airheaded as Tati is can actually write a book. No one in the world cares what Tatiana McFadden has to say.

  “Summer!” I called up the stairs. My almost five-year-old appeared at the top of the steps with her hand on her hip looking just like her mother. “Get your jacket and let’s go. You’re gonna make us late.”

  Mona rounded the corner and stared at me. “What are we going to be late for?”

  “You’re not going to be late for anything. I have to meet up with Roxy and Joey.”

  “Are we done for the day? I can go home then?”

  “What?” I teased. “You don’t live here?”

  “That’s right, boss. I do have a life outside of your circus and I have a date tonight.”

  “Good for you.”

  I resisted the urge to ask Mona a zillion questions about her date. I’ve been accused of getting too involved in the personal lives of my assistants and band members and being unable to separate business from personal. I admit to being guilty of doing that but it’s only because Mike, Erica, Eddie, and I have been playing together for so long that they’re practically family. Plus, my last two assistants were Sunny and Delilah. I was supposed to be in their personal business.

  Mona is different. She was hired by Roxy after Delilah quit. She had been a personal assistant for another musician and was the consummate professional…for now. I’m sure she’ll loosen up when she starts being on the road with us for six to eight months out of the year.

  “Daddy, where we goin’?” Summer asked once she was strapped into the backseat of my Range Rover.

  “We’re going to dinner with Uncle Joey and Aunt Roxy,” I told her. “So be good.”

  On the way to the House of Blues, Summer asked me a million questions but I’m used to it. She’s curious like Delilah was. In a way, it would be nice for Summer to have a sister like Delilah had, but I really need a son. There are just too many women in my life. If we don’t have a boy, I don’t know what I’m going to do.

  “Daddy! There’s the picture people!” Summer pointed out some cameramen crowded around the House of Blues entrance.

  “Don’t smile,” I instructed. “Give ‘em your mean face.”

  At four and a half, Summer is used to people taking her picture and handles it better than her mother. I don’t think she understands why people want to take her picture because she never sees what the blogs, tabloids, and fans publicize. Depending on her mood, she either will ham it up for the paparazzi or tell them to leave her alone. One time, she told a TMZ photographer to fuck off. The Internet went nuts and the video went viral. Sunny was so pissed. Maybe they’ll learn to leave my kid alone one day.

  Joey and Roxy were seated close together and having one of their “I can’t believe we’re back together-I’ve missed you so much” moments when Summer and I joined them. Joey was happy to see his niece but, as usual, Roxy had something to say about it.

  “A toddler in a bar? Where’s your nanny?”

  “I gave her the day off.”

  “You’re a lie and a half.” Roxy glared at me over her vodka and cranberry. “You just don’t like having her around. Keep that girl around at all times and do you and her mama both a favor.”

  “I like Jess,” Summer inserted her two cents.

  “Yeah, I know,” I muttered. “Besides, this is a restaurant too, not just a bar. Sunny’s still in New York. Mom, Sara, and Delilah are having some kind of mother-daughter getaway so it’s just me and the kid for a few days. And you two asked for this meeting so…”

  I stopped talking and reached into Summer’s old school Jem and the Holograms backpack. Sunny made it for her after they discovered the cartoon on Netflix. Now my daughter can’t get enough of Jem. I plugged in Summer’s headphones into her iPad and pulled up her favorite cartoon on Netflix. That will hold her until Roxy, Joey, and I finish our conversation.

  “So what is this meeting about?” I asked after flagging down a waitress to get my usual Grey Goose and orange juice.

  “Apryl just signed a new client, a pop singer you sent our way,” Roxy smiled. “Shay, I think her name is.”

  “Cute,” I said. “What does that have to do with me?”

  “Well, we,” Roxy motioned to herself and Joey, “think that it’s about time for Aiden Tyler to have his own record label and Shay Alexander needs to be your first artist.”

  Like any other artist, I’ve considered branching out on my own. Working with Joey and being a partner in Clausen Music Group is cool and we are starting to grow a rather impressive roster. However, having my own label is too much work. I’m still making music of my own. I still want to be an artist.

  “Nah,” I shook my head. “I’m not ready to give up being a touring artist. I like producing and all, but I don’t want my own label yet. If you’ve heard Shay’s demo, why aren’t you shopping her to Atlantic or Sony? She’s pop and CMG doesn’t do pop.”

  “You sure about that, youngblood?” Joey asked. “You know I like having you around but you can’t be stuck up under me forever.”

  “I don’t see it like that,” I told him. “I like being an artist. I’m not ready to pack up my guitars and trade ‘em in for the executive producer title. Besides, CMG makes too much money off of me to let me go at it solo,” I joked.

  “Well, then you just turned this into a pitch meeting,” Roxy stated. “I have this girl that I really want you to hear. Apryl is setting her up to do a showcase next week. Can I put you on the VIP list?”

  “Tell me about her,” Joey played along.

  I have to admit, Roxy’s spiel was perfect. I wonder if she pitched me to labels like that. If she did, now I understand why the biggest hip-hop label in Atlanta took a chance on a blues guitar playing white boy and signed me to a three-album deal.

  “Put us on the list,” Joey said after Roxy finished talking up all of Shay’s good points.

  “Are you done?” I asked Roxy. “Because there’s something I need to talk to my manager about.”

  The book thing was bugging me and if anyone would know if I should do anything, it’s Roxy.

  “What’s wrong?” Roxy asked.

  “Remember Tatiana McFadden? The model?”

  Roxy rolled her eyes. “Try asking Tracy if she remembers Tatiana McFadden and bet if she doesn’t slap you. What’s that whore up to now?”

  “I got word that she and Ramey are writing a book and talking about me.”

  “Damn it,” Roxy heaved a deep sigh. “If one of your groupies starts telling your bedroom tales, there are going to be hoes coming out of the woodwork trying to get their fifteen minutes.”

  “That’s why I’m telling you. Can we stop it? I mean, can we stop them from writing it?”

  Roxy shrugged. “Not really. You might need a lawyer’s opinion but it’s not defamation if it’s true and the world already knows that you two were together.”

  “Fuck,” I grumbled. “My mom and Sunny are going to love to read about the kinky shit I did with Tati. Ramey has enough ammo to ruin me. Great.”

  “The world is going to love this,” Roxy grimaced. “Now all your fans will finally know how big your dick really is.”

  “You’re not making it any better.”

  “And I’m not trying to,” Roxy sneered while Joey laughed. “You spent years screwing all these no-class women then have the
nerve to be worried when they decide to make some money off of your womanizing. How come you didn’t see this coming?”

  “Well, I didn’t see it coming and you’d think my manager and business partner wouldn’t be sitting here laughing about it. This could have a negative impact on my career, ya know.”

  “It won’t,” Joey replied. “All it’s gonna do is make more of these young girls wanna screw you. It’s gonna cause you a bit of grief with my niece but she knew you were a player—”

  “You mean whore,” Roxy butted in. “Call a spade a spade.”

  “What the boss said,” Joey chuckled. “Sunny will be mad but she’ll get over it.”

  “Yeah, we’ll see. Y’all don’t have to live with her.”

  Summer and I managed to leave the House of Blues without incident. Even though I really did give her the day off, I was tempted to call up Jess to babysit so I could stop by her house and confront Tati about this book. I don’t know even know where Ramey lives now, but if I did, she’d be the first stop on my list.

  Chapter 15: Show Stopper

  THE LINE TO THE Estrange entrance consisted of some of the cutest girls to hit these Hollywood streets. The only problem with the pretty, hot, and tempting under thirty girls of Hollywood is that nothing about them is real and they always have an agenda. Cash, Paulie, and I bypassed the line of bad decisions despite the frenzy that occurred when they realized who was strolling past them right through the front door.

  I called up Cash to come with me and Paulie to the artist showcase Steele Management put together because he’s a cool dude and one of the few friendships that all the women in my circle actually approve of…for different reasons of course. We don’t get to hang that often because our schedules conflict more often than not. Plus, he has a new baby and high profile relationship. As famous as he is, dating a gossip blogger is not the best move in my opinion. However, the man is in love and I, for one, know a thing or two about that.