“What do you mean, complicate?”
“Well,” Skyler said cautiously, “I don’t want things to get to be too much for you again…”
Billy watched him for a long moment, searching his eyes. “You’re afraid I’ll try and hurt myself again, aren’t you?”
Skyler didn’t answer, but it was obvious from the look on his face that she was right.
“Sky…” she said softly, reaching out to touch his cheek gently. “I was coming down then. Things were all mixed up in my head.”
“Well, I don’t want to mix them up again.”
“Skyler, being with you is the only sane, normal thing I have. And I need you so much. You bring me back down—you make me right.”
“Yeah, real right,” Skyler said. “Tried to commit suicide three times? Didn’t count this new outlet, I guess, huh?”
“We talked about that, didn’t we?” Billy said, sounding petulant now.
“Yes, we did, but you can’t explain away what happened here a week and half ago, can you?” Skyler said calmly.
Billy shook her head dejectedly. “No.”
“What happened?” Skyler asked, reaching over and taking her hand. “Why did you do that?”
Billy was quiet for a long time, like she was looking inside herself for the reasons. “I was depressed, I guess from coming down and all. And I guess seeing Theresa the afternoon before, and knowing that you slept with her again… it just seemed to be one big déjà vu…” She trailed off, looking up at him. Her blue eyes stared straight into his. “Did you sleep with her while I was in the center?”
“What?” Skyler said, still trying to assimilate what she’d said before that.
“Did you sleep with Theresa while I was locked up at the center?” Billy asked accusingly.
“What makes you think I slept with Theresa again?” he said, his tone still calm.
“Did you see her?”
“Yes, I saw her once. Why?”
“Did you fuck her or not, Skyler?” she asked, still sounding surprisingly calm considering her accusing words.
“Or not,” Skyler said, narrowing his light green eyes at her. “What is it you think you know, Billy?”
“Why didn’t you want Alan Rothe to see me?”
Skyler was taken aback by the question. “I didn’t want him hassling you. Obviously, you took his calls.”
“No,” she said, looking away. “I saw him. He came to the center.”
“What? They let him see you?”
“Actually…” Billy shrugged, still not looking directly at him. “He kinda snuck onto the grounds and followed me out into the woods…” She trailed off, and Skyler could tell there was something else. He could also see that she was avoiding his eyes now.
“And then what?”
“What do you mean, then what?” Her eyes flicked up to his and then away again.
Skyler moved to catch her gaze. “What’s goin’ on, Billy? What happened with Rothe? Did he talk you into conning me into getting you out?”
“You are so far off,” Billy said, shaking her head. Then she surprised him by giving him a direct look. “He said the morning he called you that you were with someone. He said the voice sounded female,” she blurted out.
Skyler looked at her blankly for a minute, then started to laugh. “Oh, Jesus Christ, Billy, you’ll believe anything that asshole tells you, won’t you? I was with Michael, and his voice changed a long time ago. Rothe was baiting you, and you fell for it.” He shook his head, looking serious now.
Billy looked surprised at first, then embarrassed, then mad. “That sonofabitch!” she said, slamming her hand down on her leg. “He knew what I’d think. He knew I was mad about Kid going off on a vacation, and he played on that. That bastard.” She jumped up from the bed and started pacing back and forth, as if trying to walk off her anger.
Skyler watched, his expression one of mild discontent and curiosity. “What’d he talk you into, Billy?” he asked blandly. “Or should I say, out of?” he said then, his tone deepening considerably.
Billy stopped pacing and looked over at him. The look of anger drained away as she realized what he was asking, and that he’d already surmised what had happened. But she refused to be accused in that way. “You’ve got no room to talk, Skyler James Kristiani,” she said, her hands on her hips.
Skyler nodded, agreeing with her, which served to fuel her anger.
“Don’t agree with me! You’re supposed to be pissed off, jealous, enraged, infuriated!”
“Maniacal, incensed, furious…”
“Shut up!” Billy said, hands on her hips, blue eyes points of fire. “Why aren’t you mad?” She sounded almost petulant, but her eyes were still narrowed at him.
Skyler shrugged. “Because, like you said, I have no room to talk.”
“That’s not the point! I slept with another guy. That’s supposed to really tee men off. How come it doesn’t work that way with you?”
Skyler laughed lightly, then looked at her seriously. “Was he better than me?” he asked seriously, but his eyes were twinkling with humor.
“Yes!” she retorted, but he could see the beginnings of a smile on her lips.
“Then I’ll have to kill him,” Skyler said, standing and walking over to her.
She looked up at him. “He’s stronger than you,” she said haughtily.
“Ha.” Skyler nodded. “But is he faster?”
“Not where it counts.”
“But can he kiss?” he asked then, bringing his lips down to within an inch of hers.
“Oh yes,” she whispered.
“Not like this, he can’t,” Skyler said, his voice sure as his lips claimed hers. The fire that burned ever bright between them ignited the moments their lips came into contact. Skyler wrapped his hands around her waist. She reached up to wind her arms around his neck, and clasped her legs around his waist as he lifted her off her feet. He carried her over to the bed and sat down. He caressed her back, sliding his hands under her shirt. Her body shuddered at the feel of his hands touching her bare skin.
“Skyler. Skyler,” she whispered against his lips.
“Just remember that name,” he said huskily. “’Cause you’re going to be screaming it soon.” He sounded like he was only half joking, and Billy found herself shivering with anticipation.
Their lovemaking was almost frenzied as they realized how much they’d missed each other. Later they lay together, still trying to catch their breath. Skyler lay on his back, and Billy on her side with her back to him. She held tightly to the arm that he had curled under her neck and around her shoulders.
“I’m sorry,” she said quietly against his shoulder.
“For what?”
“Alan.”
“Don’t be.”
“Why?”
“Because… shit happens,” Skyler said. Billy felt his shoulder moving as he shrugged.
“It’s nice to know you’re so possessive,” she said caustically.
“Hey.” Skyler kissed the top of her head. “Who’re you here with now?”
“You.”
“My point exactly,” he said, sounding satisfied.
“Yeah, but—”
“Shhh,” he said, cutting her off. “Go to sleep, Billy.” He turned, snuggling up against her.
“Okay,” she said, sounding again like the petulant child. She pressed her lips to his shoulder, then laid her cheek back against the same spot, closing her eyes. She fell asleep feeling the warmth of his body at her back and his hand stroking the hollow of her waist. It was a good feeling.
♫ Three ♫
Jerith and Nicolette arrived home on a Wednesday evening. Nicolette found out that her hearing with internal affairs was scheduled for that Friday. She spent the next two days feeling edgy, but Jerith was there to help alleviate some of the tension.
One of the things they had decided while in Hawaii was that it was stupid for Jerith to continue to stay at the hotel. On Thursday they wen
t over so he could check out and get his stuff. The rest of the band headed back to LA for the remaining two weeks of their unexpected break. Upon checking out at the front desk, Jerith found that Billy had not only checked out of her room and picked up her stuff, but their manager had already taken care of the bills up to that point. Jerith made a mental note to call Skyler and see how Billy was actually doing at the clinic; he had meant to the night before, but he’d been tired from the trip.
He and Nicolette left the hotel an hour after they’d arrived with the few personal things he’d had on the tour they’d just finished, most of which were clothes. He also carried a guitar case that held what he called his baby, a Les Paul that he had bought with his first big royalty check. It was sapphire blue with gold, orange, and red flames licking out from the edges. He had shown it to Nicolette up in the room, and she’d been sufficiently impressed, considering she didn’t know one thing about guitars. She could see, however, how important the instrument was to him, and that was what mattered.
Later that day, Jerith sat down to call Skyler’s place. He was surprised when Billy answered the phone.
“What are you doing there?” Jerith asked, mildly suspicious.
“Take it easy, Dad,” Billy said lightly. “Skyler sprung me from the nuthouse on Monday. I’ve been with him, and clean as a whistle, since then.”
“Uh-huh,” Jerith said, narrowing his eyes. “Let me talk to Skyler.” He was surprised when she only laughed and handed Skyler the phone. Usually she’d bite his head off for not trusting her.
“Hello?” Skyler said.
“Is what she just told me true?”
“It is. She’s been with me the whole time, and I can vouch for her sobriety.”
“Good.” Jerith didn’t exactly sound enthusiastic, but not displeased either. “Why’d she leave the clinic though? Wasn’t that a bit soon?”
“Jerith,” Skyler said, sounding frank, “you know and I know that Billy is a great little actress. She had them bullshitted to high heaven by the time I got there on Monday. It was a waste of time.”
“Do you think she’ll stay clean this time, though?”
Skyler was silent for a long moment. “Can’t really answer that one. She’ll never be totally free of the craving—it is an addiction and that isn’t curable. And considering the business you two are in, the temptation is always going to be there for her…” He trailed off, stopping short of telling Jerith he was always going to have to watch her if he wanted her to stay clean and in the music business. He figured Jerith could guess that much, which was affirmed by the deep sigh on the other end of the line.
“Yeah,” Jerith said, looking up at the ceiling. “That’s kinda what I figured. Well, thanks for giving it to me straight, Skyler. And thanks for keeping tabs on her for me.”
“I didn’t do it for you,” Skyler replied simply, and Jerith was again surprised. Obviously there was becoming more to the relationship between Billy and Skyler than there had been before. He wasn’t sure if it was a good thing or not, but he knew he had no say in the matter anyway, so why worry about it?
“Well, anyway, thanks.”
“No problem,” Skyler said. They hung up a few moments later.
“Well?” Nicolette asked, walking into the room a few minutes later. She had known he was calling to check on Billy and she had politely stayed out of the room. Now she moved to sit on the bed next to him, watching him patiently.
“She’s doing fine, I guess. Skyler checked her out of the center, but he says she’s been clean all week so far.”
“Did you talk to Billy?”
“Yeah, she sounded fine. Better than fine, actually—she sounded happy.”
“Okay…” Nicolette said, giving him a sidelong look. “So why don’t you sound happy?”
Jerith looked at her for a long minute, realizing she was getting to know him pretty well. He knew he hadn’t really said or done anything to tell her he wasn’t totally thrilled with Billy’s “happiness,” but she could tell. He shrugged. “I don’t know. I guess it’s something that Skyler said, or didn’t say, rather. He told me Billy’s going to have a constant battle with drugs as long as she’s in the music business, and I guess that means I’ll have to be her watchdog for a long time to come.” He scrubbed tiredly at his face. “I just want to play music, and be happy with it. Why does it have to be so damned complicated?”
“Would you want another lead singer?” Nicolette asked, already knowing the answer to the question.
“No,” Jerith said simply, shaking his head. “Billy’s it. She’s the band.”
“I don’t think that’s true.” Nicolette shook her head for emphasis. “You’re just as important as Billy is. You are the other half of Billy and the Kid, Jerith. She needs you just as much as you need her, believe me.”
Jerith stared at her for a long time, trying to understand how someone he’d met less than three weeks before had become so much a part of his life. Here she was telling him that he was important, that he mattered. She was supporting him, and not just to pay lip service. He could see that she really meant it.
“How’d I get lucky enough to hook up with you?” he said seriously.
Nicolette laughed. “Same way Billy was unlucky enough to hook up with me. And I’d say I’m getting the better end of the deal. I mean, Hawaii, concert tickets, limo rides, free groceries…” She trailed off, as if she was only giving a hint of the wonders he’d done for her.
“You’re worth every penny, too,” Jerith said, leaning down to kiss her.
He was still kissing her when Ryan appeared in the doorway. “Mom,” he said. He sounded upset.
Nicolette’s head snapped around immediately at the tone. “What, Ryan?”
“I, uh…” the young man stammered, looking from his mother to Jerith, then back to his mother. “There’s someone here, and… well…”
“Who?” Nicolette wondered if it was Mandy’s parents, or one of her officers. Maybe something had happened on the IA case, and they were here to tell her bad news. Nicolette’s mind raced around trying to figure it out. Ryan answered it in two words.
“It’s Dad.”
Nicolette felt Jerith tense almost immediately, as did she. “He’s what—here?” she said, trying to assimilate what he was telling her. “Not on the phone, but here?”
“Yes, Mom, here. I know the difference.” Ryan’s mind and heart were in turmoil too. He had been so shocked at seeing his father after three years that he had simply opened the door and let him in. Then he had turned and walked down the hall to his mother’s room without a word. Now his mother was staring at him like she was in shock, and he understood how she was feeling. “Are you coming out here?” he said finally, when she didn’t move off the bed.
Nicolette nodded numbly. “Yeah, I’ll be there in a minute.” She motioned him to go back out of the room. When he did, she turned to Jerith, not sure what to say.
“His dad called him,” Jerith said, remembering the older man at the luncheon before they’d left for Hawaii.
Nicolette nodded. “I knew he would. I just didn’t think John would come out here. I thought he’d call or something, but not come in person.” Her mind was whirling from the shock that her husband was actually back in their house at that moment. She hadn’t seen him in three years, and hadn’t even talked to him in two. Everything had been done in writing from that point, first notes between them, then letter between their lawyers.
“Well, he’s here,” Jerith said matter-of-factly. “What’re you going to do? And what do you want me to do?”
“I…” she started to say, then shook her head. “I’m going out to talk to him. What you do is up to you. He’s probably already surmised that you’re here—your car is in the driveway, and he knows I couldn’t afford to buy Ryan one for his birthday.” She said the last with an attempt at a grin.
“Fine,” Jerith said. “Then I’ll come out there with you.” Nicolette wasn’t sure if she’d heard a littl
e bit of a possessive tone or if she was just imagining it.
She stood and walked toward the door. Jerith stood too, thinking it shouldn’t make him happy that she hadn’t even bothered to look in a mirror before going out to see a man she hadn’t seen in three years. Not that she had any reason to check herself; she looked gorgeous, as always. Jerith found himself feeling very possessive—Nicolette had not imagined the tone a moment before. He followed her out of the room and down the hall. He saw John Harris and immediately realized that he and her soon-to-be-ex-husband couldn’t be more opposite if they tried.
John Harris was tall, six foot three inches. He had a broad chest and muscular-looking arms, and his skin was dark from time out in the sun. His hair was black, curly, and cut short in what Jerith considered a “cop-type” haircut—neat, but not too closely cropped. John had brown eyes, which he now turned on Nicolette and subsequently Jerith as they came out of the hallway. His eyes narrowed.
“John,” Nicolette said, stopping three feet from her husband, out of arm’s reach. “What are you doing here?” Her tone was just short of polite.
John seemed taken aback by her cool attitude, and again his eyes went to Jerith, as if sure the blond-haired guitarist was to blame for it. “I was in town on business,” he said, his voice deep and strong. “I thought I’d drop by and see my family.” His emphasis was on the word my, and he’d stared directly into Jerith’s eyes as he said it.
“Well, I’m sure your dad will be happy to see you,” Nicolette said, not missing a beat.
John’s eyes went to her, narrowing just slightly. “I meant to see you and Ryan,” he said, his tone telling her she should have known that. It also told her that he didn’t like her new attitude toward him. He was used to his quiet, easygoing wife who deferred to him on just about anything. This wasn’t her.
“I see.” She nodded. She glanced back at Jerith, who was leaning casually against the doorway between the dining room and living room, and then she looked back at John. “Well, I’ll be busy, but you can of course see Ryan while you’re here.” She paused, looking pointedly at her son. “That is, of course, if Ryan’s free…” She let her voice trail off, giving Ryan an out on purpose. She wasn’t quite sure how her son was feeling about this whole thing, and didn’t presume to know whether he’d want to go out with his father.
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