The Promise

by River Laurent

  The smile I wear for each photo is more genuine than normal. I made them happy tonight. No, we did. Together. I can’t remember the last time I had the chance to connect one-on-one with the fans. When was the last time I was able to speak to a fan, touch them, or know I made their night?

  It takes another hour for us to escape the bar, between the photos and hugs and the beers Artie insists on giving us after our impromptu concert.

  “It would be rude to say no,” Cole reminds me with a boyish grin.

  I get the feeling he just wants to savor the moment. His pride won’t let him break down and admit what a rush he’s feeling, but he doesn’t have to explain. I understand too well. I would never rob him of this when he’s having such a great time. Still, all good things come to an end, no matter how much fun they are. As my forty-eight hours will eventually end.

  I stop in front of Cole’s car. “Are you going to drive after drinking?”

  “I haven’t been drinking. I’ve had three beers all night. Besides this is not LA. The most harm I can do is hit a raccoon.”

  It’s wonderful to slide into the silence and privacy of Cole’s glossy dark blue BMW. The entire night has been a happy dream I wish I never had to wake up from.

  “You’re in a good mood.”

  “Like you’re not! You haven’t stopped smiling like a goon since we started performing!”

  “I thought Artie was gonna drop dead when we kept going.”

  “It’s a good thing we stopped when we did, or he might have,” I say with a laugh. “I’m glad we made him happy.” I lean my head against the headrest contentedly.

  “You made everybody happy tonight.” He smiles that special smile and glances at me in that special way that always used to melt me back in the day. “Including me.”

  “You? Really? You said you didn’t want to perform in the first place.”

  “Yeah, well, not all of us are used to getting onstage in front of people anymore.”

  “You must make speeches all the time. Right? I mean, you’re a big deal too right. You must have your own business by now. You always wanted to start your own.”

  His jaw clenches. “I took over my father’s business, Taylor.”

  I stare at him in surprise. “You did? Why? You said you’d never do that.”

  “Circumstances change. People change.” He sighs, tapping his fingers on the steering wheel like he’s still picking at guitar strings.

  I wonder what circumstances would have made him take over his father’s business. He used to despise it. I want to ask him more, but I don’t want to pry. It’s clear he doesn’t want to talk about it.

  “Thank you for coming up with me tonight. I know it wasn’t easy for you. Getting up there and being vulnerable in front of all those people.”

  He shrugs. “Yeah, being on stage is not something I am comfortable with, but I wasn’t going to let you go up there on your own.”

  “You were incredible,” I say softly.

  His right hand stops strumming invisible strings and closes over mine. “Thank you. That was a hell of a lot of fun.”

  “It was, right? I mean, Jesus, I haven’t felt this good after a concert in years. All that good adrenaline is back, you know? That good feeling. I haven’t felt that feeling in such a long time. I mean, the adrenaline is always there, but it doesn’t make me feel this happy. Keyed-up and happy aren’t the same thing.” I’m babbling and I know I’m babbling but I can’t make sense of, or stop the sensation of feeling so high I’m almost dizzy.

  His grip tightens around my fingers. “It doesn’t make you happy anymore? Performing?”

  “I don’t know. Forget it. It’s not important. I don’t wanna bring down the mood. We just had a great night! What a rush.”

  “Don’t sidestep the question,” he murmurs.

  I roll my eyes. “Ugh. Do you ever get tired of thinking you know me so well?”

  He smiles. “I will as soon as I stop knowing you so well.”

  I would never admit this if I weren't three beers in, or maybe it’s because it’s Cole and I trust him with my secrets, but suddenly I’m confessing to stuff that would make my manager’s toes curl.

  “I guess it’s not the way I thought it would be. Being famous, I mean. It’s much more complicated. You know, you think you’ll make all this money and nobody will ever be able to tell you what to do, ever again. You think it’ll give you choices. Really, it seems as if my choices dissolve every time I release an album, every time I’ve gone on tour. Every dollar I’ve made for the record company just ties me tighter, and they’re the ones holding the rope.” I can’t meet his eyes. I’m so ashamed. Being famous was what tore us apart, and now I’m telling him it wasn’t worth it. I must sound completely insane.

  He absorbs this, screwing his mouth up to one side the way he always used to when something was on his mind. “How did you think it would be when you got famous?” His voice soft and tentative as if I am a wild animal that came up to his backyard and he doesn’t want to spook me.

  I force myself to chuckle like I don’t have a care in the world. “How does anybody think it will be? Perfect. Magical. The happy ending, the adoring fans, and buckets of money and tons of freedom. How many people have spent their lives chasing it, right? Seeing my face on TV, hearing my voice on the radio. Appearing at awards shows—getting nominated for a few. Rubbing elbows with other famous people, meeting my childhood crushes. Maybe making one of them fall in love with me.”

  He laughs, but gently. I didn’t fool him for a second. “Sounds like you went from general to pretty specific.”

  I match his laughter. “Okay, so I had some pretty specific dreams. Sue me.”

  “It may not have turned out the way you thought it would, but it looks great on the surface, though.”

  “Yeah. On the surface. That’s the thing. As long as everybody thinks it’s great, things are perfect, and the whole fame myth gets perpetuated all over again. That’s how it rolls.”

  “You sound much more cynical than you used to.”

  “I’m not a kid anymore. I had to grow up. Fast.”

  His eyes narrow to dangerous slits. “You didn’t have to do anything you didn’t want to, did you?”

  “No, no, nothing like that. I guess I’m maybe a little burned out? Maybe it’s all too much? Tonight, I remembered how simple it can be. How much fun singing actually is. I miss when it was fun. And the connection. And Artie’s burgers.”

  “They still make a good burger there, don’t they?” he murmurs.

  “Oh, God, yes. Just what I needed. The whole night’s been just what I needed.” I look at him again. “Thank you for that.”

  He lifts my hand to his lips and places a soft, tender kiss on my knuckles. The chill that runs down my spine is something I’ve missed, too. I’ve missed it a lot. It wasn’t until I felt his touch and his kiss again that I figured out how much I’ve been missing that special feeling. He’s the only man I’ve ever felt anything real for. My pulse picks up speed when the car turns down my street. My street. Wow, what a strange thought. It’s not my street. Or, it won’t be once I sell the house. I’m selling the house.

  Am I selling the house?

  Of course, I am.

  I frown. Until today I was so sure I was selling it. It could be because I haven’t been this happy in such a long time. Now I’m thinking: what if I didn’t? If I just kept it, just in case I want to return one day.

  I’m so mixed up between the giggly giddiness still coursing through me that I miss the figure sitting on the porch when we pull up in front of the garage. It doesn’t help that the light above the door isn’t on. Cole helps me out of the car, and we are both a little buzzed, a little high on joy, as he bends down to kiss me. I return the kiss enthusiastically. Maybe a little too enthusiastically.

  “Taylor?”

  We both jump at the sound of a male voice, and I spin around to find the dark figure sitting in the rocking chair. He stands and takes a
step forward, letting the light from the street lamp fall on his face. I put a hand on my chest and let out a shaky breath. He should be careful. For a second there I was ready to pull out my Mace and blind the sucker.

  “Simon? What are you doing here?”

  Cole looks down at me. “You know this guy?”

  “Who the hell is this?” Simon shouts, jabbing a finger in Cole’s direction. Cole’s jaw tightens just the way his hand tightens around mine.

  We were having such a good night, too.

  Taylor

  14 Years Old

  “Guess what? Brian asked me out,” I say.

  Cole whips his head around. “What?”

  “Brian Stopps from my class. You know, he plays football.”

  “I know who he is. He’s a jock,” he says tightly.

  “He’s not a jock. He’s actually a pretty cool guy.”

  “What did you say to him?” His voice is quiet and his face expressionless.

  I stare at him curiously. “I said yes.”

  His body is suddenly very still. “Why?”

  “What do you mean why?” I ask, a frown on my face.

  “Why did you say yes? Do you like him?”

  I shrug. “I don’t know. I guess so.”

  A strange expression crosses his face, as if he is in pain.

  I take a step closer towards him. “What’s the matter with you? Are you all right?”

  He turns away from me. “I’m fine.”

  I walk up to him and put my hand on his tense shoulder. He whirls around, his eyes blazing, a white band around his mouth. “I don’t want you going out with snot-nosed, fancy pants Brian.”

  I shake my head, astonished. Brian hasn’t been snot-nosed since we were in first grade. “Why ever not?”

  His hands clench hard. “Because you should be going out with me.”

  My jaw drops. “You mean … like boyfriend and girlfriend?”

  He scowls. “Yes. Would that be so bad?”

  I look at him. Really look at him. At the liquid gold and green eyes, the thick eyelashes, the dark shock of hair falling over his forehead, and the full lips. So red it is almost as if he is wearing lipstick. My gaze travels down the strong column of his throat and his broad shoulders. He is easily the best-looking kid in town and most of my friends are crazy about him. My gaze travels up to his eyes. They are molten with some strange emotion.

  For a second we stare at each other, then he grabs me by the shoulders and presses his mouth to mine. I’m too shocked to respond at first. I just about manage to breathe. His Abercrombie Fierce cologne fills my nostrils and a funny thing happens. Butterflies start fluttering madly in my stomach and my heart races. A strange excitement zips around my body making me feel almost dizzy with it.

  His mouth softens on mine.

  His hands come up to brush my throat, my face, then they are in my hair. I forget everything, the world stops spinning. I melt into him. When he raises his head, I stare at him with my mouth open.

  “Be my girl?” he asks, his voice as smooth as dark chocolate.

  It is impossible for me to speak so I just nod. That was the beginning of us.

  Cole

  Present Day

  It’s like a switch flips in my head.

  One minute, I was happier and more excited than I could remember being in a long time. Eight years, maybe? I was holding Taylor’s hand and planning on taking her inside and screwing her brains out again. Now, I’m ready to kill the bastard standing in front of me. All she needs to do is ask me and I will pulverize him with a song in my heart.

  “Simon,” Taylor says, a hint of irritation creeping into her voice. “I asked you a question. What are you doing here? I didn’t ask you to come.” Her eyes sweep the street, back and forth, like she’s looking out for paparazzi, or the random passerby with a cell. I wonder vaguely, in the background of my rage, what it must be like to always have to think about that.

  “I had to see you.”

  She shakes her head, half in disbelief. “Why? Wait … how did you find me?”

  “Nick told me.”

  She scowls. “Looks like I need a new manager because he shouldn’t have. I made it very clear that I wanted to have some time away from the rat race.”

  “I’m not the rat race. I care about you.”

  “You don’t care about me, Simon. We’re a PR stunt.”

  He looks sheepish. “Yeah. Well, it doesn’t have to be.” He leans on the porch rail with the closest thing to an expression of caring he can probably muster. He looks like the most insincere piece of shit I’ve ever seen and I would love nothing more than to cave his face in.

  “Do you want me to get him out of here?” I murmur. Her hand is still in mine.

  His eyes flick back to me. “Who’s this asshole?”

  “I hope you didn’t just call me an asshole.” My voice is a low, deadly growl. I hope for his sake that he doesn’t think about underestimating me. All the years I’ve spent in kickboxing and cross training aren’t for nothing. Meanwhile, he looks like he’s strung-out on designer drugs. Skinny, pale, sunken eyes.

  “Why? What you gonna do about it?” he challenges from behind the wooden rail.

  “Okay, okay. Let’s go inside before this gets even more stupid.” Taylor shakes her head in disgust and leads me into the house. I wait just next to her, at her elbow, as she unlocks the door. I won’t let her out of my sight around an ass like this guy. Besides, he needs to know she’s mine.

  “Sit.” She points to the couch, then folds her arms and leans against the wall. He’s like a puppy dog. He goes right over there and sinks into the cushions, looking up at her with those dead eyes of his.

  “So who’s the hick?” he asks sulkily. “I don’t recognize him from anywhere.”

  I cringe inwardly for him. The shallow world she lives in sickens me. A world where you are nothing unless you are a celebrity. He pushes limp blond hair out of his eyes. The whole floppy hair trend needs to go away. How can women even think that’s hot?

  Taylor sighs. “Cole, this is Simon. He’s the lead singer of The Screamers.”

  I cough to cover up my laugh. The Screamers? Doesn’t say much for his voice. “Never heard of them,” I say with a shrug. It’s the truth, too. My musical taste doesn’t lean toward hard rock, which he’s obviously deep into. He looks appalled.

  “Simon, this is my best friend, Cole. I’ve known him for a long time. He was my partner for years, back when I first started out.” She glances at me, a warning glance. Don’t tell him anything else about us, that glance says. Is she afraid of him? My blood starts to boil. She called their relationship a PR stunt.

  He barely looks my way before pleading with her again. “Baby, I couldn’t believe it when you ran out on me like that.”

  She rolls her eyes. “First of all, don’t call me that. I’m not your baby. I’ve never been your baby. That’s what you’ve wanted, but not me.”

  He throws a sly look in my direction. “Oh, come on. We had fun together.”

  She holds up one finger. “Are you trying to suggest there is something between us for Cole’s benefit, because you and I both know there is nothing going on between us. Why you made this mad trip in the middle of the night is completely beyond me.”

  “Why can’t you just give us a chance? We’d be good together.”

  “It would never work between us, and I’ve told you that a million times. If you want to be friends, I’m fine with that. You can’t follow me around like this. I wanted some time on my own.”

  “But you’re not alone, are you?” he asks with a smirk.

  I can see her start to fume. I’m fuming, too. What a loser this douchebag is. Can’t get over a woman, so he follows her around with a broken heart. Granted, Taylor isn’t just any woman. She’s one of a kind, extraordinary. And the best lay I’ve ever had, hands down. But stalking her? That’s taking it too far. I hate the thought of her even letting him near her.

  “Sh
e doesn’t want you here.” I take a step forward, sliding my arms out of my jacket. “I think it’s time for you to go.”

  “What are you gonna do?” he asks, still smirking. “You gonna throw me out, tough guy?”

  As I get closer I can see that his pupils are huge. He’s obviously high on something. “If I have to. Yeah. I will pull you physically from that couch, open the door and throw your ass out onto the sidewalk. Please, give me the chance to do that.”

  “Cole,” Taylor warns from behind me, but my blood is roiling. It’s obvious that being nice isn’t working on this guy. I’m going to do things my way.

  “Come on. What’ll it be? You get out of here on your own two feet, or you force me to throw you out?” I start rolling up my sleeves.

  “Go on and touch me,” the prick sneers. “You have no idea what I could do to you. My lawyer would be on your ass in a minute.”

  A laugh rumbles out of my throat. To my surprise, it’s genuine. “That’s great. My legal team would love to meet your lawyer. It would be a nice break from the international negotiations they’re working on right now. Like a vacation, almost.” I go to him and clamp a hand around his way-too-scrawny bicep, hauling him to his feet. “Let’s go.”

  He’s obviously a lover and not a fighter, because he calls out to Taylor over his shoulder, “Taylor, I love you. Don’t you get that?”

  Cole

  I swear I want to laugh. It’s like one of those crazy romantic comedies. She doesn’t answer, and I open the door and toss Simon outside, just like I promised. I dust my hands. “If I ever hear about you bothering her again or if you even look her way when she doesn’t want you to, we’ll be seeing each other. And next time, that legal team I told you about will be with me. It’ll be a blast.” I slam the door in his face, then flip the lock.

  It doesn’t hit me until just then that she might not have wanted me to be so forceful with him. She said she wanted to be friends, right? Women are different about that kind of thing. Me? I’d tell him to fuck off and never speak to him again.