by Lauren Rowe
“Then... we’ll... see what we want to do.”
“From what I’ve seen, you’ve gotten really close to RCR’s drummer.”
My stomach flips over. “I can’t think about him right now. I’ll cross that bridge when and if I get there. Until then, I’m just gonna enjoy the ride... in secret... until I know for sure our chemistry will survive out there in the real world.”
“But how can you know that unless you go out into the real world with her? I mean, sorry to be a Debbie Downer here, but having amazing chemistry while banging someone in a hotel room or laundry room is a lot easier than holding onto that chemistry through the trials and tribulations of real life. Being in Vegas with Josh in the beginning was sexy and exciting, but we were in a bubble. Neither of us could be sure our feelings were real until I went to his house and met his friends and he came home with me to meet you guys.”
I exhale with exasperation. “Kat, if I so much as walk down the street with Violet, there’s a good chance someone’s gonna snap a photo of us and post it online. There are Instagram accounts where people upload photos of me, just living my life.”
“Yeah, I know. The biggest one is called ‘Dax in the Wild.’ It’s actually kind of creepy.”
“Right? What the hell is so interesting about me sitting in a chair, reading a book?”
“Dax. Honey. Every breath you take is interesting to people at this point.”
I run my hand through my hair. “Which is exactly my point. There’s no reliable way I’m gonna be able to test out my chemistry with Violet in the real world without C-Bomb and Reed finding out about it.”
Kat puts her arm around me. “It’s okay, Daxy-pants. Just enjoy the ride and see where things lead. Cross the ‘real world’ bridge if and when you get there.”
I lean into Kat and touch the side of my head to hers. “Now see? That’s why I love you the most, Splooge.”
She pats my arm. “Now, please tell me you turned on the washing machine when you screwed your girl against it, or I’m gonna bitch-slap you for missing a fantastic opportunity.”
I laugh. “Of course, I did. I’m a Morgan, dude. We’re smart like that.”
“Good boy.” But before Kat says another word, the laundry room door opens and our mother pops her head into the room.
Chapter 30
Dax
“I thought I heard your voices in here!” Mom barrels into the laundry room like a drug-sniffing dog. “What are you two doing in a laundry room, when everyone else is out there, chatting and enjoying cocktails?”
“I’m not ‘enjoying cocktails’ these days, remember?” I say. “So I came in here to make a phone call.”
“And then I went looking for a bathroom and heard Dax’s voice,” Kat says, “and decided to come say hi.”
Mom narrows her eyes. “Okay, cut the crap, you two. This ain’t my first time at the Kat and Dax rodeo.”
We laugh.
“It’s not normal to hang out in a laundry room at a wedding when everyone you love the most is out there, having fun.” Concern flickers across Mom’s face as she looks at me. “Tell the truth, Dax. Did you come back here to snort drugs?”
I roll my eyes. “No, I didn’t come back here to ‘snort drugs.’ I’m not in need of rehab or any other kind of intervention. Well, I mean, yeah, I snorted the tiniest bit of cocaine off Kat’s stomach when she first came in, but it was such a small amount of blow, it hardly counts.”
Mom rolls her eyes. “If you’re not on drugs, then tell me what’s going on with you. You couldn’t even sit still during the ceremony. I googled it, and that’s exactly how people on drugs act—like they’ve got ants in their pants.”
“My problem isn’t a chemical one, Mom. Unless you count hormones as a chemical.” I sigh. “If you must know, I’m obsessed with a girl. She’s the reason I’ve got ants in my pants.”
Mom sighs with relief. “Is that who you came back here to call?”
I pause, simply because I’m the world’s worst liar. “Yes.”
Mom narrows her eyes. “Why are you lying to me, David Jackson?”
“I didn’t lie to you, mother dearest.”
“Dax, you’re the worst liar in the family, next to Colby.”
“It’s true. You are,” Kat says. She smiles proudly. “And I’m the best.”
“Wipe that smile off your face, Kitty,” Mom says. “You shouldn’t be proud of being a fantastic liar.”
Kat laughs. “Perhaps not. But I am.”
Mom says, “What part is the lie? The girl? The call? The hormones?”
“Okay, you got me, Mom. The truth is I came back here to ‘snort drugs.’”
“Just tell me what’s going on.”
“Nothing. I just needed to make a call.”
“Well, whoever she is, I hope it’s not serious. Because I think I just met the girl of your dreams ten minutes ago.”
“Oh, God, Mom. No.”
“Yes. That’s why I came looking for you. Because I want to introduce you.”
“Gah.”
“Yes, I’m fully aware you’ve got your pick of girls these days. That much is abundantly clear.” She rolls her eyes. “But from what I’ve seen, you’ve been surrounding yourself with women who kiss your butt. And that’s not you. You need a woman of substance. And I think I just met someone exactly like that. When I started talking to her, I instantly thought, ‘Where the heck is Daxy? He would flip out over this amazing girl.’”
“Who is she?” Kat asks.
“Don’t encourage her.”
“Her name is Violet,” Mom says. “She’s Reed’s sister and I’m just... What?”
“Nothing,” Kat says, trying to hold back her laughter. “You’re just the cutest, Mom. Continue.”
Mom eyes Kat suspiciously for a moment. “She’s very beautiful, this girl. The artsy type, which I know you’ve always liked, Daxy. She’s even got a tattoo and a little stud in her nose, both of which I know are your kryptonite. But the best part is she seems to be a very interesting person. Highly intelligent and kind. Reed was telling us about... What?”
“Who put you up to this?” I ask, crossing my arms. “Was it Rum Cake? Did he connect the dots and send you in here to punk me?”
Mom looks genuinely confused. “Ryan? No. Reed introduced his sister to our family just now. He said she just graduated from an art college back east with a degree in fashion design and that she moved to L.A. to become a costume designer and start a non-profit to help kids with cancer. So Maddy and I started chatting with Violet, and it turns out she designs superhero costumes for kids with cancer.” Mom looks emotional at the thought. “Reed said she’s been doing it for years, every single week, without fail.” Mom pauses, shaking her head. “Maddy offered to go to lunch with Violet some time, to show her around L.A., and Violet seemed genuinely appreciative, because she said she doesn’t know a lot of people here. And that’s when I started looking around for you, because I thought, ‘Dax is back in L.A. now. Maybe he could take this sweet, pretty girl to lunch.’” Mom puts her hands on her hips. “Okay, what? You’re mad at me for playing matchmaker? Is it because she’s Reed’s sister? Because, honey, I don’t see why that should matter. If the two of you were to hit it off and—”
“Mom,” Kat says. “Slow your roll, dude. I can’t take it anymore. Reed’s sister is the girl.”
“Kat!” I shout.
“What girl?” Mom says.
“What happened to swearing on our Wonder Twin powers?”
“Oh, Daxy, come on,” Kat says. “At this point, Mom is less of a liability if she knows the truth. God only knows how hard she’ll work to push you two together tonight if we don’t tell her, and that would be bad.”
Mom shouts, “What truth? What girl?”
I sigh. “Mom, the girl I’ve been obsessed with is Violet. She’s the girl.”
Mom furrows her brow. “But why would you come back here to a laundry room to call Violet when she’s standing out the
re?”
“Because I didn’t come back here to make a phone call. That was a lie. Violet and I came back here to talk and kiss. She left the room before me so nobody would notice we’d disappeared together—because we don’t want Reed to find out about us yet, if ever—and Kat found me in here and I’ve been telling her all about it. Happy now, you freaking bloodhound?”
“In other words, Mom, your son is a horn dog,” Kat says.
“Well, I already knew that. In kindergarten, he had three girlfriends, for Pete’s sake. That I knew of.”
“Mom, please. This is not a conversation I want to be having with you.” I glare at Kat. “Thanks a lot, Kat.”
Mom chuckles. “Oh, slow your roll, Dax. I’ve raised four kids before you—one of them Keane. Trust me, when it comes to boys and raging hormones, nothing shocks me anymore.”
I grimace. “Please, Mom. Move along.”
Mom tucks her blonde bob behind her ear. “It always amazes me any of you think you can get away with lying to me. How many times do I have to tell you kids: I’ll always sniff out the truth, one way or another.”
Kat and I exchange a look of pure amusement. As we both know, our darling mother doesn’t know half of Kat’s secrets and never will.
Mom says, “Now tell me, how long have you been dating Violet?”
“Dating? Oh, um... since... today, I guess. Officially. But I met her right before the tour. She’s the one I wrote ‘Fireflies’ about—that new song I played at the concert last night.”
Mom is giddy. “You wrote that one about Violet? Oh, Dax! You must really like her.”
“Swoon, right?” Kat says.
“Swoon,” Mom agrees. She clutches her heart. “Ha! I’m a genius.”
“Let’s not get ahead of ourselves, okay? This thing with Violet is brand new. I’m still figuring things out. So, please, nothing leaves this room.”
“Because of Reed? Because, honey, I don’t think you should worry about him. Reed likes you. And you come from a fantastic family.” She winks.
“It’s not just Reed.” I describe the situation regarding Caleb and my mom gasps and palms her cheeks.
“Well, that’s definitely a twist,” she says. “Oh, Dax. Ugh.”
“Yeah, I know. So, now you see why Violet and I want to keep things under wraps for now.”
Mom clutches her stomach like she feels vicariously ill for me. “What a... what’s the word you always say, honey?”
“Clusterfuck.”
“Yes,” Mom says. “Exactly.”
“So now you see why I don’t want you saying anything to anyone, okay?”
Mom puts her palm in the air and solemnly swears to secrecy. “But can I tell your father?”
“As long as you tell him he can’t... Actually, never mind. Yeah, you can tell him.”
There’s no need for anyone to muzzle my father. That dude wouldn’t tell anyone a damned thing about my love life, or any of his kids’ love lives, whether he’d been sworn to secrecy or not.
“Hey, if Mom’s telling Dad, then can I pretty-please tell Josh?” Kat says. “He won’t tell Reed. On something like this, his loyalty will lie with me and his beloved Morgans.”
“Sure, fine. Whatever. Just make sure he understands he can’t tell Reed.”
“He’ll be a locked vault.”
“Can I tell Colby, then?” Mom says. “When I asked him if he’d seen you, I told him I wanted to find you to introduce you to Reed’s sister, Violet. And he said, ‘Reed has a sister named Violet?’ So I pointed her out and, the minute Colby saw Violet, he threw his head back and laughed. And then he beelined straight to Ryan.”
“Oh, for the love of...” I mutter.
“Hmm,” Mom says, her mouth twisting adorably. “Now that I know what’s going on, I’m thinking Colby must have figured out you’re dating Violet.”
“Colby and Ryan know I’ve been obsessed with a girl named Violet since before the tour—a girl with dark hair and bangs. But they didn’t know Violet was Reed’s sister and Caleb’s ex.”
“Well, Colby’s obviously connected the dots and told Ryan,” Mom says.
Kat adds, “And I’m sure both guys have already told their wives, too.”
I’m appalled. “Why would they do that?”
“Because Lydia and Tessa were both swooning like crazy when you sang ‘Fireflies’ at the concert, and I overheard Ryan telling them it was about some girl named Violet. I can’t imagine the guys didn’t feel compelled to point Violet out as your muse. They don’t know she’s forbidden fruit.”
“Jesus Christ, this family,” I mutter, rubbing my forehead. “Look, it’s imperative everyone knows not to say anything to Reed. I don’t think he’d say anything to Caleb, but I’m not sure about that. I’m also not positive at this point Reed wouldn’t be pissed at me for messing with his sister.”
“I’ll make sure the Morgan Mafia is activated,” Kat says.
“We’ll all be a locked vault,” Mom says, winking.
I chuckle. “Thanks.” I stride to the door and open it for my mom and sister—the two women I love the most—more than words could ever say. “After you, ladies. I’m sure everyone is wondering where we are and I, for one, don’t want them finding out Mom was in here doing blow off Kitty’s stomach.”
Chapter 31
Dax
When I head into the party with my mom and sister, the pre-dinner cocktail hour is in full swing. I spot Reed in conversation with a group that includes the bride and groom. Across the room from Reed, Keane is standing, drink in hand, with the rest of our family—Colby and Ryan, their wives, and our father. And, lo and behold, Violet, the woman who gets my motor revving like none other, is sitting at one of the table rounds with Keane’s adorable fiancée, Maddy, engaged in what appears to be a particularly enthusiastic conversation.
When Mom spies Violet and Maddy together, she cocks an eyebrow. “Why don’t you say hello to your future sister-in-law, Daxy? You haven’t seen Maddy since she and Keane got back from Australia, right?”
Kat links arms with our mother. “Isn’t it delightful when the universe helps a brother out? Come on, Motherboard. Let’s go tell everybody all of Daxy’s salacious secrets.”
After my mother and sister are gone, I approach the table where Violet and Maddy are huddled together, but when I’m close enough to hear their conversation, it’s too cute to interrupt, so I hang back and eavesdrop.
“I love it so much!” Maddy gushes, looking at something on Violet’s phone. “Did you ever make the actual dress?”
“No, just the sketch. I’m just showing it to you because it seems close to the wedding dress you’ve described.”
“Close? Violet, no, this is exactly what my dream dress would look like. Would you send this to me so I can show it to salespeople when I go shopping with my mother?”
“Of course.” Violet swipes at her phone and hands it to Maddy. “Type in your number.”
Maddy starts typing. “I think it was fate we met tonight, Violet.”
“I think so, too. I truly think something like this sketch would be perfect for your body type and energy.”
“Oh my God, Violet. Will you please come wedding-dress shopping with me? I need your expertise.”
Violet lights up. “I’d love to. I’m actually kind of obsessed with wedding dresses.”
“I’m going shopping with my mom this week. My mom is heading back to Seattle on Friday, so she’s insisting we go shopping before she leaves.”
“You sure I won’t be a third wheel?” Violet asks.
“Of course not. And you’d be doing me a huge favor. If my mom gets her way, my wedding dress will be an exact replica of Princess Diana’s—only with poofier sleeves and a way longer train.”
Both ladies giggle. And my heart skips a beat. Clearly, this is a match made in heaven.
“Just let me know the day and I’ll make it work,” Violet says. “My new job hasn’t really kicked in yet, so I’ve got a prett
y wide-open schedule.”
Except that you’re going to be fucking me all week, I think.
I take a couple steps forward and greet the ladies.
“Daxy!” Maddy says, popping up. She lopes over to me and hugs me. “Welcome home. Sorry I missed your show last night. I was with Hannah for her last night as a single lady. I heard the show was amazing.”
“You saw the same show in Seattle. Welcome home to you, too. And congrats on the engagement. Let’s see the ring, sister.”
Maddy gleefully shows it to me and I tell her Keane knocked it out of the park, which he did.
Maddy motions to Violet. “Dax, this is Reed’s sister, Violet. Violet, this is my soon-to-be brother-in-law, Dax Morgan—my fiancé’s little brother.”
My heart swells. It’s been a long time since anyone introduced me in relation to my family, as opposed to saying something regarding my band. Growing up, I used to hate being introduced as Keane’s younger brother all the time, back when Keane was a star athlete and I was nothing but his introverted, longhaired little brother who skateboarded, smoked weed, and preferred shutting myself into my room to play guitar over being the life of a big party. But now, suddenly, being introduced as Keane’s little brother feels good. Like a badge of honor. Maybe even a salve for my soul.
“Hey, Violet,” I say, hugging her politely and stealing a quick sniff of her hair. “Nice to see you again.”
“You, too. Great show last night.”
“Oh, you two have already met?”
“Last night,” Violet says, her cheeks blooming. “My best friend, Miranda, and I were lucky enough to go backstage before the concert.”
“One of the perks of having Reed Rivers as your brother,” Maddy says.
“Actually, no, it was Miranda who arranged it,” Violet says. Her eyes flicker to me. “Miranda’s brother is the drummer for Red Card Riot.”
And the guy who called you “the one that got away” and hugged you like he wanted to fuck you. Oh, and then took me onto a balcony to tell me he still loves you and plans to win you back.
Violet smiles at me from underneath her lashes. “I loved that new song you played last night, Dax. It gave me chills.”