Not So Wrong: Love Grows series, Book Two

by Regent, Renee

  I laughed and shrugged it off, extending a hand to the other woman in an effort to refocus the conversation. We exchanged pleasantries, and after a few minutes, I excused myself, citing my effort to locate Spencer. They let me go, immediately lowering their voices as I walked away. I could only imagine the gossip Aunt Margaret was imparting to her friend.

  I spotted Spencer’s broad shoulders from across the room, causing my thoughts to stray to a sexual fantasy I’d had earlier before my nap. I was leaving for Florida in the morning for a few days to check on Mamma, so tonight would be our last night together for a while. I had imagined all sorts of delicious ways to explore and enjoy each other. My thoughts of passion faded as I approached, listening to the conversation Spencer was having with an older couple and Gibson. I held back, not wanting to intrude in the middle of a discussion. I heard Gibson’s deep baritone, touched with a southern drawl.

  “This guy and Daris used to drive me crazy when they were young. Always trying to prank me. But I got ‘em back, every time.”

  Spencer shook his head, pointing a finger at Gibson.

  “We got you damn good a few times, but I have to give credit where it’s due—Daris was the mastermind. I was just his minion.”

  Everyone laughed, and the woman spoke up. I figured she must be related to Daris, possibly his mother, due to the resemblance. He had her eyes, her nose.

  “I don’t doubt it for a second,” she said, snapping her fingers. “I know my boy.”

  Her husband chimed in.

  “You two were quite a pair. I’m so glad y’all are going to be working together. That song is going to be a hit, I hear.”

  My heart leapt. If I could make a favorable impression on his parents, Daris might be more excited about working with us. I was about to touch Spencer’s arm, but Mrs. Avante’s next words stopped me cold.

  “He told us he introduced you to Quira. Her voice is perfect, and she has a huge following on social media. Daris thinks your song is going to be her big breakthrough.”

  Gibson added, “That’s great news, man. Congrats.”

  Spencer muttered, “Thanks,” and nothing more. I waited for him to correct them, to say I was recording the song, but he didn’t. I must have huffed out a breath, because he turned to find me standing behind him.

  My heart was pounding, not with passion or excitement, but with anger. Had this decision already been made?

  What the fuck?!

  The alarm in his eyes told me everything I needed to know. I turned on my heel and walked away.

  * * *

  Spencer

  Holy crap, I was screwed. Big time.

  I had been surprised by the appearance of the Avantes, thinking they were out of town. Gibson must have invited them to the party. I also had no idea they knew the details about our song. I cursed Daris under my breath as I followed the direction Melanie had taken. He had every right to do what he wanted, but his decision still pissed me off.

  Worse, I was pissed at myself for not telling her. Once again, I had tried to handle things my way, attempting to convince Daris to change his mind so I could would end up looking like the hero who got Melanie a record deal.

  Now all I had done was make the situation worse.

  I caught sight of her leaving through the front door, and I pushed through the crowd. Once outside, I saw her at the edge of the driveway, next to the wrought iron fence that marked where the yard dropped off to a steep hillside. She grabbed the railing with both hands and hung her head.

  My heart sank at the sight of her. Hurting her was the last thing on earth I would do, yet here she was in anguish because of me.

  “Melanie, I can explain what happened.”

  The look she shot me over her shoulder might as well have been a flaming arrow. It still burned me to the core, but I walked up behind her.

  “Go away. I don’t want to hear any excuses.”

  “I wanted to tell you, but I’ve been trying to figure out a way to fix this. Then I wanted to wait until after the party, until you were leaving for Florida, so you’d have some time to think it over on your trip.”

  “How thoughtful of you.”

  Her tone was acid, poisoning my ears. “The truth is, Daris loves the song, but he wants Quira to record it. I tried all week, calling him, emailing, texting. I hoped to talk all him out of it, but he’s not budging. That’s the only way he’ll produce the song.”

  She turned to face me, her arms crossed under her chest. Her dark eyes glowed with a lethal stare.

  “Quira With a Q? She’s barely legal, just a kid. He wants to make it a freaking pop song?”

  “I know, initially I was pissed at Daris and this lame decision. But for him, it’s a business deal and he has to make the call that will be best for his label. That said, I hate losing the vision we had for this song.”

  “You think that’s what upset me?”

  A cold sweat broke on my brow. The deadly calm of her voice told me this situation was about to get worse.

  “No, I realize I fucked up. I should have told you earlier. I’m sorry.”

  She moved closer, her hands balled into fists at her sides. If she hauled off and punched me, I wouldn’t flinch. I deserved that and more.

  “You knew about this all week and didn’t tell me. You let me walk around believing I was about to get a record deal, telling anyone who would listen about how bright my future was. I was finally going to get my big break. Now I learn everyone else knows the truth but me. Why would you do that to me, Spencer?”

  “I’m sorry. I was trying to fix it so I wouldn’t have to disappoint you.”

  I tried to put my hands on her arms, but she pulled away. Her dark eyes held the fire of her anger, her tight lips indicated her disgust.

  “Too late. But I’m glad I found out the kind of man you really are.”

  I watched her walk back into the house, her head held high. Those last words had cut me, and I deserved every slice. My intentions may have been pure, but my execution could not have been worse. I considered running after her, but what else could I say?

  I decided to give her a few minutes to cool down and myself some time to figure out how to salvage our relationship.

  Because even though this song had become a wedge between us, I loved her. I had a feeling she loved me, or had been close to it before I ruined everything. There had to be a way to win her back.

  But Melanie had been close to giving up on her career for so long. Had I just pushed her over the edge? Was there any way she would forgive me?

  And if she didn’t, was there any way I’d ever forgive myself?

  * * *

  Melanie

  Hot tears stung my eyes, but I blinked them back. No way was I going to cry. It was more anger than sadness causing my reaction, but humiliation was a close second. To think I was no closer to success than I had been a month ago, was so unfair. It was typical of how the world worked, for people like me, at least.

  I found Sacha and Gibson on the patio, talking with his mother. Angela was beaming, having the time of her life, no doubt. I hated to be a downer, but I desperately needed to talk to my best friend. Fortunately, just as I entered their circle, Gibson’s father, John Colebank, appeared and took Angela’s arm.

  “I’m sorry to interrupt, but I’ve a potential client here who wants to pay his respects to the Birthday Girl.”

  I plastered on a smile, hoping to hide my agitated state.

  “As do I. I hope you’re having a blast, Mrs. Colebank.”

  She moved closer, taking my hand in both of hers.

  “Oh, indeed I am. And it’s so nice to see you again, Miss Melanie. You and Spencer make such a cute couple.”

  “Thank you.”

  It was hard to say those words, pretending they were true. I no longer felt like part of a “cute couple,” but apparently, we had been the talk of the party.

  Sacha touched my arm as Angela and John left.

  “What’s wrong?”

>   Her sixth sense worked well where I was concerned. I let out a long sigh, wondering how to tell her what I was feeling.

  “Spencer is an ass.”

  Sacha glanced at Gibson, who mouthed the words, “Uh-oh.” Then she looked back at me.

  “What did he do?”

  “It’s what he didn’t do. He failed to inform me the decision had been made earlier this week to have someone else record our song. Daris is not interested in me at all. Not as a singer and certainly not my band.”

  “Oh, Mel, I’m so sorry.”

  She hugged me, and my emotions felt perilously close to the surface. I squelched them down, wanting to remain calm. If I gave any indication of how disappointed I was, that the man I thought I was in love with had let me down, my tears would flow like the waterfall that ran so elegantly over a stone wall into the Colebank’s pool.

  Gibson shook his head and patted my shoulder.

  “I’m sorry too. That boy has always had trouble when it came to dealing with bad news. I’m not surprised, unfortunately.”

  Now my curiosity was piqued. What was it that caused a kind, generous man like Spencer to screw things up so badly?

  “Gib, if you don’t mind my asking, why do you and Spencer not get along? What did he do to you?”

  His normally placid face went dark. He rubbed the beard along his jawline, stalling his answer. Then he looked at me, his blue eyes narrowed.

  “Let’s just say he’s got some things he needs to make amends for. Until he does that, color me skeptical.”

  He walked away, and I had a feeling I knew who he was seeking. I stood there, still trembling with the aftermath of rage and humiliation. I looked at Sacha, and she took my arm in hers.

  “C’mon. We both need a break from this party. I have another cute guy in mind, who happens to adore you.”

  “Jono?”

  I was right, of course. At least now we were laughing. As we walked into the house, I kept an eye out for Spencer, but he was nowhere in sight. There really wasn’t much else to say to him, anyway.

  I had been so wrong about him, about our song, and about my life.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Spencer

  After the disaster with Melanie, I headed straight for the bar. I was downing my second scotch when someone tugged at my sleeve. I turned to find Gibson watching me with an expectant look on his face.

  “Yes? Something you need?”

  I was in no mood for his snide remarks or pointed comments. I was desperately trying to think of something to say to Melanie to make things right, and I had no patience for family drama.

  “We need to talk, dude.”

  “Can it wait ’til later? I’m having a rough night.”

  “That’s why I’m here. Follow me.”

  He turned, and I set my scotch on the bar and followed. He led me to Uncle John’s office and shut the door. I stood near the window, looking out. This was the last place I wanted to be. I stayed silent, waiting for him to tell me what this was about.

  “Spencer, I know we haven’t always been close. But you have to know this family cares about you.”

  “You’re correct on both counts.”

  I turned to him, leaning against the desk. He paused a moment and then pointed at me.

  “You need to learn to tell the truth. Even when it hurts to do so.”

  “And you’re the authority on this because…?”

  “Because I was guilty of it myself, and I nearly lost the woman I loved. I don’t want to see you make the same mistake.”

  “Thanks for your concern, but I’ve got this.”

  I moved to leave the room, but he blocked me. He was a few inches taller than me, but we had come to blows more than once when we were young, and I’d held my own. I didn’t want it to come to that now, but I didn’t need his lecture.

  “No, you don’t. I see you headed down the same path I was, before I met Sacha. My guilt over what happened with Bianca and the baby nearly consumed me and colored every decision I made. Or failed to make.”

  Where was he going with this?

  “Melanie and I had an argument. I’ll tell her how sorry I am. I’ll find a way to make it up to her. So, let me go attend to that, okay?”

  Again, I tried to get past him but he grabbed my arm. I pulled away, giving him a stare that I hoped conveyed the warning that I was not going to let him bully me.

  “What about the Avantes? Are you going to apologize to them too?”

  My blood turned to ice in my veins. He really did know. I hadn’t imagined it. But I had to be sure.

  “For what?”

  “For letting your buddies destroy their house and steal their car. And what about Daris? He got the worst end of that deal, didn’t he?”

  Heat flared up my spine, a flash of lighting that singed the last bit of my patience.

  “You don’t know what you’re talking about. How would you know what happened that night? You weren’t there.”

  He had to be testing me, bluffing. He had to be.

  “But I do know. I had worked on their hot tub earlier that day, since they were out of town. I replaced the heating element. When I came back later that night to check on it, there was a ton of cars and kids there, so I sat in my truck in the dark, watching. I was debating on whether to call the Avantes or the police, when I saw the garage door open, and three kids I didn’t recognize driving Mr. Avante’s vintage 1958 Corvette down the driveway. When they burned rubber and took off, I knew what I had to do.”

  I slumped into a nearby chair. There was no denying this story. I didn’t even look at him but stared at the floor as vivid images of that night were resurrected from where I had buried them in my mind.

  “You called the cops.”

  “I had no choice. I waited until the police arrived. Some punk who answered the door let them in, but a minute later, I saw you sneaking out the side door with your little girlfriend. You both ran down the street, escaping punishment while Daris took the fall for having drugs and underage drinking in his parent’s house. Not to mention how they trashed the place, including doing cannonballs or some such shit into the hot tub, breaking it beyond repair.”

  I put my head in my hands and rubbed my face hard.

  “Okay, I was an idiot. In my defense, I was only seventeen and going through some shit. Plus, you know what else happened that night.”

  His voice lost its accusatory tone and softened.

  “I do know. And I’m still sorry for your loss, our loss. But that doesn’t excuse what you did.”

  I sat stunned, numb. Memories were flashing through my mind like a psychedelic drug-induced mind trip.

  “I know, but my dad’s accident devastated me. By the time I was able to think of dealing with the mess I’d caused, too much time had gone by. I thought it would only make things worse for everyone to bring it up. So, I kept quiet.”

  My last words almost came out in a sob. I was on the verge of embarrassing myself. Gib squatted down in front of me, looking me in the eye.

  “I will never be okay with what you did, seventeen or not. But I know you’re basically a good person who did something foolish. What happened has to be eating you up inside. I wasn’t able to make amends to Bianca, but you can face the people you hurt and ask for forgiveness. Trust me, it will do you more good than any harm it may do to them.”

  He was right. For once, my archnemesis cousin seemed to be trying to help me. Maybe he had been all along. I had been so wrapped up in my own internal drama, I hadn’t listened.

  “If you knew about this, why haven’t you said something, confronted me? Have you told anyone else?”

  “No. I kept hoping you’d come around. Plus, it wasn’t my place to tell them. That’s all you, man.”

  I stayed silent for a moment, pondering his words. Perhaps I had been more to blame for our falling out than I had been willing to admit. But that still didn’t solve my immediate problem.

  “Daris and I made a pact. I p
romised to do whatever he wanted, whenever he needed me. He was the one who convinced me not to tell his parents about my role in the mess. He was a better friend to me than I was to him. So, I can’t really argue with him about what he wants to do with the song. But that means I had to choose between honoring my commitment to him and disappointing the woman I love.”

  Gib whistled softly.

  “That sucks, man. But if she loves you back, she’ll come around. Especially if you’re honest with her. What have you got to lose at this point?”

  What, indeed. My response was barely above a whisper.

  “Everything. She’s more important to me than anything else.”

  His eyes crinkled at the edges as he smiled.

  “Then go get her. Don’t let her leave until you’ve tried your best.”

  I rose, anxious to do my best. It was time to face the music, even if that was an ironic analogy.

  “Thanks, Gibson.”

  We shook hands and I left the room. A milestone had been reached with our truce. I had about a thousand more to go.

  * * *

  Melanie

  I hugged Sacha goodbye as the valet brought my car. This time I shed a tear or two, and so did she.

  “Drive carefully and call me when you get to the hotel.”

  “I will. And thanks again, but you didn’t have to do that.”

  “It’s my parting gift. Otherwise, I wouldn’t sleep, worrying about you driving so late.”

  “I’m a night owl, remember? But I appreciate it.”

  She’d booked me a room at a hotel in Macon, Georgia, the only large-ish city on my route to Florida. It wasn’t far into my drive, maybe an hour or more, but it would give me a chance to rest and regroup before getting home.

  And a chance to cry my eyes out.

  As I drove through the darkness, I mourned. Not only the loss of my career, the separation from my band and good friends, but for us. Spencer and me. We had something special, a connection I’d not found with anyone else. His duplicity had stung. Just as I was beginning to trust him, he’d let me down.