Even though this piqued my curiosity even more, I couldn’t give a shit what she was up to. And as if he knew I was close to dismissing this entire conversation, he blurted out, “We’re seeing each other.”
Shock.
If it were anyone else, my fist would have connected with his jaw. But this was Chris. And it had nothing to do with jealousy, more so betrayal. This man was like a brother to me.
“Say something.” What was I to say? This shouldn’t have surprised me. Every single damn insecurity that I felt the day she’d ended us came rushing back. Yet he fit the bill perfectly.
Mentally ticking off—money, check… social stature, check… good guy, check… race, big ass check. Chris Wilson was the kind of man Holly was groomed to be with.
He sat stone-still, and so did I. His chest rose and fell with each breath while he waited expectantly for my reaction.
But he didn’t get one yet. At my complete silence, I guessed he felt the need to further explain. “We really hit it off that night. When you guys were together, I never really got to know her. But things like this… they’re not planned. It kind of just happened.”
“You don’t owe me an explanation,” I finally said, meaning it. “It makes sense you hit it off.” Chris knew our deal, and now he knew I wasn’t an idiot to assume there wasn’t some sort of an agenda on her part. What-the-fuck-ever. She was now his problem. What I wouldn’t do was ruin a lifetime friendship over it. Forcing the ire out of my voice, I asked, “So how long have you been—” Fucking her, I wanted to say, but didn’t. Just the thought of him and her in that way sickened me. “Dating.”
“Since March.”
Five months.
The last time I came home Chris had been traveling. “You were with her in June?” I asked the obvious.
“Yeah.” He knew exactly what I was getting at. “She came with me to New York. I wanted to call you so many times. But Holly thought it was best I didn’t do so over the phone.” How noble of her.
“You must be spending a lot of time in Tempe.” His life was firmly solidified in Surprise, so there was no way moving closer to her would go over well with his own family.
“Yeah, it’s been hard finding time to be with her.” He lifted his beer and took a sip. “We’re… um… we’re talking about moving in together.”
It was insane. Selfishly, I wasn’t thinking of his happiness at that moment. What consumed me was the very real possibility that if they worked out I’d forever have someone in my life that I had been forced to cut out of mine.
Chris waited for me to look at him before he quietly admitted, “I love her, man.” That was worse than him just fucking her, because Chris was too good for Holly. But they say love is blind. And I really couldn’t fault him for something that happened every day, whether we were looking for it or not. However… I could absolutely fault her for choosing him… and no one could convince me it was a coincidence.
“Look, is it weird? Yeah. But you say you love her, and I respect that. Just be careful you’re not thinking with your dick on this one.”
“We both know that’s like asking the pope not to pray.” An easy chuckle came, tipping me off that he was thankful it hadn’t gone worse. “But it’s not like that with Holly. This is the real deal.” The conviction on his face was hard to ignore.
Regardless, I hoped he was right. Instead of harping on my reservations, I clapped a hand on his shoulder and said, “Then… I’m happy for you, bro.”
“Thanks. I was really worried, Cannon.” His gaze held mine for a long, emotional moment before he grabbed his beer and asked, “So why the visit? What’s happening with you?”
After the atomic bomb he’d dropped, I didn’t have it in me to tell him my news. This would be the first time I’d ever held anything from him, but then again it had taken five months for him to fess up to his truth. Eventually, I’d fill him in… but not tonight.
Gah… fuck… Chris and Holly.
I just hoped she wouldn’t ruin Chris and me.
Chapter 11
Cannon
Just as I zipped up my overnight bag, Liam busted through the door with a pizza in one hand and a six-pack in the other. “About time you came back. I got worried.”
“Actually, I got back yesterday,” I said without looking up while skimming through the mail that had accumulated when I was gone. “The rubber band on your apartment doorknob proves you couldn’t have been all that concerned.”
“There were moments I wondered of your well-being. Why haven’t you unpacked yet?” He nosed toward my suitcase. “Your OCD is slipping.”
“I repacked, dumbass. Don’t get comfortable. I’m leaving soon.”
“Why?”
“Flying out to Dallas a day early. Lori is on her way over.”
“Is this how it’s going to be? Always too busy to hang with your best friend?”
“Probably.”
“Well, maybe your hot agent will appreciate my kindness.” He raised the goods in his hands before setting them down on my table. After snagging a beer and a slice, he plopped on my couch to make himself at home.
“How about a plate and napkin? Get one drop of anything on that couch and you’re buying me a new one.”
His reply was to chomp down half the slice in one bite, and with his mouth disgustingly full, he asked, “How was your trip?”
“Interesting.” Having it bottled up since the night Chris told me, I proceeded to rehash the entire conversation regarding Holly. Liam knew the deal with her, and he’d understand my issue with her blatantly replacing me with Chris.
“Damn,” he said once I was done, pointing his pizza crust at me. “But that right there is the power of the universe working its finest.”
“What the hell are you talking about?” I helped myself to a slice from the box and bit into it.
Forcing me to wait until he not only ate the crust, but also gulped half his beer, he folded his arms and threw his legs on my coffee table in a shrink-wannabe pose. “If your dad hadn’t taken off eighteen years ago, your mom would’ve never left… where are you originally from?”
“Idaho.”
“I… da… ho?” he asked, his face scrunched up like I’d actually said Mars.
“Anyway!”
“Okay. Idaho.” He pointed to an invisible spot in the air to the right of his head. “Then Mom wouldn’t have dragged you all to Arizona,” he added, slicing his finger to the left, creating an imaginary line. “You wouldn’t have gone to Arizona State.” He drew another invisible line back to the right. “Nor would you have met Holly… gotten dumped… came to LA with your guitar and broken heart…” The more ridiculous facts he rattled off, the more he did that annoying thing with his finger. “You wouldn’t have played your ass up and down the state… gotten noticed by LRV… and you wouldn’t be five steps away from mega-stardom,” he finally finished after having created a demented zodiac pattern in the air.
We stared at each other, blinking in tandem. “And where do you fit in with the master plan of the universe?”
“Oh, meeting me was just great luck on your part. That happens. The universe’s way of throwing a layer of frosting on the cake.”
“You’re an idiot.” Just then the intercom buzzed, announcing a visitor. “Okay, take your pizza and leave now.”
“And so it begins.”
I moved over to the box on the wall and pushed the “Talk” button. “I’ll be right down.”
“Actually, can I come up?” she asked through the intercom. “I need to print something on your printer.”
“Sure.” With my thumb pressed firmly on the door button, I barked, “Seriously, Liam. Go.”
“Why are you so against me getting to know her?”
“Because I don’t trust you. Just don’t ask any dumb questions, okay?” I conceded, opening the door for Lori. A minute later, she appeared at the top of the steps with a smile.
“Sorry. The revised contract came on the way over, and
I really want to read it thoroughly on the plane.”
“No worries.” Waiting until she stepped past me, I closed the door. “You remember Liam?”
Liam was up and in her personal space in a flash. “Yes. Hi, how are you?”
“I’m great. Really excited for our boy.”
Lori twisted to look my way. “It is very exciting.” She leveled Liam with her stunning eyes, and I swear I saw the dude swallow. “I do hope you make the cut.”
Looking confused, Liam quirked his brows up. “Make the cut?”
“Friendshipwise. You’ll know if you aren’t all that important to Cannon fairly quickly,” she deadpanned. “It usually begins with the blow off.” A few torturous seconds passed where Liam stared back at her dumbfounded.
Knowing she was messing with him, I added, “I already added his name to the no-access list the label requested.”
“What the actual fuck?”
Lori cracked first, flashing a smile, and I followed with a good chuckle. “You both suck,” he grumbled before pointing a finger in her direction. “I like her.” Liam took the opportunity to step forward.
That prompted me to grab the collar of his shirt and steer him toward the door. “Okay, don’t get too cocky. I can make sure that no-access situation actually happens.” And with one final shove, I added “Bye-bye” before shutting him out of my apartment.
From behind the wood he called out, “No respect! I wanted more pizza!”
“Pain in my ass,” I grumbled as Lori giggled at my exasperated expression.
The rare sound of it stopped me in my tracks. God, she was beautiful. It wasn’t her sexy jeans or the knit top that molded over her curves. It was this complicated woman who could go from driving me nuts to making me hard within seconds.
Like a man possessed, I moved closer, and her full lips parted when I reached to tuck a strand of her hair behind her ear. But as if my touch was an open flame about to burn her, she jolted back a few steps, watching my hand fall in the space between us. Just like that, as quick as her guard had been dropped, it came sliding back up faster than a Roman soldier suddenly wielding his shield.
With each second that ticked by, the tension grew creating a hotbox that sucked the oxygen from the room.
“Um… let’s print out that contract or we’ll be late,” she finally said barely above a whisper.
“Yeah… okay.”
LRV’s corporate plane was like a living room on wings, totally equipped with a large flat-screen TV, the softest leather couches, and lots of mahogany tables between big, plush captain chairs in earth tones. Shit, I could seriously get into traveling this way. I guessed if I was about to have my flying cherry popped, this was the way to do it.
No sooner had we taken off than the flight attendant served our beverage of choice along with a gourmet meal. Lori chose the salmon, while I chose the steak.
“This is unreal,” I admitted after taking the last delicious bite.
“This is just the beginning.” She pushed her plate away before finishing her wine. “Are you ready for all of this?” That jackoff, Oliver, had asked me the same.
“I guess so. I really never thought it through. To me, when I imagine my success, all I see is an arena filled with people singing along with my words. I never picture the monetary stuff.”
“That comes with the territory. Most of it is amazing, but there are a lot of downsides to reaching success.” Her green eyes held mine. “You’re pretty grounded, though. You remind me a bit of Jack Lair.”
“That’s quite a compliment.”
“Talentwise you’re right up there. But what I really mean is Jack the regular guy… not the rock star. He is one of the most grounded people I know. His wife, his kids, his family have and always will be his priority. The man isn’t afraid to fight for them, stardom be damned.” She glanced down into her wine glass. “Having said all that, he takes his talent very seriously. He won’t compromise his music for any reason.”
It was hard to imagine that for myself. I wasn’t kidding when I said I never considered all the stuff that came with success. Having someone like Lori behind me, knowing she was just a gal from Jersey, made me feel better. I mean, what the fuck did I know about being famous? And obviously neither did she, but at least she was close enough to have experienced it through her friends.
“What?” she asked when I continued to stare at her.
“What did you do before this?”
“I was a bartender.” She reached for her bag and pulled out the folder of my paperwork. “Ready to review this?”
“No.” The raise of both brows at my curt response was immediate. “We have more than two hours left on this flight. You asked me to trust you, and I do, but I really don’t know you, except for what I read online. Some of it, I’m sure, was an exaggeration. I’d like to know the person I’m putting all my trust in. If you know all there is to know about me, then I feel it’s only fair I know you too.” The more I stared at her, the more she became uncomfortable. I couldn’t tell if the slight flush that tinged her cheeks was caused by anger or vulnerability. But, damn, I could look at her all day and never tire from doing so. And as I did, words to a song began to formulate in my mind. “You once told me you don’t play games, and if I had any questions to ask. This is me asking.”
When she saw I wasn’t budging from my request, she flattened her hands on the folder and released a resigned sigh. “Okay, fine. Since birth, I was raised in a place called Cliffside Park, New Jersey. As long as I can remember, my parents fought all the time. They are now divorced and living thousands of miles apart, which makes seeing them so convenient.”
“I couldn’t imagine not having a relationship with my mother and sisters.”
“You’re lucky. Being an only child, I spent a lot of time with my two best friends, Alisa and Leila. We were inseparable and still are very close. Our group of friends included four guys that we went to school with. Those four guys, along with Leila, started the band Cliffhangers.” She paused, but I remained silent and waiting. “They’d perform in a dive bar in Hoboken, New Jersey. The owner was Leila’s dad’s best friend, and he gave them carte blanche to perform whenever they wanted. Alisa and I began bartending to be around our friends. Every one of them had a passion, and since I had no idea what to do with my life, the money came in handy.”
“So you then became their manager and quit bartending?”
“Not exactly.”
She looked way out of her comfort zone, but I pushed for more. “Then how exactly?”
“Leila got a tip that Devil’s Lair was looking for a backup singer. They hired her the day after she auditioned. We were all thrilled for her, but Leila felt bad abandoning Cliffhangers. Her current band meant the world to her. The bass player is her brother, Evan.”
“Evan who is now with Devil’s Lair?” I had read the bass player for Cliffhangers joined DL after Trey Taylor quit the band.
“Yeah. Both bands are very entwined, being signed by the same label. And to boot, Evan married Jack’s sister.”
It was hard to keep it all straight, but I didn’t care about her friends. I wanted to know what made Lori tick.
“Anyway, being the type of person Leila is, she hated leaving her current band high and dry. She came up with a master plan to have Cliffhangers bring on a new backup singer, while suggesting I become their manager. First order of business for me was to get Cliffhangers on LRV’s radar. They liked what they heard and signed them.” She drained the last sip of her wine with a shrug. “So that’s how it all came to be.” There were a ton of holes in her story—her affair with Trey Taylor, her engagement to Matt Rizzo, her reason to pick up and leave everyone behind to come to California.
Not knowing if she’d give me another opportunity, and figuring it was now or never, I asked, “How did your relationship with Trey Taylor fit into all this?” A flare of surprise, or maybe anger, hit me square in the face like lasers. “I figured you’d rather me know the tru
th and not the gossip.”
Her eyes held mine steadily, and I would’ve bet my truck she was about to tell me to fuck off. Instead, she blew out a breath and said, “Just after Leila joined DL, I met Trey at a party DL threw to celebrate being signed. We were only together a few months.”
“You loved him?” I pressed.
“That’s none of your—”
“Did you?” I cut her off.
A battle of wills ensued until she finally admitted, “Yeah. I did.” There was no emotion behind her words, but her eyes spoke volumes. “He didn’t feel the same. It all worked out in the end. He met Tara, and I’m sure you’ve read that her death destroyed him. She was his person.”
I had read the couple had been in a motorcycle accident, and Trey had gone off the deep end when she’d died. Supposedly, he was now in rehab, and the band was touring without him. “What happened to them was horrific.”
“It was… the worst tragedy. He’s healing now, and I have faith he’ll be back with DL someday.” Before I could ask anything else, she rushed on to say, “Look. Trey and I were a mistake, but the only good thing that came of us was our friendship. I will defend him, help him, and protect him if the need arises. Regardless, he’s my past, and there isn’t any more to say on the subject.”
“And Matt Rizzo?” Apparently, her and Matt’s relationship had ended because Lori was still hung up on Trey.
All I got on him was, “Just another mistake that I’ve put behind me.” The finality in her voice didn’t deter me in the least. I wasn’t going to apologize for my pushiness, nor would I promise it wouldn’t happen again. For now, her admissions had definitely given me a better understanding on why she sometimes looked right through me. I was similar to the men in her past she wanted so badly to erase.
Well, Ms. Banzini… I ain’t going anywhere.
Back to business mode, she flipped open the folder and said, “So… the contract.”
Chapter 12
Lori
Liner Notes Page 8