“A massive heart attack,” she whispered, shaking her head. “I can’t believe it.”
“Baby, I’m so sorry.” I leaned in close, kissing her temple. “Tell me what I can do. You need me to get the plane here?”
“It’ll probably be faster to fly commercial, but thanks.” She stroked my face as her eyes filled with tears. “What are we gonna do if we lose him?”
Losing my old man had been tough, but it was different for Cece. She and her sister were daddy’s girls. Losing him would destroy her. “Let me get on the phone, cancel a few shows, so I can go with you.”
“No!” She kissed me before curling her arms around my neck and holding me close. “Thank you for offering, but he’s in intensive care, babe. You wouldn’t even be able to see him.”
“No, but I could be there for you and your family. Do what I can.” Like make sure he gets the best medical attention millions can buy. That was one good thing about having money. When a loved one was in trouble, money was no object.
“I seriously love you for offering,” she said, touching her forehead to mine. “But I can’t let you cancel any shows. Think of all the people you’d be disappointing and—”
“I don’t give a shit about that.” It was a concert. My fans would get over it when they heard I had a family emergency. And Cece’s family felt like my family. They had for years, but more so now that I was in love with the girl and imagining a future with her.
“But I’d feel so guilty, tearing you away from your tour. And I already feel bad enough without piling that on.” She bit her trembling lip as tears chased each other down her cheeks. “I should have been there for him. I’ve been so wrapped up in my own drama I didn’t even see the signs last time I was home visiting, but there must have been signs, right? He probably wasn’t feeling well and didn’t want to say anything. Typical of my dad,” she said, rolling her eyes. “He didn’t want to worry anyone.”
“If it makes you feel any better,” I said, squeezing her hand, “I spent a fair bit of time with him that day and he seemed fine to me.”
“It’s his shitty lifestyle,” she muttered. “Eating whatever the hell he wants. Smoking. Drinking too much. Not enough exercise. Probably hasn’t seen a doctor in years.”
With the exception of exercise and cigarettes, she could have been describing me. I’d obviously have to start taking better care of myself because I’d never want to see my girl this wrecked over me.
“Babe, let me go over to your bus and grab you some clothes. On my way I’ll make a call, get my people to book you a flight out a.s.a.p.” I still wanted to go with her, but if she was adamant, I wasn’t going to argue. I’d just check in on her as often as I could and be ready to fly out at a moment’s notice, if need be.
“Thanks,” she said, wiping the tears off her face. “You’re the best.” She grabbed the sleeve of my hoodie when I stood up. “Seriously, I don’t know what I’d do without you.”
“You’ll never have to find out,” I said, kissing her hand. “I’ll always be here for you, baby. Always.”
Cece
Leaving Knox had been hell, but as my Uber pulled up in front of the hospital emergency doors, the only thing on my mind was getting to my father. Before it was too late. It didn’t look good, that’s what my sister told me on the phone. I hadn’t told Knox that because I knew if I did that would put the kibosh on his tour and I couldn’t do that. As much as I wanted him with me, holding my hand, the show had to go on.
I rushed through the sliding doors and approached the reception desk, giving the woman my father’s name. After confirming I was his daughter, she gave me directions to the intensive care unit and the elevator around the corner.
There were sick and injured people milling around the waiting room, as all the chairs were filled, but I navigated my way through, trying to tamp down my fear and frustration. On the elevator I took a few deep breaths and tried to calm down. Being a basket case wouldn’t help my parents or sister. I needed to be strong. For them.
I stepped off the elevator and saw my sister sitting in a plastic chair lining a wall in front of a nurse’s station. “Charli.”
She jumped up as soon as she saw me, rushing toward me for a hug. She looked ravaged, her jade green eyes red-rimmed and swollen, her porcelain skin blotchy from the tears, and her long strawberry blonde hair in a messy bun.
“It’s gonna be okay,” I whispered in her ear. “Daddy’s tough, you know that. He’ll fight to stay with us, sis.” That was one thing I knew for sure. He’d never leave his family without one hell of a fight.
“I know.” She sniffled as she stepped back, wiping her nose with a balled up tissue fisted in her hand. “I just…” She shook her head. “I never expected this. God, he’s always been so strong. I thought he was invincible.”
“I know, honey.” I led her back to her chair and claimed the one next to her. “Is Mama in there with him now?”
She nodded. “Yeah, she’s been out a couple of times, but there’s not much to report.”
“What do the doctors say?” I asked, rubbing her back. “Have you talked to anyone?”
“There’s not much they can say just yet. They’re still running tests.”
“Okay.” I drew a deep breath. “So, we wait.” I wanted to see him, but knew they had rules about how many visitors were allowed in intensive care, and he needed Mama now.
Charli leaned forward, resting her elbows on her knees as she covered her face with her hands. “This is a nightmare.”
“I know.” I was trying to be strong, but seeing my sister so shaken up was scaring me. She’d been here longer, had talked to Mama, and likely knew more about Daddy’s condition than she was letting on. That’s what we did, tried to protect each other, whenever possible.
“Did you drive here?” It was less than two hours from her home in Charlotte to Mama and Daddy’s in Columbia, but I didn’t like the idea of her driving through the night, especially in her state.
“Yeah.” She cleared her throat, sitting upright. “Gave me a lot of time to think.”
“About?”
“Moving back home.”
“Really?” Charli loved her freedom and independence, and moving back home, with Mama weighing in on all her decisions, would mean sacrificing both. “Why?”
“They’re not getting any younger, Cece. You’re on the road all the time. That kind of leaves me, doesn’t it?”
The guilt stabbed me, bringing with it a fresh wave of pain. It wasn’t fair for Charli to sacrifice her life so I could live my dream. They were our parents and I was equally responsible for them. I never imagined having to make these decisions so soon though. I thought we’d have another twenty years before we had to have these conversations. But Daddy’s heart attack brought the reality to the forefront. They weren’t getting any younger and they were going to need their daughters to step up and help them. No matter the sacrifice.
“Let’s just take this one step at a time,” I said, grasping her hand in mine. “The main priority is getting Daddy well. The rest… we’ll figure it out together.”
Charli nodded, but her expression was resigned, like she’d already made peace with sacrificing her life for the sake of mine. I couldn’t let her do that. I’d been living my dream for years. She hadn’t even had time to explore hers. She loved music as much as I did, but she’d had to be practical and find a way to support herself. If she’d taken the risks I had straight out of high school, maybe she’d be sharing a stage with someone like Knox now. But she was still young. It wasn’t too late for her to take that leap of faith. Providing she wasn’t at home playing nursemaid to our aging parents.
“I could never live with myself if we stuck him in some convalescent home, Cece. Not after everything he’s done for us.” More tears slid down her cheeks. “He’s been our rock—”
“I know. Of course, we wouldn’t even consider that. We’ll take care of him.” Even if it meant sacrificing my career and my budding re
lationship with Knox… I didn’t have a choice. Family came first and as long as my dad needed me I couldn’t leave him.
Chapter 16
Knox
My girl had only been gone twelve hours and I was already missing her like crazy. Every time we’d been on the road for the past five years Cece had been right there by my side. Day in and out, grinding it out with me. I hadn’t even realized how much I missed her until she wasn’t there.
I’d called up a replacement singer for her. Someone who filled in when one of the girls was sick. She was good. She knew the material and was a consummate professional. But no one could take Cece’s place. That girl was one of a kind.
Auden was hitting the road with Dade for half a dozen shows so he’d flown out to South Carolina. I’d called in a few of my buddies to fill the gap. None were opening acts. They were headliners, stadium tours, no less, but they were my brothers, and were happy to do me a favour, knowing I’d step up when they asked.
Reed Harris, the first one of my boys to join me, walked into the room like he owned the place. Charisma, they called it. Part of the package that made him a multi-platinum selling, award winning artist. But I knew he was just like me. A good old boy with a wild streak who got lucky.
“My brother,” I said, shaking his hand and drawing him into a half-hug as I slapped him on the back. “Can’t thank you enough for doin’ this for me.”
“Hey, you’re doin’ me a favor, man.” He smirked. “Sitting at home feeling sorry for myself, if you wanna know the truth. Hate not being on the road.”
Reed broke into the business a couple of years before I did. Women claimed he looked like a cover model: dark hair, hazel eyes, olive skin, and real muscles from ranching, not the gym rat kind. But he was as rough and rugged as any man I knew, and hated being on the wrong side of a camera.
“Oh yeah?” I chuckled as I picked up my guitar and started tuning it. “Why’re you feeling sorry for yourself? Latest song didn’t shoot straight to number one?” I loved busting his chops and he was always happy to give it back.
“Brooklyn dumped me.”
Our eyes met and I could tell the break-up hit him hard. He’d been with his girl a couple of years and everyone thought they’d eventually tie the knot. “Man, I’m sorry. Why didn’t you tell me? If this isn’t a good time for you to be here—”
“It’s the best time.” He shook his head as he claimed a stool across from me. “Everything in that damn house reminds me of her. That’s the last place I wanna be right now, trust me.”
“What happened?” I didn’t know if he wanted to talk about it, but I felt I needed to offer.
“She says I was disrespecting her with other women.” His laugh was more of a bark when he crossed his arms. “Do you believe that shit? Called me a flirt. Put me on warning. Said if I kept doing it, she was done. Apparently she was serious ‘cause she dumped me when she caught some chick slipping me her number at a party.”
Brooklyn was stunning. I couldn’t believe my buddy would ever be dumb enough to mess around on her. “Did she have reason to be concerned?”
“Hell no.” He grinned. “I’d never mess around her. Didn’t mean I wasn’t having a good time playin’ it up though.”
I assumed that meant he liked to flirt, but never intended to close the deal. I thought about how Cece would have felt in Brooklyn’s position. She would have castrated me, for sure. My buddy’s ex wasn’t wrong to demand better.
“You’re an idiot,” I said. “You know that, right? Brooklyn was—”
“The best thing that ever happened to me, I know.” He rolled his eyes. “My mama’s been spewing the same bullshit all week. Calling me a dumbass for not putting a ring on that girl’s finger when I had the chance.”
“You think you should have?” Reed wasn’t big on regret, but in his position, I’d have a few.
“I don’t know. Maybe.” He slipped his phone into his pocket. “Guess it doesn’t matter now, does it?”
“Have you tried to talk to her?”
He rubbed his eyes with his index finger and thumb. “Refuses to talk to me. Said I’d humiliated her for the last time.”
“So, what’re you gonna do now? Just give up?” I didn’t think I could. Even if Cece shut me down, told me it was over, I’d still have to find a way to get through to her.
“What choice do I have?” He closed his eyes, tipping his head back. “Not gonna lie, Knox. Hurts like a sonofabitch. Didn’t think I’d ever be here.”
Seeing how torn up my friend was over losing the love of his life, made me even more grateful I’d had the balls to step up and let Cece know how I felt about her. If she’d gone home to face the mess with her father, without knowing how much I loved her, I’d have hated myself.
“Maybe she’ll cool off. Give you another chance to—”
“To what? Hurt her again?” He swallowed and shifted his gaze to the empty stage. “I was such an idiot. Got high off all the attention. Loved having all those pretty girls flirting with me. Made me feel like more of a man, I guess. Knowing I didn’t need Brook.”
“Except you do need her.” That much was obvious. I’d never seen my buddy so messed up.
“Yeah, I do.” He pinched his lips together before scrubbing his face with his hands. “But I can’t have her.” He stared at me. “Probably one of the few things I can’t have… and she’s the only thing I want, man.”
I wished there was something I could say or do to help him. I considered Brook a friend, but I wasn’t sure running interference for him would help. When that girl made up her mind about something no one was changing it, and I couldn’t believe Reed had been stupid enough to test her.
“Enough about me.” He cleared his throat. “What about you? Still having fun playing the field?”
Cece was adamant we keep our relationship under wraps, but Reed lived in our world, he understood how important discretion was and I could trust him not to let anything slip. “Uh, actually no, I’m off the market.”
His jaw dropped. “You’re shittin’ me. Since when?”
“It’s a recent thing.”
He whistled. “She must be something special for you to commit. Is it serious?”
I nodded. “It’s Cece.” I knew that would say it all.
“Cece?” His smile spread before he shook his head. “Man, I should have known. Of course it’s Cece.”
I chuckled. “What’s that mean? You’re not surprised?”
“If anybody was gonna get to you I knew it would be her.” He shook his hand out. “Dude, that is one sexy little spitfire. A little too much like my Brook, if you wanna know the truth. Be careful, Knox. You best be keepin’ it in your pants if you don’t wanna lose it.”
I laughed before setting my guitar down and walking to the stage. I jumped up, letting my booted feet hang over the edge when I sat down. “Cheating on her? Not even an option. There are some things you don’t risk for anything. Cece’s one of ‘em.”
He eased off his stool and crossed the floor, his cowboy boots echoing off the hard surface. “You’re a hell of a lot smarter than I am, I’ll give you that.”
I grinned. “Coulda told you that, dumbass.”
His smile was faint when he said, “Take it from me, Knox. Do right by her, ‘cause you don’t wanna be where I am right now. It sucks.”
Even though it probably wouldn’t help, I intended to call my old friend, Brook, ‘cause it sure couldn’t hurt. And I knew Reed would do the same for me.
I was alone in my bus, scrolling my texts from my baby. I hadn’t been able to talk to her because she hadn’t left the ICU since she got there and all the machines prevented her from placing calls. She promised me she’d call just as soon as she could. In the meantime, I’d made sure the hospital knew Chee should get the best possible medical attention and I wanted all the bills for his care to come to me. It was the least I could do, since I couldn’t be there to hold her hand.
I sighed before scrolling my
contacts and finding Brook’s number. She worked for a promoter and she and Reed met when her firm was hired to market one of his tours. She’d done some work for me in the past too, so I was pretty confident she’d at least take my call.
“Brooklyn Taylor.”
I smiled at the sound of her voice. Clearly my number had come up unknown, which meant I was probably the last person she expected to hear from. “Hey pretty lady, it’s Knox.”
“Knox! It’s so great to hear your voice. How’ve you been? How’s Cece?”
Cece and Brooklyn became fast friends when she helped promote one of our first headlining tours. I knew Cece would tell Brook about our relationship when the time was right, so I said, “Uh, actually she’s not on the road with me right now. Her dad had a heart attack so she needed to be with him.”
“Oh no! I’ll have to call her, see if there’s anything I can do.”
“I doubt there is, but I’m sure she’d love to hear your voice.”
Brooklyn was a sweetheart, which made me question my buddy’s sanity all over again. No way would he ever find anyone better, who loved him more than Brook.
“So, how’s the tour going? I would have loved to work on it, but I’ve got my hands full right now, so they assigned it to Calvin, I think. He’s treatin’ you right though?”
Brooklyn was a Georgia girl and her sweet southern drawl always made me miss home. My mother was from Georgia too and Brook’s lilt reminded me it had been too damn long since I connected with my mama. I could only imagine what mama would say when she heard about me and Cece. She’d be booking the caterers and scouting venues, no doubt.
“Yeah, no complaints.” I didn’t get involved with event promo, but knew if the guy wasn’t doing a good job I would’ve heard about it from my team. Sold-out shows and happy fans were the name of the game and we had those.
Bad Habits (Nashville Outlaws #1) Page 15