Ash uttered a low whistle behind me. “Damn dude. I swear it wasn’t me.”
“Of course it wasn't. You’re not a traitor.”
I had done as Melody asked and tipped the pool boy a cool two hundred bucks. That greedy asshole had most likely gotten triple that sum when he’d sold our privacy to the tabloids.
My eyes skimmed the article, and a measure of relief flowed through my veins when I saw they didn’t mention Melody’s name. For now, she was safe, but almost eight years of being in the public eye had taught me that the vultures would keep circling until they swept in for the kill.
“HAVE YOU SEEN THIS?!” MELODY busted onto the tour bus soon after I got back from the coffee shop.
Red in the face, she waved around the offending piece of trash. I had planned to text her with a warning, but my phone had died.
“It should be illegal to snap photos of people without their permission!” she yelled.
“Technically that would be against the first amendment.” Ash withered under her seething glare. “Never mind.”
Guiding her to a seat by her elbow, I grabbed a bottle of water, unscrewed the top, and set it in front of her. Water splashed against the wall as she hurled it with an impressive amount of strength. The bottle bounced on the floor then rolled to a stop at Ash’s feet. Melody’s eyes widened, caught off guard by her own actions. A sharp cry of anguish escaped her mouth and she buried her head in her hands.
I shot a look at Ash and Noah, and they left us alone. I slid into the booth next to Melody, hating the fact that she had been dragged into the pitfalls of fame.
“I’m sorry,” she mumbled.
“No, I'm sorry.”
When she lifted her chin, she had black mascara streaked down her cheeks, but she still managed to steal my breath. “It isn’t your fault. We were careless and both got swept up in the moment.”
“Which I don’t regret one bit.” I wiped away the makeup with the hem of my T-shirt. “What I do regret is believing the pool boy was actually a decent human.”
“I thought you paid him off.”
“I did, but it obviously wasn’t enough.”
Melody groaned. “Just when I thought my day was actually on the right track, this happens and blows it smithereens. What if Marco sees these pictures? He will be torn apart.”
“Your name isn’t mentioned.”
“The pictures aren’t that blurry. Anyone with a half of brain can put the two pieces together and figure out it’s me.”
“Don’t worry. We are in this together.” Squeezing her hand, I wished there was more I could offer to sooth her nerves. “What did you end up doing this morning? Wait, let me guess: you laid around and smelled my pillow.”
Her laugher was music to my ears. “Gross, no. I went to breakfast with my dad.”
“How was it?”
“Good, really good. He apologized and said he was upset because my mother would have wanted me to have a fairytale and he knew Marco wasn’t my Prince Charming. It made me realize he was right. I was forcing Marco to be my happy ending when he wasn’t.”
My heart did a strange flip in my chest at what I was desperately hoping she was implying. “Are you saying what I think you're saying?”
As her head dipped forward, I didn’t wait for her answer before my mouth crashed upon hers. She sighed against my lips and opened for me. Tangling my fingers into her hair, I relished in the fact that from now on I could seek out a thousand different kisses from Melody within the course of a day—hungry, desperate, gentle, filled with love. She was mine to throw onto the mattress and fuck senseless, she was mine to wake up next to, she was mine to cook breakfast for and, she was mine to watch as she laughed as I drew smiley faces in the syrup. She was mine.
Melody let out a meow of protest as I pulled away and smiled. “We’ll finish that kiss later,” I promised. “But for right now we have a few things to discuss.”
Her bottom lip jutted out in a pout. “You’re no fun.”
“You have no idea how badly I want to prove you wrong.”
Our heads swiveled toward the bus door that banged open with a loud thunk. Melody’s sister looked pissed to high heaven and was followed by Ash. He mouthed an apology.
Jane pointed a finger at Melody. “Your dramatic exits are seriously getting on my nerves!”
She flashed her sister a sheepish smile. “Sorry, but when we were walking back I saw this…” Melody threw the magazine at her feet. Jane picked it up and thumbed to the marked page. Her lips moved as she read the article and then she laughed, actually laughed, as if our now public affair was funny. Did she not understand the ramifications? Probably not. Twenty-one-year-olds never did.
“Who snapped this photo? He sucks as a photographer.”
“That is beside the point. If anyone figures out that’s me, and/or if for some reason Marco sees this, I’m fucked. My career could be potentially be called into question, not to mention the authenticity of this documentary.”
“And your upcoming nuptials? Have you told Marco yet?”
“No, because I haven’t figured out how to ensure a young boy doesn’t potentially die because of my decision.”
Jane humphed. “You’re so dramatic.”
“It’s a dramatic situation!”
“Because you make it dramatic!”
Ash stepped between them and yanked the charm to the maximum level. “Ladies, let’s all take a deep breath and focus on what’s important: your love for each other.”
“Shut it!” Jane and Melody snapped.
Ash bowed out of their confrontation and stood on the sidelines with me. “I’m never having daughters,” he mumbled.
Melody’s phone jangled on the table. After a few seconds, it stopped and then started back up again. Snatching it up, her face paled at whatever name lit up the call screen.
“Excuse me,” she said. “I have to take this.”
Noticing her change in mood, Jane stepped aside and let her sister exit the tour bus.
As the door was about to click shut, her strained voice floated in.
“Hello Marco.”
I GULPED BACK THE NERVES fluttering like crazy in my stomach as his accent floated across the line, thicker than normal. “Hey! Are you busy?”
“Nope. What’s up?”
“Are you okay with not having fish at our wedding? Because the caterer’s fridge died and all of it went bad.” He chuckled. “I swear it’s one mishap after the next.”
Having been prepared for him to yell at me—or worse—it took me a minute to process his question. “No fish is fine…”
“Awesome! I’ll let the caterers know.”
My palms grew damp with sweat at the realization that Marco didn’t know about Sean and me. I should have guessed that would be the case, considering he didn’t read gossip magazines or troll the internet seeing how he considered it - pollution of the mind.
“Remember your flight is tomorrow morning at six. The lines shouldn’t be too crazy but…”
A loud ringing blasted in my ears, tuning him out. My heart beat widely and I felt as if I would throw up and pass out at the same time. Confrontation wasn’t my friend.
With a large gulp of air, I said, “Marco there’s—”
“Oh shit!” I heard what sounded like glass breaking. “I have to go, babe. A glass of water spilled on my manuscript and broke all over the floor. I’ll see you tomorrow!”
High off a surge of adrenaline, I peered at the phone in a daze. I wondered if I should I call him back or just get on the plane and tell him our marriage was off in person while also offering him an alternative way for his son to get medical care. I'd have to figure out what exactly that alternative was first, though.
“Melody?”
Sean's voice was hesitant, and I turned and smiled to ease the worry on his face. “Hey.”
"Is everything ok?"
"Fine, but I couldn't bring myself to break up with Marco over the phone. I'll have to fly
back like planned, and and tell him everything—that I have feelings for someone else, that I can’t marry him, and so on.”
“You can’t just text him or mail him a note?”
“That’s the coward’s way out, and I’m not a coward.”
The apprehension in his gaze grew. “When will you be back?”
“Monday evening.” I closed the gap that seemed to stretch between us and then planted my hands on his chest as my lips lightly grazed his. “Are you afraid I’ll change my mind?”
His eyelashes fluttered against his cheek as he looked down at me. “I don’t want to give you up so soon after I finally have you.”
“I’ll be gone for two nights. It’s a blip on the radar.”
“I’ll miss you like fucking crazy.”
It was unfathomable to me that Sean Dallis, the rock star splashed on billboards and young teenage girls’ walls was the same man who had turned my world on its axis, who had shown me what it was like to love openly, without fear.
Planting a kiss on my palm, Sean leaned his cheek into my hand and I felt his day-old stubble. “Are you sure you have to leave?”
I felt myself turning to mush under his puppy dog eyes, but shook it off. “Yes, I’m sure.”
“Damn. That usually works.”
“I’m not one of your floozies you can manipulate with your good looks.”
He grinned. “I’m going to have to learn some new tricks then.”
A shiver ran down my spine at the wicked gleam shining in his gaze. If we hadn’t had a mountain of issues to solve, I would have dragged Sean somewhere with a lock and a measure of privacy so we could figure out what those new tricks would be together.
“Are you guys done eye fucking each other?” Jane called from the cracked open window. “I need to talk to my sister.”
“And we should have a game plan before Matthew sees the magazine,” Ash said.
“Do you think if we pretend we can’t hear them they will go away?” I whispered to Sean.
“I’m afraid they’re like mosquitoes.”
Laughing, I stole another kiss to power me through the day and retreated back onto the tour bus.
ASH SCROLLED THROUGH HIS CONTACTS, trying to locate the number of a girl he’d fooled around with a month or two ago. As he remembered it, she worked for one of the notorious gossip sites and could be of help to get the pictures pulled. Problem was, he couldn’t recall if her name started with an L or a J.
I peeked over his shoulder and scoffed. “Seriously? Kinky redhead number two?”
“She was kinky and she did have red hair.”
“Woman have real human emotions, you know that, right?”
“Duh, but these women are also fully aware of what they are getting themselves into—a night of mind-blowing sex in exchange for leaving quietly in the morning without a fuss.”
Jane paused and looked up from her computer screen. “Plus not all woman are like you, Melody. Some women enjoy no-strings-attached sex.”
“Awesome. Don’t call me when you contract a venereal disease.”
“I won’t,” she said hotly.
Camilla and Matthew walked in on a fluffy cloud of bliss. Their laughter petered out when they caught sight of the disaster zone and Matthew almost kneeled over. Papers were scattered everywhere and laptops were propped on every available surface. The evidence of our lunch, which manifested as bags of chips and chocolate, was strewn about.
“I can’t leave you guys for ten minutes,” Matthew said, stepping on a wayward BBQ-favored Pringle.
Sean slapped his palm down on a stapler. “We kind of have of a 911 emergency going on.”
His jaw ticked and strained under the pressure of his teeth grinding together loudly. Camilla whispered a few soothing words, which seemed to work their magic. The tension left his shoulders, though his gaze remained narrowed.
“What is it?” Camilla asked.
“The press got ahold of some pictures of Melody and me. At the moment, they haven’t gone viral.” Sean glanced at Jane, who was keeping a tally on how many websites had the picture posted. “Right?
“Correct. So far, there are only five: TMZ, Gawker, Popsugar, The Dirty Scoop, and Celebrity Glitter. “
“Fuck!” Matthew cursed. “This is exactly why I didn’t want you two to get involved. You shouldn’t eat where you shit.”
I cringed at the crude analogy. “Gross.”
Camilla looked between Sean and Matthew as they stood engaged in a tense standoff. “Hey Melody, do you want to grab a coffee? There is a cute cafe down the street.”
I understood immediately why she asked; the guys needed to hash some stuff out on their own, without us girls around. “Sure. Jane, you coming?”
She nodded, packing up her laptop, and we ran into Noah on the way out the door. “I wouldn’t go in there if I were you,” I warned him.
His hand recoiled off the knob. “Why?”
“Matthew and Sean are having words.”
“I grew up with two older brothers. I’m used to it.”
Waving goodbye, I wished Noah luck. A few minutes later, we were situated at Starla’s Cafe. Jane decided to sit at another table to get a jumpstart on her homework for next quarter.
Sipping my water, I smiled at Camilla over the rim of my glass. “How long have you and Matthew been dating?”
“Our one-year anniversary is coming up next week.”
“Wow. Congrats.”
“Thank you. Our story wasn’t easy in the beginning, but I’m so glad we stuck through it. He’s the love of my life.”
“I can tell he feels the same. The man does not like being separated from you.
Her laughter sounded like a church bell ringing at high noon. “Matthew is intense, but I swear he normally isn’t so high strung.”
“Don’t worry about. My line of work isn’t exactly full of easy subjects.”
“What’s the worst you’ve had to deal with?”
“A baboon named Pinky,” I said, recalling the documentary I’d shot in the middle of the jungle. On top of it being almost one hundred degrees with one hundred percent humidity, my main star was a complete and utter diva. “She used to hoot and holler and thump her chest if I got too close. Baboons aren’t dangerous if you treat them carefully and respectfully, but Pinky wanted nothing to do with the entire film.”
“I remember that one. It was a fascinating inside look at the Chacma baboon population.”
“It was, and while I’m grateful National Graphic gave me the opportunity, I’m sticking to the human race from now on.” Remembering my manners, I switched the spotlight to her. “What do you do for a living?”
“I’m a psychologist and a playwright.”
“Have you written anything I’d have heard of?”
Camilla fiddled with her napkin. “I’m a small fish compared to you. My debut is happening on June first, but it’s just at a local community playhouse, nothing fancy.”
“That isn’t small at all. You have to start somewhere.”
She shrugged, not quite believing my pep talk. I had noticed as my success in a creative industry like filmmaking had grown, people got more shy about their own endeavors, as if they needed awards and a large audience to validate their worth. Each milestone was worth celebrating, though.
“I heard you’re hitting pause on your career for a while,” she said.
“I was considering it, but now that Marco and I aren’t getting married, I’m staying in the game.”
“Good. It would be a shame if you didn’t use your talent.”
“It seemed tempting to lie low, read a few of the books piled on my nightstand, and catch up on trashy television, but that isn’t me. My work is who I am.”
Camilla nodded as if she understood perfectly. “You’re a workaholic just like I am. Luckily I landed a guy who is equally obsessed with his job and doesn’t get mad when a patient calls in the middle of dinner.”
“Sean is the same way. I have ne
ver met someone who is so encouraging and supportive. It’s refreshing.”
“May I ask how you guys got together?”
Afraid of her judgment because hell, I would judge me too, I glanced down at the table and considered what to say. “Through a lot of resistance on my end and Sean’s stubbornness to prove we belonged together.” I sighed. “When Marco and I met, he was my nineteen-year-old self’s fantasy. We stayed friends long distance, and when he came to New York to visit, he swept me off my feet. The problem was the fantasy I concocted in my mind didn’t match with reality, but by that point, I was too far down the rabbit hole to escape. This documentary was my chance to get some distance. Falling for a hot-as-sin rock star wasn’t part of the plan though.”
“Love is never part of the plan. It sneaks up on you when you aren’t looking and upends your entire life.”
I grinned. “It sounds like you’re speaking from experience.”
“You could say that. I was in the dark for a long time before Matthew came along, and when he did it was like a light switch got turned on and I could finally see.” Camilla’s cheeks turned a rosy pink as she blushed. “Geez, how corny was that? I’m sorry. Matthew has turned me into a woman that should own a fainting couch and a fan.”
A giggle erupted from my throat. “Don’t apologize. After the past month, I completely understand.”
“Hey, Melody you should come see this.”
Looking over at Jane, my stomach bottomed out at the worry etched in the lines around her mouth. “What?”
“Just come here.”
“Is it bad?”
“Of course it’s bad.”
My eyes shut briefly as I gathered the courage to confront whatever was on Jane’s screen.
Camilla squeezed my hand, causing my gaze to land on her face, which brimmed with kindness. “You and Sean will come out of this together, and at the end of the day, that’s what counts.”
On shaky legs, I approached Jane’s table. As she tilted her computer toward me, my fingers gripped the top of her chair. She was wrong. This wasn’t bad, this was a level-five nuclear disaster.
Melody of Truth (Love of a Rockstar Book 3) Page 15
