I was against it until Matt told me it was his father’s idea. Chris Decker loves the place. He wanted to perform one last time in the place where he began both his solo career and his career as producer. Jacob interrupted his honeymoon and flew back the moment he learned this was our last weekend. Both brothers had spent years in the establishment scouting talent. Once I had the story, I helped organize the last call concert.
“We’re set.” I clasp Reed’s shoulder. “Enjoy the show.”
He nods and walks toward the stage where the Deckers are playing their father’s old stuff. The place is overflowing with fans, and I fear that maybe we let too many patrons inside. I don’t think we kept a head count as they started to arrive. I give a signal to the security guard at the door to make sure no one else comes inside, then check we have enough security inside. Mason Bradley is coordinating that part of the concert. He assured us that we had enough manpower for a regular concert at a medium stadium. According to Gabe, the man has rescued presidents, defused bombs, and even stopped big drug organizations. With that kind of recommendation, I decide to let my guard down and enjoy this night.
My eyes land on my girl, Thea, who leans against the counter, watching them play. I approach her, placing myself right behind her sweet, round ass. “You’re tempting me, Butterfly.”
She pushes herself lightly, as her upper body tries to straighten up. My dick hardens with the contact. “I’m not there yet, Coop.” She leans her head against my shoulder. “You know, I can’t remember having sex without alcohol, or having sex with someone I care about,” Thea whispers. “My therapist and I concluded that maybe I have to look at it from a different angle. A loving angle. The next time, I should take it as my real first time. Which makes what we’re doing a mistake, the wrong thing for my mental sanity.”
“It sounds like we’re discussing that you need a loving relationship with someone who will care for you and make love to you. Butterfly, there's love, lots of that included in what we offer.” I kiss her neck. “And we’ll discuss that part when it’s time. Let's start our future slowly. I'm sure Matt will be on board.” I can’t believe I just said that. That I’m open to discuss the possibilities. Her scent soothes me and I understand why. I love her. We can find a solution later, but tonight I’ll enjoy her body against mine. I hold her by the waist and sway with her as the music takes us over.
“I swear, there’s no pressure,” I repeat, as she trembles in my grip. Her breath quickens. If this were any other girl, I’d think she’s turned on, but something is wrong. I turn her around to see her face and she’s pale. “What’s going on?”
“Too many people, the music . . . the music,” she whispers. A throaty sob pinches my heart. “I hate that music.”
“You hate Dreadful Souls?” She nods, so I press her body against mine. She leans her head on top of my chest and I hold her tight. “Think that’s Matt playing for you, loving you. Not music from some old band. I have you, Thea. No one can touch you.”
Her body snuggles closer to me, and her breathing evens out as the music switches to Eleanor Rigby. Instead of pushing her away from my hold, I savor the feel of her body against mine and listen to our man play. She sways in front of me, her breasts brushing against me. As innocent as those movements are, my thoughts are anything but. Fuck, two weeks and I believe that we have to make this work. Maybe we do belong together.
“Encore.” The audience pounds the walls, stomps on the floor, and continues begging for more. Chris doesn't react, he just continues putting away his guitar. Two members from the security detail are the only barrier between the rowdy crowd and us. My first move is to check the bar. Thea is too close to this time bomb. My eyes meet Tristan’s who continues holding her, as he’s been doing all night. I tilt my head toward the bouncer at the door and then to Thea. He nods and takes out his phone.
“Matthew, AJ duty.” Jacob didn't have to say it. I was about to grab her into my arms before he spoke. There’s always been a method to our madness, but I guess, that’s part of the method. His line, so to speak. As always, he puts himself in front of us to cover her. Fuck, I don't like this. We've had our share of crazy fans, and we can take them, but our baby sister has never been involved.
“Get her over to Tristan and come back,” I tell Jacob as I search for Bradley.
“You two are overreacting,” Chris says as he places Jacob’s guitar in the case. “Mason is in charge.”
Mason Bradley being in charge isn’t exactly reassuring for me. In my experience, he likes to throw a few punches before absconding. However, Bradley has changed over the past years because of AJ. He’s not as aggressive. Man, we are growing up, aren’t we?
“Is this normal?” AJ stutters, her usual bravado gone.
“Nope, but I think tonight we have more fans than allowed,” Jacob lies, and I’m sure he's glad Pria stayed behind to babysit Gracie.
Maybe taking the sister out of danger now is the way to handle this. As I'm about to say go, Mason Bradley topples a couple of guys, breaking through the fan barrier, and giving me the typical stink eye.
“Good, G.I. Joe is here to save me.” I fail delivering a good joke.
“Let's go, Chris. Leave the equipment. I can't have my wife—your daughter—in the middle of a bar brawl,” Mason orders Pops. “If they break any instrument I'll replace it. My guys are ready. The cars are too. Now.”
Chris hands his old guitar to Reed, who without any trouble, squeezes himself through the sea of bodies and enters the bar, closing the door. Mason raises his hand and motions to several men carrying long black sticks who proceed in making a barrier between us and the emergency exit. Mason takes AJ and we follow. Tonight is an eye-opener. My skin prickles as the hands of strangers reach for us, pulling, tugging, while chanting our names. Our fans are usually great. But this bunch is loud, rambunctious, and drunk. Normally, I don't care, but worrying that Thea or AJ might be hurt has my blood boiling. We coordinated the event poorly, putting the people we love in danger. As I'm about to head to the bar, instead of the exit, one of the guards redirects me. Damn, I need to make sure Thea is safe. As we reach the black SUVs, Bradley helps AJ climb into the first one. Dad and Pops follow, and he signals Jacob and me to take the second one.
“Dude, I need to check on them.” I angle my head toward the Silver Moon. “I'll be fine, I can take care of myself. Go home and make sure my sister is safe and my parents are all right.”
He nods and leaves.
“Tristan was with the bartender chick all night. You know that, right?” Jacob scrutinizes my face and I’ve no idea what he’s insinuating. “Snuggling, kissing . . . looking a lot like a couple. Sure didn’t look like the guy is giving up his lifestyle for you, Matt. AJ told me what happened between the two of you.”
“I appreciate the concern, dude, but you have no idea what you’re talking about. Right now I have to make sure he took her to a safe place.” He frowns and as I'm about to walk away, I stop. “Her name is Thea, Jacob. And she’s more than a bartender—she’s my girl.”
His eyes have that intense big-brother look of concern. He crosses his arms and tries to act like he really has a few years on me. “What are you doing, Matthew?”
I lift a shoulder and give him a non-committal not sure yet smile, leaving him standing next to the car. With more time, I’d have shared with him a play-by-play of what’s going on. Right now, as everything is new and neither one of us has any idea of the direction we’re taking, I’d rather not say a word. Thea and Tristan did look happy, like a perfect couple already settled and in love. If I weren’t part of them, I’d accept it. But not only for the past two weeks, but for the last few months, we’ve been falling slowly in love with each other.
We have daily phone conversations where I talk with Thea until she falls asleep, or watch her through the camera of her phone during breakfast. Tristan and I do our thing. We’re building something where each one knows what the other feels and wants, where we want to make each ot
her happy. Maybe where we love each other too, or if not, we’re falling and not planning on stopping. It’s just a matter of finding a way to live in harmony with our relationship.
“Where is she?” I ask Tristan when I enter the employee room.
“I took care of her. She’s safe. On a side note, tonight isn't the best night to spring any relationship talk. She was stressed for most of the concert. Too many people and the music. Plus the confusion that’s stirring in her head didn’t help with the anxiety.” He runs a hand through his hair and leaves it on the nape of his neck. “I can’t give her up. I wouldn’t ask you to give her up because I know how much she means to you. Fuck, I had the best two weeks of my life, so this is hard. But I’m not sure what to do. I’ve seen her daily struggles. Mostly they happen when we talk about you, when I kiss her. She wants us both, but can’t fathom accepting us both. She can’t choose either. Matt, I have no fucking idea of what we’re going to do.”
I shut the door and lock it. “I don’t want to give up either one of you. Why can’t we all have each other?” I place my hands on his narrow waist and press my forehead to his.
“Fuck,” he swears as his lips press into mine. He reaches for the back of my head, his strong hand wrapping around my neck as his thumb traces my jawline.
My cock twitches as our kiss becomes a battle where we yield and snatch the power from one another. The kiss consumes us as our tongues fight the lust we carry. Earlier when I saw him with Thea, I wanted to hold the two of them so badly. Be Tristan, so I could have her in my arms; become Thea, to be held by him. But reason comes first. The urge to leave the place with my girl and my guy. Ultimately, I end the kiss instead of fucking him against the table as my dick wants.
“I’m in love with her, Matt.” He gasps for air. Our eyes meet for one second but he closes his eyes, leaning his head over my shoulder. His arms circle my torso. “So much, it hurts to think that she isn’t here right now.”
I see the raw emotion written all over his face. “Me too, and you know what, Coop? We have to take a step beyond what we all know. This isn’t a fucking love triangle where we’re fighting for the same girl.” I place my hands on his shoulders and push him away lightly, because I want to watch him as I say this. “I’m deeply in love with Thea, and I’m falling in love with you. I won’t give up either one of you. We can find a way to convince her that it’s possible, and make it happen. We belong together. She’s half of my heart. You’re the other half.”
Tristan sighs deeply while worrying his bottom lip. He seems to be contemplating my words, which fills me with both elation and surprise. Here I thought he would immediately shoot them down before the first sentence even completely made it out of my mouth. “We’ll try it your way, Matt. It’s wrong in many ways, but feels right in here,” he says and touches his chest.
I give him a quick hug and a kiss, open the door, and look toward the bar where our security detail continues to work on containing the crowd. “Is she upstairs?”
“No, I had no idea how bad it would get and I sent her to your place. Mason said he’d make sure she got there safely.”
My eyes bulge. We only had two cars. I snatch my phone out of my back pocket and fire off a text to Jacob.
MJ: Is Thea with you?
JC: No, did you already lose the girl?
MJ: Shit, she must be in the car with AJ then.
JC: Please tell me AJ isn’t in the dark.
“You sent her alone with my family?” I rub my face. “What the fuck were you thinking?”
“Hi, I’m AJ.” She looks at me inquisitively and then asks, “Have we met before?”
I stop breathing.
Does she recognize me?
A familiar feeling of foreboding comes over me. Dread. Maybe she’s seen me before. No, how would that even be possible? I already worried all night about the reporters that were at the Silver Moon for the concert. Now I have to worry about the Deckers knowing. My head starts to pound. I take off my baseball cap releasing some of the compression it’s creating. The air thickens and I want to get out of this car. God, what’s going to happen when they find out who I am? What I’ve done . . . My father will have a chance to sell some old story and make up several new ones. Sell me again.
“Thea.” My voice is a tiny whisper.
“Are you . . . are you okay?” she asks. I want to lie, answer yes, but I’m not. The memories are climbing out of their hidden place.
“That thing you did with Mr. Lambert, the kisses . . . Remember?” Mr. Lambert is the producer of Sophie Knows It All. Dad needed me to show him how well I can kiss so I could keep my job. I have to do it often, but it’s okay. Practice. As Sophie, my character gets older and starts dating. We’ve done it for the past year, but I don’t like that now he is trying to touch me. I want to tell my dad, but I can’t. He said not many girls my age were as lucky as I was. I nod at my father, assuring him that I know what he is talking about. “This time you have to do the same, Aggie.”
The way he’s talking to me makes me want to do whatever he wants. Today he loves me. Dad doesn’t love me often, but if I do what he wants, maybe he’ll stay that way for a longer period of time.
“Kiss him, on the lips?” I swallow back the bile in my throat. Kissing Mr. Lambert made me puke afterward. That is why I have to drink some of Mom’s Vodka. It makes it easier.
Dad tilts his head to the side as he fixes my hair and lowers my top so it shows more cleavage. “There, you look much better.” My eyes land on my breasts, which are getting bigger, and I fear I will pop out of the tight shirt. “Aggie, this is different. You’re growing up and someday Sophie Knows It All will end. It’s time for us to search for new roles, make sure you don’t end up like every other child star—jobless at twenty.” Dad kisses my cheek. “You understand, darling?”
“Of course, Dad. You and Mom depend on me to continue supporting the house.” I pull down my tight denim skirt that barely covers my ass. I am almost five nine and they fail to notice I need bigger clothes. “What do you want me to do?”
“Whatever he wants, darling. He might have to touch you. He likes to play with pretty girls like you.” Dad adjusts my skirt back to where it was. “He’s allowed to kiss you wherever he wants. Just be a good girl and do as he says and everything will work out. You’ll see.” He holds my face with his hands, but his eyes aren’t tender. They have that furious bitterness to them. “Take it as practice for any future auditions or scenes for when you’re a grown up. Your face and your body are what’ll keep that career going. We have to let them taste it before they buy it.”
I swallow when he touches the handle of the door that reads Carl Winston.
“Carl, it’s great to see you.” The heavy man sits behind a huge desk. He moves his gaze from his computer and removes his glasses to look at me. “She’s a beauty, isn’t she?”
Carl runs his beady eyes over my body hungrily. “Indeed, if I’d have known, I would’ve arranged for a different place and a longer length of time.” The man rises from his chair holding a white envelope that he hands to my father. “The NDA is there. Minors are a delicate matter. The script will arrive tomorrow at your house. I hope the check covers what we discussed.”
My father snatches the envelope and in a rush, pulls the papers and reads through them, then holds up the check. $20,000.
“This isn’t the amount we discussed, Carl,” Dad sneers.
“The movie contract is for two hundred. That check is for the next two hours. Pick her up on time. I have a meeting right after with Gabe Colt. I don’t want witnesses.”
Dad seems to accept that as he shakes Carl’s extended hand. “I believe we have everything covered. Enjoy, you’re the first.”
I hold my stomach and the tears as the memories of that first time finally push through the shadows of my memory. Nausea hits the back of my throat as I realize I’ll never be able to run away from my past. I move my bracelets and stare at the number, trace them slowly and remind m
yself that tomorrow is changing to two-zero-three-zero.
The driver stops the car, steps out, and opens my door. “We’re here.”
Where is here?
I’ve no idea where he’s dropping me off. We’re in front of a fancy skyscraper made out of steel and glass. This reminds me of the times my father would send me with the driver to whoever I had to visit. Where is the Vodka this time?
Don’t let anyone get near you. Stay strong.
I check the streets and sigh with relief. This isn’t far from the bar. I can walk back.
His gray eyes stare at me. “I was told to drive you here.”
I nod. The debate between leaving without a word versus at least saying thank you doesn’t take long. I turn my head slightly toward the back and look at Matt’s parents. My face heats up with shame as they both stare at me. “Thank you for everything.” Soon they’ll know, and I doubt I’ll be welcome again. Then I give a general scan and say, “Good night.”
“Appreciate the ride, sir.” I get out of the car and pull my phone to find the map app.
“Joe, the concierge, will open the door for you.” The guy taps my arm. I lift my gaze and I can see concern in his steely eyes.
I recognize Matt’s doorman Joe but head in the other direction. I just need to be home right now. Ignoring him, I take a second glance around. The cool night makes me shiver, and raindrops begin to fall. If I hurry, I might get home slightly wet, not damp. I check my phone and the map is set. I click start and Google Maps tells me to walk straight about ten feet before taking a left.
A sense of loss washes over me along with the rain. As the moisture blocks my sight, two male bodies flank me. My limbs begin to tingle as the air thickens, and my lungs are having trouble exhaling and inhaling. “Thea, you’re going in the wrong direction, sweetheart.” The soothing voice of Chris Decker speaks to me. “It’s almost midnight, and it’s pouring.”
Uncut (Unexpected Book 4) Page 18
