Fine By Me: Chaos Novella (A Songbird Novel)

by Melissa Pearl

  “She’s at the police station.” He patted my arm with a smile. “Come on, I’ll drive you over.”

  “I’ll stay with Gav.” Ralphie raised his eyebrows at me and took a seat.

  Rushing out the door, I barely acknowledged my family as I chased after Marcus and Kelly.

  She squeezed my arm with a relieved smile. “I don’t even know this girl and my body is pulsing with relief. I’m so glad they found her.”

  “Did they say anything?” I willed the elevator to move faster as we descended down to the garage.

  “Just that she was in for questioning.” Marcus rubbed a thumb over his phone screen.

  “Questioning?” Confusion hampered my joy.

  “I don’t know all the details, man, but I think it got pretty grizzly. The guy who kidnapped her is dead.”

  I closed my eyes and braced myself against the elevator wall. “Oh shit.”

  “But she’s safe and alive. Just focus on that.”

  “She’ll be a shaken wreck,” I muttered to the ceiling.

  “And you’ll be there to hold her.” Kelly gave me a pointed look, warning me not to fall apart, silently demanding that I be the oak tree Jenna needed.

  Standing tall, I swallowed and nodded at her.

  She didn’t need to worry about that. I’d be whatever Jenna needed to get through this.

  27

  Jenna

  The interview room was gray and sterile. Its straight lines and sharp corners made me nervous. Even though I hadn’t committed a crime, being in there almost made me feel like I’d pulled that trigger.

  The police officers had been very nice to me. I wasn’t under arrest, they just wanted to get their facts straight and needed a quiet place to record my statement in.

  After the paramedics arrived on scene and cleaned me up, the police bundled me into their car and drove me back to the station.

  I hadn’t been able to stop shaking since Seth had killed himself.

  His blood was on my face and clothes.

  Wrapping the scratchy blanket a little tighter around myself, I waited for the female officer to come back with a clean T-shirt for me.

  I just wanted a hot shower…a warm bed…for this nightmare to never have happened.

  Closing my eyes, a new tear slipped free. It trailed down my face, a lonely sign of the desolate feeling in my chest.

  It was over.

  Seth was dead.

  My living nightmare could never touch me again.

  But he died on top of me. His blood was splattered on my skin.

  My lips formed a wonky line as another sob trembled my belly. Holding my head in my hand, I leaned against the table and fought the nausea.

  How long would those images torment me?

  A knock at the door made me flinch.

  I glanced up, slashing the tear off my cheek and trying to put on a brave face for the officer.

  But it wasn’t an officer who walked through the door.

  The person carrying the fresh white T-shirt was an agonized-looking Jace.

  He took one look at me and tears filled his eyes.

  My face crumpled, my own tears taking me out as I stood from my chair and shuffled around the table. His arms spread wide before I reached him and then they were around me. He cradled the back of my springy curls, pressing his cheek against my forehead and holding me the way I needed him to.

  His strong arms told me that nothing would hurt me. He’d carry me home and tuck me in beside him. I’d fall asleep in his haven just the way I wanted to.

  I sniffed against his chest and clutched his shirt, letting my tears flow unchecked as I thought back over my day. It would start and end the same way—with safety.

  And that middle part—that mind-numbing terror and fight for life—would redefine me.

  Because for the first time ever, I didn’t let Seth own me.

  I fought, I ran, I did everything in my power to get away from him.

  Ultimately I won.

  Even though I hated the way it ended, I’d proved something to myself without even meaning to.

  I was stronger than I thought I was.

  And even though I would happily take Jace’s protection for the rest of my life, it felt good to know that I had a little guts too.

  The spunky girl who sang at her parents’ wedding was coming back to life. But in a different way. I’d be stronger than I ever was.

  I’d be Jenna Aleesha Smith—the girl my sister wanted me to be.

  28

  Jace

  I couldn’t stop playing with Jenna’s curls as she sat beside me on my parents’ couch.

  It had been less than twenty-four hours since Seth tried to steal her, and we were all still a little shaken. Practice was postponed that day. All we felt like doing was hanging out at my parents’ house.

  The barbecue was fired up and Ralphie—with a lot of help from Ronnie—was manning the meat. Nessa was passing out drinks while Fliss was in the kitchen with Mom.

  Kelly stood by the table with Flick, arguing about his choice of tuxedo for his upcoming wedding, while Gavin sat in the lounger adjacent to them and bulged his eyes at me.

  “You can’t possibly wear a pale blue tux to your wedding.”

  “Why? It’ll be funny. It’s retro.”

  “It’s powder blue! It doesn’t even suit your skin tone. You are not wearing that.”

  Flick crossed his arms and gave her a pointed look. “This isn’t your wedding, sweetness. You don’t get to decide.”

  With an exaggerated eye roll, Kelly tossed her dark locks over one shoulder and met him head-on. “I grew up in a fashion family, okay. I know a thing or two. Now, for the sake of the woman you love, do not turn this wedding into a joke. You can be an idiot at the reception, but at least show a little class for the ceremony.”

  “She’s right, man.” Marcus popped a chip in his mouth and winked at his wife.

  Her grateful smile was dazzling.

  Flick stuck out his tongue, then glared at our band manager. “You are so whipped.”

  “Dude, I am married to the most beautiful, intelligent woman on the planet. I don’t care what the hell you think I am.”

  Jenna snickered and glanced up to catch my eye.

  For a second all I could see was her beat-up face.

  The bruises were dark and nasty, mottling her smooth skin. The swelling on her right cheek gave her an exaggerated cheekbone, but she was still beautiful. Because she was my woman.

  I softly brushed my lips across her nose—it was about the only unscathed part of her—before smiling.

  Kelly and Flick’s bickering faded into the background as we sat there caught in a silent conversation. It was the standard stuff we’d no doubt be saying for a long time to come…

  I’m so glad you’re safe.

  I’m so glad I’m here with you.

  I love you.

  With a gentle smile, she nestled against my shoulder and the world came back into focus.

  “Ugh, can you please stop arguing about the wedding!” Fliss walked into the room, slapping Flick’s butt before draping her arm across his shoulders. “Kelly, never fear, that blue tux is not seeing the light of day.”

  “What?” Flick’s voice pitched high.

  Fliss grinned and kissed his cheek. “Come on, you know it’s up to the woman to arrange the wedding.”

  “That’s bullshit,” he countered, obviously missing the fact that his fiancée was teasing him.

  “I still think you guys should forget some formal shindig and just get married on a beach somewhere.” Nessa walked into the room with a tray of drinks.

  She set them down on the coffee table while Jenna murmured wistfully, “The beach.”

  Nessa caught her eye and grinned. “The beach. She gets it.” Nessa pointed at Jenna. “We should totally go to a beach.”

  “We should,” my girlfriend replied. “I’d like nothing better than to disappear to some remote island for a few weeks. Sun,
sand, salty water. It’d be bliss.”

  “So, let’s do it, then.” I looked to Marcus, silently asking if he could score Chaos a little holiday.

  He paused with the chip halfway to his mouth. “Uh…”

  “That is such a great idea.” Kelly sat down on the arm of his chair, nudging his elbow with her hip. “We should go to that place Nixon and Charlie visited. You know, the photos she posted of that beach with the crystal-clear water.”

  “Where was that again?” Nessa rested her stump on her hip. “Hey, Jimmy, babe. Where did Charlie and Nixon go?”

  “Huh?” He walked into the room with a beer bottle in his hand. “What are we talking about?”

  “A beach vacation.” She wiggled her eyebrows at him.

  “Lovin’ the sound of that. You looking hot in a string bikini, me all buff and brilliant in the sunshine.” He sidled up beside her, threading his arm around her waist and drawing her in for a kiss. She giggled against his mouth.

  “Who are Charlie and Nixon?” Jenna whispered in my ear.

  I briefly explained, pulling out my phone to bring up their YouTube channel and Instagram feed. She grinned at the pictures, taking the phone off me to scroll through them. The photos were kind of outstanding. Those two certainly made traveling the world look damn appealing.

  “I’m not sure when I can swing something like that for you guys.” Marcus pulled out his phone and checked an app. “You’re kind of booked up until after this next album is recorded.”

  “We could fit in a break while the editors are finishing the mixes, then be back stateside for the release,” Jimmy suggested before taking a pull from his beer.

  “That’s a great idea. We could even push a little harder to get through the workload so we could leave earlier.” Nessa glanced over her shoulder to look at Flick.

  He bobbed his head in thought, then glanced down at his girl. “Hey, you want to get married on a beach?”

  “You serious?” Her bright eyes sparked with excitement.

  “Yeah, why not?”

  “Uh, because her family will need to be there.” Marcus raised his eyebrows at her. “Mom and Dad will be gutted if their only daughter elopes.”

  “No they won’t. We can have a celebration party when we get back. Hell, we’ll get married twice, but how cool would the first one be if it was on a beach.” Her smile was dreamy as she pressed her lips to Flick’s.

  Marcus groaned and tipped his head back while Kelly giggled and started stroking his blond hair.

  Ralphie and Ronnie walked in with a platter of meat.

  Flick grinned at him like he’d just won the lottery. “Hey, dude, we’re eloping to…”

  “Bali.” Jenna held up my phone, showing off Charlie’s stunning photo of a white sandy beach, crystal-clear water and not a soul in sight.

  “Wanna come?” Flick grinned when Ralphie let out a whoop.

  “Hells yeah!”

  Ronnie laughed and jumped beside him while Jenna passed me back my phone and the world went out of focus again.

  I drank in her beautiful brown gaze and quickly understood that I could be anywhere with this woman and be the happiest man alive.

  Epilogue

  Jenna

  The white sand beneath my feet was cool and delicious.

  Gazing up at the moon, I wrapped my arms around myself and felt the peace flow right through me.

  We’d been at a private resort in Bali for just under a week. Flick and Fliss got married that afternoon in a sun-drenched ceremony near the water.

  Flick was in shorts and bare feet, his white shirt flying open in the wind.

  Fliss looked stunning in a pale blue summer dress that made her eyes shimmer like sapphires. The wedding was short and sweet. Nessa, Ronnie and I sang “Perfect” by Ed Sheeran for their first dance. We adapted the lyrics slightly to fit Flick and Fliss, but the essence was still the same. They both thought the other was perfect…that their love for each other was perfect.

  Watching them together made me think of Mom and Dad’s wedding, so of course I cried. Tears tracked down my cheeks as I smiled and sang for this couple who were a part of my new family.

  They’d embraced me, pulled me in close and held on tight.

  I lived at the Chaos mansion full time.

  Dorothy was gutted to see me leave my little apartment, but she was soothed by Jace who distracted her with the offer of letting her play some of her music to the band.

  She nearly fainted on the spot.

  I grinned at the moon, remembering her reaction.

  She’d been so nervous about the performance she nearly chickened out, but Phillip dragged her along, standing nearby as she nervously belted out her tunes.

  In the end, Flick really liked one of them, and discussions were being had about Chaos tweaking and recording it. She’d get recognition on the album and earn some kind of royalty from it as well. I really hoped it came through for her. She deserved that success.

  As for me, I was still waitressing, but Jace and Ronnie had teamed up and were trying to get me thinking about college. I’d never thought it was a possibility, but with Jace’s support I could make it happen. So, in spite of my trepidation, my mind had been wandering and dreaming about what I’d like to study. There were plenty of paths I could take, but I figured I’d start with a range of courses at the local community college and see if something caught my interest.

  Wow. The whole dreaming about the future thing felt so foreign. I’d spent the last few years in survival mode, and being set free felt like flying. I was soaring in an endless sky of possibility, yet some days I felt completely vulnerable, floating above the clouds with nothing to stop my plummet to earth.

  What if I fell?

  “What are you doing all alone out here?” Jace’s deep voice reached me just as his arms snaked around my waist.

  His warm body pressed into my back as he unwittingly answered my question.

  Running my fingers down his arms, I held him against me and rested my head back on his shoulder.

  Jace was what would happen if I fell.

  He’d catch me.

  He’d hold me and help me through.

  The same way I’d help him.

  My heart swelled as a smile broke out across my face.

  I knew what I wanted. Before college and any kind of future, I wanted to know that this man would walk the journey with me.

  “Will you marry me?” I whispered.

  He kind of jolted, then slowly let me go. Spinning me around, he gazed at me in awe. “Did you just ask what I think you asked?”

  My smile was nervous and twitchy, but I managed to keep my eyes on his. “I know it’s fast, and we don’t have to get married right away or anything, but I just… I love you. I can’t imagine loving anyone as much as I love you. So I want to officially make you mine for the rest of our lives.”

  At first he was silent, which only exacerbated my nerves, but then his moonlit face lifted into a stunning smile and he pulled me into his arms and sang, “Well, it’s fine by me.”

  And that Andy Grammer song made yet another appearance in our relationship.

  He sang it a lot.

  I giggled and kissed his bare shoulder before threading my arms around his neck.

  He lifted me off my feet and spun me around with a loud whoop.

  Tipping my head up to the moonlight, I laughed, kind of in awe of the moment.

  I’d just asked Jace to marry me and he said yes.

  I was getting married to the best person I knew.

  Closing my eyes, I whispered my heartfelt gratitude to the sky as Jace held me close, then took me home with a kiss.

  KEEP READING TO FIND OUT ABOUT MELISSA PEARL’S NEXT PROJECT…

  Dear reader…

  Writing a suspenseful story for Jace and Jenna was so much fun. I hope you enjoyed their adventure together.

  If you’re a fan of romantic suspense then you might like to check out the new Aspen Falls Novels which I�
�m co-publishing with one of my favorite authors—Anna Cruise.

  Set in small town Minnesota, these books follow members of the Aspen Falls community as they face one mystery after another.

  First up is Officer Blaine Hartford, who never expected to pull over his high school fantasy—Rosie Sweet. She’s back in town with a bundle of secrets that he’ll need to discover in order to save her life…and his beloved town.

  Will she have the courage to let him in?

  Or will the dead body discovered in the snow shut her up for good?

  You’ll love Dead of Winter, because of its charming characters, intriguing mystery and simmering romance.

  Available on Amazon.

  Happy reading!

  xx

  Melissa

  www.melissapearlauthor.com