A sick feeling came over Dev that his friend and his woman went through such a horrible time.
"I didn't know all that," he muttered.
"Well, I kept it all from you. I didn't want the full story to get out. But the point is, you can see I have a long and illustrious career of protecting my baby sister. I guess I didn't realize it was time to hang up my armor, bro."
"You could have told me. I could’ve done more to help."
"Yeah, I should've. But hell, Dev, I was eighteen, I had an incredible amount of pressure on me to be an adult, and the stakes were just too high if I fucked things up. The last thing I wanted was for Cheri to end up in some foster home. I needed to take care of her and I needed to prove I could do it on my own."
"Now I understand why you had a stick up your ass during those years. We were all, 'great, our good friend Rory has his own house. Let's go party there' and you were 'hell no, go party somewhere else'. We were crushed."
"Yeah, right," said Rory. He rolled his eyes.
"No. Seriously. I had to defend you from Mac, Quinn, and Connor. They wanted to kick you out from the bro club. It's a good thing you were the only drummer we knew. Those were dark years."
"I'm pretty sure you're making all that up right now."
"What saved you with us was that when Cheri went to college you loosened up, and by loosening up, I mean you went hog wild. Ror, you put us all to shame."
Rory smiled. "Glad to do my part to keep you humble."
"But you still could have told me."
Rory's expression turned serious again. "You did your part. Your house was a safe haven for me when I was young. You never asked questions and the door was always opened. That was enough. Now, if you want to be mad at me for not taking you into my confidence, I can't stop you."
"I'm not mad. Just disappointed you didn't trust me."
Rory tipped his head in a clipped nod. "Well, I think we're even now."
They both fell silent, sitting there with their own thoughts. Dev mulled over the things that happened to Rory and Cheri, how scared his friend must have been for both of them, and how tough Rory was to man up when he hardly knew what being a man meant.
Dev was proud to be his best friend. And he had to make Rory see that he truly wanted, needed and loved Cheri. This time, he wasn’t going to let her go so easily, but he sure as shit wanted his friend’s blessing if he could get it.
"Just to be clear, though, your sister is smoking hot."
"Ew, that's my sister, bro."
"What I mean, dumbass, is that it didn't matter who the guy was, you'd still be a dick to him. And there will be lots of guys coming after her soon because Cheri is just that awesome. Some schmuck would put up with that shit from you just to be with her."
"I guess," said Rory.
"I'm that schmuck," said Dev softly.
"You think?" Rory asked, eyeing him.
"Yeah. I know I'm not good enough for her, I mean, aside from my devastating good looks and incredible talent--"
"Oh jeez," groaned Rory.
It was time to be serious and he wiped the smile from his face and spoke from the heart. "Okay, for real, though. I've been acting like a kid. The partying and the women, and general dickery. It's time to grow up. And Cheri makes me want to be a better man, Rory. That's the truth of it. She makes me think about a home, and someday kids, all that adult stuff we've been avoiding. Cheri's not a one-night stand for me. She's the one."
Rory nodded toward the tablet. "I kinda sensed that when I heard the song you were singing when I walked in. And I decided before I came here that I was cool with it. Scratch that,” he said, screwing his face up in disgust. “Not cool with it, I’m not cool with thinking about anyone touching her, but I’ll get used to it. Thing is, you've got a problem there aside from me," said Rory.
"What's that?" Dev’s heart thudded as he tried not to let hope take control. He had Rory back, and now, if there was even a chance in hell he could get Cheri to give him another chance? Jesus, he’d finally be able to breathe again without it hurting.
"She's super pissed at you. Bug might be crying and shit, but underneath that, is the general Galveston stubbornness. You hurt her pride and her heart, and if you crawled on broken glass to apologize, she'd as likely spit at you as kiss you."
"Yeah, I noticed that about you Galvestons. You're tough on your toys. I bet not one of your transformers survived your childhood."
"No one's does."
"Mine did. I have every one."
Rory shook his head in shock. "Seriously?"
"Yep, I take care of things and the people I care about," he said pointedly.
"I know that about you, Dev."
"So, trust that I'm going to take care of Cheri. I don't know how I'm going to get into her good graces again, but I’m not going to stop until I do. And I don't want to have to beat you up this time, so stay out of my way."
Rory let out a snort. "You beat me up?"
"Hell, yeah. I was just being gentle with you. And then you got all graceless and we fell into the wall. But next time, bro, I'm going to have to take you out."
"There won't be a next time. I can't think of a better man for my sister than the reformed horn-dog named Dev Lachlan. Except maybe that guy who plays Thor, but I hear he's married."
"Yeah, that sucks for Cheri. She'll just have to settle for me."
"If she'll have you."
There was the rub. Because if he knew one thing about Cheri Galveston, it was that he’d hurt her. Bad. He’d chipped away at the trust they’d been building and humiliated her.
Now, he’d do whatever it took to make it right.
Buckle up, Cheri. I’m coming for you.
Chapter 19
The doorbell had rung and she wanted to get it, but the most energy she could work up was to sit up and dangle her legs over the side of the bed so she could stare out the window. She leaned forward and wiped away a patch of fog her breath created on the windowpane to see Gina standing outside, tapping her foot impatiently.
The fog frosted and broke in jagged shards on the glass as the window radiated cold into her fingertips.
Cold. And broken. Just like my heart.
All the leaves had fallen from the trees leaving bare branches pointing to the gray sky, a mute condemnation to the upcoming ravages of winter.
Cheri sighed. She supposed she should let Gina in out of the cold. She had ignored all of her friend’s calls and texts to this point, and she knew the other woman would soon be running out of forgiveness for her behavior. Dev had already cost her so much, she wouldn’t let him take her friend too.
She stood and headed for the door, slinging it open before shuffling back to her bedroom and climbing under the covers again.
Gina clip-clopped behind her in her heels, tsk-ing all the way.
"You're slacking, Galveston," said Gina, sitting on top of Cheri's bed. Dressed in a killer, skin-tight dress, with her hair and make-up perfectly done, Gina couldn't look more different than Cheri right now. The other woman looked like a movie star and Cheri looked like a hopeless loser who had lost her one and only hairbrush. If only she could work up the strength to give a shit…
"You need to get up and help me with this show for that band I was telling you about."
“No.” Cheri pulled her comforter over her mouth and peeked at Gina over the covers. "I don't want to."
Gina’s request was just a repeat of the three texts she’d ignored all day, and Cheri was wishing she’d left the door closed now.
Gina stood and grabbed the corner of her quilt and yanked it off Cheri. "Too damn bad. You've been in bed for two week and it's time to get moving."
"Who ratted on me?" glowered Cheri.
"Your brother who loves you and only wants the best for you."
Cheri groaned. "Blood traitor."
"Get up, because if you don't, your ass will sag and never look good in jeans again."
"That's not a thing, is it?" Cheri op
ened one eye and glared at her.
"There are dire consequences for slackers,” Gina said with a shrug. “That's one of them."
"I don't believe it."
"You can believe what you like, but you're getting out of bed. If you don't, I will not tell you what up and coming rock band wants an ass-kicking social media director like you."
"You did it? You found me a job?" Cheri sat up now, vague stirrings of hope swirling in her broken heart. It wasn’t a cure, but at least she wouldn’t have to be a financial burden to Rory anymore. "That's awesome. Who is it?"
"They’re called Molly’s Plaything. You’ll recognize the music, if not the name. They’re going to be huge. Now up," commanded Gina. She threw the towel she held in Cheri's face. "Take a shower. And wash your hair. You look like you've been on a tour bus for weeks."
"I was on tour for weeks," Cheri protested.
"But not this week. You are a scandal. I have no idea what I'm going to do with your hair." As she spoke Gina went through Cheri's closet, muttering darkly. "Where are those clothes Dev bought you?"
"Why?"
"Because they are the only decent things you own and you can't meet this band in a ratty hoodie and ripped jeans."
"I don't want to wear that stuff ever again.” Just recalling how Dev had touched her the last time she wore those leather pants made tears spring to her eyes.
"Do you want the job or not?"
She did. And, as much as it felt better than facing the world, she couldn’t hide in here forever.
"Under the bed," she said miserably.
Gina knelt to feel under the bed and then shot Cheri a glance over her shoulder.
"Go! We don't have all day."
Grumbling, Cheri took a shower. By the time she returned, Gina had laid out an outfit consisting of the leather boots, pants, a white dress shirt and an embroidered black leather jacket.
"I look like an undertaker," groused Cheri once she’d dressed and turned to look at herself in her full-length mirror.
"No, you don't." Gina unwrapped the red scarf at her neck and looped it around Cheri’s. "Just a touch of color. It's all you need. Now sit and I'll do your hair and make-up."
"Good lord, Gina."
"Shut up."
In the end, Gina put her hair up in a messy bun, and just kissed Cheri's cheeks with color and brightened her lips subtly with red lipstick.
"Now, you look like you haven't had your head in your pillow for two weeks. Let's get going. We’re late."
"Where is this?"
"Bushnell Park."
"An outdoor event for November?" said Cheri, slipping into Gina's black Mercedes. She didn't know how Gina could afford a Mercedes on what Sub-Zero paid her, but maybe this new band she’d been moonlighting for had more cash on hand. Either way, Cheri wasn’t going to complain. With heated leather seats, it was a very nice ride on a chilly November day.
"I thought it would encourage a smaller crowd. Free outdoor concerts can get unmanageable in the summer."
They pulled into a parking slot on the street at the edge of the park that was marked off as "reserved" by the Hartford police. People were streaming through any entry point to the stage set up by a carousel, disproving Cheri's concern about an outdoor show this late in the season. Police stood everywhere, directing people where they could move or stand.
"Wowww…It's packed," said Cheri.
Gina shoved Cheri's camera into her hands and handed her an ID. "Yup. And we need to make the most of the publicity."
"When do I meet the band?"
Gina slipped on a pair of tortoise-shell sunglasses and pulled out her phone. “Probably right after the show. But whatever you do, when they start playing, get shots from the front. These guys are super hot and I want some awesome action pics of them playing."
Cheri shot a glance toward the front of the venue. A huge opaque screen hung off the back struts of the steel tube staging that surrounded the performance area. “Got it.”
Gina tottled off as Cheri began taking pictures of the crowd, but soon enough, they began to chant and whoop. She turned to see a band coming onto the stage. She’d never seen them before, but when they launched into their first tune, Gina was right. She recognized it immediately. It had been one of the hottest songs of the summer, and Cheri sang softly along with the music.
It seemed like Gina had really come through for her, and she couldn’t help but be grateful. She didn’t want to be a burden on her brother, no matter how angry she’d been at him after the whole thing went down with Dev.
She shoved the thought aside as her throat began to ache and focused on the job at hand. She elbowed her way to the front of the crowd and began taking shots of the guys.
After a few of those, she held up her ID and made her way into the pit area. It was blocked off by metal fencing, and the grass underneath was covered with thick mats to cover the wires running to the stage.
As the band finished their first song, the singer waved to the crowd to get them to stop cheering.
“Thanks, everyone, for coming out today! We know it’s fucking cold and we really appreciate the love. But we all know who you’re really here to see, so let’s not waste any more time. Give it up for our friends, the boys from Sub-Zero!”
The camera fell from Cheri’s numb fingers as shock and horror rolled through her.
What the actual fuck?
Panic rocked her on her heels and she turned to run. She wasn’t ready to see Dev yet. She couldn’t handle it and she wasn’t about to let him see just how much his betrayal had hurt.
Job or no job, she had to get out of there.
She moved to exit the pit, resisting the urge to turn and get just a glance of him to feed her hungry heart. Just as she approached the exit space, four security guards stepped up, effectively walling her in.
What the hell was happening? Why were they doing this to her?
A slow guitar riff played and she froze in place.
"Hi, Cheri," Dev said softly into his microphone.
Cheri squeezed her eyes closed, the sound of his voice alone sending a shudder through her. God, how she missed him.
She turned, resigned to the fact that there were thousands of people here, and she wasn’t going to ruin the show for them, no matter how angry she was that they’d tricked her into coming. It wasn’t Rory’s fault that Gina and Dev were assholes.
She stopped trying to anticipate whatever silly game they were playing and gave the band a wave, doing her level best not to even glance Dev’s way.
The crowd was in a frenzy as they launched into a tune she’d never heard before.
Good. At least she wouldn’t have more memories tugging at her. She turned away from the band again and began snapping pictures of the crowd, almost defiantly.
If this was Rory’s way of trying to get her back with the band, he had another thing coming. She was glad he and Dev had apparently made up, but she couldn’t do this day to day. No freaking way. Already, she couldn’t wait to get out of there before the show ended and Dev was swamped with girls wanting him to sign their boobs.
"Look, Sheila. It's the lady on the TV."
A hand poked her in the back of the head and she turned to see two teenaged girls behind her in the front row seats pointing at the screen above the stage.
"What?" Cheri turned and her eyes went wide. A picture of her laughing, standing next to Dev at a barbecue she and Rory had last summer morphed into an image of her sleeping, her hands under her head, her hair splayed wildly on the pillow.
What the hell?
The crowd cheered loudly as more people began to notice her. And it was hard not to since a spotlight had focused in on her now.
Her whole body began to shake as a thousand thoughts ran through her mind.
She looked up to find Dev staring straight into her eyes, his own filled with an emotion she was too terrified to name.
Behind him, pictures of Cheri when she was a teenager popped up on the stage. T
here was one of her in a bikini at a local lake when she was fifteen and skinny as a rail. There was another of her on stage in a high school musical.
“Eyes bright and wide when I helped you ride your bike,
How you covered for us with your innocent lies,
Who knew you'd turn out to be the woman for me?”
It was probably the cheesiest song that Dev ever wrote but he sang it earnestly while looking straight at her, and Cheri stood frozen watching him, breath caught in her throat as she heard the words.
Her. This song was about the two of them. She blinked hard, trying to see through the wash of tears. Was this his apology or something more?
God, she couldn’t take it if he hurt her again.
Pictures continued to flicker by, and when the song finally ended, the crowd went nuts. Cheri barely managed to stay on her feet, her legs were so weak.
Dev leaned into the mic, a sad little smile tugging at his lips. "So, you guys, the woman I'm singing to is right here, and she's a little bit stubborn, so I have one more song for her, but you can eavesdrop, if you like. I call it For The Longest Time."
I looked far and wide to find,
What was before me all the time.
I didn't know that it was you,
That held my heart so firm and true.
Your laugh, your smile, your gentle touch,
Was so close, and yet, I did not see,
How deeply you reached into my soul,
For the longest time.
And I'm sorry for the tears you cried,
Because I couldn't tell you how I felt,
Denying what you meant to me.
You kept me close for many lonely years,
I had to lose you,
As fools so often do,
Before I knew I belonged to you.
And that I loved you for the longest time.
The music stopped and Cheri was quivering, blown away by these songs and the smoldering fire that was in Dev's eyes as he looked at her.
"Cheri, will you come on stage, please?" He held out his hand toward her. She shook her head, too shocked to speak.
Dev loved her? She couldn't comprehend this after years of wanting and waiting that he was declaring his love in front of all these people.
Hard Sell: A Bad-Boy, Rock Star Romance Page 33
