The Price of Fame: A Price Novel (The Price Novels Book 2)

by Craft, Maggi

  “So, you seem better now that you are back to work,” she stated, pouring me a second glass of wine.

  “Yeah, it’s just a norm for me, I guess. Greene is still bugging me, though.” I made myself comfortable on one of the couches in the living room.

  She headed for the couch across from me, topping off her wine along the way. She looked up at me when I said that. “Arden, that’s weird. Not that you don’t still look decent, but you just had babies. Babies—like, a small litter.”

  I threw a pillow at her, almost knocking the wine out of her hand. She steadied herself and then sat.

  “I did not.”

  “Uh, yeah, you did.”

  “Milly, do not refer to my children or me as any type of animal.” I stuck out my tongue at her.

  She laughed. “Wah-wah! Seriously, though. What are you gonna do about it?”

  “Ignore it. I kinda got snappy with him for a second, and he didn’t let me do shit in the OR that day. Didn’t even speak to me.”

  “So, what’s the worst he can do?”

  “Give me a bad recommendation.”

  “He’d be the only one. No way anyone else would.”

  “But he’s the lead neurosurgeon. I need his recommendation, Milly. Don’t you think I have thought this through a million times? He’s never really done anything but make me feel super uncomfortable. I feel like he’s mentally undressing me or something, and then we will be just going over a chart, and he’ll make some random off-the-wall statement about me looking hot with my hair down. Dumb stuff. It’s not like he’s forced himself upon me or anything.”

  “Oh, but he’s so thinking about you in the shower,” she said, laughing.

  “Milly!”

  “But his behavior is inappropriate?” she asked.

  “Way inappropriate. About like yours.”

  “What did Slayde say?”

  I stared at her like she was stupid. “I haven’t told Slayde that the man I spend 75 percent of my time with is a pervert who flirts with me and hits on me all day. He’d flip the hell out. You know this! And I know this!”

  “So, you’re just going to have to ignore it. Maybe stop bathing regularly. Don’t brush your teeth.”

  I laughed. “Yeah, that’s great. Let me be the stinky doctor. I’m sure everyone will want me to cut their heads open then.”

  “Good point. So what about these internet pictures of the twins? Someone at work showed me a pic of Slayde lying in bed in his boxer briefs with Ava on his chest.”

  I finished off what was in my glass and poured myself and Milly just a little more. Then I leaned back in the chair. “Nothing to tell, really. I took that picture the other night. It was cute. They were both asleep. No big deal. When I got to the hospital the other day, I let some people flip through my pictures while I went over a patient chart.”

  “I wouldn’t let anybody flip through my pictures on my phone. Are you crazy?”

  “It’s not like I have naked pictures on there.”

  She nodded. “Well, I do.”

  I almost choked on my wine. “Of who?”

  “Well, of Eddie, of course.”

  “Oh, gross. Why?”

  “I dunno. I guess because I like him naked.” She sipped her wine and leaned back on the couch, crossing her feet at her ankles.

  “Oh, dear Lord, Milly. Remind me never to look at your pics.”

  “Why? I’ve seen your husband naked,” she said, smiling.

  “And the whole world has already seen him in his underwear.” I held my hands out. “So no harm done.” I’d decided that that was how I was going to think about it. It was true anyway.

  “But your pics are different than mine, Arden, because no one wants to see Eddie in his underwear but me. Pictures of Slayde are worth money. Someone sold those pictures.”

  I laughed. “Well, I hope they got paid bank.”

  “I really can’t believe how OK you are with this. You’re usually freaking out over this type of stuff.”

  “Well, I’m pretty tipsy, and like I said before, we’ve all seen him in his underwear. What can I do?”

  “I guess nothing, but I don’t know what changed your thinking on all this.”

  “Nothing. My thinking is still the same. I hate it all, but this is my fault. Who can I be mad at?” She didn’t respond. “The weird thing about being married to a celebrity is this: he’s no longer a person. He’s a brand. Like Cheerios. It’s just as normal for someone to say your husband is delicious as it is for them to say Cheerios are delicious. And that’s acceptable in society. What would you do, Mills, if someone said that to you about Eddie?”

  She thought a minute before answering. “I guess it would depend on who said it. If it were a plain Jane, I’d probably say, ‘Thank you, and I agree,’ but if it was someone hotter than me, then I’d probably just throat-punch her.”

  I giggled at her truth. “Exactly. But hell no, I have to smile and say nothing while standing there feeling stupid and wishing I was actually as invisible as they make me feel. Assholes. That’s just rude. Keep your dirty-minded opinions to yourself.”

  “So you wouldn’t totally do Mark Wahlberg?” Mills asked. She knew I had had the biggest crush on him for forever. I looked up, shocked. “Exactly. Bam! He’s your Cheerios!” She smirked. I could see the delight on her face.

  “Screw you, Milly,” I teased. “Hey, you know, I actually saw him in person twice, at movie premieres, and I didn’t go say anything disturbing. You know why?”

  “Because you hadn’t drunk as much as you have tonight?” she offered.

  I nodded. “That, and also because I’m sane.”

  “But you see what I mean?”

  “Yeah, Milly, I do. Shut your face and feel sorry for me like a good best friend.”

  She laughed. “If it makes you feel any better, I don’t have the slightest urge to lick Slayde’s face or chest or whatever other part of him is so glorious.”

  My wine almost came out my nose. “Well, thank God, but that would probably be hilarious if you did. The shock on his face would tickle me for a lifetime.”

  We both laughed, knowing that would freak him the hell out.

  Chapter 22

  Slayde

  I came home from work to find Arden home after a fourteen-hour shift and in a really good mood. I gave her a hug. “You’re obviously glad to be back at work,” I stated innocently.

  “What does that mean?” she snapped.

  “Nothing. I guess I just didn’t expect you to go back to the hours you were working so soon. Don’t you miss the babies when you are gone that long?”

  “Of course. But, Slayde, this was always my plan.”

  “Plans change,” I said. I started changing for the gym.

  “No. Plans get out of order maybe. But there’s no change. I’m finishing this. Like I always planned.”

  “Wait, what are you saying?” I asked while putting on my tennis shoes.

  “That I’m going to be a surgeon.”

  “No, not that. About things getting out of order—what do you mean?”

  “I meant getting married and having kids before I was an attending is out of order.”

  What? “Uh. So you regret us? Is that what you are saying?”

  “No, Slayde. I’m just saying it would have been easier to wait. Not that I’d change it now.”

  “Why did you accept my proposal, then?”

  “Because I love you.”

  “You could have said you weren’t ready.”

  “Uh. I kinda did, and you freaked out,” she added.

  “So why did you go through with it? The wedding? If you weren’t ready, why?”

  She shrugged. “I guess I was scared of losing you.” That was not what she was supposed to say. I had to leave. I couldn’t believe this. “Slayde, don’t leave,” she said, following me to the garage.

  I shook my head and turned back to her. “I honestly cannot believe you just said that.”

 
“Well, it’s true.”

  “Yeah, I know. I’m going to the gym. I’ll talk to you later.”

  “Slayde, wait.”

  “No. I don’t want to talk. I want to think.”

  She stopped following me. “About what? What is there to think about?”

  “Oh, I don’t know, that my wife married me out of fear, not love. I’m not even sure I can understand any of this. You should have said no. I’m sorry that this is how you feel. I wish you would have just said no.” That was a lie, but I was furious. I got into my car and slammed the door.

  She came to my window. “Wait. I’m not saying that regret it, Slayde.”

  “OK” was all I could say to her before backing out of the garage.

  Really? We were out of order? Her order? How can that be? She was what made my life in order. Without her, who cared what order I did things in? Why couldn’t she love me that way?

  I didn’t go to the gym, because I needed to talk to Mom, so I drove there. I stopped when I pulled through the gates because both Dad’s and Byron’s vehicles were at the house. I hadn’t been here in almost two weeks, and it was like a totally different place. The last time I had been here, it was studs and half a roof. Now there was Sheetrock and trim, and some of the doors were hung.

  Dad, Mom, and Byron were standing in the kitchen when I walked in. Mom smiled, but her expression changed when she saw my face.

  “Good, we can get you to be the tiebreaker. Which color do you like?” Byron asked, pointing at granite samples.

  I wasn’t in the mood for this, but I took a deep breath before pointing at one. “That one,” I said.

  Mom smiled, and I knew that was her pick.

  “That settles that,” Byron said, smiling, and he and Dad walked out back.

  Mom gave me a hug. “I thought that you were leaving for a few days.”

  “Not until morning.”

  “Then why are you here, not home?” she asked.

  I leaned back on our future kitchen cabinets and told her the whole story of what had just happened with Arden. She didn’t look surprised.

  “Why don’t you look shocked?” I asked.

  “Because we already knew these things, Slayde. I don’t think she regrets marrying you or having the babies, but I do think it’s got her plan all out of whack. In a few months, it will all be the norm. Let it go. Let her get settled back into work, and into what her new norm is, and she won’t feel this way. I told you not to think you could change what she felt a long time ago. This is who she is. This is who you fell in love with and who you married. So stop trying to change her.”

  “I’m not trying to change her,” I was arguing when Dad stuck his head back in.

  “Slayde, come see.”

  I went outside to where they were about to start digging the pool and listened as Dad and Byron told me what to expect.

  I really didn’t give a shit at the moment, because I was having a hard time thinking about my future with someone who wasn’t sure in what place I fit into hers.

  After what felt like forever, I was finally able to break away. Dad walked from around the side of the house as I was getting in my car. “What’s up with you?” he asked. “You OK?”

  I nodded my head. “Yeah, just busy. Thanks for doing all this, Dad,” I said, and he nodded, not asking any more questions. He wasn’t like Mom. Even when he knew something was wrong, he didn’t bug me about it, knowing that when and if I needed him, I’d come to him.

  I went back home, and Arden was already asleep, as were the twins. I showered and got in bed. I wanted to wake her, knowing that I was about to be leaving for over a week for work the very next morning, but had no idea what to say to her, so I didn’t.

  Those days away must have been good for us, because we spent the last few nights before I was to come home having lengthy but normal phone conversations about the house and the kids. All seemed back to normal, and I was hoping Mom was right about all of this.

  Arden and I were going to have three days off when I got back. The same three days, and I was beyond excited about it. I wanted to spend a whole day with her alone, all day. Then a day with the babies. Then we could chill with both nannies there and rest the last day.

  We’d had to get help one weekend when Casey was sick, and she sent her sister, assuring us that we’d love her. And we did. Hannah was just as good with them as Casey was. She looked nothing like Casey, with her long, curly blond hair and her five-foot-eleven rail-thin frame. But they shared identical smiles and blue eyes. Hannah wasn’t as talkative as Casey, but that could be because she was not comfortable with us yet.

  But once Casey was well, we decided to keep Hannah too. She didn’t work as much as Casey because she was still in school, but having her there a few days a week was a huge help. She even stayed with us some at night to give Casey time with her fiancé.

  I got home at five, but Arden wouldn’t be home until seven. I tried to call her to see if she wanted me to cook her something or if she wanted to go out. Sometimes she took extra shifts when I was out of town, but we’d discussed it at length the day before, and she knew I would be home. The fact that she still wasn’t home at eight was aggravating. Again I called with no answer.

  I hadn’t seen her in nine days, and I was ready to see her. I decided I’d head toward the hospital, and if she called on the way, then I’d swing by and pick her up. We’d go out for dinner somewhere together since it was now too late to cook.

  On my way there, Kevin called. “What’s up?” I answered.

  “Are you home yet?” he asked.

  “Yeah.”

  “Where’s Arden?”

  “Hospital at the moment. Why?”

  “We’re heading to Vegas tomorrow and wanted you to go.”

  “We?”

  “Me and Whitt and a few other people. It’s Tony J’s bachelor party.”

  Tony was Whitt’s surfing friend, not mine, so I really didn’t care to go, even if I hadn’t already made plans. “Well, have fun. I’m spending the weekend with A. She should be off soon.”

  “You suck, you know that?”

  “Yeah. I know. Sorry.”

  Arden still hadn’t called or answered my calls by the time I pulled into the hospital, so I drove to see if her car was there in the doctors’ parking area. It was. So she was definitely still there.

  I parked in the visitors’ lot and went to the fourth floor, where I knew she was working at the time. As soon as I stepped off of the elevator, I saw her. I had to look twice, because I almost didn’t recognize her with her hair pulled up and her white coat on. She was looking over a chart with a male doctor who looked about thirty-five. He was a good-looking guy, but that didn’t initially strike me as a problem. However, the longer I stood there, the more I realized that he was flirting with her. I stood there, dumbfounded, while my wife, unaware of my presence, was having a highly flirtatious conversation with another man.

  He reached over and tucked a stray strand of hair that had slipped out of her ponytail behind her ear and then raised her chin with his finger so she met his gaze. She flinched a little but not enough to make me think she was uncomfortable with his touch. What in the hell is going on here?

  My stomach was clenched so tight that I realized I was holding my breath. I really couldn’t believe my eyes. At that moment, I wished I had just stayed home and waited for her.

  She closed the binder she was holding and turned to walk away, but then she saw me standing there. I turned to leave. I couldn’t say anything right then because I was about to lose my mind.

  I heard her walking fast to catch me. “Slayde, hey, wait. Why are you leaving?”

  I didn’t answer her. I tried to breathe. I got on the elevator. She put her hand on my arm, and I jerked away. “Don’t touch me,” I growled. Is this why she was so hell-bent on going back to work so soon? Him? This doctor? She left me, our kids, for this guy?

  “Slayde, I know that I promised I’d be home, but let me exp
lain,” she said, not even trying to deny it. Her being late was the least of my issues at the moment.

  The elevator stopped, and someone else got on.

  I was getting my head together with each passing floor, and by the time we were at the bottom level, I was fuming. We got off the elevator, and I said, “Arden, this isn’t about you being late. How would you feel if you showed up at my work to find me flirting with another woman?”

  She stood there staring at me like she had no clue what I was talking about.

  “Who was that guy?” I asked.

  She stalled before answering and bit her bottom lip. She looked guilty. “Dr. Greene,” she said, looking down.

  Yeah, I saw you. “Wow. Now it makes sense. So much damn sense. I am an idiot.” I was shaking, and she was only shaking her head, looking at the ground. Why aren’t you denying it, Arden? Deny it! Please deny it.

  She looked up at me. “Look, Dr. Greene is my attending, and I need his recommendation, Slayde. We just got out of surgery, and I was asking him about something that had happened in the OR, and I was about to leave.”

  I laughed to keep from screaming. “That’s funny. You know, I just realized that my wife ditched her birthday dinner with me because of this guy. That she spends most of her time here with this guy, and that she was so ready to be back here with this guy that she left her infant babies extremely early to go back to work. And this explains it all. How long have you been seeing him?” I almost couldn’t say that last part aloud, and it came out as a gruff whisper.

  “What? No, that’s not it at all. He is important to my career. That’s all. I know he’s a flirt, but—”

  I interrupted her. “But? Are you kidding me?”

  “Slayde, girls flirt with you all the time!” she snapped. “It’s no big deal.”

  Now she’s defending him. Unbelievable! I gritted my teeth. “But I don’t flirt with them, and I damn sure don’t do it to further my damn career.” I shook my head. “I guess this was exactly like you said—we screwed up your plan.” She looked confused. “What? Messed up the order? The kids and I?” I couldn’t take it anymore. “I’m leaving, and you can stay here as long as you want. No need to rush home. You might as well stay; this is where you want to be anyway. Ava, Noah, and I, we don’t need you.”