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

by Craft, Maggi

  I knew what I had said was hateful, but I couldn’t help it. She stood there, stunned. She didn’t say a word, and she didn’t try to stop me. My heart was pounding in my ears, and it was all I could do to just breathe. I was angry and devastated at the same time.

  I didn’t go to my mom’s like I usually do when I’m upset. I went home. I was so emotionally drained that I fell asleep across the bed with my clothes and shoes on. A few hours later, Arden came home and woke me up. Surprisingly, she was calm. It was a good thing one of us was, because I sure wasn’t.

  “Slayde, you totally misinterpreted what you saw. Dr. Greene is an amazing surgeon, and I need him to give me a good recommendation. I can’t get a good fellowship without it. I’ll admit he’s a flirt, but he’s harmless.”

  “Don’t feed me that line of shit, Arden. I’m not stupid. I may not be a brain surgeon, but I’m not an idiot either. Are you really going to sit here and tell me I’m exaggerating what I saw? He reached out and touched your face. That’s really professional.” I was on the verge of crying. I rubbed my face and let out a deep breath before saying, “And you were reciprocating his affection.”

  That upset her. She stood up and shouted, “No, Slayde, I definitely was not. I’m not attracted to Dr. Greene at all, and I would never do anything to hurt you.”

  “Are you going to sit here and tell me he wasn’t flirting with you?”

  She shook her head but said nothing. I covered my face with my hands. “I can’t believe this is happening. I feel like this is a bad dream. How could you do this to me? How could you do this to us? “

  She put her hands on my arm and tried to make eye contact with me. “Slayde, I haven’t done anything. I’m trying to explain.”

  “Explain? No, you’re trying to justify it.” I couldn’t look at her. “I don’t want to talk to you.” I got up to leave.

  “Where are you going? Slayde, please don’t leave. You always run away when you’re mad. You’re making a bigger deal of this than you should. I don’t care about Dr. Greene. I just have to get his recommendation.”

  “Yeah, you’ve said that already. You may be naïve, but I’m not. And I am damn sure not OK with my wife lying to me about what’s going on. You didn’t tell me any of this, which is the same as a lie. And I hate a liar.”

  She looked shocked by that comment, and she let my hand go. “Slayde, you really are overreacting!”

  “Really? OK. Maybe I am. I guess we’ll see.” I was so pissed that she didn’t acknowledge what was going on there. I had to leave. She couldn’t convince me I was seeing things. I knew what I saw, and I sure as hell didn’t want to stay here with her for the next few days. I needed a break.

  I drove to Kevin’s and knocked on the door. I was just as surprised that he was home as he was to see me at the door.

  “Since when do you knock?” he asked as I walked past him into his living room.

  I had knocked because I wasn’t sure that he was alone, and I really didn’t want to be there if Kimberly was. But it was quiet in his house, and he was just in gym shorts with no shirt or shoes. He appeared to be alone. I sat down on his couch.

  “Dude, what the hell is going on? You look like hell.” He sat across from me and listened as I told him what had happened.

  “He touched her, Slayde. He didn’t kiss her,” he stated.

  “That’s a pretty intimate gesture, Kevin.”

  He shrugged. “Maybe, maybe not.”

  I stood up, wanting to leave. I didn’t expect him to take her side. “I don’t even know why I am talking to you about this.”

  He smirked. “Because I’m your best friend. And because you aren’t thinking straight right now.” I stared at him. “Slayde. I get that you’re pissed, but you can’t leave her over this stupid shit. She’s your wife. You have two tiny babies at home.”

  “I never said that I was leaving her. I just need space. I need to get away a minute, and I need her to think that I will leave her ass.”

  He laughed sarcastically. “OK.”

  “Why is that funny?”

  “Because you’re not gonna leave her. I know that, and you know that.”

  “I know that I put up with a bunch of dumb shit from her over the years because I know that’s her insecurity issues. But she didn’t do anything to break my trust before now. I would leave her for that.”

  “For what? What has she done exactly?”

  I turned to leave again. “I can’t talk to you.”

  “You want me to say you’re right and fuck her, but I know that’s all bullshit. You’re mad. You clearly feel your relationship has been disrespected, but Arden wouldn’t cheat on you! She loves you. And you love her. And you’re freaking the hell out, dude. You’re jealous. I’ve never known you to be that way before her, but about her, you are. You always have been, and it’s ridiculous.”

  “Why is it ridiculous?” I scoffed.

  “It just is, man. If she wanted someone else, there would be nothing you could do about it. Not when you were dating and not now.” He walked toward the stairs. “So, are you going to go with us to Vegas tomorrow?”

  I sighed. “Why not?”

  “I was thinking about going to the gym. Want to go?” he asked. That sounded like a great idea. That would give me time to clear my thoughts. I nodded and got my gym bag out of the trunk.

  I stayed at Kevin’s that night and went back to the house the next morning. No one was there. Not Arden, nor the kids. Arden’s car was gone, as was Casey’s.

  I didn’t feel any better about the situation than I had the night before. Part of me wanted to talk with her about it. To try and understand what the hell I actually saw. Would she really do something to ruin our marriage? I knew how much her career meant to her, but did it mean more than our family?

  The part of me that wasn’t losing my shit right now believed her. Then there was the part that reminded me that she’d ditched me more than once for this guy. That wasn’t innocent. There was something more to this than what she was saying. There had to be.

  I went in the bedroom to grab a bag. My clothes from the day before were still lying across the bed. Where the hell did she sleep?

  Knowing Arden, she’d probably just gone back to work since I wasn’t home to make her stay there. I packed an overnight bag and left. On my way out, I saw her pillow and a blanket on the couch. She must have slept there, expecting me to come home last night.

  When I got in the car, I checked my phone but had no calls or texts. I dropped my phone on the passenger seat and headed back to Kevin’s.

  Since I had decided to go with them to Vegas last minute, I called Scott, and Kevin, Whitt, and I all flew out on my jet. Kevin sat next to me on the flight. Whitt was kicked back and comfortable across from us. But he had his earbuds in and wasn’t paying us any attention.

  “Slayde, I have known you for seven years, and you haven’t wanted to go party in at least the last four. I know I asked you to come, but I didn’t really think you would. Do you think this is such a good idea?”

  Kevin was my best friend, and he knew me. He knew what my real priorities were, and they started with Arden. I really didn’t want to be doing anything but lying in bed with her watching TV, but I didn’t really know how to get back there.

  “Maybe you’re overreacting a little. So what if he was flirting with her. Women flirt with you all the time.”

  “But I don’t flirt back.”

  “Well, you kind of do sometimes, Slayde. Nothing dangerous, but out of being polite. I know you don’t mean anything by it, but that doesn’t mean other people might not see it differently.”

  “It seemed like there was more than innocent flirting going on there, Kev.”

  “Did she act upset to see that you were standing there?” he asked.

  “Not really. She was more worried that I was angry she was late.”

  “Well, then, it probably was just innocent. Man, chill out. He probably thinks she’s hot, just like e
verybody else does. No big deal. That doesn’t mean she slept with him.”

  “Are you saying you think my wife is hot?” I was joking with him, trying to lighten the mood because my insides felt like they were grinding gravel, and it was all I could do to keep from getting sick.

  “Absolutely,” Kevin said.

  “I second that,” Whitt chimed in. Kevin and I both looked up at him; I had forgotten he was there.

  I laughed. “Great, remind me to never leave her alone with you assholes.”

  We had our bags delivered to the Bellagio, and we went straight to the craps tables and got drinks. We had gotten our own suite separate from the bachelor party’s. I might be mad at Arden, but I didn’t want to be in the middle of all that crap.

  I reached down to check my phone and realized it wasn’t in my pocket. Panic set in, and Kevin noticed. “What’s wrong?” he asked.

  “I can’t find my phone. Have you seen it?”

  He shook his head. “I didn’t see you have it on the flight over. When is the last time you remember having it?”

  And it hit me. “In my car. I bet I forgot to get it out of my car. Damn!”

  “You want to go get another one?”

  After a minute, I said, “No. I need a break. Who the hell do I need to talk to? If I need 911, I bet I can get someone to give me their phone.”

  He laughed. “Good point. And let’s also remember to get your hat when we go back up to the room, before everyone gets the memo that you’re here. Let’s try and keep it low-key.”

  That was exactly what I wanted to do.

  After drinking and gambling, we decided to join the others at the bachelor party in the club at the top of the Wynn. There was a ridiculous line, and that was when I was glad people knew who I was. I never had to wait in line. It was packed, but we got a reserved table and sat down within minutes and ordered shots.

  It felt weird to be at a bar with drunk women at my table and not have talked with my wife all day. I felt like I was doing something I shouldn’t be. There were women coming up to us all night, and we got extremely drunk. We took pictures with them and did shots with them. I would have shit if Arden were doing what I was doing. I knew in my mind I was messing up, but my anger and the liquor convinced me that I didn’t care.

  About five in the morning, we left the rest of our group and were playing blackjack. A woman who had followed us from the club was sitting next to me and being really chatty, but I didn’t think anything of it until she ran her hand up the inside of my thigh and grabbed me. I was shocked. I didn’t even know how to handle a situation like that. I was drunk but not suicidal. No matter what Arden had done, I would never cheat on her. I elbowed Kevin and excused myself from the table.

  Kevin and Whitt were right behind me. “What’s going on? I thought you were having fun,” Whitt said.

  “I was until that chic grabbed my junk under the table over there. I didn’t sign up for that shit,” I whispered.

  Kevin and Whitt both burst out laughing like I had known they would.

  “It’s not funny. Let’s go get something to eat. I feel like hell.”

  We decided it would probably be best to order room service. I jumped in the shower while we were waiting for our food. As I started to sober up, I began to feel bad. Not only had I left my phone but I hadn’t told anyone where I was going, and by now Arden was probably worrying herself to death. Mad or not. I was about to ask to borrow Kevin’s phone when I heard Whitt screaming, “Food!” I needed something in my system besides alcohol, so my call would have to wait.

  I must have passed out after I ate, because I woke up on the couch around four thirty that afternoon. Whitt and Kevin were both still asleep, and I had a terrible headache. We flew out that evening for home. I hadn’t talked to Arden, or anybody, for that matter, since I left. I knew that there would be repercussions for that, but I would deal with it when I got home.

  When I walked into the house, I only saw Casey and Ava. Casey had a strange look on her face. I assumed Arden had told her we were fighting. “Slayde, have you talked to Arden?” she asked.

  “No,” I said shamefacedly. It had been shitty of me to not let anyone know where I went. “Is she here?”

  “No, she’s at the hospital.”

  I rolled my eyes. “Big surprise there.”

  “Slayde, Noah is sick. They took him to the hospital last night.”

  I felt my whole body go cold. I dropped my stuff and ran to my car.

  Casey followed me out the door. “He’s in room 532.”

  Overnight, I had become the worst husband and father ever. When I walked into the hospital room, I was shaking. Arden and Mom were there, and they each gave me a dirty look. Arden started crying and left the room. I tried to grab her arm, but she jerked away.

  I turned to Mom. “Is he OK?” He was so tiny, and he had all these wires and tubes everywhere. He was so helpless. I stroked his little cheek. I would never forgive myself for this. Mom was so mad she wouldn’t look at me at first. “Mom, I know you’re pissed, but is he OK?”

  When she turned around, she had a look on her face I’d seen many times growing up, and it was usually directed at my father. It was disappointment. “Where have you been? We have been calling you since yesterday. Why would you leave and not tell anyone where you were going? Have you lost your mind? You’re a father now, and you need to act like one.”

  I couldn’t say anything. She was right. I was making my own father look good. “Is Noah OK?” I asked again. That was really all I cared about at the moment.

  “For now, yes. He’s had a high fever on and off for twenty-four hours, and they were concerned about him dehydrating, so they won’t release him until he has been fever-free for twenty-four straight hours. You want to tell me what’s going on?”

  “I fucked up,” I said.

  “Excuse me?” Her tone made it evident that this was not the time to talk to her like a friend. I was definitely high on her shit list right now, but I also didn’t need her making me feel worse. And this wasn’t the time or place to spill my guts about Arden’s boyfriend.

  “Mom, I don’t know what’s going on right now, and I really don’t think rehashing it with you is gonna change things, OK? Stay out of it for once.” Once the words were out of my mouth, I couldn’t believe I’d talked to her like that. I really must have lost my mind.

  Mom grabbed her keys and walked out. Thirty minutes later, Arden came back. She didn’t speak to me or even look at me. I didn’t blame her either.

  “Arden,” I said.

  “Don’t, OK, just don’t,” she whispered. “I don’t want to talk to you right now. I don’t want to look at you.”

  “Will you tell me what happened to Noah?” I asked.

  “Oh, you care now, huh?” she snapped at me, which reminded me that I was still furious.

  “Don’t talk to me like I’m a bad father. I know I made a mistake, but that doesn’t erase every other thing I’ve done for him. For the first six weeks of their lives, I was the only parent they had who wanted anything to do with them. I’m not throwing that in your face to be mean, but don’t you dare act like it didn’t happen. This is just as much your fault as it is mine,” I stated.

  “Really? OK.” She remained calm, just to make me look irrational. “That makes a lot of sense, Slayde. You left them and me. Do you think I could just pick up and leave because my ego got hurt? What would happen to them then?”

  “Casey and Hannah would take care of them, just like they do every other day. Don’t act like you’re this perfect mother here. You aren’t home any more than I am.”

  She was pissed. She didn’t want to hear any of that. “Where were you? Were you just ignoring my phone calls? You couldn’t read your texts either?”

  “I left my phone in my car, and I was too pissed to go get another one. I wanted you to suffer, OK? I wanted you to really think about what in the hell was going on. I can’t be with someone I can’t trust.”

>   “So you wanted to hurt me?” she asked.

  “I’d never hurt you, but I did want to shake you up a little bit. If Noah hadn’t gotten sick, you probably wouldn’t have realized I was even gone.”

  “Where were you?”

  I knew I couldn’t lie to her, but I knew this was going to go really badly from here. “Vegas, with Kevin and Whitt.”

  “You have got to be kidding me. You bastard! You were off partying and having a big time while your son was in the hospital. I hate you — I really do. I think you need to leave.”

  “You can’t make me leave. I have just as much right to be here as you do.”

  “Fine, but stay the fuck away from me.” She walked out, narrowing her eyes at me as she passed.

  I didn’t know where she went, but several hours passed before I saw her again. She came back about five minutes before Noah’s doctor came in. She sat across the room from me and totally ignored me. I knew she was mad, but I couldn’t believe she’d said she hated me. I was really worried about us.

  After the doctor left the room, I looked at her and said, “Do you really hate me?” She didn’t answer me. She just turned on the television and lay down. And that was how the rest of the day went. Around ten o’clock, she pulled out the little chair that turned into a bed and went to sleep. I didn’t sleep worth a damn in my chair, but I wasn’t leaving. I didn’t know how I was going to fix this or if I could, but I knew I had to try.

  The next morning, the doctor discharged Noah, and I drove us home. She still hadn’t said a word to me, and I was still mad at her. I didn’t want to talk to her either, but I needed to. “Arden, I love you—will you please talk to me?”

  “I don’t have anything to say to you, Slayde,” she said quietly, staring out her window.

  “How can you say that you hate me? Hate is a strong word.”

  She didn’t answer me. When we got home, she went into our room and got her pillow and took it in the guest room. This wasn’t getting better anytime soon.