UNBROKEN (Friends, Lovers, or Nothing Book 5)

by Jackie Chanel

  Not even thirty seconds after I finished yelling at Clay, his doorbell chimed. I beat him to the door and swung it open. After giving Dina a quick hug, I watched her get back in her car and back out of the driveway. She was curious about why I rushed her over to Clay’s. I'm sure her son isn't telling her the truth but she’s not my mother and it’s not my place to explain the actions of her child. Instead of worrying about Aiden’s mom, I fastened Summer into her booster seat, yelled goodbye to Clay, and hit the road to LAX.

  Leaving might seem irrational to some people but not to me. I’m completely fed up with Aiden and I don't care what anyone thinks. Aiden makes moves without thinking of anybody except himself. Half of the time he doesn’t even think of that.

  He’s known for not caring about anything except his music and his fans love all of his little antics. I believe that they’d hate to see a more toned down drama-free Aiden because that’s not the persona they fell in love with. His face in blogs, Instagram, Facebook, and everywhere else is what puts bodies in those fifty thousand seat arenas. This thing with Shay and this book is going to cause a media frenzy online, in print, and in person. This is the kind of the drama that I don't want to be a part of.

  I had enough cameras in my face and people talking about me when Ramey was telling everyone I broke up her marriage. The fact that he didn’t even consider how I’d feel about all of this is the primary reason I'm getting on a plane with my child. I don’t want to spend Thanksgiving in California any damn way.

  I parked my car in the long-term lot and threw on a pair of large dark shades and a snapback then grabbed my daughter’s hands and hauled ass to the Delta ticket counter before anyone could see past my disguise.

  The ticketing agent looked up from her monitor with immediate recognition registering on her face.

  “Oh my goodness, you’re Sunny Rain,” she gushed with a huge smile. “Miss Rain, I am such a huge fan of your clothes. I wear RainDrops almost exclusively. How can I help you?”

  I smiled back at her then took my wallet out of my purse . “Thank you, sweetie. I need two seats on the next flight to Atlanta.” I handed her my American Express and driver’s license.

  “That flight leaves in an hour. I’m very sorry, but I don’t have any available upgrades on that flight.”

  “Doesn’t matter,” I interrupted. “I’ll take any seats you have.”

  While she processed the payment, I looked around the airport nervously. My baby was still jumping around like crazy but surprisingly, Summer was standing quietly and patiently by my side. When the agent finished, she handed me two boarding passes, my credit card, and ID. I asked to borrow her pen and scribbled my signature and 50% off on the back of my business card.

  “Here; this will get you 50% off any purchase at any RainDrops store in the US.”

  “O-M-G!” the girl yelped. “Thank you so much! And congratulations!” she called after me as I headed towards the TSA checkpoint.

  “Mommy,” Summer finally spoke to me. “Are we going to see Papa and Gramma? Shouldn’t we wait for Daddy?”

  “Your father isn’t coming.”

  I glanced down when I felt Summer stop walking. “C’mon, Summer. Don’t look so sad. We’ll be back soon.”

  “I’m not supposed to get on a plane without saying goodbye. Why are we leaving without saying goodbye? Are you mad at Daddy?”

  The question coming out of my little girl’s mouth stopped me dead in my tracks and made me rethink every choice I’ve made in my life. She’s too young for my and Aiden’s bullshit to infiltrate her life. I almost scooped her into my arms and ran back to my car, however…

  I heard them before I saw him, airline passengers and paparazzi practically chasing him through the terminal and screaming his name. I picked up my child and kept walking towards security as fast as my swollen feet would carry me. It wasn’t fast enough. Aiden’s long legs and quick strides caught up with me. I cursed Clay in my head before spinning around.

  “What?”

  Aiden frowned down at me, testing me as he eyed Summer then my belly. “You want to do this here? In front of all these people?”

  “We don’t have to do anything.”

  Aiden’s face began to turn red. I found his anger to be fairly amusing. He shouldn’t be mad at me, not this time.

  “You cannot take Summer and leave without telling me. You can’t do shit like that, Sunny. That’s my child.”

  “Like you, I can do whatever I want. I don’t have to get your permission to do anything. I’ll see you later.”

  Aiden grabbed my shoulder to stop me from storming off.

  “Don’t touch me!” I sneered. “I don’t know where your hands have been.”

  “Sunny, what the hell is this about? What the fuck are you overreacting about this time?”

  “Humph,” I scoffed. “Do you want to do this here because I have a list?”

  “Then let’s do this. You know I don’t give a shit about arguing with you in public. You’re the one who’s always bitching about your reputation. You can be mad, but I’ll be damned if I let you get on a plane and not tell me why.”

  Aiden folded his arms across his chest. His nostrils flared angrily like a raging bull. In that moment, I remembered that I hadn’t exactly told him why I’ve been avoiding him for the last few days. I pulled my phone out of my pocket and quickly forwarded him two emails, the one from Ramey and the one from Kirk with the link to the Melrose Place post about him and Shay.

  “Check your email. All your answers are right there. While I’m flying home, you can figure out which lie you’re going to tell me. And tell your manager that I don’t care which of my uncles she’s screwing, she better not show her face around me in a very long time because I know she’s the reason you signed that bitch. Summer, say goodbye to your father.”

  His face was burning red with fury. He reached for my arm but I stepped away and pulled Summer in front of me. Aiden gave his child a kiss and hug. I stepped back when he reached for me. The thought of his hands on me made me sick. Without a word in his direction, I left him standing in the middle of the LAX staring down at his phone. I honestly cannot wait to see how he tries to lie his way out of this.

  Chapter 17: Yesterday Shutting Down

  Hey, Sunny!

  How are you? I supposed you’re doing well. I saw your People cover. You didn’t look fat at all. I guess I should be congratulating you on FINALLY getting your claws in what you’ve been desperately begging for. How long have you been dangling from Aiden’s hook? It took another kid for him to finally see the light? Good for you.

  The purpose of this email is to let you know that all is not as perfect in your little world and as far as I’m concerned, it will never be. Do you know what kind of man you’re marrying? Not the best friend side of Aiden that you’re used to seeing. Do you really know him? Well, you’re about to. You’re going to know every grimy, nasty, sleazy thing about your fiancé real soon. And both of you deserve it. You both tried to ruin me. You broke up my marriage and he broke my heart. When my book hits the stands, you and him will definitely see that Karma is a bitch.

  ~Ramey

  I closed the email app and slammed my phone into the coffee table.

  “I’m gonna kill this bitch!”

  “Calm down,” my mother stated. She picked up my phone and read the email for the third or fourth time. “It’s not as bad as you and Sunny are making it out to be.”

  “Mom!” I shouted. “It’s worse! Sunny on the other side of the country with my child because of this! How can you say it’s not that bad?”

  “Actually,” Delilah interjected, “Sunny went to Atlanta because you’ve been going on dates with your ex-girlfriend. Let’s not forget about that. That email just reinforced that leaving you was the right decision.”

  I looked around the living room at the faces of my sisters, my best friend, my mom, and my manager staring back at me. Sara and Delilah are pissed as if I really did something wrong.r />
  “You’re supposed to be on my side,” I reminded her.

  “Not this time. How could you be dumb enough to sign Shay and be seen out with her then think that your fiancée isn’t going to suspect that you’re screwing her? Like, how stupid are you? It’s Shay!”

  “Right!” Sara consigned angrily. “You were in a relationship with that girl. She damn near lived here! You don’t see the problem with that?”

  I glanced at Paulie for help but he threw up his hands. I should have known he wasn’t going to be any help.

  “There is nothing…nothing…going on with me and Shay. She’s a new artist and I’ve been doing exactly the same thing I would do with any other new artist! And I don’t need you all sitting there judging me. Help me figure this shit out.”

  “Well, cheater,” Sara snapped. “If we don’t believe you, what makes you think we can actually help you? I’m with Sunny. I would have left you standing in the airport too.”

  “That’s because you’re a bitch,” I grumbled.

  “Maybe so,” Sara retorted. “At least my husband is coming home after work though. Where’s your fiancée again?”

  “Enough!” Mom yelled before things really got out of control. She knows how quickly an argument between us can escalate.

  “The Shay situation is bad, I admit,” Mom stated. “But this email has your fiancée in a tizzy too. Why is Ramey doing this to Sunny?”

  “She’s not doing anything to Sunny except sending emails. I know Sunny is pissed by the email but that doesn’t have anything to do with me. It’s just a stupid book! How can I get her to see how irrational she’s being?”

  “Get yoru ass on a plane and go to Atlanta,” was Paulie’s only useful suggestion. “If she won’t answer the phone, go to her.”

  I looked at Roxy standing behind the couch scowling. She hadn’t said a single word since she arrived at my house an hour ago.

  “What do you think?”

  “I think you both need a therapist. You and Sunny are the most dysfunctional couple I’ve ever met. She doesn’t trust you. You don’t understand her. And in the meantime, we”—she motioned around the room—“get called to your house for these little pow-wows. I don’t have time for this and neither do you. You have a CK shoot this week and that Mercedes commercial. You can’t possibly go to Atlanta now. Not to mention you have to find another sax player since you fired yours.”

  “And rightfully so. Erica runs her mouth too damn much. She’s not going out on the road with me.”

  I hope Sunny relayed my message to her friend. Maybe the only way Erica will learn to stay the hell out of my business is if I stop paying her. I don’t care how long she and Sunny have been friends; it wasn’t her place to tell Sunny anything about Shay. She just couldn’t wait to blab about it.

  “No matter what you think,” Roxy replied sternly, “firing Erica was a bad move. Rehire her today. That’s the problem with you and the people you work with. It’s impossible for you to separate your personal drama from your business. Then you create this steaming pile of bullshit for the rest of us to clean up. Let me tell you this, Aiden. As your manager, this is the last time I deal with any situation regarding you, Erica, and Sunny. You won’t have to fire me.”

  Roxy picked up her bag that was almost the same size as she was and sashayed out of my house like she didn’t just threaten to quit. This day is going horribly wrong!

  “Mom! Help me out here.”

  “You’re a grown man, Aiden. Stop whining and fix your relationship. If you’re not cheating on Sunny, tell her, not us. And talk to your ex-wife and get her to change her mind about releasing that book. You don’t need any of us to tell you that.”

  Sara and my mom stood up and walked towards the kitchen but not without Sara muttering something about me being an asshole first. Paulie and Delilah also got ready to leave. I was shocked when Delilah didn’t even hug me goodbye. She’s really pissed at me and that just makes everything worse. Dee-Lee is the one who always believes me and has my back. If I don’t have her support on this, the chances that Sunny will even listen to what I have to say are zero or lower.

  Stretching out in the sofa, I tried to block out Mom and Sara in the kitchen talking while they prepared dinner.

  My fiancée, my pregnant fiancée, is hiding from me. I thought she’d be with her parents but Jermaine told me that she wasn’t there. Even if he was angry and didn’t want his daughter to have anything to do with me, Jermaine wouldn’t lie about that. Kat doesn’t know where she’s at either.

  This can’t be my life. Sunny can’t be this unreasonable. Sure, logic and Sunny aren’t great friends but this is ridiculous. How can she even think that I’d cheat? Surely, she should know that I'm completely into her and no one else. If she doesn’t know that then why the hell are we even trying?

  ***

  “Hey, Charles, is my girl up there?”

  “Haven’t seen her,” Charles answered as he held the door open for me

  A week has passed, which is more than enough time for Sunny to come to her senses. At first, I tried to understand why she was so upset but after a few days of her sending my calls straight to voicemail, I stopped caring why she’s upset. I have to work and I refuse to be worried about whatever BS Sunny is on. She has to learn that her temper tantrums don’t stop anything that I have going on.

  On the elevator ride up to my apartment, I sent a text to Shay to make sure she was ready for her performance tonight and to apologize that I won’t be in town for a few days. She’s been remarkably understanding through all of this drama. She even volunteered to explain to Sunny that there’s nothing going on, but I’ll be damned if I put my new artist/ex-girlfriend in the same room as my emotional and irrational pregnant girlfriend. I’m not the smartest, but I’m damn sure not stupid or suicidal.

  As I was dragging my suitcase into the apartment, my phone began to ring. Glancing at the caller ID, I hit the speaker button.

  “What?” the most annoying voice in California nearly shouted into the phone.

  “You need to watch who you’re yelling at. What the hell is wrong with you?”

  “What do you want, Aiden?”

  “You need to meet me at the Tavern in an hour. We need to talk?”

  “Why do you think I’m even in Atlanta?” Ramey huffed. “I have better things to do than follow your ass around.”

  “I know you’re here because your crackwhore bestie told me.”

  Ramey chuckled snidely. “Yeah, keep pretending that you don’t like Tati. The three of us know the truth.”

  “Just meet me at the Tavern,” I ordered then disconnected the call.

  I don't want to see Ramey. I don’t want to talk to Ramey. I shouldn’t have to. I don’t give a rat’s ass about their book.

  After tossing my bag and phone in my room, I took a quick shower and threw on another pair of jeans and a cleaner t-shirt. I want to get this conversation over with so I can get my little girl and get back home. Sunny can stay in Atlanta for as long as she wants. Summer is coming home with me. I'm prepared to knock on every single one of Sunny’s relatives’ doors until I find my daughter.

  When I walked into one of my favorite spots in Atlanta, I was greeted by Kasey and Frankie, my two favorite waitresses. There are quite a few places in Atlanta that still treat me like pre-record deal Aiden, places I used to play at before I became Hollywood famous. The only bar I can go to in LA that still treats me like that is Liam and Cody’s place.

  I sat at the bar nursing a Sweetwater 420 and staring at the door. Ramey hates this place which is the main reason I told her to meet her here. I don’t know why she’s in Atlanta; probably looking for another sugar daddy like she had with the Wine King of California.

  As soon as I spotted her coming through the door with her nose stuck up in the air, I threw a fifty on the bar for Kasey and one for Frankie and strolled quickly through the door. Snatching Ramey’s elbow, I turned her around and and dragged her to my car. />
  “Eww, you still have this POS car?” Ramey complained. “It was ancient when you got it. Why do you will have it?”

  My ‘94 Firebird is in mint condition so I don’t know what the hell Ramey is talking about. I had it restored and now it runs like the day I rolled out of the factory. I opened the passenger door for Ramey and motioned for her to get in.

  “This car has less miles on it than you. Get in.”

  When I first met Ramey Hall, I thought she was the most gorgeous woman I’d ever seen. I thought I was the luckiest man alive when she decided that she wanted to be with me...until I got to know her. Then her white blonde hair, ice blue eyes, and Victoria’s Secret model body became overshadowed by her poisonous personality. She’s immature, shallow, conceited, and selfish. I thought I was in love with Ramey...fuck that, I was in love with Ramey up until the point when she showed me that she was not in love with me.

  Our divorce had nothing to do with Sunny and everything to do with the fact that, at my lowest point in my life, my wife was the one who kicked me when I was down and continued to kick until she met and married another unlucky sucker. I have no idea why she’s still trying to fuck me over. The reason isn’t important.

  “You sent Sunny an email?” I fumed when I got in the car.

  “Yeah.” Ramey shrugged. “So.”

  “So? What did I tell you about contacting her?”

  “You’re not my father. You don’t get to tell me what to do.”

  “You are such a child! Stop emailing my fiancée! I told you years ago not to contact her. How fuckin’ hard is that for you to wrap your head around, Ramey?”

  I’d promised myself I wasn’t going to let this woman get to me but I can’t help it. She’s so fucking annoying!

  Ramey crossed her arms and pouted. “What is this really about?”

  “I’m going to tell you just like I told Tatiana; you can write all the scandalous books you want. I don’t give a shit. Leave me out of it. Don’t mention my name or anything about me. You’re only doing this to hurt Sunny and I’m not about to let that happen.”