Reckless Obsession (The Reckless Rockstar Series)

by Samantha Christy

  I avert my eyes from the storyboard and give him my full attention.

  “I’d like to try an alternate ending to the video. Something along the lines of good girl wins over bad girls. Maybe you throw them out of bed or kick them off the stage and the two of you drive off in the car.”

  I smile. “Ronni would kill you.”

  “I’m the director. I have creative control. Maybe we can distract her, and by the time she figures out what’s going on, we’ll be half finished. Might be worth a shot. I’m a huge music fan and a big believer that each song has deep meaning. If that’s what it means to you, I think we should give it a try. We show our videos to a test group before release. We’ll let them decide which ending they like.”

  “Can I do anything?”

  He gestures to Liam, Garrett, and Brad. “Maybe they could have some kind of emergency after the scripted ending scene.”

  That’s the one where Crew abandons me onstage and leaves with the four girls.

  “I’m on it,” I say, happily going over to conspire with the guys.

  An hour later, I’m less upset seeing Crew in bed with four girls. Ronni has a smug smile on her face. I swear she wants him and is so jealous she’ll do anything to make me jealous, too.

  It’s still hard to watch my boyfriend in bed, naked, with so many other women. They aren’t really nude. They have shorts on, and sheets cover their breasts. David has to cut when one of them reveals her boobs. She giggles, and I get ticked. But Crew looks away while she rights herself, and that offers me a tiny bit of relief.

  “Again,” David says. “Crew, you’re in bed with four beautiful women. You’re not sure you should be, and maybe you’re having an internal struggle, but come on, you need to look a little excited about it. Don’t worry, they won’t bite.”

  Crew looks at me apologetically.

  I nod at him.

  They start shooting and I sing my lines as he gropes the girls. Then I have to stand there and watch them during the guitar riff that seems to last forever. It’s all I can do not to stomp my foot and run off the set, but I’m not about to give Ronni that satisfaction.

  Between takes, Ronni goes to the bed. “Crew, you have to kiss them.”

  “No.”

  “That’s ridiculous. We all know it’s pretend, but you have to make it believable. You’re not going to be in bed with four women and not kiss any of them.”

  David says, “She’s right.”

  “I’m not going to kiss someone in front of my girlfriend.”

  “Oh, for Christ’s sake,” Ronni says. “You’ve already touched their asses. Can we be adults and get on with it?”

  Crew cocks his brow at my silence. I love that he’s asking permission. “Just do it.”

  He sighs and pinches the bridge of his nose. “All right, but I’m not using tongue.”

  David laughs. “Nobody said you had to. Queue the music.”

  I almost start crying when he kisses one woman, then another. Is he turned on by this? Is he getting hard? I fight tears, and then realize some of the cameras are on me and my reaction is exactly what’s needed. The scene ends, and I’m not sure I can take doing this another three or four times.

  “That’s a wrap on that one,” David says.

  I’m surprised.

  So is Ronni. “You said we needed several good takes of each scene.”

  “I had four cameras rolling on that one. I’m confident we got what we need.”

  “But—”

  “Ronni, you hired me because I’m one of the best. Trust me. It’s going to be great.”

  She stalks off, getting on her phone like she always does, and we film the scene where Crew leaves me. It’s short and we get through it quickly.

  “Are we good?” Ronni says.

  David makes some notes on a pad. “Just about. I want to get a few more shots of them on the bed.”

  Ronni smiles, thinking that will piss me off. “Take all the time you need. I’m going to step outside and make a few calls.”

  David winks at me.

  Garrett and Liam come over. “We’ll make sure she doesn’t come back in for a while.”

  “What will you say?” I ask.

  Liam shrugs. “I’ll tell her some bullshit about needing more money or something. She’ll go off on me for an hour if I let her.”

  I laugh. “I don’t doubt it.”

  “Are we doing this or what?” David says. “We don’t have all day.”

  “What’s going on?” Crew asks.

  “Bria and I have decided to film an additional scene. Your girlfriend is going to kick some ass, and you’re going to carry her to the car and drive off into the sunset.”

  His smile is the highlight of my day. “Ronni’s going to flip out.”

  I snicker. “I know.”

  A half-hour later, we’re finished. Garrett and Liam managed to keep Ronni busy the entire time.

  Crew is delighted. “She’ll never know what hit her.”

  “I’m not sure any of this matters,” I say. “David said the screening will be the deciding factor, and I’m sure they’ll want the other ending.”

  “Are you kidding? Everyone wants the nice girl to win over the ‘hoes’. We’ll get the ending we want.” He leans down and whispers, “And now we’re going back to your place, so I can get the ending I want.”

  “Crew, can I speak with you?” Ronni says from across the room.

  I thumb to the door. “I’ll wait for you outside.”

  I go through the large steel door onto the production lot. There are a few stragglers still hanging around. Extras, I think, though their part was over hours ago. One of them approaches me.

  “Brianna, hi, I’m Xavier. I was one of the extras. They wouldn’t let us mingle with you earlier, but I’m a big fan of your music. I was wondering if I could get a picture with you.”

  “Sure.”

  He takes some selfies with me. “Thanks.” He hesitates. “I was wondering if you would like to go for a cup of coffee or something.”

  “It’s nice of you to ask, but I have a boyfriend.”

  “Okay, well, nice meeting you, and thanks again for the pictures.”

  He pulls me into a hug. I try to push him away, but he’s strong. I get ready to kick him in the nuts. “Xavier, you need to let me go.”

  “Oh yeah, sorry.”

  Before I know what’s happening, Xavier is on the ground, and Crew is punching him.

  “Crew! Get off him!” I shout.

  Garrett and Liam run over and yank Crew off Xavier.

  “What the hell is going on?” Liam asks.

  “He was groping her.” Crew lunges, but they stop him.

  “I was hugging her,” Xavier says defensively.

  “It didn’t look like she was very goddamn happy about it,” Crew complains.

  “I was handling it,” I say.

  “Go on,” Garrett tells Xavier. “Get out of here.”

  “And stay the fuck away from her,” Crew calls after him.

  I look at Crew, aghast.

  “What? Did you want him touching you?”

  “Of course not, but you can’t punch everyone who does. I can handle myself.”

  “It didn’t look like you were handling anything.”

  “You have got to stop doing this!” I shout.

  “Doing what? Being your boyfriend? Because clearly that’s what I was doing.”

  “You fighting every man who talks to me is not being my boyfriend. You promised to do better. You said that less than ten hours ago, yet here you are, doing it again. I’ve had enough.” I turn to Liam. “Take him home.”

  “But we’re going out,” Crew says.

  “No, we’re not. I don’t want to be around you right now. I’m not sure I can be around you at all if you don’t stop treating me like a goddamn possession.”

  “I’m not doing that.”

  “You are! Go home. We have a few days off. Take some time and decide if this i
s really what you want.”

  “It is what I want,” he says. “You’re what I want.”

  I hail a cab. “Then prove it.”

  Chapter Thirty-eight

  Crew

  Liam takes me aside. “What just happened?”

  “He was all over her.”

  “That’s not how she told it.” He gives me a hard look. “What’s going on?”

  “She doesn’t understand how many psychos are out there.”

  Liam’s face softens. “So this isn’t about Bria at all. It’s about Abby.”

  When I don’t respond, he touches my shoulder. “You’ve got to reel it in, brother, or you’re the one people will be calling psycho.”

  I shrug his hand off. “I’m not a fucking psycho. I’m nothing like him.”

  “Then do what Bria asked you to do. Prove it.”

  “I’m supposed to sit back and let people grope her?”

  “What’s going to happen if we really make a name for ourselves? She’s going to be sought out by lots of people. She may even get stalked by crazies. It happens all the time to celebrities. Are you going to kill all of them?”

  I lunge at him. “Shut the hell up, Liam.”

  He dodges me and raises his hands in surrender. “I shouldn’t have said that, but someone has to say something to snap you out of it. You’re going to lose her, man. Worse than that, RA might lose her.”

  “Are you coming?” Brad calls from the van.

  “I’m going to my mom’s,” I say.

  “Good idea,” Liam says. “Take a few days and figure this shit out.”

  Ronni comes out after they drive away. “Trouble in paradise?”

  I snort and turn away.

  “You know that little stunt you pulled inside? It’s not going to work. My opinion is the only one that matters.”

  “You’ll completely ignore the results if our new scene tests better than yours?”

  “Your way is a fairy tale, and people are sick of them.”

  “You’re wrong. People want a happily ever after.”

  “But that’s not always what life gives us, is it?”

  “You’re goddamn right about that.”

  “Looks like you could use a drink. I know a good bar around the corner.”

  I can’t believe I contemplate going, because a drink sounds good right now. But I’m already in the doghouse. I don’t need to make things worse, and drinking with Ronni would make things a whole lot worse.

  “Thanks, but I’m going to my mom’s. See you.”

  “My door’s always open.”

  I’m sure it is, I think, among other things.

  ~ ~ ~

  “Chris, you’ve been moping around here all day,” Mom says. “Is everything okay?”

  “We’ve been going full speed for weeks, and we have gigs this weekend. I’m resting up.”

  “How about coming to dinner with Gary and me?”

  “Thanks, but I’m going to get takeout and work on a few new songs.”

  She sits next to me and takes my hand in hers. “Did you ever write the one we talked about?”

  “You mean the one you talked about.” I shrug. “Some of it. It’s not the easiest song to write, you know.”

  “That’s what makes it necessary.”

  Gary comes in. “Ready, honey?”

  Mom kisses my cheek. “Don’t wait up. We might catch a show after dinner.”

  After they leave, I belatedly notice a vase of flowers and a card. It’s their anniversary. Damn, I forgot.

  Mom and Gary are a lot alike. They were both left by their spouses, both devastated by the person they loved. But they moved on and found each other. I try to rationalize that happy endings are possible. If they can do it, why not me?

  Because it’s different. Because Abby didn’t stop loving me, she died.

  I get a beer, sit at the table, and stare at my phone, hoping Bria will call. She’s walked away from me twice. I open the app that tracks her phone and try not to think of how obsessively I’ve done it over the past twenty-four hours. She’s been at home mostly, but she’s not there now.

  She’s moving. Must be in a cab. I follow her progress for hours, refreshing my screen every so often to keep up with her. She’s barhopping.

  I leave my fourth beer half-full and walk out the door. Thirty minutes later, a cab is dropping me off in front of an English pub in downtown Manhattan. It’s crowded for a Thursday. Groups of people go in and out of the front door. I follow one of them in.

  The place is dark. Most of the tables are full. Lots of men are watching the baseball game on TV. I stand to one side and scan until I see her. She’s with the two friends I met at our gig last month. She’s smiling and laughing. I find a place at the bar where I can see them without them seeing me.

  “What’ll you have?” the bartender asks.

  “Jack and Coke.”

  I feel like a total douchebag that I’m even here. She’s enjoying a night out with friends, and I should leave.

  “Is this seat taken?” a woman asks.

  “No, go ahead,” I say, not looking at her.

  “Are you here alone?” she asks.

  I nod.

  “Want to buy me a drink?”

  I turn. She’s a cute redhead. “Does that mean you’re here alone?”

  She smiles. “I am.”

  I glance at my phone. “It’s ten o’clock. This is the city. You shouldn’t be alone.”

  “I don’t have to be.” She touches my thigh.

  I move my leg away. “You shouldn’t come to bars by yourself. There’s safety in numbers, you know. You should bring a friend.”

  A waitress is bringing Bria a drink. She points to someone at the bar. He raises his glass. Shit. He sent her a drink. She politely shakes her head and puts the drink back on the tray.

  Attagirl.

  The redhead says something. “What?”

  “I said, I don’t have any friends. I’m new to the city. I’m looking for someone to show me around.”

  “I don’t live here, so I’m not your guy.”

  “We could explore together.”

  “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

  “You’re not interested in buying me a drink or … anything?” She runs a finger down to her cleavage.

  “Still not your guy.”

  “I’ll buy you a drink,” the man on her other side says.

  She smirks at me over her shoulder. “Your loss.”

  The guy who sent Bria a drink is standing at her back. He leans down and says something to her. She smiles and shakes her head. He says something else. She shakes her head again. He puts a hand on her shoulder.

  “Fuck this shit.” I toss money on the bar and stride over to her table.

  Bria sees me approaching and is dumbfounded.

  “Want to get your hand off her?” I say to the man.

  “Didn’t know she was with anyone.” He removes his hand. “My bad,” he says and leaves.

  “What are you doing here?” Bria asks.

  “I’m having a drink.”

  “A half-hour from your mom’s? Are you here alone?” She narrows her eyes. “Are you following me?”

  I take out my phone and wave it at her. “You were all over town. I was making sure you’re okay.” I glare at the jerk. “Obviously you weren’t.”

  “You track her phone?” Katherine asks sharply.

  Bria picks up her phone and taps around on it. “Not anymore.”

  “What are you doing?”

  “You can’t show up when I’m out with friends.”

  Lola huffs. “Are you stalking her?”

  “I’m not stalking her. I’m her goddamn boyfriend.”

  “And you think that means you can’t be stalking her?” Lola says accusingly.

  “You should go,” Bria says.

  “I think I should stay.”

  The man who sent the drink is back. “Is there a problem?”

  Bria
shakes her head. “No problem.”

  “Yes there is,” Katherine says.

  The man puts a hand on Bria. “Maybe you should leave. The lady obviously doesn’t want you here.”

  His hand on her makes me see red, and I ball my hands into fists. “I’m her goddamn boyfriend.”

  He laughs. “Doesn’t look like it from where I’m standing.” He takes Bria’s hand. “Come on. You’ll be safe with me.”

  I tackle him, then punch him. Bria and her friends scream at me to get off him. A bouncer comes over and lifts me off the jerk. He bends my arm against my back and escorts me outside.

  I crane my neck around and see Bria is crying.

  The bouncer thrusts me out the door, and I fall to the sidewalk. “Get out of here before someone presses charges. We don’t allow that shit here.”

  Bria doesn’t come after me. And the jerk is still in there with her.

  I sit on a bench for an hour, watching everyone who leaves the bar. Finally, the jerk comes out with his friends. Bria isn’t with them. They get in a cab.

  I breathe a sigh of relief but wonder how many more like him are still inside.

  She hasn’t come out at midnight, and I leave. But I don’t go home.

  ~ ~ ~

  I shift around on the pavement, my ass getting sore from sitting here for so long. A cab pulls up. I check the time. Bria opens the door and stumbles out.

  “Really? It’s two in the morning, and you just fell out of a fucking cab.”

  “What are you doing here?” she slurs.

  “How drunk are you?”

  She fumbles with her keys. “Not drunk enough to forget that my so-called boyfriend tracked my phone, stalked me, and then punched someone out—again.”

  “He had his hands on you!”

  “Crew, be quiet. Someone will call the police.”

  “Let’s talk upstairs then.”

  “You’re not coming inside.”

  “Why not?”

  “When are you going to learn you can’t act like this?”

  “Like what?” I say stupidly.

  “God, Crew. Seriously? Like a jealous maniac.”

  “I told you, I’m not jealous.”