by B. Celeste
“Lord help us all if I’m his influence.”
I crack a grin. “You don’t give yourself enough credit, Garrick. You’re a good man. He even said so himself.”
“Did he now?”
A nod.
He hums, looking contemplative as he thinks about it. Yet all he says is, “Interesting.”
19
Garrick
The second Violet Wonders topped the charts we all knew everything would change. People liked us and wanted more—more music, more interviews, more appearances. It was suddenly about having the right manager and look, professional branding, and everything in between. We had to dress and act a certain way, say specific things, and censor our opinions.
We were silenced.
Rushed.
Crowded.
I hated it.
I hated the feeling of being controlled and trapped, two things I walked right into until I used drugs to escape it. It was like I walked out of the cage marked “fame” and right into the one labeled “addiction”. Always gated, closed in, with people watching like a damn circus.
Mum helped ground me when it got to be too much, when I started living out the life everyone seemed to think I was supposed to since gaining stardom. The parties, the women, the alcohol, it was all provided with a wink of an eye.
The moment Mum realized I was drowning in it, she reached into the pit I’d dug for myself and pulled me out.
And it started with a movie.
A classic.
My family’s favorite, one we still watch to this day.
“Watch a movie with me,” I say, stuffing my hands into the pockets of my sweatpants. They’re an old pair I always put on when I’ve got a good workflow going. It’s tradition, something I never want to break in fear that I’ll fuck up or lose focus.
Rylee looks around. “There’s no TV in here.” She doesn’t hide her surprise when she scopes out the décor, mostly images of my family and friends from over the years and a few of my favorite custom shoots from back when Violet Wonders first got together. Just because I hated most of those days doesn’t mean I can’t appreciate what they’ve done for me all these years later.
I grab my laptop off the desk and bring it over, leaning against my pillows that are propped along the headboard. I learned the hard way that it’s better to have as many pillows as possible there to avoid potential concussions if things get a little too heated with whoever is in bed with me.
Though, most people wouldn’t mind going home with a mild concussion given to them by someone like me.
“Come here.”
She doesn’t. Standing up, she turns, and watches as I go to my video library and pull up the film that always helps me whenever life gets to be too much.
“Mum used to put this on for me,” I explain, not moving my eyes from the screen as it begins to light up with the beginning. A nostalgic feeling settles into my chest, and I smile at the feeling. “She told me that we’d watch it any time I needed a break. It’s like people who use music as an escape. She trained me to use movies to let me forget about the music scene and everything expected of me for a while. I think she’d meant that we’d watch different ones, but I always come back to this one.”
Curiosity must get the better of her, because she walks along the opposite side of the bed until she can see the screen. It starts in black and white, the credits filling it slowly as the music begins. “Is that…The Wizard of Oz?”
I grin, turning to her to see wide eyes and parted lips. “Yes. You look surprised.”
She blinks. “Well, yeah. Sort of. I figured you’d like some sort of action film. Like the Fast and Furious movies or something with Liam Neeson in it.”
Patting the spot beside me, I set the laptop down next to my legs and wait for her to sit. “I’ve never liked action films that much. Too much blood and gore and not even a good storyline. Chase loves that shit though. Every time we have a movie night and it’s his choice, he chooses something he knows I’ll hate.”
A small smile settles onto her face as one of her knees bends to rest on the bed. She’s contemplating joining me, hesitant as she stares at the comforter. “I bet you make him watch some pretty interesting stuff in retaliation.”
I shrug. “Nah. I try finding something I think we’ll all love when it’s my turn.”
I don’t miss the way her brows raise like she’s shocked over that. One day she’ll realize how I work, but it’ll take time. “Who all joins you for these movie nights?”
“Is that your way of saying you want to be invited to the next one?” I tease.
It’s hard not to be amused over the faint pink dotting her cheeks. “No. I mean, I don’t know. Maybe? I’m curious, that’s all.”
“It depends. Usually Chase, me, and Mum have them once a month if I’m around. Sometimes we’ll do a virtual one if I’m on tour to keep tradition alive. Other times, the guys will join in and we’ll do it at one of their houses and whoever hosts gets to choose the film. Mum doesn’t come to those, but Chase will occasionally. Mostly because I drag him along so he’ll get out more often.”
“He seems to go out plenty now.”
“He’s up to something,” I agree lightly, “I don’t know what though. Chase doesn’t always tell me things, but if it’s really bothering him he will.” I think back to our house conversation and smile to myself knowing he confided in me. “I try not to take it personally. There are plenty of things I don’t share with him. We’re all allowed our privacy.”
“Like what?”
That’s a conversation for another day, so I point toward the computer. “Are you going to watch this with me? I can get snacks if that’s a deal breaker, but it’ll be good for the both of us to relax for the night. I’ll even share my Caramello Koala’s with you if you’re down, keep a stash of them in here so Chase doesn’t get to them. I’ll keep all body parts to myself, though if we share popcorn I can’t promise we won’t have one of those first-date moments where our hands accidently brush and then we look longingly into each other’s eyes for an awkward amount of time.”
She sits down, a fair distance between us as she eyes me skeptically. “Where’d you get that from?”
“I’m a movie buff,” I tell her honestly, “and my mother’s favorites are romances. I’ve seen plenty. Know the moves. Rest assured, I’ll do my best to control myself.”
There’s a moment of silence between us.
Then, “Is this a date then?”
Slowly, I shake my head. “If this were a date, I’d take you out to a nice dinner somewhere I know we won’t be bothered. Maybe I’d even cook for us here. We’d take a walk after sunset, watch the stars, and grab drinks to talk some more. If this were a date—” I eye her up and down, noting the black leggings and sweatshirt combo she loves wearing so much. “—we wouldn’t be on this bed watching a movie, and those clothes wouldn’t still be on you.”
She flushes.
Squirms.
And eventually settles in.
I claim victory, turning the screen towards her so we can both see it and trying not to let her see how her presence affects me.
Her legs clench.
My cock hardens.
But we both pretend that this is nothing.
She falls asleep halfway into the movie, and I watch her while debating if I should wake her, move her, or let her be.
I choose the latter.
When the screen goes black, I look at the time and quietly manage to get the blanket over her until she’s tucked in. She lets out a content sigh, shifts, buries her face into my favorite pillow where she’s already left a drool mark, and slips into a deeper sleep.
I suppose I get it. My bed is comfortable as hell, probably one of the more expensive pieces of furniture I invested in. And even though it’s a king size with plenty of room, I know crawling into the other side and turning off the lights is out of the question.
Rylee is turned on by me, there’s no doubt about it. She’
ll act like she isn’t, but I see the signs. The way her legs shake, her teeth bite into her bottom lip, and her face flushes. There’s a glaze in her eyes when she steals glances at me that matches my own, but we leave things untouched and unspoken because it’s easier.
I don’t want to be her friend.
I want to be more.
I married her for Christ’s sake.
But I don’t dwell on it as I walk out, adjust my hard cock, and close the door behind me to head downstairs for a drink. Chase is sitting in the dark, working on his laptop again with the TV on as background noise.
I say, “We watched The Wizard of Oz.”
His attention turns to me. “I take it she told you then?”
I wink. “Like I said. I expect the money in my hand tomorrow morning. It’ll be travel money for Ry.”
“Ry, huh?” he muses.
“Shut it,” I mutter. He snickers, I smack his arm, and drop down beside him. “You’ve been working a lot lately. I take it business is good despite the partners dropping?”
He moves over to put more space between us like I’m somehow crowding him, tugging at the collar of his t-shirt. “It’s been steady.”
That’s all I get. Steady.
“And the house?”
“Officially mine.”
“Congrats, mate.”
He murmurs, “Thanks.”
The mood dampens, and I study the profile of his stoic face as he clicks the keys on his laptop and stares at the screen.
We watch the TV in silence for a while. Whatever he’s doing on his laptop has ceased, his attention glued to the show playing that I don’t recognize.
It’s a moment or two before I say, “She’s a good girl, Chase. Go easy on her for me.”
His head turns a fraction. “You like her, don’t you?”
“Yes, I do.”
“Mom said she may be good for you.”
I smile. “She will be.”
“So you’re going with her to New York?”
“Yes, I am.”
He hums.
We go silent again.
The show plays.
A cleaning commercial runs.
I sip my water.
Then his own murmured admission renders me speechless. “I got a girl pregnant.”
20
Garrick
I’m going to murder them.
It’s the first thought that crosses my mind when I open the door and see three mischievous, painted faces grinning like the assholes they are in their decked-out costumes.
“I told you no,” I all but growl as Jax shoulders pass me with Calder and Manning following suit.
The only one who doesn’t look excited to be here in an expensive getup is Zayne. He gives me the look we usually share when Jax and Calder make stupid choices before I gesture for him to come in and close the door behind him.
Jax turns around. “Technically, you said no to the annual Halloween bash at the Lazy Croc. Which, by the way, is total bullshit. That’s our tradition. Now that you’re married, it’s like you’re pussy wh—”
“Enough,” I cut him off.
He raises his hands up. “I’m just saying. It’s nothing the rest of us haven’t thought. Except Zayne maybe, but we know why he hasn’t weighed in on the whole marriage thing.”
“Jesus Christ,” Zayne grumbles under his breath, walking over to the fridge in an outfit that doesn’t look too far off from his usual. “You got any beer here?”
He knows I don’t. “You’ll have to settle for whatever is in there.”
“Actually,” the asshole to my left clearly heading this whole thing butts in. “We’ll have that covered momentarily. There are refreshments waiting outside, along with a few surprises.”
I scrub a hand down my face. “You did not do what I think you did.”
It’s Manning who said, “He did.”
Closing my eyes, I take a deep breath in and hold it for a few seconds before exhaling. When I open them again, Zayne is standing in front of me with a handful of wild cherry Lifesavers in his hand. I grab one and pop it into my mouth, uncertain of what will happen if I speak right now.
“I tried telling them it was a bad idea,” Zayne tells me under his breath.
Cal hears him anyway. “Bad ideas usually end up being the best nights though. We haven’t gotten together since Garrick moved his new bride in. Don’t you think it’s time for us to meet her? What better way than a Halloween party?”
“What are we high schoolers?” I counter, glaring at Calder and shaking my head. “Like you pointed out, this isn’t only my house anymore. I need to run things by Rylee and Chase first, and I know for a fact Rylee won’t want to have a hundred people here.”
For that matter, neither do I. Didn’t they see the handful of people still waiting outside the gate? I all but lost it when some douchebag in tighter skinny jeans than what Jax wears asked me which window Rylee’s bedroom was when I returned home from running errands. If the security guard wasn’t out there ready to handle it, I would have thrown punches.
Jax smacks Cal’s chest with the back of his hand and mumbles, “Pussy whipped.”
I’m about to lose it when Zayne grabs my shoulder and says, “I’ll handle this.” I don’t know what handling it looks like, but I don’t wait to find out because I don’t want to look at my bandmates right now.
Walking upstairs, a small head with loose blonde hair peers around the corner. I don’t say anything as I walk over and tug her into my arms in a spontaneous hug, absorbing the warmth and sweet scent she gives off. I don’t expect her to return it, but two hesitant arms eventually wrap around my waist once the surprise clears.
“This is nice,” I tell her quietly.
There’s a moment of pause. “It is.”
It’s strange how something so small can feel ten times more intimate with her—a stolen look, a random hug. Rocking us slowly, I squeeze my hold around her until we’re pressed chest to chest with no room between us and bury my nose into the crown of her skull, inhaling the floral scent from her shampoo.
The assholes downstairs start making more noise, Zayne yelling at them to knock it off and failing miserably. I’m going to have to go back down there and stop this before it goes too far.
Again.
When did I become the parental friend?
The day you got sober, the voice in my head answers for me.
“I’ll get rid of them.” Not ready to pull back, I let out a small breath and add, “But they want to meet you.”
Her body goes rigid. “Why?”
“They’re my friends. Family, really.”
It’s a few moments before her body eases, probably feeling the way my heart reacts. “I get it. Moffie will murder me if I don’t let her meet you when we’re in New York.”
“How are you feeling about that?”
She makes a strangled noise. “Not great, but like you said. Worse things could happen.”
At least she’ll give me that. Brushing fingers through her hair for a few seconds, I step back and offer a comforting smile as I reach out my hand to hers. “Are you ready to meet some of the most unstable people in my life? They don’t bite. Maybe Jax, but only if he’s five shots in. He prefers redheads anyway.”
Rylee gives me a skeptical look. “Is that supposed to make me feel any better about going down there?”
“It’s not a firing squad, love.”
We stop at the top of the stairs. “It’s your friends. Your band. I’ve listened to your music before. Meeting them is…” She doesn’t finish the thought before our attention is grabbed by the people gravitating at the bottom of the staircase.
Jax and Cal are both grinning as they scope Rylee out. It’s Jax who whistles and says, “Shit, you got a sister?”
Cal snorts.
I glare.
Zayne shakes his head in the background and disappears back into the kitchen.
Rylee tightens her hold around my hand as we walk do
wn to meet them. I thread our fingers and don’t let go as we approach my group of overwhelming, yet lovable buddies.
“This is Rylee. Rylee, the guys.” I point to each one shooting off a name, though there’s no doubt in my mind she already knows them. She offers them each a timid smile, her face growing redder until we land on Zayne.
Jax—the dickhead—says, “Oh, you know him already, huh?” Manning offers a choked laugh that he covers with a cough and Calder snickers where he’s downing a beer by the island that’s already covered in about every type of alcohol there is that certainly didn’t come from me since I had Yasmin dump everything I had here.
I glare at the men responsible, but they brush me off and turn to the woman clenching my hand until there’s barely any feeling left in it.
Cal looks her up and down until I clear my throat and get a smirk out of him. “You chose well, bro. I can see the benefits here. What’s your life story then?”
Rylee’s eyes dart up to me in panic over the question. I step in for her. “She doesn’t need to explain anything to you, especially not when you show up uninvited like this.” Jax hands Rylee a beer, but I take it from him. “Neither of us drink. You know that.”
“You don’t drink,” Jax counters matter-of-factly. “That doesn’t mean your wife can’t have a little fun while you play guard dog. Right, Rylee?”
She starts to say something, but I cut her off before she gets the chance to. “I know you hate change, mate, but you’re going to have to deal with this one without being an asshole.”
Manning grabs a water and passes it to Rylee, which she accepts shyly. “Ignore Jax, he’s just trying to get a rise out of you.” He directs that at me, then shifts his attention to the woman keeping close to my side. “We’re not that bad, even if Jax makes you want to believe otherwise.”
Sighing, I set the confiscated beer down on the counter. “That’s hard to agree with when I said no party, yet here we are.” My eyes go over to where Zayne stands off to the side, nursing his own drink. “What are you even supposed to be?”
