by RH Tucker
“Thank you again for the tickets, Maddox,” my mom says. “He’s going to be so excited.”
“No problem,” Maddox responds. “He mentioned Fortnite the first time I met him, so I figured he’d love it.”
Maddox got Sebastian tickets to a Fortnite tournament being held in Anaheim. It’s supposed to be a huge deal for everyone who plays the game, so I’m sure he’s going to flip out when he learns that’s what he got.
“I’m surprised some of these other kids haven’t mobbed you yet,” she says, scanning the crowd of kids in and around the pool.
Maddox chuckles. “I told them I just look like Maddox.” I shake my head. Sebastian will probably get upset once we finally tell him the truth. “I think some of the kids are suspecting it,” Maddox continues, “but I said I’m a fill-in artist. I show up for him when he’s sick.” She laughs. “I wish I could do that when adults approach me sometimes.”
A lady comes over, tapping my mother on the shoulder, and the two begin chatting about whatever business she’s in. I’ve lost count which corporate heads are attending today. Maddox leans closer to me, wrapping a hand around my waist.
“What would you do if I threw you in the pool right now?” he whispers against my ear.
“I’d pull you in with me. Then I’d probably scream at you.”
“I think I can live with that.”
Starting to pull me with him, I begin giggling, trying to break out of his grasp. As we inch closer to the pool, both of our laughs are broken up by my father, clearing his throat behind us.
“Oh, Daddy.”
Maddox loosens his hold on me but keeps his arm around me still. “Mr. Mavin,” he says, which earns another giggle out of me. I still think it’s hilarious how formal he stays with him.
Unfortunately, my dad remains the same as before. He lifts his brows as the only form of acknowledgment, then looks at me. “Cecelia, I took the liberty of inviting Winston.”
“What?”
He points behind us, and I turn to see Winston arriving. Like everyone else, he’s in khaki shorts and a light blue and red Hawaiian shirt. His eyes find mine, and he gives me an uncomfortable wave.
My head snaps back toward my father with a scowl over my face. “Daddy, why would you do that?”
“Cece, Winston is—”
“I know who and what Winston is. I told you at the gala, and I’ve told you since then, I’m dating Maddox.”
His eyes jump back at Maddox. When I glance over, I see Maddox cock his head to the side, giving my father a cocky smirk. Thanks, Maddox. That’s not going to help me at all.
“Honey, can we talk for a moment?” my father asks, and walks away without waiting for an answer.
“I’ll be right back,” I whisper to Maddox.
I walk by Winston, who cringes in apology, shaking his head. I roll my eyes in response. “Daddy, you have to stop this,” I tell him when we stop in a small cabana on the opposite end of the pool.
“Winston comes from a great family. They’re well-off, and their company is poised to become one of the largest in their sectors for the next decade. With your—”
“No. Please, stop. Winston’s nice, but I’m not dating him. Why can’t you understand that?”
“Because, honey, this musician? What is this? Another one of your jokes like you used to pull? Is one of your little friends around filming this as some sort of reality show?”
My scoff almost echoes over the pool. “Wow. I can’t believe you.”
“I only want what’s best for you. You have to see where I’m coming from on this.”
My arms cross, and I glance around the pool area, the kids shouting in joy. Beyond them, my mother’s eyes connect with me, giving me a confused stare. I shake her off, then see Maddox eyeing me carefully before Winston says something to him. I can’t believe my father is acting this way.
“I know you want what’s best for me, but I know what I want. Maddox is a good person. He might not fit your mold of what an appropriate partner might be, but he’s nice and caring, and most importantly, he likes me. He wasn’t set up by two billionaires to date me.”
“Honey, that was never how I saw it. I wasn’t setting you up with a business partner’s son. Winston has his life scheduled out for him. This Maddox, what does he do? He plays music. How long can something like that last? Winston’s family’s company will—”
“Yes, Daddy. He plays music. In the biggest band in the world, but I don’t care about any of that. I like him. Why can’t you understand that?”
For a moment, I think this entire discussion is futile. That no matter what I say, he’ll never understand my reasoning. I get where he’s coming from, as annoying as it is, so why can’t he understand my position? Then his face softens.
“Of course, sweetheart,” he says, pulling me closer. After a small hug, he holds my face. “I do understand. I just want you to be happy.”
“I am.”
He nods with a slight smile, then leaves my side, heading off toward a group of men I’ve seen him talking with earlier. Heading back to Maddox, his eyes are suspicious, while Winston still looks like he’s in trouble.
“Cece, sorry, I didn’t know what to say when he invited me,” Winston says.
“You okay?” Maddox asks, taking my hand, his emerald eyes with a seriousness I haven’t seen on him before.
Nodding, I give his hand a squeeze, then lay my head on his shoulder. “Yeah, sorry about that.”
“Don’t worry about me,” he says, wrapping his arm around me. “I guess I still have a bit to go to win over your dad.”
“I guess so.”
21
Maddox
With my headphones on, I hit my drumsticks against the cymbals, recording a new track for one of the songs we’re working on. We’ve been in the studio for a couple of hours today, but my mind’s looking forward to tomorrow.
After Cece’s brother’s birthday party, we made plans to go out to dinner and tomorrow’s the night. It’s something I’ve been looking forward to, especially since the interaction with her father at her brother’s party.
She had every opportunity to take the easy path and go out with the guy her father set her up with, but she didn’t. She wants to go out with me. And it doesn’t feel like it has in the past, where I knew it was because of who I portrayed. Now, I’m with a girl, and she doesn’t want that guy, but the real me. I never thought I’d want that, but then again, I don’t know that I’ve ever met anyone like Cece.
“Hey!” Derrik shouts through a microphone. “What are you doing?”
“Huh?” I look up from my drum kit. He, along with Jade and EJ, are all staring at me from the adjacent studio.
“You’re not even playing the song. What are you doing?” he repeats, enunciating each word.
“I’ll tell you what he’s doing,” EJ says, snickering. “He’s daydreaming.”
“Oh my God,” Jade adds, her jaw dropping. “I think you’re right.”
“In that case, you want to jot down any more love lyrics you got bouncing around in that brain of yours?” Derrik says, making them all laugh.
“Very funny,” I yell back, then flip them off.
Walking out of the booth, I head into the studio with them. They’re still laughing, and though I’m annoyed with the teasing, I can’t say I don’t deserve it. I’ve teased EJ mercilessly ever since high school, ragged on Jade’s ex-boyfriend—even though he deserved it—and I made fun of Derrik for writing so many cheesy lyrics about being in love when he had Zoey on the brain. I guess what comes around goes around.
My phone starts ringing, but before I can see who’s calling me, Jade begins the teasing again. “Oooh, she’s already got him trained to answer on one ring.”
Her comment makes the guys erupt in more laughter. “You’re so funny, Jade,” I retort, rolling my eyes. Looking at my phone, I see it’s Leslie, one of the managers who work for Cece. “Hey, Leslie, what’s up?”
“Hi
, Maddox. I was asked to call you in for a meeting. Can you make it down to the club in the next hour?”
“Really?” I squint, unsure what this is all about. We’re supposed to have another one of those meetings Cece holds, going over all the reports and business stuff with her father, but that’s not until next week. “Yeah, sure, I guess so.”
“Great. Just so you know, it’s with Mr. Mavin.”
“Oh.” That’s odd. “Wait, no one else? Just him?”
“Mm-hm.”
“Um, okay. Yeah, no problem.”
“Okay, great. I’ll let him know you’re on your way.”
She hangs up, and I stare at the screen of my phone. I have no reason to feel uneasy about meeting with him, but it’s weird. From every interaction I’ve had with the man, he seems like he can’t stand to be around me. There’s no way this is any kind of business meeting. It has to be about Cece.
“Hey, I gotta go. I’ll be back in a little bit.”
“Oh, she must’ve rung the bell!” EJ shouts, and the laughter continues.
As I drive, the phone call and situation I’m walking into sways through my mind. I pull my SUV up to the front of the building, and the valet takes my car away. Heading inside, I don’t know what I should be expecting, and part of me wants to call Cece. This has to be about her, so maybe she’d know why her father wants to have a one-on-one with me.
Then again, maybe she has no idea. If she doesn’t, I don’t want to call her and give her any reason for concern. Chester Mavin is a billionaire that people around the world look at as an elite hotel mogul, but he’s also her dad. I know she loves him, and if I tell her that he’s calling me in for some sort of talking-to, I don’t want to cause any kind of rift in her family.
As I approach the elevator, a guy in a suit that looks like he works for the building waves me down. “Mr. Barkley?”
“Yeah?”
“Right this way, sir. Mr. Mavin is in an office down here.”
Okay, great. He’s waiting for me already, and he has his employees on the lookout for me. Everything about this is confusing and unsettling.
The guy walks me down a hallway, and as we turn a corner, there’s a long, glass wall blocking off what appears to be a conference room. Chester leans against a long oak table, talking on his cell phone. He sees us, and with two fingers, motions us to come in. It comes off like he’s beckoning two people he knows are beneath him to enter the room. Or maybe I’m still a little offended about the Winston stunt at Sebastian’s birthday party.
“Leave us,” are his first words as the attendant who walked with me opens the door. No “hi,” no “thank you,” not even a grin. He still has his phone to his ear, but he orders the man who showed me the office away like he was nothing more than a busboy.
“Yes. Send over the contract. Right,” he says, and ends the call.
The contrast between us is as black and white as you can get. He’s in a pinstripe, dark blue suit, with a matching tie, and the collar on his shirt has those little pins that keep it in place. I don’t know what they’re called, but they’re gold and fancy. I, on the other hand, am wearing my Air Jordans today, black jeans, T-shirt, and a black baseball cap. Turned backward, of course, because that’s how I roll.
He looks me up and down, straightening out, but staying in place. “I don’t understand,” he says, and I’m not sure if he’s talking to himself or to me. Before I can ask, he continues. “You’re in a band.”
It doesn’t come off as a question, but I answer him anyway. “Yeah.”
“Yes.”
“Excuse me?”
“Yes. Not ‘yeah.’” His dark brown eyes lock on to me in a challenging stare.
His words, his tone, his entire demeanor instantly tells me why I’m here. And it’s the same reason he invited Winston to the party. “Wow, okay. Look, I don’t know what you think you know about me, but let me tell you—”
“No, DJ. Let me tell you,” he cuts me off and takes a step toward me. “I don’t know anything about you. All I know is my daughter has feelings for you, and I won’t let that happen. You’re … What are you? A kid playing DJ on the weekends? In some sort of band? And you think that’s how you take care of a family?”
My eyes widen in astonishment. Not that this guy doesn’t know who I am, but at his audacity and how he thinks he can control his own daughter’s feelings and life. “And you think trying to control your daughter’s life is how you take care of one? I’m done here.”
Turning to leave, I reach for the door handle on the glass door, but he calls out to me. “How much will it take for you to stop seeing her?”
His words are enough to get me to turn and face him. “Excuse me?”
“How much?” He pulls out a checkbook from the inner pocket of his blazer, along with a pen. “Name your price.”
“Wow. Just … wow. You’re a real piece of shit, you know that?”
The insult bounces off him, and he rolls his eyes. “I’m looking out for the best interest of my daughter. My family. Something you probably have no clue of how to comprehend. A hundred thousand? One fifty?”
I’m both speechless, and I want to scream. I want to attack him, yet I’m frozen in place. Her father is literally trying to buy me out of her life. How do I even process this? Then, a more horrifying thought comes to mind; how am I supposed to keep this from Cece?
Regaining some sort of composure, I shake my head. “Screw you. You can’t buy me out of Cece’s life.”
“Two hundred, then?” He cocks his head to the side as if I’d jump at the chance. “Come now, don’t be stupid, boy.”
“Old man, you could offer me five million dollars, and I’d still tell you to go and shove that money up your ass. You can’t buy me.” Shaking my head, I realize I have to get out of this office. The astonishment is wearing off, and I’m feeling more and more hatred building up.
Spinning back around, I grab the door handle. Before I can leave, he calls out to me, “I will get rid of you. I can promise you that.”
I can’t turn to face him. If I do, I’ll want to punch him in his pathetic billionaire face. “You can try,” I hiss, and leave the room.
22
Cece
Holding up a blouse, I inspect the pink and green trim on it while Stephanie changes in a dressing room. When she exits, she spins around, and the small skirt she’s wearing waves back and forth, the light purple color shimmering under the fluorescent lights inside of the store we’re in.
“That’s cute,” I tell her. “So, who’s going with you to this party?”
The question is casual, and I’m not even really paying attention to her answer as I scroll through my phone. I’m just making conversation since I can’t go to it because of the dinner tonight with Maddox. But when she doesn’t answer, I glance back at her, and she’s eyeing me cautiously.
“What?” I ask.
“Nothing. I mean, it’s just a few people we know. Alicia is going to show up, and …” She looks away, staring at her reflection in the mirror. Nervously, her fingers begin to fidget with the dress. “Winston.”
My eyes pop open, along with an unbelieving smirk. “Winston?”
“Please don’t be mad.”
“Mad? Why on earth would I be mad? I’m more shocked than anything. Are you serious? The last time I saw you two, you were bickering at the double date.”
Her shoulders slump. “I know. And I’m not saying he’s not a geek, because he is.” I roll my eyes at her comment. “But then we went to that party Maddox told us about. I don’t know … he seemed a little different the rest of the night. He wasn’t all uptight like at the dinner, and then …” She cringes, showing me her teeth. “We kissed.”
“You kissed?” I yell, earning a look from one of the retail workers toward the front of the store. “What? How? You and Winston? Oh my God, this is crazy!”
She throws her head back. “I know!”
“I can’t believe he didn’t say anything
. I just saw him at my brother’s birthday party, no thanks to my dad.”
“Yeah, he told me,” she says, but it comes out almost with a guilty tone. “I asked him not to say anything yet.”
My brow furrows in confusion. “Why?”
“I wanted to tell you first. You guys were initially set up, but I know you weren’t really interested.” She lets out a confused chuckle. “I can’t believe I’m interested in him, but … yeah. I don’t know, I just didn’t want it to be weird because of how you two were set up.”
“Girl, there’s nothing to be weirded out about. You know there was never a connection between us. I’m happy for you.” I wrap my arms around her.
“Okay, calm down. We’re not getting married or anything. In all honesty, I don’t know what happened. At the party, he was more relaxed or something. And then he offered to buy me a drink, so of course I said yes. I figured he was going to go on about his schooling and how he feels like he doesn’t know what he’s doing. I get that stuff’s confusing, but it was getting annoying at dinner.”
I shake my head at her with a smile. I remember him talking about that a little at the dinner, but that’s his life and everything he’s figuring out. Steph was a bit rude that night.
“But he didn’t,” she continues. “He asked me about my channel and seemed more confident. I don’t know what happened, but … yeah. Later that night, we made out.”
She adds the last comment with a smirk, and I start giggling. Then I remember Maddox telling me that night that he gave Winston some advice. It makes me wonder what it was, but more than that, it reminds me that Maddox knows how to talk to girls.
He knows how to act and the right things to say and do to wrap most girls around his finger. And even with all of that, I don’t feel like he’s ever done that with me. Sure, he tried to in the beginning, but he seems to have abandoned the playbook he no doubt has perfected. It reminds me of the times he’s told me the things he says aren’t lines; they’re the truth.
The thought brings a new smile to me, and I give Stephanie another hug. “I’m happy for you. This is awesome, we can totally double-date again. For real this time.”
