by RH Tucker
There’s a smattering of chatter I hear when I open my door, but as soon as EJ and I are both out of the car, the talking turns to screams. We’re immediately met by security, holding back more fans who are either waiting to get into the club or lingering outside to take pictures. I have no idea why EJ decided on this place, but if he thinks it’ll make me second-guess my resolve to let loose tonight, he’s wrong.
Walking in, a few other musicians we know hurry over to us and celebrate that we’ve arrived. From everything I can tell, there’s no big event going on. We are the event. An actress approaches me, giving me a hug, and leaves her arms around my shoulders a little longer than needed.
“Hey, Maddox,” her breathy voice floats into my ear. “Long time.”
“Hey …” I try to remember her name. I remember the face. Upturned nose, high cheekbones, with black curly hair. And pouty lips, very pouty lips. But I’m blanking on the name.
“Krista,” she reminds me, unfazed.
“Right, Krista. How you been?”
“Better now that you’re here.”
“Order up!” EJ comes in out of nowhere, handing me a drink that smells like vodka.
“You’re drinking?” I ask him. He’s holding a drink that looks like it’s Jack and Coke.
“Hey, you wanted to party, right?”
My eyes jump between my drink, him, and Krista. I don’t know why EJ’s being so forthcoming all of a sudden, but I might as well take advantage. Nothing is holding me back anymore.
Lifting her glass, Krista gives me a salute, and I return the gesture. Taking a drink, I try to forget the reason I’m even here. I try to forget everything, listening to everyone talking around me, and the music playing through the speakers. Krista pulls me onto the dance floor, and I quickly down the rest of the drink, sliding the empty glass across the bar.
Krista throws her arms over my shoulders, and we start swaying to the music. My hands venture around her waist, but someone bumps my shoulder. When I glance over, EJ smiles and offers me a shot while holding his drink. A confused expression covers my face, but I shrug it off and take the shot from him.
Krista’s lips skim up my neck. For the first time since … I don’t know, middle school? I don’t know what to do. Her mouth floats up to my ear. “It’s been too long, Maddox.”
Usually, I’d reply with a line. I’d either tease her ear or forgo the teasing all together and start kissing her right now. My hands would probably be traveling up her back, resting at the nape of her neck. As it is, they’re frozen at the side of her hips.
She brings one of her arms around, running a finger over my lips, and keeps her body against me as we dance. Just as she leans closer, about to graze her lips against mine, EJ bumps me again. Checking my side, I see he has another glass. This time it looks like it’s some kind of lime drink.
What the hell is he doing? “I’m good,” I tell him.
“Come on,” he urges.
It’s enough to get me to stop moving while Krista keeps swaying her hips, enjoying the music. I stare at EJ, lifting a brow. “What are you doing?”
“What? You wanted to party, right?”
I open my mouth to respond but can’t think of the right words. Krista’s still oblivious. “How much have you had?”
“Me?” He starts laughing, waving his drink around. “Oh, this is Pepsi. I’m the DD, remember?”
“So … what? You’re just trying to get me plastered?”
“Excuse us,” EJ calls over to Krista, who nods.
He pulls me off the dance floor, and when we stop near the end of the bar, he offers me the drink again. “EJ, what’s going on?”
“What?” He gives me an exaggerated shrug. “I’m remembering being in Vegas. Remember that? You never partied with me, and since you’re single again, I figured we could make a night of it.” I guess that could be true, but this is completely unlike him. “What? Krista doesn’t do it for you anymore?”
That comment is enough to bring me to attention. “EJ.”
“No, it’s all good. Let’s go find some groupies. You lay on the King of Bad charm, and we’ll be having our own personal party. We can take it back to your place.”
“Shut the hell up. You’re with Skye.”
“I gave her a heads-up. Told her I might have to sacrifice a couple of nights for the good of my drummer,” he says with a wide grin.
“This isn’t funny.”
He starts laughing. I can tell it’s fake laughing, but he drapes his arm over my shoulder as if we’re old business partners. I’m still unsure what’s happening, and then he lifts the glass to my lips. “Come on, bad boy. Drinky drink.”
I shove his hand away, spilling the drink. “What the hell is your problem?”
“What? This is what you wanted, isn’t it?”
“Well … yeah. I mean, no. I don’t know. You’re acting like an ass.”
He shakes his head, then takes a sip of his glass. “No, I’m acting like a wingman. Something you’re sorely lacking. Where is Adam anyway?”
“How the hell do I know?”
“Oh,” he elongates the word, eyeing me with suspicion. “A little trouble in the brohood? That’s too bad, Maddox. I guess you’re trying to cut the cords on all fronts, huh?”
“What the hell’d you say?”
He lifts his shoulders. “I’m just saying, if you want to hook up with a bunch of randos again, it’s probably better to start fresh with a new wingman. I mean, you don’t want anyone around reminding you of Baby Mavin.”
It’s a stupid nickname that I know she hates. Plus, I called her that to try to drive the nail in my own relationship coffin with her. But something about his tone, the way he says it, and a smug grin on his face snaps something inside.
I shove him, and he stumbles back. “Watch your mouth, EJ.”
I expect him to straighten up and act normal. I’ve gotten in arguments with my sister and fights with Derrik, but EJ’s always been the pushover. I say that with affection, but it’s true. It’s one of the many reasons he’s the King of Nice. So, I fully assume he’s going to stop whatever thing he’s trying to do and tell me sorry or walk away.
Instead, he slings his arm over my shoulder. “Come on, man. Okay, maybe you’re over Krista. How about Jenny? I remember her being around at the club.”
“Stop.”
“Okay, no Jenny. Let’s let loose! I already told you, I’m getting a free pass tonight. You never showed me the ways of the bad boy. Teach me, Obi-Wan.”
“This is stupid,” I hiss.
Trekking my way through the club, I head outside, fed up with whatever EJ’s doing. He’s smiling through it all, but none of it makes sense. Is he mocking me? Is he trying to get a rise out of me? I have no idea, but I’ve had enough. I already have Adam’s annoyance and Cece’s wrath hanging over my head. I don’t need EJ’s stupidity.
“Calm down, will you?” EJ shouts, following me out of the club. “Come on, you’re the King of Bad. Cece was just a casualty of the King’s reign, right?”
I spin around, putting a finger in his face. “I’m serious, EJ. Shut the hell up right now.”
He pushes my hand away. “Don’t be so uptight. That’s not the King I remember. The King I remember would drag me along, we’d hit up a new spot, and toast to Cece being nothing more than a distant memory.”
“I’m not joking.”
“Forget Cece! She’s nothing but a—”
I don’t think about my next action. My fist flies out in front of me, connecting with his mouth. He stumbles back, letting out a grunt and grabbing his mouth. “Shit!” I shout, more out of my own stupidity than anything. “Damn it, EJ.”
Of all the surprising things he’s done tonight, and everything he’s said, what he does next it absolutely baffling. There’s no other word for it. He’s laughing. He’s actually laughing.
“Damn, she was right,” he says through the laughter.
“What? Who was right?”
“Jade,” he answers. “We had this debate the other day.” My eyes narrow, trying to understand what he means. “Derrik told us he talked to you but didn’t say why you and Cece broke up. Then, Jade and I got to talking. We assumed you didn’t break up with Cece just because, but since neither of us has a clue what’s going on, she said if someone pushed you far enough, you’d snap. It’d show us there’s something else going on. She had the bright idea of it being me. I thought it’d never happen, but when you showed up tonight, I figured … what the hell?”
I’m speechless. Not only about their plan, but the fact that EJ had the balls to enact it. “It’s … complicated.”
He rolls his eyes, then wipes his lip again, cringing. “Yeah, that’s an understatement.”
Right when the valet pulls the car around for us, he gives me a defeated look. As he’s driving down the freeway, we sit in silence for a moment before he finally starts up again. “Well, this was an interesting night. At least I know it’s not because you’re returning to who you were.”
I watch the headlights pass us. The city lights off on the side of the road reflect off of the windshield, and everything that’s happened tonight comes crashing down around me. Confronting Cece, being fired, then trying to act like I don’t care about any of it. Trying to be who I used to be—only interested in partying.
“I don’t think I could if I wanted to,” I whisper.
30
Cece
I’ve never fired anyone before. So, when I fired Maddox last week, I had a whole new set of problems to deal with. Not that they hit me right away. First, I fought back more tears after what he told me. Then I suppressed the hysterical screams of anger I wanted to unleash as he walked past me. After those things, I was hit with a feeling of bitterness and apathy swirling about.
I stepped out from the backstage room when he left, and approaching the DJ stage, a shot of fright hit me. I didn’t have talent for the night. Everyone in the club was here to have a good time, and I just fired their superstar DJ.
We told the crowd there was a slight delay, and after frantically looking through our contacts, Leslie and I were able to get ahold of a DJ she knows. He came in an hour later, and thankfully all of the club-goers didn’t seem too put off by the situation. Afterward, I had another problem I needed to deal with. I had to tell my father.
He was never Maddox’s biggest fan, but after the dinner, it seemed like he was giving him a chance. Which only made it more painful to tell him. I pulled him aside after one of his meetings, and he didn’t seem surprised. I don’t know what I was expecting. I told him we weren’t dating anymore, and I wasn’t sure if Maddox was going to hold that against us, or possibly try to sue Luxe for breach of contract.
“Oh, I’m sure he won’t do anything that drastic.” He gave me a hug as we sat in his office for a few minutes while he reassured me everything would be okay. I wish I could be as confident as him. Ever since everything happened, as the days go by, I know I’m feeling more like I did before Maddox came around. And I know I shouldn’t bother thinking about him anymore, especially after our last conversation. But I do.
Getting back to work with Leslie and Tina has helped me keep the days moving. Leslie handled a lot of the business aspects of Maddox’s contract, so she already had some leads on a few other DJs. We’ve already signed one for the remaining month. Plus, things are on track for us to be opening the next Luxe location, which has finally been confirmed for Miami. The permits just came through, and Daddy is finalizing the details with the construction company. Everything professionally is going to plan. Which makes the other part of my life feel that much emptier.
“Honey, I know this weekend is the first weekend with the new talent, but I was hoping you’d attend your mother’s Icon Award show party.”
I frown as we sit in the restaurant where we’re eating lunch. Not because he’s asking me to miss a busy night for my mother’s party—something she’s held every year for the past five years—but because of his use of the term “talent.” I know that’s what Maddox was, but it feels so flippant.
My father must sense my change of mood. “Cecelia, it’s for the best.”
“You keep saying that, but it’s still so …” I search for the right words, twirling the glass of water on the table. “I mean, how could he do that, Daddy? How could he just flip a switch and treat me like that? Treat us like it was never—”
“Cecelia, it pains me to see you like this, and it brings me no pleasure to say what I’m about to say.”
I can’t help the scoff that comes out. “You didn’t even like him.”
“True, but I gave him a chance. I want you to be happy. And I want what’s best for you. You want to know how he could do this? Because he’s nothing more but an egocentric celebrity, that’s how.”
My eyes meet his, and I want to counter him. I want to tell him he’s wrong and that Maddox might have had that reputation before, but what he showed me wasn’t that. Then I remember his last words.
“Come to the party, Cecelia. It’ll be good for you. Let Leslie and Tina handle it for one night, and enjoy time with family.”
A small, unimpressed giggle comes out. “Right. Every year she invites all the families of your VPs.”
He smiles. “We’ll make a night of it. You can invite Winston.”
My shoulders slump in disappointment. “How many times do I have to tell you there is nothing between Winston and me?”
He smirks. “I know, I know. I’ll just have to find someone who’s perfect for you, then.”
“Please don’t do anything like that. I’ll come to the party, but I’d just like a nice, stress-free night.”
I watch him closely while he takes a drink of his bourbon. I don’t know how serious he is, but after Winston, I imagine he has at least some inkling of someone in mind. Part of me wonders why he has this notion that he has to set me up at all. But the other part of me is appreciative that he wants me to be happy and taken care of.
When Sunday night rolls around, I’m still not up for big crowds, but I have to admit it’s a little better than being at the club. The last two nights were the first when it should’ve been Maddox, but instead, our new DJ was playing. So even though our foyer is filled with dozens of my parents’ friends, who are just a step above business associates, it still feels like a weight has been lifted from my shoulders. I can try to relax for the night instead of feeling so tense at the club. No one is really paying attention to the pre-show of the awards show. Instead, they chat about their latest closings, upcoming deals, or future forecasts.
After about an hour, my father comes up to me while I’m talking to … Trudy? Trina? I can’t remember, but she works in my mother’s real estate firm. I’m introduced to Jonathan Cromwell the third. What is it with millionaires naming their children like we live in medieval times?
“Jonathan works for his father’s legal firm.” My father’s almost glowing as he talks. “He just graduated from Harvard.”
I take a deep breath to calm myself, then give Jonathan as much of a polite smile as I can. “Would you excuse us for just a moment, Jonathan?” I don’t wait for him to answer, and grab my father around his charcoal gray suit, dragging him into our kitchen. “Daddy, what is wrong with you?”
“What?” he asks like he doesn’t have a clue what I’m talking about. He probably doesn’t.
“I just got out of a relationship.”
“Honey, that wasn’t a relationship.”
“Daddy!”
He lifts his hands in apology. “Okay, okay. I’m sorry. Jonathan’s family is extremely well-known among our associates. His father and I were discussing a few things over golf the other day, and he simply mentioned that Jonathan himself recently went through a breakup. I don’t mean to be short, but you know I only want what’s best for you.”
The feelings of annoyance are still there, but also something new. I’ve heard most of this before. I know his heart is in the right place an
d that everything he’s done—everything both of my parents have done—is for the benefit of myself and my brother. He’s not trying to set me up because of some weird effort to get me out of the house, he just wants someone who will take care of me. Even if I’m trying to prove I can take care of myself.
What would’ve happened if I gave serious thought to his initial setup of myself and Winston? What if I would’ve given Winston a chance instead of blowing him off? At the very least, I would’ve spared myself the heartache of getting attached to Maddox and believing all of his lies.
What if I tried my father’s way?
“I don’t know that I’m ready to date anyone,” I tell him. He looks like he’s about to counter my words when I hold up a finger to stop him. “But I guess it wouldn’t hurt to talk to him.”
“My baby girl,” he says with a smile. Kissing the top of my head, he wraps his arms around me. “I’ll always do what’s best for you.”
31
Maddox
After a week of working out some songs with the band, eating more cheeseburgers than I have in the last three months, and a steady stream of video game playing, I’ve gotten through a week of being normal. Or, at least as normal as one can be when you’re a rock star.
I haven’t wanted to go back out, especially after being forced to come to terms with my feelings after EJ put on his little show. Instead, I’ve been a homebody unless I’m working on our next record. It’s weird not constantly doing stuff or trying to meet up with friends and party all night like I have been these last couple of years. The only thing that’s been distracting is the fact that I still get pissed off whenever I think about Cece. But what’s done is done. I did what I had to. Now I have to move on.
