by RH Tucker
He nods and takes my hand. We hurry down the hallway toward the elevator. He hits the elevator button, then turns to me, holding my face in his hands. “I’m sorry,” he whispers to me.
More tears fall from my eyes, and his thumbs wipe them away. “Why didn’t you tell me from the beginning?”
“Because I didn’t want to make you feel like you had to choose. I thought it was better to make you think I was still the idiot who didn’t care about anything but himself.”
My hands come up and rest on top of his. “So, everything you said that night?”
“None of that was real. Cece, I love you.”
The whirlwind of emotions catches up. I throw my arms over his shoulders, pulling him closer. My lips meet his, and all the confusion and sadness and despair from these past few weeks vanish. I just know I want him, he wants me, and it doesn’t matter what my father says. Maddox is my heart. I can figure out how to deal with my father and the so-called consequences of our relationship later.
The elevator dings, and as the doors open, my mother comes around the corner. “Cecelia,” she calls out to me.
Glancing back at Maddox, he looks like he isn’t sure what’s going to happen. After everything I’ve found out tonight, I’m not either, but I leave his side and approach her. “Mama, please don’t make me choose.”
Her face crumples. She instantly throws her arms around me in a hug. “I would never,” she whispers. Holding me at arm’s length, a sad smile comes over her. “I just want you to be happy. He makes you happy?” I nod with a smile of relief. “Then go, baby.”
“And Daddy?”
“I’ll deal with your father.” She looks over my shoulder, watching Maddox for a quick moment, then gives me one more smile. “Go.”
“Thank you, Mama.”
Turning back to Maddox, I take his hand, and we step into the elevator. He presses the button for the first floor, then he takes me in his arms, holding me again. “I’m sorry,” I whisper to him.
“You have nothing to be sorry about. If anything, I feel like I can never apologize enough. For doing what I did, for tonight. Cece, if you have to choose between—”
“Shh.” I press a finger to his lips. “I don’t. I can’t believe my father did that, but I know what was behind his motives. He may be upset with me for a long time, but I know I’ll still be able to see my mom and brother. There’s only one thing I have to decide on, Maddox.” He quirks an eyebrow. “How much I love you?”
With his arms around me and mine around him, the future seems uncertain, but I know it’s not. I don’t know why I know that, but I do. He trusted me enough to finally tell me the truth and be the real Maddox again. He leans over, kissing me once more. As he pulls away, a smile crosses his lips.
In the crazy world of rock stars and spoiled socialites, there’s nothing more grounding than knowing he loves me. The King of Bad is gone. All that’s left is a real smile after a real kiss from the real Maddox. And I love the real Maddox.
Epilogue
“Ladies and gentlemen, give it up one more time for the Kings of Karmichael!” Johnny says to the audience. “Their brand-new album, Long Live the Kings, comes out tomorrow! Be sure to download it wherever you stream your music, and don’t forget they go on tour next month! The Kings of Karmichael!”
I’ve seen fans and friends go crazy for the Kings before, but tonight’s been unlike any of those times. The late-night television show with Johnny puts in perspective just how big of superstars they are.
“This is insane!” Sebastian says to me while we watch in the green room.
Last month Maddox invited me, my mom, and my brother to the show. Since it films in the evening, it’s not too late for Sebastian. I was surprised my mom made it, though. She was supposed to be out of town until next week on business.
It’s been six months since the truth came out about what my father did. The silver lining should be that not only has Luxe Miami opened, but my father fast-tracked New York as well. It opened last week. The reason it’s not a silver lining is that I’m not running any part of it anymore.
Instead, I’m helping my mother around her real estate firm and studying to become an agent. It’s disheartening, but I couldn’t go back to working for my father and pretending everything was okay. He didn’t speak to me for almost two months. And even when he did, it was only when my mother was present. Things are still rocky between us. We talk here and there, but he still hates that I’m going out with Maddox.
Maddox and the rest of the band walk back to the green room, and Sebastian starts jumping up and down in pure excitement. “That was amazing! How do you play the drums like that so fast?”
“Because I’m awesome, that’s how,” Maddox says, twirling a drum stick around.
“I still beat you at Fortnite.”
“All right, let’s get out of here,” Derrik says. “Everyone else is already waiting for us at the restaurant.”
“Hold on. We can’t go yet,” Maddox tells them.
They all stop and stare at him with an annoyed expression.
“Maddox, Skye and the girls have a gig in three hours,” EJ says.
“I know, but I have to do something first.”
When they all stare at him, expecting him to explain, he simply smirks. Then he looks at me and gives me a smile, but I’m not sure why. “What are you doing?” I ask.
Instead of answering, he looks over at my mom, then nods to my brother. “You got it?” he asks him.
Sebastian nods enthusiastically, then reaches into his pocket, pulling out a little box. My eyes narrow to try and figure out what it is. That’s when Maddox drops to one knee, and Sebastian hands him the box.
“Oh my God,” Jade whispers.
My hands cover my mouth. My eyes jump around the room. Everyone looks utterly shocked except Sebastian and my mom.
“Cecelia Mavin,” Maddox starts with a huge grin, “I love you. Will you marry me and make an honest King out of me?”
“Is this really happening right now?” EJ says.
“I thought you’d be the first to pop the question,” Derrik jokes.
“Ohmygod, ohmygod, ohmygod,” Jade repeats.
I’m still frozen in place. My mom continues to smile, and now I realize why she came home early. Maddox must’ve told her about this. She’s been more than supportive of us since finding out what my father did. And knowing she made time to be here warms me.
“Cece?” Maddox asks, his voice shaky.
“Yes,” I’m finally able to get my voice to work. “Yes, of course.”
Getting to his feet, I wrap my arms around him, and we kiss. I didn’t know what would happen when he finally told me the truth, but we got through it. I still have my family, and he still has me. When he’s on stage like he was tonight, or out for shows, I know that’s the King of Bad, but I always get Maddox. The real Maddox. And now I’ll have him forever.
Long live the Kings
Here we are. King of Bad is out in the world, and all four Kings have told their stories. I hope you enjoyed reading about Derrik, EJ, Jade, and Maddox as much as I enjoyed writing about them.
When I first had the idea for the Kings, they were actually going to be rich private school kids. They were going to be called the "kings" of the school because of where they lived. It was influenced by Gossip Girl. If you never watched GG, it was about this group of rich kids/socialites that basically ran their own little world.
But I wanted to write rock stars, too. I didn’t want to write about “adult” rock stars, though. Then I started thinking about the über famous groups/boy bands of the past. New Kids On The Block, N’Sync, One Direction, etc.
Thus, Kings of Karmichael was born.
There were times writing their stories when I'd pause and wonder if certain things were realistic. Whereas no one I ever knew growing up would have access to what the Kings had access too, so many movies and TV shows I loved did. Shows like The O.C. What high school kids have all-n
ight beach parties with no one to answer to? Those kids did. Easy access to ordering drinks at a bar in a hotel room without even getting carded? Hello, Gossip Girl. Kids running their own jobs without a care in the world even though technically they would be considered underage? Oh, hi there, Veronica Mars.
It's been done before, and it’ll be done again, so I tried not to think about limitations when it came to the Kings. They’re rock stars. How many teenage stars can do what they want in real life? Tons. Lindsay Lohan, Britney Spears, even Drew Barrymore back in the eighties. The Brat Pack ring any bells? (I may be aging myself now LOL)
So, while the Kings didn’t get into a crazy amount of trouble, yes, they could order anything they wanted. Go wherever they wanted. And do … well, whatever they wanted. Because they’re the Kings of Karmichael.
Long live the Kings.
About the Author
RH Tucker writes cute & edgy YA romance and lives in Southern California. He also consumes too much caffeine, eats too much pizza, and firmly believes Rocky Road is the best flavor of ice cream.
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~~~ ALSO BY RH TUCKER ~~~
THE KINGS OF KARMICHAEL
King of Hearts
King of Nice
Queen of Kings
King of Bad
THE RUMORS HAS IT SERIES
Rumor Has It
True to You
Courting the Nerd
Heart Shaped Lock
Through the Layers
Piece by Piece
HIGH SCHOOL SIDEKICK
(written under Ron Tucker)
Freshman Sidekick
Trial by Fire
Riptide
Graduation
