Chapter 38
DERRICK
Ithought this year would be different, but it ended up going to custard.
Chance left for rehab straight after I left the hospital, which I am proud of him for, but I wish we hadn’t ended on awkwardness.
Axel and Olivia were on cloud nine together until she got the devastating call that her father had been rushed to the hospital in Scotland, and they rushed to be by his side.
Unfortunately, Axel came home by himself, devastated, and disappeared up to Big Bear.
He was rushing to talk about what happened between them, but it was easy to work out that Olivia chose her family over him.
Then, to add salt to the wound, we got invitations to Olivia’s wedding.
Like hell we would be supporting that farce of a wedding, so we all declined.
My loyalty is with Axel regarding this. Guess we should thank Olivia for giving him so much inspiration, as he has been writing his little heart out in the mountains and creating songs for the Sons of Brooklyn and Gypsy Sisters.
Chance came out of rehab refreshed and, from all reports, a new man.
I messaged him to congratulate him on the feat, and he told me he feels great and that we should catch up soon, but then I never heard from him again.
I’m giving him his space. With all the new music Axel has been producing for them, Sons of Brooklyn has decided to try a small tour with the Gypsy Sisters to ease Chance back into rock star life.
Sienna and Vanessa are traveling well with their pregnancies, and their men are highly protective of them, which is sweet, but utterly frustrating for the women.
Isla is living her best life in Paris, judging by her photos. She keeps messaging me photos of hot guys around France, tempting me to come over. She is making a sound case if I do say so.
Oscar and Stacey are doing well living and working together. The Viking seems to have mellowed, which is cute to see.
Finn, on the other hand, has lost his mind and is fucking every woman he can in New York.
I told him he doesn’t deserve Isla with the way he is acting, and he did tell me to get fucked, so there’s that.
He can dig his own grave when it comes to Isla, and I’m glad she isn’t here to witness it firsthand, that she’s only getting the CliffsNotes versions via the media.
I caught up with Parker recently and we went partying in WeHo together.
He is such great fun, and his Italian stallion friend happened to be in town too, and I took him for a ride.
I’ve been losing myself at The Paradise Club.
My stress level has been through the roof, my business is taking off, and I’m getting more celebrities interested in working with me.
We’ve had to hire more staff, I now have my own dedicated Derrick Jones Styling team, little old me.
I’m happy, even though I’m stressed. My life is taking off in the direction I’ve always wanted, except I’m missing someone to share it with.
Now don’t get me wrong, The Paradise Club keeps me busy, so busy, and satisfied, but, and I can’t believe I am saying this, it’s just sex.
I know shoot me now. Sex is great. Fantastic.
Phenomenal. My dick is satisfied and constantly hungry, but my heart …
I have everything I’ve ever wanted in my life, but when I come home my house is empty, and yes, I could get a dog or a cat and maybe I’ll consider that, but I wish I had someone there waiting for me with a glass of wine and open ears to listen to me go on about my day.
Look, I know I am a lot to handle. Sometimes I can’t handle myself, and I worry there isn’t anyone else who’s willing to put up with me.
Don’t worry, I would never change for a man, been there, done that.
I’m happy with who I am, but I am also human and don’t want to live this fabulous life alone.
Are you really going to find Prince Charming at a sex club?
Yes, there are flaws in my plans, I see that, but one can hope.
Derrick: Good luck, Princess.
I send Olivia a message while I’m at home drinking alone.
She is getting married tomorrow, and I wish I were there celebrating her special day, not to that fuck face, I’d never support that, but if she were marrying anyone else, I would be there for her.
I look at my phone and realize someone else is probably not having a good night as I dial his number.
“Hey, Ax.”
“Hey, D, what’s up?”
“We can still stop the wedding,” I tell him, which makes him laugh.
“Why would I do that?”
What kind of stupid question is that? “Because you love her.” Am I projecting because I’m miserably lonely? Yes, and I’ve had one too many glasses of wine while I watch stupid romance movies by myself on a Friday night.
“Love sometimes doesn’t conquer all, D. This is the real world, not some fairytale.”
How can he be so blasé about this? Axel loves her. He should have fought harder for her. Told her he wasn’t going anywhere. Demand that she not marry that asshole. “You’re so goddamn stubborn. Both of you are. That stubbornness is letting the woman you love marry Marquees de Dick Face.”
“Yeah, well, that’s her choice,” Axel says, infuriating me even more.
“So, you’re totally fine with her taking that royal douche to bed tomorrow night and letting him touch her, fuck her, impregnate her.” I can’t believe the words that just fell out of my mouth. You’re being a dick right now.
“Of course, I’m not, D. But she chose him. What do you not understand about this situation? Tomorrow, she’s marrying someone else. That someone is not me,” he yells at me.
“But you never fought for her,” I argue weakly.
“I flew to fucking Scotland to be by her side, then she told me to take a hike.” I can hear the hurt in his voice.
“She was hurting, her father almost died, and she wasn’t thinking straight.” I try to rationalize Olivia’s thoughts.
“She never contacted me. It’s been months,” Axel spits.
“I know,” I say sadly, all hope evaporating from me. He’s right. She chose loyalty over love, it was always going to be this way. “I just … I wanted you two to make it.”
Axel falls silent for a couple of breaths. “I know, D, so did I. It just wasn’t our time … right girl, wrong time,” he answers sadly.
Urgh. I’m a dick. This is why I shouldn’t drink alone, I get in my head and make things worse. He probably feels heartbroken, and here I am chastising him for not doing enough. He couldn’t force her to choose him.
“Yeah, I guess you’re right. Well, I’m here for you tomorrow if you need me.”
“Thanks, D, but I have heaps of work to do. Tomorrow is simply another day.”
Tears fall down my cheeks hearing his words. How will he ever be able to move on? “Okay, well, I’m here anyway, anytime.”
“Thanks, D.”
Vanessa: OMG. Olivia didn’t marry Eddie.
Derrick: What? I’m hungover as shit. What happened?
Vanessa: Camryn called me and said Penny married Eddie!
Derrick: Penny? As in her sister.
Vanessa: Yes. Eddie knocked her up.
Derrick: No fucking way.
Vanessa: Diabolical.
Derrick: Where’s Olivia now?
Vanessa: Vanished. No one knows.
Derrick: Does Axel know?
Vanessa: Christian is on the phone with him now.
Derrick: Fuck! This is insane. I don’t get it, how?
Vanessa: Ivy told Camryn that there was a pregnancy test in her trash can, and she thought it was Olivia’s, but she denied it. Then she said Liv stormed toward Eddie’s room with her parents in tow and found Penny and Eddie in bed together.
Derrick: Her parents saw.
Vanessa: Yes! Is that not karma.
Derrick: Fuck me.
Vanessa: She then told them that Penny was pregnant by Eddie, which Penny confirmed. Then Eddie had the audacity to question if he was the father and demanded a paternity test.
Derrick: No way!
Vanessa: Yep. Then his parents came regarding the commotion, and they demanded that Eddie marry Penny because of the baby.
Derrick: Not to be a bitch, but do we know if the baby is Eddie’s?
Vanessa: Who cares. Olivia didn’t get married.
Derrick: How does Axel feel?
Vanessa: Chris said he sounds confused over it.
Derrick: Would be a shock. I called him last night when I was drunk and told him he should have tried harder. I feel horrible about that.
Vanessa: Doesn’t matter now, she never got married.
Vanessa: Hey, I must go, Chris needs me. Love you.
I can’t believe this. It’s insane. I catch a whiff of myself. “Ew, you stink.”
Shit!
Axel called me while I was in the shower, so I call him back.
“Derrick, she never married him,” Axel says excitedly.
“I heard. I can’t believe it.”
“Do you know where she is? No one can find her,” he asks in a panic.
“I’m guessing she’s gone to ground, the media attention will be kind of crazy. Swapping a bride at the last minute is quite the controversy.”
“I have to find her.” His voice is desperate.
“Let me call her and see what I can find,” I tell him.
“Thanks, D,” he says, hanging up.
Pulling up Olivia’s number, I press dial, and it goes straight to voicemail. Where the hell is she? Then I call Camryn.
“Where is she? Axel is looking for her.” I don’t even greet Camryn.
“I don’t know. Ivy won’t tell me, but she assures me she’s safe,” Camryn explains.
“Can you believe this shit happened?”
“No. This is like a scene from a soap opera. Ivy said watching it in real time was unreal and that Olivia knew exactly what she was doing when she found the pregnancy test. She needed her family to see with their own eyes what they were demanding of her,” Camryn explains.
“I can’t believe Penny married him.”
“She’s having his baby, so it’s probably for the best.” Camryn chuckles.
“Kind of wish I was there to see if unfold.” I chuckle.
“Me too.” Camryn laughs. “How’s Axel?”
“He’s desperate to find her.”
“You think he’s going to give her a second chance?” she asks.
“Yeah, he’s head over heels in love with her, but they have a lot to work out.”
“Penny being married to Eddie is not going to change her family dynamics,” Camryn adds.
“No?”
“They are old school. I don’t think they are going to accept her being with Axel.”
“Shit! Really?”
“Her mother for sure won’t. I think her dad might, but her mother is a piece of work,” Camryn explains.
“Don’t you think Olivia is done living the life her family wants? If this isn’t the biggest wakeup call, then I don’t know what is.”
“I agree. My fingers are crossed for them,” Camryn adds.
“How are things with you?” I ask.
“Good. Busy,” she answers cagily.
“What are you hiding?” I push.
“Nothing!”
That sure as hell doesn’t sound like nothing the way her voice slides up.
“Urgh. Fine. Harris is acting a little crazy, but I’ve got it under control,” she tells me.
“Cam!”
“It’s fine. I can handle him. He’ll eventually get bored with annoying me,” Camryn explains.
“Babe, I don’t like this.”
“Trust me. I’m fine.”
“Let Jackson know, he might be able to do something,” I tell her.
“Okay. Yeah. I might.”
“Well, love you. Look after yourself. Let me know if you need me to come to New York and sort out your ex.”
Camryn laughs. “Will do.” We say our goodbyes.
I get off the phone and call Axel again and again, but he never picks up.