Chapter 3
THREE
“Really?” Don’t fuck this up, Mathers .
“Yeah, sure.” Melody shrugs and offers a nervous little smile.
I haven’t had time to fully look at her; I was too worried about her health, then about getting back to the concert.
Then I was trying not to kill my friends for hugging her, before kicking myself for feeling any sort of sympathy for her at all .
Back in high school, we used to all hang out together, essentially adopting Melody as the fifth member of our little pack.
Very quickly, the guys and I discovered just how fucking amazing she was; before we knew it, all of us admitted to wanting something more with her.
Safe to say, feelings were hurt and words were had.
But after the first punch had been thrown, we decided to let her choose.
If she ever swayed one way and definitively made a move, the rest of us would respect and support that. Respect her choice—respect her.
But she never did.
Even though our feelings kept growing, Melody never leaned toward one of us more than the rest. So, we kept glaring at each other as we tried to sway her, but she never made a move.
“Good.” I roll my eyes. “I just, uh, I need to shower and then we’ll go.”
“You guys don’t have to take turns? Wait in line for a turn in the shower?” She chuckles, but her eyes darken a little. What is that look for? “Or do you all shower together, like in high school after band practice?”
“They have individual showers here at the venue, but nice to know where your head is at.”
She smirks at me, unashamed. “Well, go shower. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen you guys, and it's completely your fault.” She narrows her eyes at me and I feel her anger pointing at me like a knife.
“I think we’re remembering the past differently,” I reply angrily, crossing my arms over my chest. When her eyes trace over my form, I smirk with pride and my chest puffs up.
“Well, I know what I know, and you know what you know. But only one of us left the other.” She rolls her eyes before looking down and I want to kick my own ass for making her feel like that.
No, Reis! Fucking stop. She did this. She said she didn’t care about you guys. She said she was using us. She said we’d never amount to anything. She is not friendly–she’s the enemy.
“Give me five minutes. If you can stick around that long,” I say coldly, stepping back toward the showers. I’m not going to give her the satisfaction of thinking nothing’s changed.
“Any more than that and I’m leaving.” There’s a smirk on her face, but I can hear the words she’s trying to say underneath.
This is our only chance for answers.
“There are things we need to discuss. Don’t leave,” I snap, walking backward and leaving the room in a near sprint. I get to the row of bathrooms with showers inside just in time to see Kai walk out with wet hair and a clean outfit.
“Don’t let her leave,” I demand.
“You don’t have to tell me twice. I don’t think I can let her go again.”
The fastest shower of my life ends in exactly two minutes. I barely towel off before throwing on the clean clothes that Louis, our manager, had left out earlier for me.
Running back to the dressing room, I hear a noise I’ve only heard in my dreams for the last seven years.
Melody’s laugh.
My knees go weak and I have to put my hand on the cinderblock wall to keep myself upright.
“No way!” She laughs again and it’s breathtakingly beautiful. The music I've been chasing after all this time. The melody I can’t get out of my head.
The door to the room is cracked open and it looks like I’m the last to the party. Kai and Adam are sitting on the couch with Melody between them. Adam’s twirling a drumstick in between his fingers like usual. But my eyes lock onto where Kai’s got an arm resting behind Mel’s back on the couch.
Touching her.
If he doesn’t move his hand, I’m going to break his fingers. Fuck how much it costs us.
I knew how the guys felt in the past, but never witnessed any of them make a move. Being confronted with lingering feelings of my own, and then seeing this? It’s a lot—especially with the anger still radiating toward Melody.
That’s fucking right, Reis. Stay angry. She used us. She lied to us. She mocked us. Don’t fall for her pretty lies again . My inner teenager rages inside and it’s a nice reminder.
Although, it looks like I’m the only one still harboring any anger. Fuck those guys.
“I’m telling you the truth!” Kai chuckles, leaning in closer. She shakes her head and rolls her eyes.
“Don’t believe a word he says,” I grunt while pushing the door open the rest of the way, shooting a death glare that only makes him lean into her closer.
Melody looks at me, then down at her phone and back to me with an impressed expression on her face.
“Four minutes and forty-five seconds. Very impressive.” She nods. “It’s almost like you can keep your word.”
“Ouch,” Markus teases with a wince. He scoops gel from the small container at his side, runs it through his hair, then pulls it into a bun—all the while keeping Melody in his sights via the mirror.
Ignoring him, I keep my eyes locked on her, holding out my hand for her to take.
She slips her soft hand in mine and I try to ignore the pulse of energy that zings through us as I pull her off the couch. Away from those two.
Kai rolls his eyes at me when Melody’s back is to him and Adam just chuckles knowingly.
They’re well aware of how possessive I am, especially when it comes—fuck, no, when it came —to her. I give no apologies about it.
But on the other hand, she owes us. She owes me.
And I intend to claim what is mine.
Respect. Apologies. Revenge. Tears.
I want Melody to break so I can kick her while she’s down, then ask how she likes it. That’s essentially what she did to me.
I broke, fractured—but look at me now. Famous, rich, loved by millions.
“I’ve never broken my word to you,” I growl, but I already know that’s a lie. So does she. “You, on the other hand…”
“I did what?” she scoffs and I can see the hackles rising. We’re both covered in metaphorical armor and aren’t interested in dropping it any time soon.
“Melody, I–” I try to say how she has no fucking right to be pissed off because she was the one that did this to us , but our manager comes in.
He’s a nice enough guy, but he lacks the big picture when it comes to personal lives.
He lives and breathes for the band, and he looks it.
His hair is styled perfectly and he’s wearing an expensive three-piece suit.
Louis always has his best foot forward when it comes to things that could benefit him or the band.
“Let’s go, guys,” he snaps, looking around to make sure we’re all there and presentable. When his gaze lands on Melody, his eyes narrow in a way I do not like.
I can be pissed off at her, but that’s it. I’m not letting anyone else look at her like that.
“Give us a minute, Louis.”
“No, now, Reisyn. The SUV is waiting; the club is expecting you guys there in twenty and it takes us thirty minutes to get there from here. Say goodbye to the groupie and let’s go.
” He leans around me and looks right at Melody.
“Run along now, girl. Just because they talked to you for a moment does not mean you are entitled to anything, so don’t leave before signing the disclosure and NDA.
That’s the last thing I want to deal with—a bitch in heat who thinks she’s owed something because the great Reis Mathers brought her backstage.
” He rolls his eyes. With each word my anger rises, and I subtly push Mel behind me as I turn to face him head on.
Markus rises beside me, just as pissed off, my hands clench into fists at my side.
“What did you call her?” I ask, my voice coming out low and dangerous. And that surprises me, to be honest.
Fuck, I just don’t know how I’m feeling right now. I’m pissed the hell off, but I don’t want Louis, or anyone else, to fuck with her. She’s mine to torment.
Markus puts a hand on my shoulder in caution. “I’d be careful with your words if I were you, Louis,” he warns, as I shrug away Markus’ hand.
“Do you know her or something? You don’t need to be so picky.
If you like her look, I can find you a girl at the club just like her.
You can have your pick, or I can provide someone like last time.
” Louis smiles at me like he’s done something fucking smart, something kind.
But all it does is make Adam and Kai stand to join in our anger.
“The fuck did you just say?” Kai pushes forward, coming to my side as Adam reaches for Melody, pulling her into his arms.
Good, someone will hold her while I kill our manager. There’s a million people that could do his job for us. But there is only one her .
“Wow, all of you are really getting up in arms about this girl.” Louis looks confused, and I’m sure from the outside it must seem odd. But this has always been our relationship. Or it was.
Goddamn it, Mathers, it was . She’s nothing to you now. Remember?
“Just fuck off, Louis. Melody is coming with us, so get your shit together,” Adam snaps at him, more aggressively than I’ve heard him speak in a long time.
Adam’s a kind soul; always the peacemaker, even though he doesn’t look the part with his cropped blonde hair, eyebrow and lip piercings, and a body covered in tattoos. I’m very, very jealous of those arms right now because they’re holding the object of all my desires—and all my agony.
Melody looks worried and tries to step back from Adam, stammering, “It’s okay, I’ll just go. It was good to see you guys.”
And Adam, the idiot, looks stunned as she pulls away.
No. Not again, is all I can think.
Kai pushes Louis against the wall and keeps him there while I sneer at him, quietly enough that Melody can’t hear my words but Louis sure-as-shit can.
“Watch your fucking mouth. Don’t let yourself think that your position is safe just because we’ve worked together this long. Melody will be with us from now on, so adjust everything to include her. Got it?”
What am I doing?
Kai looks at me out of the corner of his eye. I’m going to choose to ignore the relieved but cocky smile on his stupid fucking face.
They want her to stay as much as I unfortunately do.
“Got it, got it.” Louis pushes us off, straightening out his jacket. “Who is she?”
I look at Kai, and we both turn to watch Markus and Adam’s attempts to keep Melody from leaving.
“Ours,” Kai answers. And I don’t correct him.