Chapter 4
FOUR
Fuck, she’s even more beautiful than I remember.
My memory did not do her justice. The one photo I kept was of her and I during my sophomore year. That was eight years ago. Melody was just a girl then; a girl I desperately wanted to be mine.
She’s all grown up now. And fucking delectable. A pale, beautiful wraith in a black miniskirt and fishnets.
Adam and I talked her down from leaving after Louis’ incredibly insulting speech, but honestly, how was the guy to know? He’s had to have that same conversation a few times with women who found their way backstage and tried to sneak peeks they shouldn’t.
I’m not saying I’m perfect, because I’ve definitely indulged in the crazy groupie dish once or twice, but never for longer than it takes to get off.
Louis saying that to a groupie? Acceptable.
Him saying that to Melody? I want to cut off his fucking hands.
After Reis and Kai got Louis out of the room, we wasted no time corralling Mel into the SUV waiting for us outside.
There is absolutely zero chance we’ll be letting her out of our sight.
Not until we figure out all this bad blood between us.
I don’t how the other guys feel—well, other than Reis, because everyone can see how he feels—but I need to know what really happened back then.
I need to know why she would use and mock us like she did.
But more importantly, I need to know if… if these feelings are just something from the past. I need to see if I can get them out of my system; if she really is just a backstabbing bitch, then I don’t want to spend any more time thinking of her.
And if she is… then Reis can do whatever it is he’s planning. I won’t object.
But I’ll be damned if I don’t try to get some fucking answers.
Adam climbs in the far back, Kai in the middle row, then I help Melody into the middle seat before climbing in myself. Reis usually sits in the middle, but there’s no way I’m putting Mel up front. I want her back here with me, where I can make her squirm and figure her out.
“I guess I’ll sit in the front,” Reis grumbles, and I just smile darkly at him.
You snooze, you lose, fucker.
Besides, he’s the one that’s been cursing her name for eight years, even though every single song he’s written has to do with her. What possible reason would he want to sit next to her?
Ohhh, right. We all know he still loves her.
Sitting beside Melody, I’m hit with the intoxicating smell of her. Is she wearing the same perfume she wore in high school? I don’t think it is, though.
I take another sniff and bite back a moan. Vanilla with some kind of floral overlay. It’s fucking delicious. The one she wore in high school always made me want to lick along her neck to see if she tasted as good as she smelled.
I lean in closer and try not to be too obvious with the third inhale I take. Fuck , it’s like she sends a direct hit to my dopamine receptors. She’s better than any high I could chase.
Speaking of that, it’s surprising I’m not itching for a hit right now. I usually am after a show. Just a little something to take the edge off.
But not today. Instead, I sneak another dose of Melody and smirk.
“So, dearest Melody…” I throw my arm around her, turning to better face her as the car starts to move. It’s dark in here, with the ultra-tinted windows and absolutely no light inside to make sure fans can’t see us as we leave the venue.
We’re private and like to keep it that way, but fame is a fickle thing.
“Tell me, what brought you to our concert tonight?” In other words, what mythical force brought us back together? What deity do I need to thank—or curse—for sending her back to us?
“I mean, seeing On The Edge . It’s the first time they—I mean, I guess you guys—have come this close to Haven.
” Her voice is confused and breathy as she speaks, and I so badly wish I could fully see her face.
I’m sure she’d be looking at each one of us like she couldn’t believe we actually made something of ourselves.
“Couldn’t get too close to home,” Kai explains darkly in his deep voice. Almost like a monster in the darkness, waiting to pounce on her the moment he can. For good or for bad, I’m not sure.
They might not realize it, but we haven’t been the same since we left her.
We’re still best friends and have each other’s back, but each of us has changed.
It’s poorly hidden behind different vices or behaviors to cover up the fact we aren’t healed from the hurt.
Adam’s obsessed with tattoos and piercings, spending more time boxing than sleeping to keep from the dreams that haunt him.
Reis built our empire with his bare hands and determination to keep from thinking about her, all the while thinking only of her.
Kai’s always been a little psycho, but now?
Now he’s quiet and fractured. Breaking into pieces and putting on masks depending on what is needed from him.
And me? I’ve taken to getting high and drunk more often than I’d like to admit.
It’s the only way I can make the pain lessen. Even if it's for a moment.
Now, the tension in the car is so fucking awkward, and leave it to Kai to do that shit and not be phased.
“How are you, Mel? It’s been way too long.” Adam’s voice gets closer as he leans forward, resting his head on his folded arms on the back of her seat. Melody turns in her seat as much as she can, and her ass bumps against my thigh as her knees rests on Kai.
Even in the low light I’m able to see the smile she gives Adam; the kindness just radiating from her, just as it does with him. It comes so easily to him, forgiveness and light, not like it does for the rest of us.
The asshole.
“Well, it’s been… a lot has happened in seven years. Obviously, you guys know that.” She chuckles weakly, putting both hands on Adam’s arms. My eyes focus on where they touch and I seethe silently with jealousy.
I wish I was the one she was touching.
“My seven-year gap is nothing as remarkable as yours, obviously.”
My mouth opens to say something, but Reis beats me to it.
“We worked our asses off.” His voice sounds like a thunder strike cracking through the air.
“We sacrificed. We made deals with devils, but we made it. We’re famous millionaires, and get to do what we love every day.
We’re successful .” Reis throws the words over his shoulder like he didn’t drop a fucking emotional bomb.
Watching as Melody’s face drops, I reach forward, slipping my arm along the side closest to the door to flick his ear in retaliation. “Ow!” he snaps. Leaning back, I smirk at his pain.
“Enough about us,” Kai snaps, and cups her knee with his hand. “We want to know about you , Melody. What have you been up to throughout the years? Anything interesting?” His voice booms in the small car and I chuckle.
“I definitely want to know about you, Songbird,” I whisper against her shoulder, the nickname slipping off my tongue easily even after years of being spoken only in my mind.
I used to call her that because melodies carry the lyrics.
She’s the one that carries us, even if she doesn’t know it.
I knew that back then, and I know it now.
“There’s nothing really to tell,” she says.
“In seven years? I find that a little odd,” Adam remarks. “Come on, Echo. Tell us,” he asks in a sing-song, begging kind of way.
Melody looks around, unsure and nervous, but bites her lip and sighs.
“Well, after you all left, I finished out my senior year. Went to prom, graduated. I got into OKU, but after a semester I decided it wasn’t for me.
I’ve always been good at social media stuff and I helped a few friends build their online businesses.
Then they hired me to manage all their socials and marketing.
It clicked, and now I own a social media marketing management business.
The Social Buzz. About a year and a half into it, it took off.
Now I have clients all over the world.” She shrugs nervously like she didn’t just blow us all away.
I shake my head. “I fucking knew it.”
“Knew what?” Mel looks at me in alarm, and I see her dark eyes illuminate for a split second by the light from a passing street lamp.
I inhale softly, making sure I can still breathe because I’m fairly sure she took my breath away.
“That you’d be a huge success,” I answer genuinely.
Her eyes soften at my words and she gives me a shy smile, tucking a lock of hair behind her ear. “I worked hard and it paid off. You guys seem to know all about that.” She glares at the side of Reis’ head as Kai and I chuckle under our breath.
“We’re here, gentlemen. And lady,” the driver announces, pulling in front of a building that has a line of people, wrapping all the way around the corner. The bass is so strong I can feel it in the car.
This is going to be so much fun.
My fingers itch to roll a joint, but I have a feeling I’m going to want to be level-headed for tonight.
We all climb out, probably looking like giants tumbling from a clown car. Kai turns and offers Melody his hand, which she takes quickly, and slips down to the ground like a dark princess.
I watch their backs as a few patrons in line take out their phones and start snapping pictures, calling out for us.
“Reis! Reis!” A blonde girl calls out over the noise for Reis, and he waves with a tight-lipped smile.
“Markus! Markus, over here!” I hear a girl scream for me, and I nod in the general direction. I’m all about girls usually, but tonight I have the girl by my side. The only girl who’s ever really mattered on my arm. I’m not going to entertain any other possibility tonight.
One of the girls screams out, “Adam! Adam, please! Please, I love you!” Melody jolts and looks down, keeping her face covered.