Chapter 18
EIGHTEEN
“Every fucking time we make progress with her, you do something monumentally fucking stupid!” Markus explodes at Reis; his eyes wide and twitching with anger, frustratedly running his fingers through his long hair, while pacing back and forth on the carpet in front of the chair.
Out of us all, I’m kind of surprised it’s Markus who yells first.
“I just, I can’t believe this,” Markus puts his hands over his eyes roughly before dragging them down his face.
“Explain it to me, Reisyn. In what world did you think taking her clients away from her, giving them away, forcibly moving her across the country, was a good idea? A romantic gesture? And to make matters all-the-fucking-worse, you didn’t even fucking talk about it with us !
But it sure as shit looks like we were all in on it! Fuck, goddamn it.”
“Look, we’re going to help her business.
We’ll talk to some other bands, some other PR people and call in some favors.
We can make this big for her. We owe her that.
” Reis slices his hand through the air like he’s tired.
Fuck that, I’m tired. “We all want her to stay, we asked her to be with us. So why is this such a big deal? Win-win-win, right?”
“But you didn’t ask her. You didn’t talk to her, or us, for that matter.” Adam grumbles. “It’s just like seven years all over again.”
Reis stops. His entire body freezes abruptly and his eyes widen with shock.
“It’s not though, I was helping her this time.” He looks down at the floor, unseeingly, with his brows pinched together. “That’s not it. I’m doing right by her! We’re providing for her business so she’s independent, like she wants, but she can live with us, like I know we all want.”
“Goddamn it, Reis.” I shake my head. “Look at me,” I demand, and when his eyes meet mine, I put on a hard glare.
“You’re shit with communication,” I say bluntly “and it better not cost us all. Give her a few hours, but then you go and you fix this. I’m tired of helping you clean up your messes with her. You need to grow the fuck up.”
“ I need to grow up?” Reis scoffs.
“Yes, you need to grow up. I did, I owned my shit, the part I played in this, and I begged for forgiveness. I learned . We’ve let you run the show for the last seven years, and rightfully so.
You brought us to all this; the band, success, fame, fortune.
But you also caused all this pain and hurt because we were being childish.
You can see that now, can’t you?” I press.
His shoulders drop, like all the fight has left him.
“When I told Louis to do it, I just wanted to keep her here. I knew she’d leave as soon as she could figure out how.
I wasn’t going to let that happen. You guys were so enamored and willing to do anything she wanted, that I figured if we talked about it and she declined, you would fucking let her walk out. ”
“Has he confirmed with you?” Adam asks. “I don’t think she’ll ask for us to, but in case she does, can you reverse this?”
“No, he hasn’t,” Reis shakes his head, pulling his phone from his pocket to double check. “He’s not the biggest fan of Melody.”
“I don’t give a single fuck. He better not pull that groupie shit again. He thought we were angry before, I’ll murder him now,” I snarl, remembering how he talked to Melody after the concert.
“It’s none of Louis' business who we are with romantically or what our relationship is. He’s meant to help us navigate the rock world, get us gigs, and take care of what we ask him to.
” Reis shrugs, sitting down and putting his hands on his knees.
Adam looks troubled, like he’s trying to unravel a knot with his mind.
“What is it?”
“Why is Louis so against Melody? He’s never had issues with the other girls we have… had a dalliance with. But from the moment he’s met her, he’s been an asshole about her. Why?”
It’s a good question.
“He’s always been protective of us,” Reis mentions.
“Yeah, but this is different. Don’t you think?” Adam asks. I sit back to try and remember the last time any of us brought a girl around. It’s been at least a year I think. Reis slept with some rando after a show; a short girl with black hair and thick thighs… coincidence?
“Did he care about the last girl you fucked?” I cross my arms over my chest, pointing the question at Reis.
“Dude, shush!” He throws his hands out quickly, looking over his shoulder. “Keep it down!”
“What, you think she thinks you’ve been celibate?” I chuckle. Melody’s not naive, and she’s not the type to hold our past sex lives against us.
“I don’t. I just…” Reis sighs. “Shut up, man. Anyway, I actually think Louis was the one who brought her to my room backstage. Had her sign an NDA, too.”
“So, why is he such a dick to Melody?” Markus repeats.
Reis pulls his phone out of his pocket just as it dings.
“Oh, fuck.” He shakes his head and covers his forehead in frustration.
“What?” Markus asks, stepping forward.
“Per Louis; ‘I got her stuff sent here, it will be here at 6am. I’ve also talked with her social media partners. On The Edge is the only client of Melody Sullivan’s, and her previous clients have been dispersed to the other partner.
If this is what you’re all deciding to do; to keep this girl with you, then we need to go over the requisite paperwork in order to keep band secrets just that.
We’ve had too many near hits, and we’ve grown the band’s visibility so much, I sincerely hope that there is no chance for her to ruin our vision.
Please discuss with the others how this girl–while you all seem somewhat serious about–are a dime-a-dozen.
If she’s not willing to be all about the band, then you guys will be able to find someone more suitable.
As always let me know if you need anything else,’ ” Reis stops reading.
What the fucking fuck?
My hands fist at my sides and my nostrils flare in anger.
“‘Dime-a-dozen? Not willing to be all about the band? Find someone more suitable?’ What the fuck is his problem?” I snarl. I swear to god, I’m going to have a discussion with our manager where his face will meet my fist.
“I don’t know, I really don’t,” Reis mutters.
“Okay, well,” Adam sighs, “let’s keep an eye on it. The last thing we need is for Melody to feel any friction. And you,” he says strongly, “figure out how you’re going to explain what you really meant to say or do for her, and for fucks sake, get it right .”
We’d all said to leave her alone and let her cool off.
But they didn’t actually think I’d do that, right?
Standing by the door, I hold my breath to listen for any noises from inside. Melody’s not a quiet girl normally, but right now—of course—she’s silent. Did she fall asleep? Is she packing a bag to leave? Did she climb out the window?
That would be the kind of dramatic shit I’d do.
Testing the doorknob lightly, I try to turn it but it’s locked. Luckily, I came prepared for that and pull my lock-picking kit from my pocket.
Yeah, I have a lock-picking kit. I don’t think that surprises anyone… I’m a damn good one too, there are no secrets here.
I silently unlock the door, stashing my kit, and slipping inside as quietly as I can. The oversized bed with our standard guest-white linens is untouched and my anxiety spikes.
Did she get out? Did she leave?
“You know,” Melody says from behind me, and I jump. “I should scream and let everyone know you snuck in here. Do you do this often?”
I scrunch up my nose at that, tilting my head to the side.
“Do you really want to know that answer?”
“Fair point,” she says, crossing her arms over her chest. Doing my best to not let my eyes fall to her chest—I don’t think she’d be okay with me ogling her at this moment—I turn to face her fully.
Her beautiful brown eyes are red-rimmed and she wipes her nose with her hand quickly, standing up straighter.
Like a goddess trying not to show any weakness. “What are you doing here?”
“I wanted to check on you.”
“I asked you not to.”
“I know, but when have I ever followed the rules?” I give her one of my smoldering looks that usually makes girls smile, but it doesn’t even faze her. “Melody,” I say softly, dropping the act and pulling her into a hug right as she starts to cry.
“I just don’t know what to believe anymore,” she sobs into my chest. Pulling back to look at me, I see the frustration, the anger, the fear, and the sadness floating through her eyes. It knocks the air from my lungs.
“You all say you love me, then Reis takes over my business. Hearing him say that and you guys just nod along, it reminded me of back then. Except, I guess this time, I know what happened. But I can’t help but feel exactly how I did that next morning when I was all alone.
You all just agreed to fucking leave me without a word!
He said he wouldn’t do that again, but then immediately does it?
How am I supposed to believe him now? I picked myself up once and made a life for myself, but I don’t think I could do it twice. ”
Fucking Reis. I should’ve punched him.
“I swear to you, you won’t have to.” Taking her hand, I flatten her palm against my chest right over my heart.
“I swear on my life, Melody, we won’t disappoint you again.
You’re it for me. I know they all feel the same way.
” My heart pounds against her palm and I cover her hand with mine.
“My heart beats for you, Melody. Always and forever, for you.”
Her eyes shine with new tears, and her lip quivers. The small beauty mark to the right of her mouth begs to be kissed, so I press my lips softly against it.