Chapter 19 #2
“We’re strictly friends,” she clarified. “Our moms were college roommates, so we grew up together. Alec is like a little brother to me. He’s producing my first album.”
Her response made me pause, and I remembered a conversation I’d had with Alec in his car on the way to San Francisco. Last month, I got him to agree to let me produce a record for this new client he’s signing.
“Wait,” I said, my eyes bulging. “You’re King’s new client?”
She lifted her nose as if the idea disgusted her. “Not anymore. That man is a complete dick.”
“Okay…” I scratched my head. “Definitely not following.”
“It’s kind of a long story,” she responded, but I had a feeling Violet came here for the sole purpose of telling said story, so I lifted a brow and waited.
“Immortal Nights is on its last season, and I needed a break from the whole acting thing,” she explained.
“I’m interested in launching a music career, so earlier this summer I asked Alec for his help.
We spent a weekend putzing around in his dad’s studio, and after King listened to the track we laid down, he offered to sign me.
At first, I was hesitant because I’ve heard some not-so-good rumors about King.
But he agreed to let Alec produce the album, so I decided to give Mongo a shot.
Then, about two weeks ago, King suddenly changed his mind.
Told Alec he wasn’t responsible enough to work on the project. ”
My head jerked back. Two weeks ago was when Alec skipped his dad’s barbecue. I knew bailing on the party had created tension between the two, but I never considered what Alec had lost because of it.
This was all my fault. I never should have allowed him to drive me to San Francisco.
“Total bull, right?” Violet said as she took in my expression. “If you ask me, King was looking for an excuse to run the show, but not working with Alec was a deal breaker for me. He’s actually excited about my music. King just sees me as a giant payday.”
“So what happened?”
“Well, I hadn’t signed the contract yet and my agent was in contact with a different producer, so I backed out. Which totally sucked, because Alec and I had already done a bunch of brainstorming.”
A terrible thought took root at the back of my mind. “Alec begged you to reconsider, didn’t he?” I asked.
“Yup. He was in Seattle so we couldn’t talk in person, but he convinced me to wait until we could sit down together before making any major decisions.”
My stomach twisted. The conversation I’d overheard at Rose’s wasn’t Alec fighting for his relationship, it was him fighting for what he loved most: music. I swallowed and tried not to be sick.
“I refuse to work with King, and Alec is sick of the way his father treats him, so we came up with a kickass solution. Alec created his own record label.” She smiled like a proud mom. “Once all the legal stuff is sorted out, I’ll be the first artist he signs.”
“He really went against his dad like that?”
She nodded. “Yeah, he’s risking a lot for me—his relationship with his father, his career.
But that’s the kind of a person he is.” Violet paused for the briefest of moments and leaned in toward the table.
“Listen, Felicity. I don’t know what happened between you two, because Alec hasn’t been forthcoming. But I do know that he misses you.”
For a long time I said nothing.
Asha had been right. Right about Alec not dating Violet. And about me pushing him away so I wouldn’t get hurt. About everything, really. The realization of what I’d thrown away knifed through me with sharp, blinding pain.
“I miss him too,” I admitted.
Violet’s eyes sparkled with excitement, like my response was the best thing she’d ever heard. “So call him. Trust me. He wants to hear from you.”
Yeah, right. Thinking about what I’d said to him made me cringe. There would be no coming back from that. Alec probably hated me.
“I know you’re only trying to help,” I told her, “but I’m not sure that’s a good idea. I said some pretty awful stuff, and I just… I don’t think things will ever feel the same between us.”
“All right,” Violet said, holding up both hands. “It’s not my business to push.” She lifted her purse onto the table and rummaged through it. “Before I go, I have something for you. Alec mentioned returning this, but I don’t think he ever planned to.”
Her purse was huge, almost as big as my messenger bag, and whatever she was searching for was buried.
Frustrated, Violet turned it over and dumped out the contents.
A wallet, more tubes of lipstick than I could count, and her phone clattered to the table, along with my travel copy of To Kill a Mockingbird.
“Ah, here it is,” she said, sliding the book over to me.
But I wasn’t listening. Because together with all her stuff, there was a scattering of origami hearts.
“Where did you get those?” I asked, scooping one up. On closer inspection, I realized it was made out of a music sheet.
“Oh, Alec makes them,” she said with a dismissive wave.
As if they meant nothing. “He watched a YouTube video on it when we were in the studio last week, and he’s been obsessed with them ever since.
You can keep one if you like. I’ve got a million of them.
” Violet repacked her purse before pushing her sunglasses back into place and sliding out of the booth.
“Well, I should get going. I have a radio interview tomorrow to prepare for, and I haven’t looked at the questions yet. It was nice meeting you, Felicity.”
Too stunned to respond, I could only stare down at the heart in my hand.
The last time I sat at this booth, Alec had found one of Rose’s foldings, and it had been a gut-wrenching experience.
But this? The light tingling working its way through my limbs?
It was an altogether different feeling. Like finding my sister’s letters, the paper heart I was holding sparked a flicker of hope inside me.
What if there was a chance Alec would forgive me after all?
A sudden sense of urgency ripped through me. I needed to make things right.
But how?
This wasn’t the kind of problem I could fix with a phone call.
Alec deserved more than that. He deserved an apology in person.
For a second, I considered chasing down Violet to have her arrange a meeting, but then I got a better idea.
I scrolled through my contacts and texted the one person who might be able to help me.
Felicity: Hey, this is Felicity Lyon. We met the other weekend? I know me texting you is kind of weird, but I need your help.
There was a huge possibility that he wouldn’t respond, especially considering how I’d treated his friend, but I held my breath as I waited for an answer.
A minute later my phone buzzed.
007: Lol. I remember who you are, Felicity. What’s up?
Felicity: I screwed things up with Alec. I need to apologize, but I want to do it in person.
007: I have an idea, but you’ll need a nice dress.
I smiled to myself. I knew just the one.
***
Oliver’s plan was gutsy.
It required me to sneak out of the house, and considering I was on thin ice with my mom, it was also reckless.
But to win Alec back, I was down for anything.
I pulled an all-nighter in preparation, finishing both my mockingbird necklace and the jewelry Oliver had ordered for Stella, and at four o’clock sharp the next afternoon, I grabbed my messenger bag and crawled out the window.
Mom would discover my absence as soon as dinnertime rolled around, so I’d left a note on my desk in explanation.
Whatever punishment she threw my way would be worth it if I could put right the mess I’d made.
I squeezed through the bushes as carefully as I could, and once I broke free of the tangle, I tore across the lawn toward a limo idling at the curb.
Great, that doesn’t stick out at all…
I spared a quick glance back at my house.
The curtains on the front window were wide open, and I was suddenly nervous that my mom might look out.
I should’ve told Oliver to pick me up around the corner or, better yet, in a vehicle that wasn’t so extravagant.
Because, honestly. Was a limousine really necessary?
When I reached the car, I yanked on the handle in my hurry to get inside. The door flung open, and I all but tumbled onto the grass. A familiar snicker greeted me.
“Excited to see me, I see.”
JJ was sitting in the seat nearest the door.
His long legs were stretched out in front of him, preventing me from climbing inside.
The smirk on his face made me want to take a deep breath and count to ten, a moment of mental preparation since I would be spending most of the evening with him, but there was no time.
Waving my hand in a shooing gesture, I motioned for him to scoot in.
“Hi to you too,” he grumbled, but he unbuckled his seat belt and slid over next to Xander, who smiled at me in greeting.
“Sorry,” I responded, practically throwing myself into the car. “But I’m grounded. My mom wasn’t exactly thrilled about my impromptu road trip to Seattle.”
“Is that why you climbed through the window instead of using the front door like a normal person?” I turned to see Oliver, who was sprawled across the middle seat of the limo. He offered me that Oliver Perry smile of his.
“You guys saw that?” All three boys nodded and I winced. “Wonderful.”
“We’ve never harbored a fugitive before,” JJ exclaimed. He grinned as if aiding and abetting was an experience he’d been meaning to check off his bucket list.
“Have too,” Xander said. “What about that time in Mexico when—”
JJ cut him off. “That doesn’t count.”
“What was his name again? It was something ridiculous, like Hot Dog or—”
“Dude, we don’t talk about Cheeseburger. Ever.”
Oliver snorted at his friends before saying to me, “We have to swing by the airport to pick up Stella, and then we’ll be on our way. You brought a different outfit, right?”