Chapter 18
Maddy
“Well, I’m fucking sorry!” my sister admits.
“Then I’m fucking sorry, too!” I say, for calling her a bitch a few agonizing days ago, even though she one thousand percent is.
Lola grips me in something too tight to be called a hug. “We’re arseholes, Baby, we didn’t mean to judge you, control you, or say that Jett will dump you like an old sack of potatoes, we’re just tired of seeing your tears, you know?”
“I get it. I’m not the one that needed some big, sealed in F’ing blood commitment from him, that was all you guys! I know what happens on tour! I know he’s a little slut, but don’t I deserve a piece of him just as much or more than those groupies?”
Lola dusts powder and spritzes setting spray over my foundation before starting on my brows.
“You deserve a lot more than a little piece, that’s what we’re saying!
But nothing I’ve said has ever stopped you before.
And for what it’s worth, I don’t think Jett would hurt you on purpose.
I love him like a brother, but like my brother, he does stupid arse shit sometimes! ”
I nod and hand her a shimmering liquid eyeshadow. I’m doing a fun little BuzzFeed interview this afternoon, and Lola always does a better job than the makeup artists on set.
“Baby!” I see Jude peeking his head into Lola’s enormous ensuite bathroom, where she likes to do everyone’s makeup. “You’re gonna forgive me for being a dick, too,” he grins, “When you see this!” He hands me his phone with TikTok open.
My eyes widen like a cartoon character. “Holy shit, the views on this! When did it post?” Stills and video of Jett and me by the pool the day my life changed forever are blended together into the perfect, well, shit, I’d call it a thirst trap because I’m suddenly parched looking at him shirtless.
“I set it to post at 6 a.m. Read the comments.”
“Oh God, I hate doing that. Probably saying I look like a heifer next to Jett and his five percent body fat!”
“If they were saying that, why would I tell you to read them?”
“Because you’re a dick!”
Lola whacks my skull with her makeup brush. “Read them, Baby, Jesus Christ! Out loud.”
Sigh. Here we go.
‘Double smash.’
‘Holy shit, are they together?’
‘Bisexuality activated.’
‘The new IT couple.’
‘GAH, why are they so hot?’
‘Why is this video three hours long?’
‘I’d give my left tit to be Max Morningstar’s daughter.’
I started laughing at that until I read, ‘When the bleep did Jett get so fine?!’
That one hits a bit close to home.
Lola grabs the phone to read one aloud, “Did Jett just become Daddy because she’s giving MOTHER! Lord, these people are unhinged.”
Jude snorts. “Just made you and Jett the next IT couple, Baby, you literally have to forgive me now.”
“The video is great, Jude, but having the world speculate on us being a couple before we’ve even gone out on one single date is a bit much.”
“Admit it, this is gonna sell out Mum’s line. They fucking love you, Baby! Look at that one.”
I read it and grin, “I don’t know who that dude is, but he’s lucky AF. Aww.”
“Show that one to Jett, establish dominance.” Lola laughs at her rather good idea, right as Mum appears in a manic state.
“Lola! What time did you launch my line?”
“Eight a.m., why?”
“It’s sold out! The whole collection … in three hours!”
I spring from the chair and we run over to hug Mum and congratulate her.
Jude kisses Mum on the cheek. “You’re welcome.”
He holds the phone out to show her how that could’ve possibly occurred so fast, and Mum gasps. “Oh my God, I’m going to have the most beautiful grandbabies.”
“MUM!” I shout. “Can you just let us be happy for you? And not make it about—”
“The way Jett’s looking at you, that would sell out a million old, holey rags, Baby! Dad! Dad, did you see this?” Mum starts shouting and walking out of the room, and I groan into my hands.
“She knows he doesn’t wake till noon.”
I feel like pulling my hair out, but my sister would maim and murder me. “Am I done, Lola?”
“It’s about as good as it’s going to get!
” She dusts off her hands and kisses my forehead.
“You’re gonna look so hot for those nerdy BuzzFeed people, they won’t know what to do with themselves.
And Baby … you deserve to have fun with Jett tonight, you’re young and I’m sorry we freaked and put so much pressure on you. ”
I give her another tight squeeze, look at myself in the mirror, and decide she’s right.
I thank her and snap a selfie of us together, because yes, she’s a bitch, but she’s my bitch.
I wander into my parents’ bedroom to see Dad’s reaction to Mum’s news.
He’s sitting up in bed with tea in one hand and Mum’s phone in the other.
“Baby, you are my shining star, you know that? You’re relaxing at a casual pool party, and now you’re suddenly a model breaking the internet!”
“Oh, stop!”
“Your chemistry with Jett sold out her entire collection. You made her cry tears of joy, Baby. Am I not allowed to be proud of my daughter and son-in-law?”
“Dad! Don’t even start!”
“I can’t fucking win, can I? You wanted me to approve. This is me approving. You look beautiful, dear. Where are you going?”
“Just a little interview downtown, will only take an hour, I think.”
He nods, starting to tap on his phone. “And tonight Jett’s taking you out?”
“Is he texting you?” I try to rush at his phone, but he holds the steaming teacup in my way, so I can’t grab it.
“Yes, and it’s a private conversation, do you mind?”
“Dad, I’m twenty-five, not fifteen, please don’t give him a lecture!”
“That’s what dads do! But I’m not currently lecturing; I’m just making sure his plans will impress you. You know, you lot aren’t the easiest to please.”
“You must be thinking of your other daughter.”
“Ha! Good one, Baby. Oh, that package I’ve been tracking has just been delivered. Run and grab it for me, please?”
I nod and realize that although my hair and makeup are flawless, I’m still in tiny PJs and my boobs are bouncing out of control as I jog down the ridiculous grand staircase.
I swing the heavy wooden door open anyway, and yep, there’s a package on the front steps all right, wrapped in tight black leather.
The most delicious thing I’ve ever found on my porch.
“Jett! What are you doing here?”
“It seems I’m here to remove those little pyjamas, darling, but Dad said you needed a ride downtown.”
I swing my left arm out to reference the massive black G wagon in the driveway. “Does it look like I need a ride? HBO money well spent, and I like to drive fast. I thought all rockstars slept till noon. Are you literally here to have Bryson take me downtown?”
“My schedule is weirdly clear today, so … it’s either sit around and think about you, or come here and make your life easier. Is it all right that I chose the latter? I’m trying to be nice, and you’re such a brat, Baby.”
My heart is bouncing off the walls of my chest cavity, much like Jett bouncing around thinking about me.
“Guilty as charged, now come here!”
I blink, and Jett has me pressed against the door.
His body is hot and pulsing with energy under his skin like always, but this time, I’ve also got hot energy pulsing between my thighs.
He sucks at my lower lip, and I part them in time for his tongue to tangle with mine, stealing my breath and my sanity, what’s left of it.
His lips leave mine, and I pout. “Are you mad I came over early?” he murmurs against my neck.
“The absolute opposite, actually. I just get crabby when I’m treated like a—”
“Babygirl?” he whispers into my ear, where his teeth are grazing. “You might not like being babied by them, but I don’t think you’ll mind it with me, darling.”
I stifle what may have been an embarrassingly loud moan. Chills break out everywhere as his fingertips creep under my tank, up my hips, stomach, ribcage, until I’m practically panting and accidentally let my inside thoughts outside.
“Two years of Ace and he never made me feel the way you have, and you haven’t even taken my clothes off,” I say, thankfully cut off by the moan that escapes my lips as his nails trace lightly around my breasts, ghosting over my nipples as they stiffen.
“Yet. And well, he’s no fucking rockstar, Baby, and he also didn’t spend eight years in your friend zone, wanting you, needing you for so long it’s pathetic. I know you can feel that. Yeah?”
I whine a yes and grab him by the belt loops, pulling his hips even harder against mine, and I can feel everything.
My brain short-circuits at the feeling of his bulge grinding against me and the mention of his desire for me from the beginning.
No matter how many times I try, my brain can’t fully compute that information.
Like Lola said, he didn’t even flirt with me! Not really.
I let my head fall back, and it clunks against the hardwood. I am painfully reminded that someone inside probably heard that, and also, “Jett … cameras.”
“Shit, yeah, um.” He peels himself off me slightly, looking up at one. “Sorry, Dad, Mum, Lola, Jude, Luci, Freddie, Jimmy, that fucking turtle. I apologise, your daughter is just driving me mad, ya know, I’m a gentleman, I sw—”
I cut him off with a sharp tug inside the house as I laugh.
“I’m waiting for my fucking package!” Dad calls from upstairs, and Jett squeezes my ass with every step.
“Here it is.” I hold in a chuckle as I heave Jett into my parents’ massive bedroom by his shoulders. “Looks like it arrived on time, early even, but appears to be rather damaged. Sure you don’t want to return or exchange?”
“I’m not sure of anything anymore, Baby, except you need to go get dressed, preferably, uh, anything with a bra underneath. Close the door, Jett and I are going to have a little chat.”
“I’ll pray for you,” I say to Jett with a giggle as I shut the door, but groan as I open mine and see Lola and Mum sitting on my bed watching front door cam footage. I run over and click it off.
“What the fuck? How fucking invasive can you be?”