Chapter 9
Chapter Nine
PRESLEY
How do you know if you’re in an unhealthy relationship?
Are you miserable all the time? Or are you just happy enough to ignore all the warning signs flashing in neon around you?
It’s something I contemplate as Jace and I drive to my parents’ house for Sunday dinner. It’s a weekly tradition for the Creeds, but it’s been months since he’s made the trip out to Malibu with me, so I was surprised when he brought it up this week at the bar.
He has been working hard to earn my forgiveness for walking out on his shift—both as his boss and as my boyfriend—so perhaps this is part of that.
“How was the concert last night?” Jace asks. I turn my attention from the ocean view outside the window and focus on him.
“It was great,” I say, unable to hold back the huge grin spreading across my face.
Manic at Midnight’s LA stop was last night, and everyone in the family was gifted VIP tickets to see my brother and the band.
“Watching Hendrix on stage with Zander was surreal. My dad was practically beaming. He was so damn proud, and I think my mom cried at least three times.”
A shadow seems to pass over Jace, but just as quickly as it appears, it’s gone, and his megawatt smile is back in place. “That’s great. Happy for him. I’m assuming he’ll be at the house today?”
“Yeah.” I nod as we approach the driveway. “And he’s bringing his girlfriend.”
“He has a girlfriend?”
He parks behind Cash’s car, and I check my watch, grateful we’re not late. I don’t want to hear my eldest brother make a snide comment about that right now. “I don’t think they’ve made it official yet, but yeah,” I answer. “I’ve told you about her. Zara. The doctor?”
His blank face reveals no recollection as he unfastens his seat belt. “Right, the doctor. I remember.”
Something makes me think he doesn’t.
We both get out of the car, and he joins me on the other side as we walk up the walkway. His arm slips around my shoulder, and he gives me a lazy smile.
I try to copy him, offering one in return, just as the door flings open, and my niece races out. “Auntie Pres!”
“Tay Tay!” I meet her halfway and scoop her up in my arms. She’s warm, wiggly, and smells like kids’ shampoo and happiness.
She bursts into giggles when I spin us around, her yellow sundress and pigtails flying behind her.
Taylor has her mom’s dark brown hair, but she got the blue eyes from her dad.
“What are you doing out here? Are you escaping already?”
“No.” She giggles. “I saw you from the window, silly!”
“Oh, man. Bored already? It’s because your favorite aunt hasn’t arrived yet, huh?” I set her down and offer a hand. “Let’s go find something to do.”
I turn to find Jace staring at the two of us with an unreadable expression. He’s never really struck me as a kid lover, and that couldn’t be more evident than right now. He’s staring at my niece like she’s an alien. “Coming?”
“You two go ahead,” he says, giving Taylor a wary glance. “I’m gonna head to the kitchen and find something to drink.”
“Okay.” The acknowledgment barely leaves my lips, and he’s already through the front door like his ass is on fire.
I shake my head. “Come on, Tay Tay. Let’s go find some uncles to torment.”
As it turns out, there is only one uncle in attendance tonight.
But Taylor and I do our best to tease my youngest brother, Myles, with a lively game of tag that makes me relive old memories of all of us running through the house while Hollis watches as my mom cooks turkey for Thanksgiving.
Hollis.
It’s been a little over a week since that first text pulled him back into my life, and I haven’t told anyone about him. It feels strange now to keep him secret, especially since I’m back at my parents’ house, where the memories of him seem to be woven right into the foundation of the house.
He was once such a big part of our life, and then he was just…gone.
I don’t know why I’m keeping it from them.
I guess I’m worried it’s not real. That eventually our calls and texts will come to an end, and I’ll be hurt and alone, wondering where he went all over again.
And I don’t want my family to suffer that same fate.
Plus, there’s the issue with Jace.
Since he stormed out of the stockroom, we haven’t spoken about Hollis at all. It’s like he completely forgot about it. He hasn’t asked if I’m still talking to him, and I’m careful to keep my phone out of sight, because I sure as hell am not going to be the one to bring it up.
Does it feel wrong? A little.
But I’m also not doing anything nefarious. Hollis and I are just friends, whether or not Jace understands that.
“It’s a bummer Zara got sick,” Mercury starts to say as we all gather around the table later for dinner.
She and I are very different when it comes to style.
My little sister is all sleek lines and fine fabrics, and I’m…
I look down at my frayed shorts and cropped tee.
Thanks to my lack of time and funds, my style is whatever I can find in thrift stores.
“I know. Poor thing,” my mom says from across the table. “Hendrix said it was pretty bad too. He sounded so concerned.”
“Why are you smiling then?” Myles asks with a mouthful of salad. It’s hard to believe sometimes that he’s the same guy who can transform into a renegade duke or a charismatic professor on stage.
Of course, those were roles he played in college. Now, he’s in the real world—also known as LA, and it’s brutal for an actor.
“Because she thinks he’s in love,” Cash responds, not even bothering to lift his head as he points to the salad on his daughter’s plate. I suppress a laugh as Taylor grimaces and shakes her head.
“Well, isn’t he? You saw how he was last night when her ex showed up,” I say, remembering that I hadn’t filled Jace in on the backstage drama.
“All I remember is the way Asher told him to get the hell out,” Mercury says, causing me to roll my eyes. My little sister has always had a little crush on the lead singer of Manic at Midnight.
“Kind of sorry I missed that,” Myles says.
“You kind of missed everything,” Cash reminds him. “Where were you?”
Myles shrugs. “Around.”
I can tell Cash is about to press the issue, but the sound of a chair sliding next to me cuts him off, and Jace rises to his feet. “I’m getting another drink,” he says darkly.
Looks are exchanged around the table, and I feel my cheeks begin to flush. “Is he all right?” my mom asks, a genuine look of concern on her face.
I attempt a smile and nod. “I’m sure he’s just tired from having to cover the bar last night while I was at the concert.” I scoot back from the table and place my napkin next to my nearly untouched plate. “I’ll go check on him.”
Walking into the kitchen, I see him pouring himself some vodka. Not a shot, though. No, he’s taken a full glass from the cabinet and is filling it up as if he’s pouring himself a glass of water.
I didn’t even know he knew where my parents kept the hard stuff.
I watch as he downs it, places the glass on the counter, and begins the process all over again.
I slow blink. I’ve never seen him drink like this, and I’m kind of shell-shocked, wondering what could have caused it. Is my family that insufferable? Is that why he avoids family dinners?
“So your brother bails to take care of his sick girlfriend, and the rest of the band’s a no-show as well?”
“What?”
He knocks back some more vodka and then turns toward me.
His head hangs low, and his gaze is weary.
“You’re always going on about how your parents treats everyone like family.
Zander, Asher…even that Hollis guy you were texting.
” My pulse quickens. “So where are they? If they’re family, shouldn’t they fucking be here? ”
My brow furrows as I try to make sense of what he means. Zander usually shows up, but he’s spending a quiet day at home with Elena and their daughter before they have to hit the road again. They don’t get much alone time,” I try to explain, but he cuts me off.
“And Asher? I thought he was a regular at the Creed family dinners now?” His voice is growing louder. I take a step forward, trying to quell some of his nerves.
Maybe he just feels intimidated, what with the band stopping in LA last night and everyone talking about the concert at dinner. “Asher’s only been to dinner once, and you know you’re considered family too,” I press, reaching out to try to soothe him, but he pulls away.
It feels like a slap to the face.
“This whole night was a waste of my time,” he mutters.
“What do you mean it was a waste of your time?”
He lifts his head and looks at me. His eyes are glassy, and his expression grim. “Not all of us have daddies who can just snap their fingers and get us signed on a world tour. Some of us have to do whatever it takes to get noticed.”
Noticed? That’s when it hits me. He didn’t come here tonight to spend time with my family or even as a favor to me. He came hoping the guys from Manic were here and he’d make some connections.
My family tried to warn me. He asks too many questions about Dad’s clients, Pres. He told Cash he used our last name to get into a club the other night. He texted Myles asking about acting gigs. I refused to believe he’d use me like that.
I refused to believe any of it.
God, I’m such an idiot.
Before I have a chance to reply, he grabs the vodka bottle and heads for the sliding glass door that leads to the deck.
“Where are you going?”
“To the beach,” he replies harshly. “Don’t follow me.”
I feel tears stinging the backs of my eyes, knowing my family probably heard every word of our heated conversation. “Wasn’t planning on it.” Then, before he walks out, I add, “Oh, and Jace, don’t bother coming back. We’re over.”
He snorts, muttering under his breath. The door slams behind him, making me jump. I stand there staring at the empty glass on the counter. My lip starts to wobble, and I hate it.
I hate the way he makes me feel.
Weak, insecure, and untethered.
I glance toward the dining room, where I know my family is waiting to offer words of encouragement and support.
But I just can’t.
Not yet.
There is just one person I want to talk to, and I don’t know why.
But I don’t question it.
I just pull out my phone and call Hollis.