Chapter 10
STEPHANIE
I hate getting introduced like that.
In this situation it was inevitable, so I figured it was best to rip the Band-Aid off.
But it rankles even worse today, given I decided to make a phone call to the man I was planning on never talking to again.
I hope this charity event is worth the sacrifice.
But when it comes to Alzheimer’s, I have a soft spot.
I couldn’t sit back and do nothing when I knew my connection might pay off for Deke.
Deke had a front-row seat to the dumpster fire that was the end of my relationship with Chase, so he has sympathetic eyes. Mallory, on the other hand, remains frozen, like he’s been turned to stone.
“That’s right. I am, in fact, someone who used to date Chase Collins. Speaking of, we have an appointment with him next week. After that, you won’t need to do anything else.”
Mallory slowly stands up and walks over to me, his eyes so wide that he looks like a small child. “You did this for us?”
“I did this for someone named Frank who lost his wife to Alzheimer’s and is trying to find a way to make sure it doesn’t happen to anyone else.”
Mallory pulls me into a bear hug so powerful it knocks the air out of me.
“Thank you so much.” His voice is breathy and full of emotion.
“Frank is going to love you so much.” Mallory has my arms pinned to my sides and isn’t letting go.
His entire body vibrates with energy—he’s acting like a little boy who just got his first puppy.
Mallory has never hugged me before—perhaps because he knew I never would have allowed it.
But he took me by surprise, and I have to admit: it isn’t the worst thing that has ever happened to me.
And when I say that, I mean: it might possibly be the worst thing that has ever happened to me!
The warmth of his body against mine makes my insides start to swoon and sigh.
I take a deep breath, trying to fortify myself against these radical thoughts, but this turns out to be a terrible idea.
I simply inhale the scent of his cologne, which is something deliciously dark and musky.
Being held by Mallory is too much, and I try to wiggle away.
He finally lets go, and I breathe again.
Deke comes over and whispers in my ear. “Thank you, Steph. I can’t imagine what that cost you.” He gives me a tight squeeze and kisses the top of my head.
Mallory continues gazing at me with a sweet smile and kind eyes before clearing his throat and quietly speaking. “I don’t know how you did this or what superpowers you possess, but this will mean the world to Frank. Thank you so much.”
This genuine version of Mallory is throwing me off. I need to plunge back into the cold business of details and get him to stop looking at me like this. It almost tempts me to see him as the amazing man he could be.
I clear my throat, hoping to also clear my mind.
“Like I said, there won’t be much for you to do.
There’s a production company in Austin who happened to work Icefall concerts all over the world for over a year.
It’s run by a married couple, McKay and Alyssa, and as a favor to me, they are pulling together a team to make this happen—even on such short notice.
You’ll meet both of them at the meeting.
Chase has requested to meet in person, so travel arrangements need to be made to get to Austin next week. ”
“Icefall wants to meet with us in person and not go through management?” Deke’s voice sounds skeptical.
“Not Icefall—just Chase.” Saying the words is like swallowing a lead ball. “He’s the only band member that will be there. After the meeting, Alyssa and McKay will do everything else.”
Mallory looks skeptical. “How is it even possible that we have one meeting with the production company and Chase Collins and then don’t need to do anything else?”
“It’s possible because that’s the deal I made with Chase. Everything else goes through McKay and Alyssa.” I stop for a moment to collect myself. “But his one demand was that I’m also at the meeting.”
Deke makes a growling sound, and I immediately cut him off with a look. Please don’t make a big deal about this in front of Mallory, I hope to convey.
“It will be fine. With Alyssa and McKay on board, the process should be quick and painless. The band also opted for a travel buyout, so you don’t even need to worry about that.
” I stop and take a breath, attempting to calm my climbing heart rate.
“We show up in Austin next week and then on the night of the event. Maybe a quick meeting in the middle. That should be all you need to do.”
I think I sound confident, but it’s the last thing I am.
Chase answered the phone all too quickly when I called, and he agreed all too fast once I agreed to be present at the meeting.
He didn’t even check with the rest of the band—simply assured me it would be fine. Everything about this puts me on edge.
“You did this all in the last hour?” Mallory looks at me in complete awe, like I hung the moon and stars for him.
“It’s no big deal.” I deflect as hard as I can.
“No big deal? Stephanie, an hour ago we had nothing. But thanks to you, we now have one of the biggest bands in the world—no, the biggest band in the world—and we have an experienced production company that is going to do all the work.” Cooper shakes his head in disbelief.
“I don’t know how you did this, but you’re brilliant! ”
I dismiss his praise. “I started out in stage management and spent the last few years as a creative producer, so I know how to handle these things. It’s really not a big deal.
” Before Mallory can say anything else, I plug right along.
“So, we need to make travel arrangements to get the three of us to Austin next week.”
“You mean the two of you,” Deke half-whispers. I look over and see that—at some point—Sam had joined us. Deke is standing behind her, his arms wrapped around her as she leans back into his chest.
“What do you mean?” The thought of Deacon not being there has my nerves jumping like hyperactive popcorn. Then Sam raises a challenging eyebrow, and I remember. “Oh yeah. Too close to the baby’s due date to leave?”
“Even Frank couldn’t get me to leave right now.” Deke leans down and kisses Sam right behind her ear.
Deke loves Sam with such a fierceness that it’s almost a tangible thing you could reach out and touch.
It’s the way every woman longs to be loved—but few seem to find.
There was a time when I thought I might have been so lucky, but it all came crashing down in a spectacular ball of flames.
I’ve tried to steer clear of getting burned ever since.
It’s at that moment when Cheryl, Sam’s friend, walks in the front door holding Lou’s hand.
Cheryl is barely five feet tall with striking blue eyes, straight blonde hair that stops above her shoulders, and always bright lipstick—today it’s red and perfectly straddles the line between current fashion and vintage 1950s.
In the last eighteen months, we’ve become close friends, and since I could use another one of those in the room right now, she’s a sight for sore eyes.
Lou and her little blonde pigtails and cute blue sundress bounce beside Cheryl as she chats away, unaware of her audience. Cheryl, however, immediately notices everyone in the room and stops in surprise.
“—so if the unicorn had married the lollipop, then I think that . . .” Lou looks up when Cheryl stops and notices everyone. It takes a moment for her six-year-old mind to register everything, but it’s obvious the moment she sees Mallory.
“JUMPER!” That’s Lou’s nickname for Mallory.
She takes off like a rocket ship and flies into his outstretched arms. He swallows her up in an embrace for the ages, holding her like she’s his lifeline.
It’s too much for my heart to take—and even more so because Lou is holding onto him just as tightly.
The look on Mallory’s face sweeps me back to the first time I ever saw him.
Does he even remember that day?