36. Chapter Thirty-Six
Fuck, I completely forgot how boring this town is, and to make matters worse, Jade is here. I forgot how annoying this chick is with her never-ending chit-chat. It’s all coming back to me now, why I used to shut her up by shoving my cock in her mouth. It was the only way to stop her from babbling about all kinds of shit.
I grab my shot glass from the bar and down it, relishing the burn in my throat. I just need to get numb so I can get through this shitty night. I never wanted to come here in the first place, but Ace convinced me. Perhaps I”ll talk to that cute bartender at the end of the bar and see if she”s down to have some fun later. My eyes wander over her figure. Her long blonde hair, tied in a ponytail, cascades down her back, just above her hot ass, which is exactly my type. Damn, I might even grab hold of that ponytail and have some wild fun until I’m too wasted to realize she’s not who I really desire.
The record label owner, and the biggest pain in my ass, Lionel, is here annoying the shit out of me, as he has done since we first signed with the label. I’ve been eyeing him all night, sitting with his idiot cousin, the mayor of this fucked up town. He expects me to go around shaking hands and bowing to everyone, but honestly, he can suck on my dick for all I care. Our band is his biggest money maker, so I can do whatever the hell I want. I’m not going to suck up to anyone, especially not to these fake ass people in this shitty town who never gave a damn about me or my life. It’s already hard enough dealing with people who only want to be around us now that we’ve become rock gods. Where were they when my life was a living hell? So, no, I’m not going to suck up and shake hands with those stuffy corporate guys in their expensive suits. Screw that.
Reg, the band manager, and Ace are sitting four seats away from me, but I can still hear them yabbering on to some hotshot in a suit, accompanied by his wife or girlfriend in six-inch “come fuck me” heels. Ace introduced me to them ten minutes ago, but I wasn’t interested in hearing from these boring people. I wonder how he’d feel if I fucked his gold-digging girlfriend. Judging by the way she looked at me earlier, I know all I have to do is say something in her ear and she’d be purring for my affection. But she doesn’t interest me. She’s not my type - too snooty and thinks her shit doesn”t stink. But I can still pretend to be interested just to fuck with that egotistical bastard and all the others who think I’m something special now just because I’m important. Well, fuck them and their egos. I’m Xander fucking Williams. I don’t bow or scrape to anyone. I made myself who I am because of hard work, not because of them.
When we arrived in this town earlier today, my immediate reaction was to confront Poppy’s mother and prove her wrong. Tell her that I am someone of significance, someone who is admired. So, to all those bitter old women out there who looked down on me all those years ago, you can all suck my cock. Then, my father came to mind. But the idea of seeing him again and the immense anger I have towards him, I knew the second I saw that fuckers face, I wouldn”t stop. I”m pretty sure I would have killed him the second I saw him. But I stayed away from those two opinionated assholes. They are the ones who are truly unworthy of my time. Just like all the assholes here tonight sucking off our fame.
There were only two people who saw me in a different light compared to everyone else. First, there was Ace, my faithful and trusted best friend. And then there was the girl whose heart I unintentionally shattered, causing my own heart to break in the process. Not this annoying skank Jade, sitting next to me, thinking we were high school sweethearts. She”s just here, wanting attention and to feel important. Even Theo isn”t flirting with her, and he flirts with every girl he sees. That”s how fucking annoying she is.
Downing another shot, I quickly follow it with another, hoping to drown out the incessant bitching coming from the person sitting next to me. Left with only two shots, I grab them and get out of my seat. Jade reaches out her hand to stop me.
”Where are you going, Xander?” she asks, looking up at me and keeping her hand on my arm.
I glance at her hand and then give her a dirty look. “Back the fuck off, and get your fucking hand off me now,” I yell, not caring about those who turn their heads to see what’s going on.
As soon as she removes her hand, I turn and make my way to the empty seat next to Ace, who’s engrossed in a conversation with Reg about some stuff for the upcoming tour.
I want to hear what’s going on, due to Ace not sharing things with the band. We’re heading to Australia for a seven-week tour, followed by a week in New Zealand and I want to know what the fuck is going on. What interviews they are forcing on us. Our schedule is always jam-packed, and it never seems to let up. I hate giving interviews. All I crave is being on that stage, soaking up all the energy that comes with being in the spotlight.
Despite our first album being our best, and how the label now owns my songs, I wasn’t letting that happen again. I’ve told the label that I can’t write anymore. It’s a lie of course I still write every day.
The label now pays someone else to write our songs, and I fucking hate it. I hate that I have no say over what I sing. We have a different sound now to the one we originally had. Sadly, it feels like Broken Oasis has lost its essence. Even though the media has never mentioned it, I can sense it. The rest of the guys can feel it too.
“Hey, man,” I say, settling down next to Ace without even glancing at him. Instead, my attention is fixed on the blonde bartender as she skillfully serves the numerous guests at the far end of the bar. Her soft, feminine curves captivate my gaze, causing my dick to become interested.
”How many is that?” Ace asks.
Lately, all he does is complain about my drinking.
“You might need to slow down, Xander,” says the asshole, Reg. I’d rather drive nails into my ears than follow his instructions. “Don’t mess up tonight, Xander, seriously. Not here. Lionel is already furious with all your outbursts and the negative attention it brings to the band. He’s been on my ass about all the trouble you’ve caused in the past few months.”
Ace chimes in with Reg, adding his thoughts. “It’s not just about you, you know. Your actions affect all of us.”
“You ought to talk asshole, when half the time, you”re the problem,” I tell Reg, knowing that he is behind most of the shit that goes down.
“Xander,” Ace says, and instead of listening to the asshole give me a lecture, I fix my attention back to the blonde bartender at the end of the bar.
I watch her for a moment moving around, chatting, filling up glasses, and then I hear her laugh. Suddenly, my heart starts racing in my chest. Fucking hell, it can’t be. She couldn’t possibly still be here in this shitty town, no way. She should be out there chasing her dreams.
I swallow over the thickness in my throat as I watch her intensely, completely disregarding everything else around me. I’m freaking out just by looking at her, to the point where my leg won’t stop bouncing. I wonder if she’s noticed me sitting here. No way she hasn’t. The Poppy Reeves I know would”ve totally called me out with her sharp tongue. She would”ve called me the biggest scumbag by now.
Wanting to confirm that the alcohol hasn”t affected my vision and it”s really her, I get off my stool, hoping to get a closer look. But before I can take a step in her direction, I freeze when I catch the sound of a familiar voice - one that I wish to never hear again in my life.
“Don’t you wanna say hi to your old man?”
With a sense of urgency, I swiftly turn towards him, and spit my words that reflect the intensity of my anger.
“What the fuck are you doing here?”
I can”t help but notice the heavy silence that hangs in the room. But I don’t care. It’s no surprise that my asshole father has chosen this exact moment to cause a scene. And, of course, once again, all eyes turn towards me because they think I have something fucking important to say.
He smirks and takes a stumbling step forward. “Just came to see my boy,” he slurs.
I feel Ace’s hand grip my arm, trying to get my attention. But I don’t bother to look in his direction.
“As you’ve constantly reminded me, I’m not your son.” I spit the words at him. My lips tighten, and my fists involuntarily clench at my sides, memories of the beatings this jerk subjected me to flood my mind, all because he discovered I wasn’t his biological child.
His bloodshot eyes lock onto me. “You always were a little cunt of a kid. And now, hotshot, I see nothing has changed.”
With a glance, I observe the stains on his shirt and the greasy, disheveled state of his hair. He appears significantly older than I remember, maybe the alcohol has finally taken its toll.
“Your old man is having some money problems. You owe me a favor after all I did for you.”
And there it is. This asshole didn’t want anything to do with me when I needed him the most, especially on the day my mother passed away. Instead, he constantly abused me, day in and day out, and now he expects me to help him out. Fuck no.
My anger rises to the surface that this asshole now wants to call me his son. I don’t care about the executives from the label, the mayor, or any other high-profile person who thinks they know me because of my success.
Ace places his hand on my shoulder. “Come on, Xander, it’s not worth it.”
Despite Ace’s effort to prevent a public showdown, I am too angry to listen. The intensity of his cruelty fuels a growing rage within me, urging me to unleash my true feelings - to tell him what he told me, that he is insignificant, a worthless asshole, and he will be now and forever.
I forcefully shake Ace”s hand off my shoulder and move forward, my face burning with anger. Strong feelings consume me as I recall the words, I”ve rehearsed for years to tell him if I ever saw him again. Ignoring the spectators in the room, and the phones pointed in my direction does nothing to stop me from lashing out.
“Fuck you!”
Reg moves in front of me, his hands outstretched, desperately trying to silence me and avoid any commotion, but his attempts are in vain as I am determined to speak my mind. I know well that once this situation unfolds, it will be plastered across the media. My every action seems to find its way into magazines, although most of the content is nothing but lies. It’s just another means for them to profit off of me, much like this record label.
My father looks around the room at the many people watching. “This is the fucking hotshot at his best.” He looks back at me with that smirk, that same one he always gave when he was satisfied with the beatings he gave me.
How dare the asshole come here asking for a handout, when I’m the one who has put in all the hard work? It”s seriously mind-boggling that he would even dare to refer to me as his son after all the cruelty he inflicted.
Reg and Ace attempt to drag me away, but it’s already too late. I open my mouth, prepared to express clearly that he has never been a father. And how he will forever remain the asshole who made my life a living hell.
“Xander!”
I hear her voice and instantly freeze as she gently places her palm against my chest.
Ace and Reg release their grip on me, and both look down at Poppy, who is standing in front of me.
“Not here in front of everyone,” says Poppy.
Her voice has a profound effect on me, especially when she speaks my name. However, it’s the sensation of her hand on my chest that sends shivers through my entire body, just like it did years ago when she used to touch me. Her touch has a grounding effect on me.
As she draws near, I take a deep breath in. I shift my gaze downwards and meet her captivating blue eyes, feeling a lump in my throat. Surprisingly, there is no hint of hatred in her eyes, contrary to what I had expected when I first saw her. What strikes me the most, though, is how she has become even more beautiful than I remember. There are a few additional freckles sprinkled across her nose. However, she doesn’t allow me to admire her face for long, as she redirects her attention back to my father.
“Back off, now,” she warns my piece of shit father. She then directs her gaze towards the security guard, who has been silently observing the entire situation unfold. “Warren, remove this person from the bar immediately, or I will involve the police.”
Approaching the scene, Warren, the security guard, whose bald head and substantial muscular build cannot be ignored.
“Listen here, bitch,” my father angrily retorts. “This is between my son and me. It’s got nothing to do with you.”
I take a step forward, fully prepared to deliver a punch to my father’s face for calling Poppy by that name. But Poppy removes her hand from my chest and boldly steps forward, confronting him with her gaze. It’s the same Poppy I remember from our school days but now she’s bolder, more self-assured - always ready with a sharp retort.
“We know what kind of asshole father you were to Xander. Now get the fuck out of here, or I’ll have your ass thrown in jail.”
It’s truly unbelievable to see Poppy in the first place, but it’s even more surprising to watch her defend me, especially after what I’ve done to her.
Warren, the useless security guard, takes hold of my father’s arms and spins him around.
“You self-righteous prick,” my father yells at me, his voice echoing through the room. Warren forcefully shoves him towards the exit, and the shocked crowd parts, making way for him to be escorted out.
As everyone watches my dad get kicked out, I can”t take my eyes off Poppy. I can’t believe what she just did. Not after everything that went down between us.
Poppy’s gaze meets mine briefly as she turns around. In that moment, a surge of emotions overwhelms me, as memories flood my heart. However, she immediately looks away and walks back to the bar.
The murmurs of the crowd sound in my ears, their penetrating stares fixed upon me.
“You alright, man?” Ace inquires, standing by my side as Theo and Nate approach.
Nodding, my mind goes blank, and I can’t find the right words to say. I simply wish to follow her, but I am unsure of how to express myself. It”s all too much to handle, and I”m in desperate need of a drink.
“Damn, who’s the blonde spitfire over there?” Theo asks, his gaze fixed on the bar.
I open my mouth to tell him to drop it, but I don’t get a chance because Ace answers for me.
“That’s Poppy Reeves,” Ace says, glancing over at the bar where Poppy is now serving drinks. “She used to go to our school.”
Hearing her name, Theo glances my way. “You mean that Poppy,” he comments.
I nod to confirm, and Ace gives me a puzzled look because I didn”t tell him anything about Poppy when he asked. But I’ve already told Theo everything.
”Fuck!” Theo mutters, knowing all about our history.