15. Jen
FIFTEEN
Jen
“Hey, Larry!” Glory says as she strides up to an older man wearing a blue pocket T-shirt, blue jeans, and white tennis shoes.
“Hello there, young lady. How was your trip?”
They hug briefly before she replies. “It was good! No problems.”
“That’s great. Here are the room keys.” He hands Glory some cards. “We’ll see you at the show.” And Larry, the man of mystery, walks off into the sunrise. He really just goes out onto the patio, and well, the sun is coming up. Sue me for being dramatic.
“Glory, who was that guy?” I ask very confused by why we’re meeting a random man in the lobby.
“Oh, that’s Larry Henry. He’s the band’s tour manager. Beck had me call him once when he was at the beginning of the tour to ask a question about one of their stops, and I just kept his number. Sometimes, I like to surprise Beck with a wake-up call when he’s on the road.”
“You really are a horn dog.” Evelyn laughs, and of course, Glory turns a new shade of pink.
“Okay, here is a key card to Madd’s room. He and Beck shack up.” Glory hands the key card to me. I’m so excited to surprise him! I can’t wait to see his face when he realizes we flew here in the middle of the night.
The night before, when we video chatted, he kept trying to talk me into joining him on tour for a while. Of course, I can’t stay away that long. Evelyn and I have the bakery. Now that we have a bigger staff, we can at least take a vacation.
“And here are keys to two suites for all of you.” Glory hands Christina, Rim, Evelyn, and Atticus key cards as well. You can’t take a man’s private jet and not bring him along, and then, of course, Atticus has to join us.
It’s the first time in a while that we’ve all been together, and I am looking forward to it.
“I got your bag. Come on, sweetheart. Let’s head to the room and rest.” Atticus grabs Evelyn’s bag and drapes his arm around her shoulder. He towers over her, but they are the perfect couple.
Evelyn looks at me and winks with major exaggeration, then throws her hand up like she’s whispering. “He wants to go do it.”
Everyone laughs. That girl is crazy, and Atticus is the calm to her storm. They’re adorable.
“Okay, girls, go get your men! I’m going to try to take Rim’s mind off of investigating every inch of this hotel. I swear he never stops working.” Christina squeals as Rim comes up behind her, wrapping his arm around her waist.
“Are you talking about me, wife?”
We barely get a wave as a giggling Christina and Rim head off to their suite. I almost feel bad for the hotel manager because Rim will be analyzing everything with his shrewd business eye. I’m sure Christina will take his mind off things for a few minutes, though.
“Madd and Beck share a suite when on tour, so let’s head up.”
We roll our overnight cases to the elevator, and once inside, Glory swipes her key card to gain access to the penthouse. This is all still a bit surreal. I sometimes can’t wrap my mind around the fact that I’m dating a rock star. He’s so normal. I don’t even think about it really until I’m in a fancy hotel using a keycard to get to the penthouse. Then I remember.
Still not used to this.
The elevator stops, the doors open, and Glory and I roll out, but before we get to the room, there’s Beck. Oh my gosh, they hug and kiss and mumble to each other. They’re so sweet. Really, they are the best.
“Oh, hey, Jen! Glad to see you. The room is down the hall on the right. Suite 1030.”
“Okay, thanks, Beck.” That’s about all he gets out of his mouth before Glory kisses him again.
I just laugh and grab her suitcase and wheel it down the hall with me. Pretty sure I heard a mumbled thank you between kisses.
I just throw my hand up. No way I’m looking back. I learned a long time ago those two are freaky. The living room glory hole proves it.
I stop at the door and slip the key in. Once the handle pushes open, I take a deep breath.
I don’t know why I’m so nervous.
I push open the door, and it’s quiet. There’s a huge living room in front of me, a kitchen and dining area to the left, and a bedroom off each side of the living room.
I wonder which is his?
I leave our luggage at the door, then I check the bedroom to the right. The bed is messy and empty . Must be Beck’s. So, I walk across the living room and open the door to the other room.
Huh. This bed is perfectly made like it hasn’t been slept in.
Where is he?
I head back out in the hall, and Glory and Beck are headed toward me when the door to the suite beside Maddox and Beck’s opens. Tyson comes out, his shirt half on, and some girl is trying to kiss him as he’s trying to escape, but once they pull apart, a gasp slips past my lips unbidden.
“What the fuck?”
Tyson notices I’m there, then he turns to see what I’m staring at, but when Maddox hears my voice, he turns ghostly white. Maddox is shirtless, the top button of his pants undone, and his feet are bare as he sits on the edge of a big couch with a naked Tricia lying asleep behind him.
“Fuck, Jen!” Maddox groans, swiping his hand over his face as he tries to stand up but staggers. He’s still hammered.
“Jen, is everything—Oh my God, Maddox! What the hell?” Glory tries to storm passed me, but Beck grabs her by the waist.
“Let me slap him for her! Let me go!”
Glory is shouting, Beck is shouting, and Tyson is still trying to extract the girl from him. And Maddox, well, he’s on his feet now and pushing through everyone to get to me. Glory tries to kick him, but he manages to dodge her. I run down the hall to the elevator and stab the button repeatedly.
“Jen, please wait. It’s not what it looks like.”
I turn on him, and if looks could kill, I’d be a murderer. “It looks like I caught you fucking your best friend’s ex. So, how is this not what it looks like?”
“I was hanging out with the guys, and then I had a drink. Well, I had a few beers before that, but then I had this one fucking drink, and I just woke up right before you were at the door. I honestly don’t remember anything. I’m sorry, baby girl. I don’t know what happened.”
The elevator dings and the doors slide open. I just shake my head in disgust.
“This is why I could never take us seriously, take you seriously. You can’t ever trust a rock n’ roll manwhore.” I take two steps backward, and I’m on the elevator.
“Jen, please, I fucking love you.”
Just when I thought my heart couldn’t break anymore, he says the three words that shatter it to pieces.
I press the button for the lobby as one tear slides down my cheek.
I will not cry in front of him.
“Don’t fucking go,” Maddox pleads, and his voice cracks. The sheer sadness in his voice is crushing me, but cheating is a hard line for me.
He takes a step forward, daring to get on this elevator with me.
“No. Don’t you dare.” I hold up my hand to stop him.
The doors start to close, and our eyes are locked. The only thing on repeat in my mind comes out of my mouth.
“I trusted you with my heart.”