“Yeah, we’ve all been doing a lot of living,” I said as Reid stood in my peripheral. I kept my focus, despite the nagging urge to glance his way.
Before the uncomfortable silence could pass, I broke in, on a mission to get what I needed and get the hell out. The warmth was getting stifling, its ever-present threat expanding in my chest with Reid so near. “So, where do I set up? You guys have a place in mind?”
“Business already?” Rye said with a snort. “Don’t want to have a drink first?”
“That’s probably not—”
I was interrupted by the sound of ice to my right. Reid poured a healthy serving of whiskey into a rocks glass and I walked over to him and grabbed it. “Thanks.” I took a sip, and they all shared grins as Reid poured a second glass for himself. I stood back, stunned.
“I thought you weren’t drinking anymore?”
“He can handle it,” Ben assured me. “He doesn’t drink much.”
Utterly confused, I glanced in Reid’s direction and Ben intercepted. “Let’s go out to the patio, see if you think that’s a good spot for the interview.” Ben gripped my arm, and I had no choice but to follow. Once cleared of the door, he looked at me conspiratorially. “He went to rehab for the counseling,” Ben said on a whisper. “He never drank so much he needed help for that.”
“That doesn’t make sense.”
“Why doesn’t it?” Reid said, making me jump as he lit a cigarette behind me, his jade gaze on my lips.
“Damn, man, I thought you told her,” Ben said in quick defense.
“I did. She was too busy throwing me out to listen,” he said with a shrug.
“Okay,” I said, feeling the accusation. “Well, it’s none of my business anyway,” I retorted, the whiplash from his sudden mood swings filtering through my body, a telltale sign it was a very bad idea to be standing anywhere with him. “This looks like as good of a place as any.”
“There’s a nice big bedroom down the hall,” Reid said. “I know how much you love a mattress. Maybe we could all fit, for old time’s sake.”
I reeled on him. “What the hell is your problem?”
He smirked, and I turned my back to him.
“I have a wedding rehearsal in two hours,” I told Ben. “I need to get this started. I don’t care if we have the interview in the damned bathroom.”
“There’s the cocky little Latina I know and love,” Ben said, looking between Reid and me with unease. “Don’t start shit, man,” Ben warned. “We owe her.”
“That’s why she’s here,” Reid reminded him. “My idea,” he murmured, full of sarcasm as he blew out a puff of smoke and tilted his rocks glass in my direction. “You’re welcome.”
“I didn’t want to come,” I said with a sigh. “And now I damn sure don’t want to stay.”
Reid threw out the rest of his drink in a nearby plant, and I moved toward the door. He stopped me with a hand on my arm, which I jerked away.
“Ben, let me have her,” Reid said sharply, his eyes never leaving mine.
“Hell no, she’s already pissed. We need this interview done. We’ve held off the press release for two fucking months so she could announce this tour!”
“I’ll play nice,” he whispered.
I raised my brow without a clue as to what was going on. And I decided it was best if I didn’t. “How about we don’t play at all. I’ll be set up in the living room in ten minutes.” I walked back into the penthouse and gave Adam and Rye a wary glance.
“Oh shit.”
I didn’t know which one it came from and I didn’t care. I mentally rehearsed a list of questions for both my podcast and Speak while I ignored the rattle. My questions for the podcast were far more personal, and I had no intentions of holding back. It’s like the boys said. They owed me.
“Stella,” Reid whispered at my back, making me jump as I tightened the lock on my tripod.
“It’s fine, Reid, save your apology. Let’s just get this over with.”
“You didn’t want to come?”
I let out a heavy breath, refusing to look his direction. “No.”
I felt the tightness start in my chest as I turned to face him and nearly slammed into his chest. All at once, I was surrounded by nicotine, the hint of whiskey on his breath, and the fucking Irish Spring that seemed to dance off his skin, putting me on high alert.
“You’re filthy rich, you think you would switch from cheap soap.”
“They make body wash now.” He chuckled.
Whiplash. Or maybe I’d just forgotten how volatile he was.
“Why are you still working at Speak?”
“I’m happy there,” I said, taken off guard.
“But that’s not what you wanted,” he pressed.
“I’m getting there,” I said. “These things take time.”
“Bullshit. You were supposed to be traveling and writing. That was your dream.”
“Dreams change,” I said with a shrug. “I’m exactly where I want to be.”
He eyed me as if every word I spoke was a lie.
His next words were as dry as my throat. “Way to burn out, Stella.”
The sting of them hit deep. I hadn’t planned on doing anything more than finishing school and traveling to shows, living in the circuit in hopes of getting a break at one of the more reputable magazines. I shared those hopes with him. But that wasn’t all he was insinuating. I wasn’t doing anything that scared me and hadn’t since the minute I fell in love with him. The fact that he had the nerve to call me out on it after three years of being absent had me livid. I had to slow my breathing as the fear set in. The man knew me, I had made sure of it.
“Did you bring me here to shove your success in my face?”
He pressed his brows together. “Of course not, I got you here to do an interview for the band.”
I set my camera on the tripod. “That’s what I’m doing, your highness.”
As I’d suspected, the journalists had done a little word play on Reid’s name. He’d been deemed King Crowne.
“I don’t buy into that shit,” he said with a passive wave of his hand. “This is coming out all wrong. Can we start over? After the interview?”
“I’m going to Paige’s rehearsal.”
“Great, see you there.”
“You aren’t invited,” I called after him. “It’s a family thing.”
“That’s where you’re wrong.”
I managed to pull myself together enough for the interview. And after a shot of whiskey and a few uncomfortable minutes, it began to flow. After an hour of steady questioning, Reid being the most evasive with his answers, I had enough to make journalists everywhere envious.
The guys and I laughed through old memories as Reid stood idly by and watched me. With a quick look at the clock, I grabbed my bag and said my goodbyes. Ben dodged me sheepishly when I looked pointedly at him. “You call her and you make things right.”
Ben’s jaw ticked. “I’m not the one who fucked up.” There was no forgiveness in his voice. Not an ounce of pity. But I heard the hurt and it ran deep.
“Talk to her,” I said, pressing in. “You might be surprised at what she has to say.”
“It’s been over,” Ben said. “There’s nothing to say.”
“You’re here, and that probably won’t happen again for some time.”
“I’ll think about it,” he said as he kissed my cheek. “Thank you, Stella.”
“Of course, thanks for the interview, hot shit.”
“You could have a little patience with him,” Ben said as he eyed Reid, who waited for me by the door.
“We aren’t like you and Lexi. This is different.”
He guffawed and shook his head. “Bye, baby.”
I met Reid at the door. “Let me drive you,” he offered in a whisper.
“I’ve got a trunk full of wedding crap, but thanks,” I said as I opened the door. “Reid—”
“I’ll see you there.”
In too Deep
Genesis
“What a fucking day,” Nate said through the speakers in my SUV as I drove through the gates of the country club.
“You can say that again.”
“What a fucking day,” he repeated, and I let out a chuckle.
“How did it go?”
“I think my editor will be happy.” I looked back to see a limousine pull up right behind me. My shameless family spilled out the door of the large club with inquiring faces. My twin cousins, Noel and Noah, attacked Reid the second he stepped out of the car.