Greer pulled out his phone and exhaled heavily, the action causing to tense. “Tom was checking to see if you were awake yet,” Greer explained as he typed on his phone. “He said to check your phone. He sent your new flight information.” Shoving his phone in his pocket, Greer walked to the door, pausing a moment before turning back to Reid. “One of these days you’re going to have to deal with all the shit you’re trying so hard to avoid. Have fun in Memphis.”
Greer didn’t wait for Reid to respond before he slipped out the door. Alone, Reid turned in a circle in the room. Everything was a mess. He walked over to the table and grabbed the mirror, pressing his thumb into the white residue, the powder sticking to his skin. Using his forefinger, he swiped across the surface until it was clean before rubbing the same finger across his teeth and gums.
Reid sighed as the bitter taste filled his mouth. Tossing the mirror back onto the table, he started cleaning the evidence of his night. After dumping the ashtray and pouring out the liquor, he walked back into the living room, stopping to grab the notebook off the floor. He flipped it over, freezing when his eyes landed on the page. Everything he’d tried to silence came rushing back as he read the words he’d written the night before.
To the bottom I sink with my arms open wide
I don’t swim, don’t fight the tide,
I wanna stay lost in her Liz Taylor eyes
His fragmented thoughts, hooks, and lyrics covered every inch of the paper. He smoothed his hand over the page, his brows denting when he felt raised lines. With shaking hands, he looked at the other side. What he saw caused his stomach to twist and an ache of longing to swell inside his chest. Like the front side, lyrics covered the page. Lyrics about longing, want, need. But it wasn’t the lyrics that twisted him in knots, those were familiar. It was the name scribbled in every available space between them. Over and over, he’d written her name until it overshadowed everything else. He wasn’t surprised; Chloe had a way of outshining everything around her.
With a final glance at the page, he closed the notebook and pushed it inside his bag. No longer comfortable being inside that room, Reid quickly gathered his things and grabbed his phone. Like Greer promised, there was a text from Tom with his flight information, but that wasn’t all. There was also a short message with a photo attached.
Was it worth the $20K it took to make this disappear?
“Fuck,” Reid exhaled when he opened the picture. His eyes closed and his jaw snapped shut as he tried to forget what he’d seen. The picture wasn’t incriminating; it was just him standing between two female fans with his arms draped over their shoulders. But for anyone who knew him, there would be no doubt what he’d been up to. His eyes were glassy and red. His smile was too wide, his posture slumped and rigid all at once.
“What am I doing?” he whispered, his chin falling to his chest. The image of Chloe leaving his dressing room, her eyes hurt, sad, and full of disappointment caused Reid’s throat to tighten. He wondered if she would forgive him for what he’d done.
When his plane landed in Memphis, Jess was waiting. She stood at the entrance of baggage claim wearing a pair of cutoff shorts, Chucks, and a T-shirt that read “Move over Winona, there’s a new Ryder in town.” It was a shirt she’d made when he first signed with the label. From the threadbare material, he could tell it was the same shirt. A wave of nostalgia crashed over him. Jess had been there before he was discovered, and she would have stayed had he not hurt her so badly. Was he really going to break her heart again? Were his feelings for Chloe real? What if she didn’t feel the same? What if he changed his mind and lost them both?
That wasn’t an option.
“Your mom wanted to come, but I convinced her to stay home.”
Reid smiled. “How on earth did you manage that?”
Jess slapped her hand gently against his abs and tsked. “I’d never tell my secrets. Also, don’t you know the old saying?”
“What’s that?” Reid asked, grabbing his bag from the carousel.
“Hoes before bros.”
Reid stumbled to a stop and looked at Jess, his mouth hanging open with shock. “Did you just call my mom a ho?”
Jess lifted her hand and flashed two fingers, mimicking some kind of gang move. “Damn straight. She’s my homie.”
“Are you drunk?” Reid whispered, looking around. A few people were staring, but that was to be expected. It didn’t appear anyone noticed that Jess had clearly lost her mind.
She laughed and threw her arm over his shoulder. “Of course not. I’m just stupid happy you’re home. It’s making me act completely ridiculous.”
Reid chuckled. “If that’s the way you want to deal with this, I’m cool with that.”
The pair ducked out of the airport, only stopping to sign a few autographs. Once inside the car, Jess turned to Reid. “So where do you want to go? Tom sent me a text that your flight was changed and your phone was dead, so I’m assuming you’re exhausted.”