“Damn straight I do. But until you ladies get your act together, I’m going all monk,” Mason said with a frown. I had a feeling the monk part wasn’t by choice. Jared probably had something to do with it, demanding there was no getting laid until the album was finished.
“All right. Before Mas starts reciting religious scriptures,” I said, “let’s get back to work.” Anything to avoid talking about all the shit going on with me, and about my fears for Hailey after what had happened to her colleague.
Jared and Kirk grabbed their instruments. Mason returned to his drums, and Aaron switched his keyboards back on. This time when I sang the song, I pretended I was singing it to Hailey. By the time we were finished with it, all four were nodding their approval.
We continued well into the night. To save time, we’d planned to crash at Mason’s until the songs were all written. Like the past few nights, we slept only two or three hours before starting up again. Coffee became our food of choice.
Before crashing on Mason’s couch, I checked my phone. Hailey had finally replied to one of my texts: I’m fine, thanks. Have fun tomorrow night.
At first my sleep-deprived brain had no idea what she was talking about with the last part, but then I remembered: Alyssa’s movie premiere. Hailey must have seen it on the entertainment news. To her, I was moving on with my life. That’s why she hadn’t responded to my messages. It was her way of saying she understood.
I deliberated for a minute whether I should respond. What I wanted to say was, I wish it were you, but that would only hurt her more. And her message was quite clear. She was brushing me off. She wasn’t fine about Chris’s death. That much I knew.
I hurled the phone against the wall. Mason’s drywall survived the assault.
My phone didn’t.
Chapter 39
Nolan
The limo pulled up to the security post of Alyssa’s gated community. After a brief word with the guard, we were waved in. The record label had arranged for the limo. They wanted to ensure we showed up at the movie premiere together, since I was there as her boyfriend.
My mouth dropped open as we drove past houses that were better described as estates. My parents’ home was large, but it was nothing compared to these.
The limo turned in at the driveway of a house that belonged in a fairy tale. Hailey would have loved it. Sighing, I pushed away thoughts of her. This was Alyssa’s big night. The last thing she needed was for me to be moody and ruin it for her.
I waited for the driver to open my door, then I walked to the house and rang the doorbell. A moment later the front door swung open.
Alyssa’s painted pink lips curled up in a smile, and all I could do was wonder why she was wasting time with me. She should’ve been going to the premiere with someone who wanted to be there with her. She shouldn’t have been going with someone who’d been coerced into being her date.
Alyssa was normally gorgeous, but in her silver gown she was stunning. The cleavage-revealing dress was fitted to midthigh, then cascaded to the floor. Her hair was knotted in a bun, adding to her elegance.
“You look great,” I said.
“You don’t look so bad yourself.” Her gaze traveled down the tux that I felt like an idiot in. The record label had arranged it too.
“Are you ready?” To leave. To stand in front of hundreds of fans. To deal with the media storm.
I offered her my arm and I escorted her to the awaiting limo. The driver opened the door and I helped Alyssa in, then joined her. She patted the black leather seat next to her. I took the one across from her.
She giggled. “I’m not going to bite, if that’s what you’re worried about.”
“I know, but I’m happy here.”
“Okay.” She moved to sit next to me. I wasn’t sure if it was intentional, but she practically sat in my lap.
And that’s when I smelled the booze on her breath. Shit. She rested her hand on my knee and gave it a light squeeze as the limo pulled away from her house.
“Alyssa, you’re a nice girl, but I don’t feel that way about you.” My voice was cautious, quiet, like how you’d talk to an animal you don’t want to spook. I didn’t want to upset her when we were attending the premiere, but I needed to ensure she understood this wasn’t real.
“Why? Because of the girl in the pictures?”
“Yes.”
“But she lives in Minnesota and you live in L.A. Are you really planning to have a long-distance relationship?” Her lips pressed together into a slight pout.
“We’re not having a long-distance relationship.”
“She’s moving here?” The pout disappeared and the corners of her mouth dipped down.
I shifted my knee, subtly removing her hand from it. “No. We’re not together.”
It took a moment for it to sink in. Her eyes widened. “You’re…you’re in love with her, aren’t you?”
I nodded.
“Does she feel the same way?”
I shrugged. “I’m not sure.” And I wasn’t. I’d seen her love for me in her eyes, but she hadn’t actually said the words I’d longed to hear.
Alyssa scooted back, leaving more than a foot of space between us. “What do you mean, you’re not sure?”