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I finally break our lengthy stare first. Sitting up, I keep the sheet over my legs and gaze at it. He’s going to find out eventually. The whole band will no doubt start asking about my music and when they can hear it. Plus, I was an even bigger idiot and introduced them to Austin. I have to tell him, but I wanted to hold on to my self-worth a little longer before confiding in him and feeling like a chump all over again.
“You know I’m not recording at Rich Records anymore, but …” I start off low, telling him what he already knows. He doesn’t move or reply. “I signed a contract with Jimmy Richards, and I thought it was all good. Bret seemed so sure.”
“That son of a—”
“No, no.” I grab his hand, finally making eye contact with him. “It’s my fault. I was the stupid one and didn’t read it over. But Jimmy Richards now owns all of that music I recorded there.”
“We can get it back,” he declares. “Let’s tell Peter and get it taken care of.”
I shake my head. “Maybe we could, maybe we couldn’t. Honestly, as painful as it is to think he owns anything that I created, I don’t want to fight over it. I just want it to be over.”
“Jade, no. That’s your music. I don’t care if all you were doing was snapping your fingers, there’s no way in hell I’m letting them—”
“Austin is Jimmy’s son,” I blurt out, stopping his words. His eyes meet mine, looking confused. I nod. “He didn’t tell me and used his mom’s name when I met him. I don’t know if it was his plan or his dad’s. Maybe they were in on it together, or maybe he didn’t plan anything but took advantage of the fact that he knew I was in his dad’s building. I don’t know, and I don’t care.”
“Damn,” he whispers. “Do you really think he’d do that? I mean, I only met him those couple of times, but he seemed cool. Definitely not a douchebag like Bret.”
I scoff. “I don’t even want to talk about Bret. We met Jimmy at that lunch, and Bret sided with them. I know I broke up with him, and our relationship always seemed like a contractual obligation, but I thought … I just thought …”
“Hey.” Maddox reaches over, taking my hand. “Please don’t cry over him.”
I blink, and the tears fall over my cheeks. “It’s him. It’s Austin. It’s Jimmy. It’s the entire thing,” I eek out, wiping my eyes. “I feel so stupid. And the worst part of it all is you’re right. Austin didn’t seem like that kind of guy. That’s why I liked him. That’s why I felt more with him these last few weeks than I ever did with Bret. I-I can’t believe he …”
“Come here.” He scoots closer, wrapping his arms around me. “Please don’t cry, sis. Those bastards aren’t worth it.”
I nod, agreeing with him. They aren’t worth it. None of them are worth my time or thoughts or tears anymore. But that doesn’t change the fact of how hurt I feel over it all. Maybe I’d only be disappointed by Bret not taking my side. Maybe I’d only be angry that Jimmy Richards had me sign a contract he knew wasn’t in my best interest. But I’m more than those things. I feel betrayed and crushed because of Austin. And even if I don’t want to cry, the tears still fall with my arms around my brother.
