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He grins, wiggling his eyebrows. “Lily, I don’t think I’ve ever heard you speak so highly of me.”
“Don’t get any ideas.” She points at him, smirking.
“The owner of Mavin International is rumored to be pretty uptight. They’re opening this location, almost like a testing site. If it does good, they plan on opening these high-end clubs in more of their locations. My interview isn’t with him, but whoever’s managing this place will no doubt be reporting back to him on some level. I just want to give myself an upper hand if I can. But don’t get it twisted, I’m still gonna be partying my face off.”
His comment makes all of us laugh. Lily’s aunt once again lifts the hair. “Last chance,” she says.
He looks back at her in the mirror, then nods. “Do it.”
* * *
“To my boy!” Adam raises his drink high, as Lily, the band, and I all sit around the table in the VIP area of a nightclub.
We cheer, celebrating Maddox, and his new gig. “Thanks.”
“Was the owner super uptight like you thought he’d be?” Derrik asks about Maddox’s meeting he had earlier today.
After his haircut yesterday, I could tell he was nervous. It’s a look I haven’t seen on my brother in a very long time, but he was excited about the meeting today.
“He wasn’t even there,” Maddox tells us. “It was an executive VP or something like that, and her two assistants, I guess.”
“You don’t know who you were talking to?” EJ asks, laughing.
“Not really,” Maddox replies, lifting his shoulders. “Peter did most of the talking. I just sat there, looking pretty in my new haircut and sunglasses.”
I let out a scoffing chuckle. “You wore the sunglasses in the meeting? Seriously?”
He shrugs again. “Hey, I still gotta be the rock star. They have to know what they’re getting.”
We all start laughing, exchanging another round of toasts from our cups of soda, alcohol, and my bottled water. It’s been over a week since Austin showed up at the studio, and it honestly feels good to finally be able to laugh.
I’ve been so caught up in all of the drama and betrayal, the guys have continued to tell me to not worry about it or that Bret, Austin, and Jimmy are all dirtbags who don’t deserve a second thought. They’re right, but the hurt has still lingered. Tonight, hearing Maddox’s good news, I finally feel like things are getting back on track.
Unfortunately, the old feeling doesn’t last, as EJ taps my shoulder. “Don’t look now, but Scum Bag Number One just walked in.”
Unsure who exactly he’s talking about, I look over my shoulder to see Bret walk into the cub with his bandmate, Mitch. “Great,” I hiss under my breath.
“I’ll get rid of them,” Maddox says, getting up from the booth.
“No.” I grab his arm. “Please, don’t worry about it.”
“Easier said than done.” He gives me a weighty stare.
I nod, getting up from the table. “I know, but, please. There’s nothing to deal with.” Looking back over, I see Bret and his friends waiting at the bar. “I’ll be right back.”
“What are you doing?” Lily asks.
“It’s over between us.” Giving Maddox a hard stare, I lift a brow. “For good. You’re not gonna fight or argue with him anymore over me. But … I need to get something off of my chest with him. Once and for all.”
Maddox nods in agreement, and they all watch as I make my way out of the VIP section, heading toward the bar. Mitch is the first person to spot me, tapping Bret on his shoulder. As he turns around, he’s smiling at first, but it disappears when he sees me.
Mitch is over twenty-one, so I know he’s the one ordering drinks for them. They wouldn’t be able to get them otherwise. I should take a little comfort just in that. Knowing all of us are underage but can do or go wherever we want. But that feels petty. I never wanted to, nor do I think I ever flaunted my fame or power in front of Bret. He’s the one who craved it so much.
“Hey,” Bret calls out to me.
It’s so nonchalant, it actually forces an eye roll out of me. “Yeah. Hey. Just like that,” I spit back. “Like nothing happened between us.”
“Jade, come on. I told you already, you know how bad I wanted this. How bad we wanted this. You can’t blame me for staying there that day.” Before I can reply, his next word delivers a gut punch. “Besides, it’s not like you weren’t hooking up behind my back. That’s why you broke up with me, right?”
He stands in front of me, Mitch handing him his drink, waiting. Apathy drips from his face, like he’s in the right and I should be ashamed for breaking up with him.
“You know what?” I finally say, finding the courage and fire inside. “I wasn’t hooking up with anyone behind your back, Bret. I kissed someone when I could’ve done a helluva lot more, but I didn’t. I thought I owed you at least that much respect to break up with you first. And you know what? You didn’t. You don’t deserve anything from me, and you never did. I liked you, jackass. In the beginning, I liked you. Not that you were in a band or in the business or anything of that. You.
“And all you ever did was try to loaf off of my band and me because you’re so desperate for fame. You want the spotlight so much that you didn’t realize I wanted to be in an actual relationship with you. I didn’t want to be your way into the business, I just wanted to be your girlfriend.
“So fine, blame me all you want, but I should’ve broken up with you a long time ago. You made your bed now, so I hope you know what you got into with Jimmy Richards. Because if he was willing to use his own son as a pawn to try and steal my music, what do you think he’s willing to do to an unknown punk band who’s desperate for attention? Have a nice life.”
They both wear slightly confused and concerned faces, but I spin around, heading back to my friends and family. I should be happy I just told him off and finally set the story straight with him. And even though I’m glad I won’t have to deal with him anymore, I still feel the hurt from mentioning and remembering what Austin did.
