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“Oh, jeez. Vic, I’m sorry about that.”
He lifts his shoulders. “It’s not your fault. He and Mitch never finished the EP, and then Mitch quit on him a month after that. Last I heard, Bret’s hanging out in Seattle, trying to find some solo gigs up there.”
“What are you doing now?”
“I’ve been with this new band, and we’re finding gigs here and there. It’s going good.” He pauses, then gives me a sad smile. “I just wanted to let you know that. After everything went down with our band, I realized how pathetic we’d been. I’d been. Every band has to make it on their own. I realized that after the crap hit the fan. Anyway, I’ll see you around.”
I give him a wave good-bye, and he heads over to what looks like a group of friends. I watch, wishing things could’ve been different for his band. No matter what my ill feelings are over Bret and our relationship, I’d never want their group to implode like it did.
Austin wraps his arm around me. “You okay?”
Nodding, I peer up at him, trying to smile. “Yeah, it’s just a bummer to hear that.”
He chuckles. “You’re amazing.”
“Why?” I knit my brows together.
“Because you still care what happens to them after everything. I think that’s the thing I love most about you.” Yeah, we crossed over the L-word bridge a while ago. “You genuinely care about people and want the best for them. That’s amazing.”
I giggle, leaning into him. “I’m glad you’re still holding up your end of the deal.” Pulling back a touch, he looks at me, confused. “To always tell me how amazing I am.”
He laughs. “Well, it’s not like I can help that.”
I lift my shoulders. “I guess not. I am pretty amazing if I do say so myself. I’m just glad your love for me outweighs your love for Legos.”
“Let’s not get ahead of ourselves,” he jokes.
He bends down to kiss me, and as our lips connect, it all melts away. The static noise of people talking, the music playing, and everything else. It’s only us, and I hold him a little tighter, knowing that’s all he wants. Me.
Breaking away, he stays close enough so only I can hear, whispering, “But between you and me, yeah. You’re way better than Legos.”
Maddox
The bass pulses through the room. Lights flash around my stage, but I block them out. It’s a mixture of people talking and laughing, cheers in the background as others toast, and the music I’m playing blasting through the speakers of the club.
Two nights ago, one of my best friends, Adam Coleman, came to the grand opening of Luxe along with the rest of my friends and band. It’s a brand-new club in Malibu, which sits atop the Mavin International Resort and Hotel overlooking the city and beach, and I’m the DJ. One of the most prestigious and upscale hotel companies around the world, they’re test-marketing a new piece of their business. Luxe is the first of what they want to be several nightclubs sitting atop their buildings. I’m their resident DJ for the next three months.
Twelve weeks of bass-pounding beats, girls, partying with Adam, who’s one of the hottest actors in Hollywood, girls, and living the luxurious life of a rock star. Oh, did I mention girls?
I love my life.
Jenny walks behind me, her hand running across my shoulders. When I glance over at her, she smiles, and I lift the headphone off of my ear. “What’s up?”
“I have to take off early. Gotta catch a red-eye flight for my agency.” Stepping closer, she lifts her lips to my ear. “I’ll be back next weekend, though. Can we hang out?”
“I’ll have to check my schedule,” I half joke.
She picks up on it. “Maddox, you know I’m so much more fun than any of those others.”
Chuckling, I wrap an arm around her waist. “I don’t know,” I tell her. “You might have to remind me when you get back.”
She laughs, pulling away a touch, but stays close enough to keep her arm around my neck. “I’ll be sure to do just that, King of Bad.”
Chuckling, I watch as she pulls away and walks through the crowd. Jenny and I have an on-again, off-again relationship. We’re on when we’re together, and we’re off when we’re not. I know she has a crazy schedule, and even though I’m not touring right now, she knows I … like to have fun. Okay, maybe relationship is too strong of a word for what we have. Let’s call it a mutual understanding.
“Very not bad,” Derrik jokes behind me, catching me off guard.
“Hey,” I call out, turning around and embracing him. “You know how I roll.”
