Page 86 of The Twisted Beats

The past doesn’t knock. It smiles like it never left.

“He’s an asshole.” My heart pounds and I slam the front door of my ma’s trendy one-story three-bedroom house in North Hollywood.

The entryway leads into a colorful open-concept living room and dining room area. It’s nothing like the Hemingses’, but it’s perfect for us.

My ma’s sitting at a square glass table in the dining area, going over images from her latest shoot. “What’s with the attitude, Bubba?”

“Hey, Ma. It’s not you.” I march over to the window and peer toward the two-bedroom guesthouse on our property where my uncle lives. “Have you seen Uncle John?”

“He’s been working all afternoon.” Her bright blue eyes flick to the back of the house.

Right as she glances that way, he strolls through the back door, appears from the laundry room, and makes his waythrough the galley kitchen wearing faded jeans and nothing more.

“Cash. You get things worked out with Livianna?”

“Yes, no thanks to you.” I straighten my back and glare.

“I tried to tell you last night she was pushing the prick off.” He gives a little shrug. “I had to do something?—”

“You told me three days ago you were gonna help me get out of this nice guy, boy band reputation by stirring up trouble and controversy, but you didn’t tell me you were gonna use Livianna to do it.” I curl my hands into fists.

I never would’ve agreed to it if I had known. He must have had this planned since I told him she was gonna be at the show.

He grabs a beer out of the fridge and joins my ma and me. “We got the intended results, so what’s the problem?”

“John…” My mom pushes her chair back, brings her feet to the seat, and hugs her knees. “Bubba, he’s trying to help you. In this business, sometimes things have to be manipulated to get what you want.”

“Yeah, I know, but now the whole world thinks Livianna’s cheating on me. And we just started dating.” I clench my teeth. “She shouldn’t be involved. It’s not cool to make her look trashy.”

“She’s the star, Cash.” My uncle pops the lid off his beer and slouches on a large contemporary ocean blue sectional couch that has lounge-type seating on one side. “It was by luck that her co-star was there. I used what I could without making it seem manufactured.”

I rake my hand through my hair and glance away. He’s not wrong, but Lily can’t be a part of it.

My ma twists her long dark hair up into a messy bun. “Get yourself a beer and let’s figure this out as a family.”

I nod and follow her recommendation. “Do you want a vodka soda?”

“Yes, please.” She stands and her pink tracksuit drowns her skinny frame.

After fluffing two bright yellow decorative pillows, she joins my uncle on the couch. I have to admit, she did well with this place.

It’s artistic and has an edge to it. A black-and-white striped rug is on the floor, but the stripes don’t align.

Near the fireplace in the corner is a cream-colored oversized chair. A glass coffee table in the middle of the room is a miniature replica of the dining room table.

Just thinking of how much she’s been through makes me realize my problems are nothing compared to hers. I finish getting our beverages and meander back into the area with my irritation leveling off. I hand my ma her drink.

“Thanks, Bubba.” She scoots closer to my uncle to give me space.

“I’m good over there.” I point to the big chair across from them. “Is there a way to keep Livianna out of this?”

My uncle nods. “You can always go back to the original suggestion and take a bunch of high-profile girls out, never seeming to really like any of them.”

“What’s the point in that?” I take a swig of my beer.

“After a couple of ‘accidental’ candids behind the scenes, you’ll get a reputation for being a rockstar playboy.” He stretches his legs out and crosses them at the ankles. “You’ll be the bad boy every woman wants but can’t have.”

“No, I’m not doing that. Livianna is my girlfriend. End of the discussion.” I gaze at my ma. “What would Pops have done?”