She takes my hand and gives it a squeeze. “Babe, you’re going to have to realise, everyone saw it. And only those pearl-clutching conservative types are going to be offended. The last ones Ithought to care about kinky behaviour were MAX!”
“So, they called you?”
“Yes. Mads, bless you. Ididnotwant to spend another winter there freezing my arse off.”
“Well, at leastyou’renot mad at me.” Isniff. “Does that mean you wanna entertain our idea?”
“To come live in LA? Absolutely. Ineed a god damn tan. I’ve heard you and Jett are running a matchmaking service there with a hundred percent success rate, so I’m definitely going to be utilising that! He showed me a pic of Bryson and Iwas sold. Plus, I’ll be drowning in work there until you're ready for me, then I'll be there for you when you’re ready to make your horror film. Ican’t wait to hire my whole FX team.”
I hug her like she’s my only silver lining. But then Ithink of the look on Mick’s face as she kicked me out and the fact that she was supposed to write thescreenplay with me, and Istart crying again as she leads me into her room. Isit in the fluffy white rolling chair that matches all the beds in this place and face myself in her mirror. Itis quite the sight, and Imean that in the worst way possible. Ihave cried so many tears today thatmy face is completely swollen and red; Imight as well have run myself through a meat tenderizer.
“I’m hideous, Kel.”
She takes a baby-pink, handheld fan off her vanity and cools my face with it. “If you keep this pointed at your eyes and stop focusing on the negatives, you’ll stop crying, and Ican start colour correcting.”
“How am Isupposed to go on stage tonight, Kel? Just act like nothing’s wrong when everything is?”
She dabs me with a cooling toner. “What do you always say, you’re a professional liar? So yeah, you lie, you pretend you’re okay, because you will be, eventually. And you need to remember, you’re not just going up there for Jett. This is the unveiling of the new Maddy, the one that fits her last name, the one that’s dark and a little vicious. The one that doesn't care what people think of her. The bad girl that makes people wanna go see a slasher flick like none other before. This will go viralin a good way,and over time, everyone will forget about this morning’s leak.”
I don’t know if Ibelieve her, but Itry to think of something positive. “At least I’ll be wearing a god damn mask.”
Chapter 40
Maddy
It’s nearly showtime when the rush of adrenaline helps me feel somewhat human again. My boots thud along the cement corridor, my walk slowed slightly by someone who's behind me, permanently attached with both hands grasped firmly on my hips. The proudly kinky rockstar who insists that what happened today, paired with what we’re doing tonight, will be the best thing that ever happened to us.
We squeeze into the overcrowded greenroom where everyone is hanging out, sans Mickie and Silas. I’m glad she allowed him back in, and they hopped on the first flight to LA together. Ijust can’t think about her without tears threatening to smear the makeup Kel shellacked into place.
“We’re gonna come up with an idea so good, Mick will have no choice but to come on board. She just needs a few days to cool off, Baby,” Jett had assured me, and Ihope he’s right.
Everyone in here is giddy with green zombie makeup, holding up equally green Jello shots with gummy eyeballs inside them. Isuddenly have one in each hand, and Britta shouts over everyone, “We all know Baby knows how to use that mouth! Let her show us how it’s done!”
I glare at her. They are not acting like this is one of thetop ten biggest messes we’ve had to clean up.Everyone just seems to think this is one big joke, and Idon’t really want to argue that point. Icertainly dofeellike a joke. So, Ispear the tip of my tongue between the plastic cup and the Jello and swirl it all the way around before scooping from the bottom and ungracefully slurping it,eyeball and all, into my mouth. My family cheers, and Ijust shake my damn head.
Might as well embrace being a freak.
I eat about five more until I’m nauseous and delirious, huddled in a big cuddle puddle with my Jett, Kel, Britta, Gage,really,Auntie, Uncle, Mum, Dad, my siblings, their significant others, and Jett’s band. My dad has poured tiny shots of his rare as hell scotch for everyone, and we’re raising them as he proposes a toast.
“It’s been a really hard fucking day for my two youngest, and Ireally appreciate all of you being here for them. The media can chastise our family as much as they want for beingfreaks,but that doesn’t cancel us or erase us; it only makes usstronger.And we couldn’t be this strong if it wasn’t for all of you, and we’re so grateful for that, truly. Oh, and especially to myhopefully future son-in-law,Kennedy, for saving the fuckin’ show tonight! Cheers.”
“Cheers!”
We tap our tiny shot glasses together, and Kel starts blowing on my eyes so the tears threatening to falldon’t.The last person Iexpect to make a statement is Gage, but he looks to me and Jett like we’re role models instead of delinquents. He holds up a bottle of his Johnny Walker Blue and splashes some in each little cup.
“Anyone else Iknow would’ve cried and licked their wounds and hidden themselves away for months after a leak like that, but that isn’t this fucking family. Afamily Iwant to be a part of for a long time, if you’ll have me.” He looks at my cousin like the sun shines out of her ass, and I’m sure it’s only a matter of time before she announces she’ll be doing med school in LA instead of London. “I’m in awe, I’m impressed, and we’re all really proud of you guys for going out there tonight. Cheers to this crew, cheers to Jett and Maddy!”
“Cheers!”
My dad wraps Gage up in a headlock. “I like thishopefully futurenephew!”
Not to be outdone, Jett’s eyes light up as the door opens and an enormous black cauldron is delivered right in the middle of our family love fest. Some sort of witches’ brew bubbles as dry ice mist billows out of it, floating over our knees as we cackle like this is a potion of our own creation. Mum helps Jett ladle the brew into skeleton hand goblets that were delivered alongsideit. He holds up his concoction, and suddenly his eyes are glistening with tears.How much more can my heart take today?
“When Iwas little, Iwould lock myself away in my room with my collection of hoarded vinyls and listen to Maxwell Morningstar albums like normal people would, Idunno, read the Bible. To get comfort, knowing there were others like me, that didn’t fit in, that didn’thaveto be like everyone else to be successful.” Oh god, nowDad’seyes are wet.
“If only little Jett had known, someday I’d get to be a member of his family, Ithink it would’ve saved me so much heartache, just knowing that. But I’m here now, and I’m so grateful for everyone in this room. That you’re here for me, no matter how hard Ifuck up. Ifeel like the luckiest man on the planet with Maddy and her family by my side.” Jett puffs out his chest, it’sbareof course, and Iknow something loud is coming next. An ear-piercing, “HAPPY FUCKIN’ HALLOWEEN TO US!”
I don’t know what was in that bubbling potion, but it has me feeling something so warm in my chest that Ihave to hug everyone in the room, more than once. Idon’t want the crowd to see what I’m wearing; it’ll give away our big final scene. So, when my family makes their way to our little section, Iperch on a stool in the wings, stage left, with my wig on and my mask off.
