AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I push past her and into my bedroom, trying to ignore the look of disappointment on her pretty features. Letting people down is something I hate. I’m the oldest sister, I’m the one who is supposed to have my shit together, but I’m the biggest mess of all.
I search my room for my heeled boots, finding them and sitting on the edge of my bed to put them on. I hope the look I give her says it all. Is she kidding me? It’s not that fucking easy. “How? How exactly would you like me to do that, Sis? I haven’t spoken to the man in nearly ten years. He is a gazillionaire superstar, and even if I could get through his fucking manager and actually talk to him directly, what do I say? Sorry to bother you after all this time, but you have a son, who was raised as someone else's.” I whisper the last part because I don’t want my kids to hear. They know, I had to have that conversation with them already, but it’s still a sore point. Connor refuses to talk about it. And honestly, I have no idea how to deal with this situation with him. Being a single mom is hard enough, but this, it’s too much.
Even Cassandra is giving me her best worried look, flicking a long strand of strawberry-blonde hair over her shoulder like she knows better. Just because her life has fallen into place so nicely for her in the past twelve months. “Well, yeah. He needs to know,” she mutters, like it’s not obvious.
I shake my head, defeated by the whole drama. So easy for others to judge when it’s not their kids they’re trying to protect. Or their heart. I have been hurt enough. “Maybe if he’s there tonight, I will tell him in person. It’s not a conversation you have over the phone,” I tell them, hating the judgment I feel. If my own flesh and blood can look at me like I’m the bad guy, how will the rest of the world feel? I know how this looks. I look like a slut who got busy with too many guys to the point where she couldn’t even work out who the daddy of her teen pregnancy was. Reality couldn’t be further from the truth, but I know that’s how it looks.
I know my sisters love me dearly and only want what’s best, but I feel the weight of my situation just the same. Yeah, my career is going from strength to strength, but my personal life is like something out of one of those midday soaps. Unbelievable! If I weren’t the one living it, I wouldn’t believe it myself. Just when you think it can’t get any worse, just wait for the cliffhanger at the end of the episode, because it's about to crash and burn. I’m sure tonight will be no different. I zip up my boots and sigh heavily. How did I get here?
“Stop stressing, Sis, go have a good night in your pretty party dress. If he is there and you guys get to talk, then great. If not, leave it for another time. One way or another, I’m sure you will work this all out.” She must finally feel bad for the hard time she’s been giving me all afternoon.
“Jasmine’s right, just go out and have some fun for once, deal with the real-life stuff later. You seriously look stunning. I want that dress for opening night of my show; you think you can get me one?” Cassie smirks.
I take one last glance in the mirror, admiring myself. My dress is pretty cute. It’s the one thing I feel good about tonight. It’s from my winter collection that hasn’t been released yet. I love the sheer latte chiffon and the lace detail. It’s why I ended up selecting this material for this design. It’s shorter than I would normally go for, but I have teamed it with my favorite tan suede ankle boots and a funky belt, so I think I can get away with it. My sandy-blonde hair sits just below my shoulders in a concave style, longer in front than the back. I look pretty good.
“Yeah, I’ll pick you up one from my studio tomorrow. I would love to see you in it for your show,” I tell her, happy to have the spotlight shine back on her.
She jumps up, kissing me on the cheek. “Thank you. I’ll go check if Brandon is ready.”
Brandon is her boyfriend and my silent business partner; he was also in my graduating class, so the two of us can suffer through this thing together. Cassie could have come with us but preferred to hang with Jasmine and the kids. “Perfect, thanks.” I need to get this over and done with before I change my mind and decide to stay and watch the movie with them like I would prefer.
I make my way back into the living room so I can check in with Ruby and Connor. “Bye, guys, have a fun night with your aunties.”
Ruby comes over to me, hugging my waist. “Oh, Mama, you look like one of my Barbies,” she gushes, running her little hands over the shiny fabric. “So pretty.”
The ultimate compliment from a seven-year-old, I look like one of her beloved dolls. Must have done all right with my make-up then. “Thank you, baby.” I kiss the top of her head, playing with her blonde curls.
“Say goodbye to your mom, Connor,” Jasmine tells him. The two of them are already engrossed in a game of chess.
He glances up at me. “Bye. What time are you coming home?”
“After you’re in bed. Be good while I’m gone; don’t fight with your sister,” I tell him, knowing they will be perfect. They always are for other people.
“We have this under control, just go have fun. Brandon’s already in the car waiting for you.” Cassie shoos me away.
Somehow, I think having fun tonight is going to be impossible. I’ll just be happy to get through tonight without further drama.
CHAPTER TWO
HEATH
“Yeah,dowhatyoucan. I’ll deal with the rest when I get back tomorrow.” I hang up the phone and run a hand through my hair, letting out a tense breath. My skin suddenly feels like it’s crawling with tiny creatures. Can I just have one normal day where I don’t have to deal with drama? Probably not, cause it’s not the life I signed up for, and I know that, but this past twelve months have been chaos, and it would be nice if it could just settle the fuck down for a while.
“That sounded interesting. Was it Della?” asks Devon, my best friend and the drummer in our band. There’s a look of concern on his normally chill face.
Della is our manager, PA, and pretty much whatever else we need her to be. “Yeah, my house was broken into,” I say through gritted teeth, the announcement causing my temples to throb. The start of another headache. They seem to be occurring more regularly lately.
His brow shoots up. “Anything stolen?”
“Not that she can see, but it looks like the intruder was there for a while, like she might have even spent the night last night. My bed was definitely slept in according to my housekeeper.” The thought really creeps me out. It’s so messed up. Why would someone break into my place just to use my things, and why is it me attracting the fans who want to take it all too far? The other boys don’t have to deal with shit like this. I’m over it.
“Damn, Heath. You think it’s the same groupie that got into our dressing room last week while we were on stage?”
There have been so many crazed fans overstepping boundaries over the last few years, it's gotten so one incident runs into the next. But never have I had a fan so brazen that they break into my house and make themselves at home. It’s disturbing. "Could be anyone." I shrug, trying to play it down and act cooler about it than I really feel. Devon is my best friend and all, but some of the shit that’s been happening lately is making me feel really disconnected from the other three members of our band. I don’t think they get it. “You ever get sick of this? All the extra shit we have to deal with?”
“What’s there to hate? I have hot chicks throwing themselves at me on the daily and more money than I know what to do with. You know if you just fucked them like I do, they would get sick of you and move on.”
Why do I even bother asking him serious questions? I should know better. Devon looks for the fun in any situation, and if it ends with him getting his dick wet, even better. “Is that your answer for everything, just fuck the problem away?” I mutter, feeling defeated.
