AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Dude, you didn’t even sleep with her. Why are you smiling like that?” he asks, pouring another cup of coffee.
“You think I need to sleep with someone to be happy?”
His brows draw down in confusion. “Well, yeah. You’re Cooper Fucking Davies. That’s how the world works.”
Wow. Is my reputation that bad?
I’m surprised what he said stings. I’m not used to all of these emotions. I’ve spent my entire adult life actively doing everything to avoid feeling this way. And now, suddenly, I’m okay with it? Even knowing how it will end?
When did I stop caring about getting hurt, and, more importantly, hurting someone else? I might need to do more soul-searching like I did in Ojai not too long ago. Maybe I went too far the other way.
“Fuck off, man.” I grab my phone and start scrolling through social media, trying to distract myself from the invasive thoughts about who will eventually hurt whom. As I open TikTok, I see myself tagged in a ton of videos from last night. “Shit.”
“What is it?” Remy asks, looking over my shoulder.
We watch as last night’s events unfold from different angles and perspectives from the people recording in the crowd who uploaded videos. Nothing is missed. Not the asshole groping the girl who was crowd-surfing. Not me throwing my guitar and jumping into the crowd. Not the belligerent asshole trying to defend himself. And not me starting an all-out brawl. Everything is out and open for everyone to see. Even the asshole getting arrested. Good. At least the press can’t twist this into something it’s not. There were too many witnesses.
So many witnesses, but I was the only one who acted on what the asshole did? That’s fucked up in itself.
Mackenzie calls after about an hour of taking in the media storm that happened while we were sleeping.
“I take it you’ve seen everything online?” she asks, her tone all business as it usually is. She needs to lighten up.
“I don’t know if I’ve seen everything, but I’ve seen enough, yeah.” I start to inwardly cringe, awaiting the axe that’s about to fall on my neck for stopping the show last night. The label is most likely pissed that videos of me beating a guy up and starting a melee are all over the internet. I can’t wait to hear what a fuck up and disappointment I am to everyone at Blackmore Records. I wonder if that’s part of why there’s a meeting with Cassidy in the near future.
“Nice job, Coop,” she says, and I’m not sure I heard her.
“Excuse me?” She did not just compliment me for getting into a fight.
She clears her throat and says, “What you did last night for that girl. Nice job.”
I’m stunned, speechless. Mackenzie isn’t known for being the most exuberant with her praise of people, especially me, so this throws me for a loop. She’s our group cheerleader, yes, but personal motivation coach is not on her resumé, especially not with me.
“Don’t let it go to your head that I gave you a compliment,” she snaps, but I can hear the laughter in her voice. She tries to come off like a hardass, but deep down, she’s a big softie.
“Oh, I wouldn’t dare. Don’t worry.”
My relationship with Mackenzie has never been what I’d call easy. More often than not, we’re at each other’s throats with differing opinions about what is or isn’t acceptable behavior, and how poorly I’m making everyone in the band look by my actions. She’s usually right, but I’d never tell her that to her face.
The difference is that until now, I didn’t give a shit.
Now, all of a sudden, I want to look good in the press. And why is that? Because I want to impress Sloane Castle.
Fuck.
“Cooper? Are you still there?” Mackenzie is asking.
“Yeah, I’m here. Sorry.” Thoughts of Sloane are taking over and throwing me way off my game.
“Did Remy tell you about the meeting with Cassidy?”
“He said there would be one, but not when or what it’s about.” I can’t help but hold my breath while waiting for her answer. I have a bad feeling about this meeting for some reason.
“Well, it’s Tuesday after your recording session at Jude’s, and it’s about Nyx.”
A chill rolls over me at the name, and my jaw clenches. I’m surprised I don’t reflexively crush my phone.
“Oh?” is all I can get out. Remy gives me an odd look, but I ignore him. I have a feeling he’s known what the meeting is about but didn’t want to be the one to tell me because he knew I’d be pissed. He was right about that much.
