AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Prologue
Everyone says things happen for a reason. If that’s true, then what reason did I have for all the pain and heartbreak in my short life. Every time I think I’m finally going to have a happy ever after, something or someone comes swinging, knocking me on my ass, and proving me wrong. I thought the day I lost my mama would be the worst possible thing to go through. I should have known better, but never in my wildest dreams did I imagine this.
I glance around the deserted cemetery, hesitating to walk towards the plot. Tears blur my eyes, and I feel sick to my stomach. Too young. Taken way too soon. My eyes pause on the cold cement as I lift my head to the stormy sky.
The weather today is a perfect example of all the emotions running through me right now. Grey clouds with moisture heavy in the air and tornado warnings on the horizon. I shouldn’t be here. I should be back in my dorm room with Sassy, watching some dramatic show and drinking tequila. Nursing my broken heart with junk food and a hangover in the morning. Instead I’m standing here in an empty graveyard, wishing I had one more moment to say how much I love and miss the time we spent together, and that I’m sorry. Sorry for letting them down and not being there when they needed me most.
I toss my bag on the ground and sit, staring at the inevitable. I take my boots off, wiggling my toes in the soggy grass. The walk has given me some blisters, and I sigh with relief. My phone buzzes, but I ignore it. I shouldn’t have come here alone. I know he would have been here with me or at least given me a ride, but I needed to do this myself.
The wind blows, shaking the trees in the cool breeze, alerting me to how long I’ve been sitting here staring into space. I need to get this over with before I get stormed on. Climbing to my feet, I walk towards the gravestone I wish wasn’t standing there …
If I had a sledgehammer, I would tear it down.
Part Two
One
Memphis
I make my way down the red carpet, annoyed at all the paparazzi yelling and the flashing lights from their cameras. I know this is part of the job, and Dolly loves the attention, but I would much rather be home right now kicking back with a couple of beers. If it wasn’t for the Valentine’s Day children's hospital fundraiser, I may have just skipped out on this whole thing.
My phone buzzes, but I know if I were to reach into my pocket right now and check it, I’d have my ass chewed out, and that’s just something I don’t need. Plus, the only person I want to hear from wouldn’t text me in a million years. Just another thing I fucked up recently. I really need to message Cara and grovel. I miss my best friend. She’s always been my person, and without her I have been so lost.
I thought becoming a big star and following my dreams wouldn’t change who I am. I snort out loud and Dolly gives me a shocked look. I should have known that would be false. I feel as if my whole persona has changed, and I don’t know how to change it back.
“Please Memphis, just a moment of your time!” Candy, a reporter for some teeny bopper magazine screams at me, reaching past the tape, her tits practically spilling from her low-cut top. I think I’ve had those in my mouth if I remember correctly. Total wildcat in the sheets, but clingy as fuck. Dolly pulls my arm, stopping my steady stride and I follow her over to the exasperating reporter. I place a huge fake smile on my face and shoot Candy a wink. Her face flushes and she no shit giggles. Works every time.
“Thank you. I know you’re hella busy, but if I could just ask you a few questions, I know you would be makin’ a few million girls’ nights!” She squeals in excitement. I genuinely chuckle at that and give her a nod.
“You know I’d do anything for my fans, Candy.” I lick my lower lip, and her eyes flare with heat. Not one to be ignored, Dolly cuddles into my side and rubs my chest, looking up at me lovingly. Lately, I’ve felt as if she's being dishonest with me, and frankly I don’t want her touching me right now. I gently slide away and move my hand in a hurry up gesture towards Candy.
After ten excruciating minutes that I'll never get back, answering the same old shit I always do, we finally make it to our limo. The guys have plans to hit the after party, but I need to crash. I haven't been sleeping well since Thanksgiving, and even the coke is starting to get old. I used to get a rush of energy, but now I just feel strung out and hungover. Plus with all of Alex’s issues, I’m trying to cut back. Not that Dolly understands that.
I give one last wave to my fans then slip onto the leather seats and sigh in contentment. Dolly follows after, and immediately tries to start something. Placing her hand on my thigh she runs her blood red nails up to my zipper and kisses my neck before the driver has even shut the door.Fuck, that’s just what I need flashing through the headlines.I still get enough heat from the sex tape. I reach down and grab her wrist, adding a bit of pressure, and pull her hand away. She moans.
“Did I tell you, you could touch me, Doll?” I growl into her neck and she shivers. “Then why the fuck are you?” I continue, and she whimpers, rubbing her thighs together looking for some relief. But it won’t be coming from me. I haven’t touched her in a few weeks, not since I caught her messing with my box of condoms. She swears she was just counting them, making sure I wasn’t cheating on her. But she’s been super shady lately. I don’t trust her. The driver climbs in and looks at me through the mirror.
“Where to, sir?” Dolly immediately sits up with a pout, and I know she is going to say The Four Seasons, but I cut her off before she has the chance. “Home, Jeeves.” He rolls his eyes at that nickname, and I lean my head back against the seat, ignoring the daggers being shot into the side of my skull. “You can catch a ride with someone else, sweetheart. But I’m going home.” I mutter, not bothering to open my eyes. Something rustles, then I hear a ringing through the speaker of her phone.
“Hey, Uncle Ron, can I catch a ride with you to the party? Memphis isn’t feeling well, so he’s going home.” I open my eyes and she’s biting her lip. “Great, I'll see you in a few.” She hangs up and gives me another pout. I don’t know why she thinks those work on me.
I raise my brow and she smiles. “Take me to your place, he’ll grab me there.”
I nod, then turn to look out the window at all the lights. One thing I have come to love about Nashville is all the lights, no matter what the time is.
The driver pulls up out front of my building, and I allow Dolly to give me a quick kiss before she races over to the waiting car. I tip Jeeves, then walk into the lobby of my building. Simon is there with a package for me and I genuinely smile for the first time this evening. My mama didn’t forget. I thank him then stride quickly to the elevator, pressing my key card to the scanner for Penthouse access. I used to scoff at the extravagance the label gave me, but after finding a crazed fan rifling through my underwear drawer and another rubbing one out with my pillow, I'm thankful for the high level of security.
Once the doors close, I have a moment of privacy before checking my phone. I ignore all the notifications and friend requests, opening up my text thread. My heart races and my palms turn sweaty. She messaged me! Oh fuck what did she say?
The ding of the elevator reaching my floor pulls my attention away, and I stumble to my door on shaky legs. I fumble with my keys before finally getting the lock undone. The door swings open, and my sensored lights flick on. I move to the kitchen and set the package on the counter, placing my phone beside it with the unopened message that’s taunting me. A drink and a shower first.
I take the cowardly way out, and turn my phone completely off, toss my hat on the couch, then walk into my bedroom. I slip my shoes off before starting on the buttons to my white dress shirt. My suit coat and shirt hits the chair in the corner, then I unbuckle my belt. I may have been required to wear a five thousand dollar suit, but I still wore one of my signature belt buckles and my cowboy hat. My jet black pants fall to the floor at my feet.
I wonder why today of all days she would message me. We didn’t leave on the best of terms, and I've regretted it every day since. One thing about this place I love is how large this bathroom is. I could have a party in this shower alone, not to mention the bathtub in the corner. I open the glass door and start one of the three showerheads. My reflection in the mirror makes me pause.Fuck, I look like shit. My hair has become a shaggy mess, and my skin is paler, not to mention the purple bags below my eyes. I look like a strung out crackhead. Shaking my head, I step into the scalding water. The pressure beats on my stiff shoulders for a few minutes, while I rest my forehead against the cold stone along the wall.
I need to get my shit together—I can not end up like Alex. Fuck, another thing I need to fix in my life. I wish someone could invent a time machine or some shit then I could go back to Thanksgiving and never overreact to Cara and her weird relationship. I close my eyes and think back to the last time I talked to my best friend. When I walked in on Jase and Layton hot and heavy out on the porch. Cheating on Cara as if it was a completely normal occurrence.
“What the fuck is this?” I growl, moving closer to them to kick their asses. Are they seriously cheating on Cara? East comes out of nowhere and shoves me back.
