“Do not, under any circumstances, tell anyone any of this. If Cindy finds out, even gets a whiff of this, I can’t be sure what she might do.”
I look over at her, and she looks serious. “Are you being honest? I thought they weren’t together?”
“They aren’t technically. But with the wedding, it hasn’t been easy for her.” Great, now I feel bad for her. I can relate to not wanting to be around them. Jesus, even Doug is madly in love.
“Julianna is not a threat to Cindy. I think they had a small fling years ago. If it was going to go anywhere, it already would have. I needed her to come. I’ve had a rough week.”
She smiles and rubs my arm. “Do you love him, Gia?” God, leave it to Eve to just come out with it.
“I do. But I can’t handle the women. Constantly looking over my shoulder. Now another groupie says she’s pregnant.” My stupid eyes fill up with tears. I try to move around her, but she stops me at Blade’s door.
“We read the article. But it’s not his kid. Does he fuck around on you?”
“What?”
“Does he? Because I’m trying to figure out what you’re crying about? He’s a rock star who looks like a god. What the hell’s wrong with you?”
I’m about to open my mouth to defend myself but close it because I have no answer for her. When Sebastian said all that stuff, it sounded right. But now?
She shakes her head at me. “You need to make this right. You want him, then do what you’ve always done. Make it happen.” She throws the door open.
“Finally.” Doug grabs me for a hug. I look over his shoulder as Dolly looks up from doing Cindy’s makeup.
“Hey, Doug.” I smile up at him.
“Jesus Christ.” He looks me up and down. “They weren’t lying. You look like shit. Go take a shower. And Eve, get her your red strapless dress.”
“Thank you, Doug,” I state dryly. “I need to find my friend.”
He arches a dark brow at me. Whatever, Doug has zero filter.
“She was here. She had to make a call,” Cindy says. Her eyes are closed while Dolly applies her eye shadow.
“Oh, thank God. I’m exhausted. Where’s Antoinette?” I go over and hug Dolly. Eve trails behind me as if I’m on suicide watch.
“She’s with Charlie.” Dolly puts her hands on her tiny hips. Everything about Dolly is small—she truly does look like a doll. She’s fucking fierce though. A couple of years ago, she stabbed Edge. Tried to slice off his dick because she thought he was cheating. Crazy, yes. Unfortunately, I understand how that could happen. It’s one of the reasons I don’t own a gun.
“Go. Take a shower. I’ll get coffee.” Doug shakes his head. He’s already dressed in a conservative black tuxedo, which is very un-Doug. But Antoinette made it clear that she wanted an elegant wedding.
Besides me and Julianna, everyone is a bridesmaid. Their beautiful lavender gowns hang on a rolling garment rack to my right. A pang of guilt shoots through me. I should have said yes. She wanted me, and I used the tour and film as my excuse. I’m a shitty soon-to-be sister-in-law.
“I’ll be back.” They all nod. What the hell? Something is up, but I need to get cleaned up. Julianna will need the shower after me, and I’m determined to sober up at least enough for the wedding.
Yes. This is about my brother and Antoinette. I flip on the bathroom light, strip off Julianna’s clothes, and step in.
This is it. I’ll shed no more tears for Rhys Granger.
RHYS
Present – Thirty-five years old
Rome, Italy
“Five minutes,” Rafe announces as I sit in the corner, feet propped up on the table. We’re in Rome getting ready to play the Stadio Olimpico, an enormous venue. I should be joining in with my brothers and preparing to bring down the house, yet I sit alone. My bottle of Jack Daniel’s is my faithful companion as I close my eyes and smoke, hearing music in my head.
It’s been a week since she left. A week of shit. Like the fucking dick that I am, I’ve had woman after woman brought to me, maybe to remind me I’m fucked. One after another they come to me as I try to use them to block out her smell, the taste of her lips.
But your heart knows the truth. It knows when it beats for another, and my heart has been taken by Gia. Torn out of me as it hemorrhages on the floor, yet somehow it continues to beat.
A loud scream should make me open my eyes, but I don’t. I ignore the mayhem and stay where I am.
“Granger? Let’s do this, brother.” I open my eyes to see Ammo, Jägermeister in one hand and his guitar in another.