Karl nods. “Yeah. It’s not priceless in the way he made me think it was. If you tried to sell it, you couldn’t get much for it. But it’s worth the world to me personally. I never had a father figure in my life, and Ernest was the closest thing to that. The fact that he trusted me with his guitar and handed down his legacy of music to me means I’d give up all my fortune before I would give up that guitar.”
“People can be amazing sometimes, can’t they?” Ileana asks, her eyes a little glassy at hearing Karl’s story.
“Oh, my goodness.” I startle out of my seat when I see Isael drenched in the cream sauce from forehead to chin, bits of peach stuck to his cheeks like glue. This kid. What a mess. “I’ll go clean him up.” I pick him up, turning away, so nobody gets a glimpse of my welling eyes.
26
KARL
Lola only slightly protested when Roger showed up at the apartment with an entirely new entourage yesterday morning. Trailed by estheticians and their assistants, stylists with racks of evening gowns and their assistants, and a personal shopper who styled Lola’s travel wardrobe, Roger orchestrated our trip to Los Angeles for today.
Our last album,Breaking this Way, was nominated by the Steel Hard Rock awards for best album, best metal performance, and the hit song “Girl from Kansas City” is up for best lyrics. This is Brenner Reindhart’s year.
I was also relieved that when we introduced Lola to Matt Dalton, her new personal security, she accepted his presence immediately. And I could have kicked myself for not getting protection for her sooner.
Now we’re on our way to L.A. in a private jet. Fritz, Adrian, Bren, and Sofia, plus our primary security team, means the plane is at full capacity—a first for the band.
Lola’s head is resting on my shoulder, my t-shirt drenched through with her drool on the spot on my shoulder directly below her mouth as she snores. Adrian peers up from his sketchbook, which I’m surprised he’s actually using, and smirks at me.
“She always snore like that?” he asks.
I raise a brow at him. He’s already slept with her, and he has no idea. “Yes,” I say, and he chuckles, then returns his attention to his sketch.
Before we descend and before I wake Lola, Adrian hands me a piece of paper. I look at a sketch of Lola sleeping on my shoulder.
It’s a simple sketch with crude lines and not much dimension, but it’s pretty spectacular for someone who only started drawing this week. “Dude, you’re actually good at this,” I say, awe-struck at his hidden talent.
“I know, right?” He flashes me a smile before I wake Lola.
* * *
Six cars pullup to the jet to pick us up so we don’t have to deal with the mass of L.A. photographers at the airport.
Lola is bouncing with excitement since she has learned where we’re going. Just the thought of meeting any of her rock and roll idols has her squealing and nervous, and it’s the most adorable thing I’ve ever seen.
“We’re not going to a hotel?” Lola asks as we get past the gate at what will be our home for the next two nights. “Nope.” We have rented a mansion just outside of L.A. because even Bren feels like raising hell on this trip. “We rented this place so we can host a New Year’s party tomorrow night.”
Tonight, the awards show, and win or lose, tomorrow a New Year’s party. I’ve never particularly looked forward to a New Year’s party, but the prospect of Lola being the one I get to kiss at midnight exhilarates me more than I would have imagined.
27
LOLA
The shock of the estate where we’re staying isn’t so great now that I have lived at both Karl’s mansion and Bren’s old penthouse. I never thought I’d see the day I’d get used to this lifestyle. And I’m only a little ashamed that I’ll miss it when I move to Acapulco.
What I won’t miss is the security. I actually have a personal security guard now. I wanted to seem unaffected when Karl first introduced me to Matt. I’d thought we could be buddies, but with stony features and unshakeable quietness, he’s kept me at arm’s length. He’s like a shadow, never intrusive, and already I can tell I’ll forget he’s at my side half the time.
I need to be more careful with what I say and do.
Sofia drags me to the master bedroom, where racks of dresses await us. I’m amped with nerves and excitement but glad to have a friend to go through this with.
“You’re not at all nervous?” I ask Sofia.
“A little. It’s my first major public event with Bren too.”
“I know. After tonight, if we can walk down the street without getting tomatoes tossed at our heads, I’ll be surprised.”
Sofia laughs. “Which reminds me,” she says, leading me by the arm to sit on the bed. “Are you sure about what you’re doing? You’re not moving too fast here?”