Total pages in book: 103
Estimated words: 103008 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 515(@200wpm)___ 412(@250wpm)___ 343(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 103008 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 515(@200wpm)___ 412(@250wpm)___ 343(@300wpm)
I get lost in the words, in creating melodies and working with my vocal coach to make the arrangements sound the best they can.
I get so lost that when I go downstairs for my morning coffee to get started for the day, I skid to a stop when I find Gideon in my kitchen with Iris and Brix. They’re all wearing suits.
My heart thuds, skips a beat, and then I’m pretty sure it keels over.
The first thought is Gideon and Iris know we fucked up and they’re here to take Brix away from me, but why would they get dressed up for that? That would be a whole new level of sadism.
Their faces don’t indicate I could be jumping to conclusions, though. They’re all stoic and worried-looking.
“What’s up?” I hate the crack in my voice.
“You forgot, didn’t you?” Gideon asks.
“Forgot what?” To keep my dick in my pants? Umm, yep.
“Today’s your intruder’s court date. I messaged you about it two days ago.”
“That was two days ago already?” I read it and promptly went back to writing. Not even memories of that night could bring me out of my writing frenzy.
I took that as a good sign, but Gideon’s looking at me as if I’ve blocked it from my mind to protect me from reliving the trauma or something.
“Okay, so do I have to be there? I’m kind of on a roll, and I don’t want anything to interrupt it.”
“You should be there,” Gideon says, “but if it’s too much—”
“It’s not too much. They’ll probably give him a fine or probation or something stupid. I don’t think I need to be there for that.”
Gideon steps closer. “I think it could be good for you to see him again. A month ago, you pointed a gun at Iris because you thought he was another intruder.”
“An unloaded gun. And he was a stranger in my house. It’s not like I tried to shoot my chef thinking she was an intruder.”
It’s Brix’s turn to try. “Iris and I will both be with you while you’re there. I called him especially for this.”
I throw up my hands. “Fine, I’ll go. I’m not scared.” Mostly. “I just want to write.”
The front door opens, and I startle. Brix’s and Gideon’s concern worsens. I’m guessing I wasn’t supposed to flinch at a normal, everyday sound.
Okay, so maybe I’m not exactly thrilled to go today, but I don’t think not going means I’m avoiding it or some shit. It’s not like I’m scared he’s going to come back. Not with Brix here. I just don’t want to see him or face him.
I’ll go. It’ll be fine. Then this whole thing will be over.
And then the interviews will start.
Ugh. I didn’t think about that part. I’ve been happily hiding away from the world. It’s rare I get to. The only time I can make excuses is when I’m writing and cutting a new album, but even then I can’t disappear completely like I have since my tour ended.
I’m going to need to start appearing in public again.
Jamie enters with my dry cleaning over her shoulder. The garment bags are almost as tall as she is, and Iris, ever the gentleman, steps in to take them from her.
“Why do you all look like someone died?” she asks.
I shake off the nervous anxiety and force a smile. Then I remember Brix knows when I’m faking it, so I angle my body away from him and toward her to try to hide it. “They’re worried I’m going to freak out.”
“Are you going to freak out?” she asks, her voice sweet like it always is.
“Nope.”
“Go you! Well, I know you have heaps of suits in your closet, but then I remembered your favorite was sent to be dry-cleaned after the tour, and I hadn’t picked it up yet. I thought you might want to wear it today.”
“Thank you. You’re the best.”
She nods. “Okay, I only have a few days left of my ‘vacation,’ and I left Raffy in the car, so—”
“You left your boyfriend who has the name of a dog in the car? Did you crack a window?” I joke.
“Oh, he was dying to come in, but I figured leaving him there was a better idea than him blubbering all over you like he did when he met you. He’s so embarrassing. You wonder why you’ve only met him once.”
It was hilarious. She was so excited for me to meet her new boyfriend, nonstop talking about him in that enthusiastic babble she does. But she didn’t realize he was a closeted Eleven fan. He’d gushed all over me, and she was shook.
“Aww, it was cute how he told me I was his biggest fan.”
She facepalms. “Embarrassing. Anyway, unless you guys need me for anything else, I better go.” The pleading in her eyes makes me dismiss her immediately.