And I Love Her (10 page)

He leaned back in his chair then rubbed his face. “
I need a moment…”

“I understand.”

“Prudence, this is crazy. Why do you need to be a U.S. citizen so bad? There are other ways of going about it.”

“We only have to be married for a year.”

“That doesn’t make a difference.” He started to raise his voice.

“Gavin, it’s okay.”

He shook his head. “I don’t understand why you’re doing this.”

This was the part I was dreading. “I want to wait for Desi and Mason first.”

“Why?”

“I just don’t want to repeat myself twice.”

Gavin covered his face. “I can’t believe this is happening.”

I felt bad for Gavin. But at the same time I didn’t. I wanted to marry Cash. The only catch was I wanted to stay married—forever.

Desi and Mason finally walked inside. When they spotted me, they ran to the table and gave me a big hug.

“You alright?” Mason asked as he clapped me on the shoulder.

Desi smacked my arm. “You scared the shit out of us.”

“I know. I’m sorry.”

They took their seats at the table. Gavin still rested his face in his hands.

Mason eyed him. “Dude, what’s your deal?”

He lowered his hands but didn’t look at any of us. “Let Prudence explain.”

They both looked at me.

Okay. Here I go…
“I’m getting married.”

“What?” Desi yelled. “To who?”

“Cash.”

Mason raised an eyebrow. “That bloke you were screwing?”

“Yes. The very one,” I said simply.

“But she doesn’t love him and he doesn’t love her,” Gavin said. “She’s just doing it to be an American citizen.”

“Oh.” Desi crossed her arms over her chest. “Why?”

I fidgeted with my hands. “Well…long story short…I got a record deal with Capitol Records and I need to stay in the coun
try to promote my album and my shows.”

None of them spoke. Mason’s mouth was slightly open, and Desi didn’t react at all. A moment later, her eyes widened. Gavin just stared at me in shock.

Gavin recovered first. “You got a record deal?”

I nodded.

“With Capitol Records?” Desi asked.

I nodded again.

“How did that happen?” Mason asked.

I shrugged. “I was playing a show and some guy approached me. The rest was history.”

Gavin leaned back and crossed his arms over his chest. Desi stared at the table. Mason didn’t move.

I waited for them to congratulate me or hug me but they didn’t. It didn’t seem like I just told them I accomplished my greatest dream. They were acting like I had terminal cancer.

Desi shook her head slightly. “Well, that was convenient.”

Huh?
“Sorry?”

“As soon as we leave, you
pursue a solo career and get famous within a few weeks?” Desk glared at me. “Wow. You’re a sellout.”

What? Did I hear her right?
I looked at Gavin but he wouldn’t meet my gaze.

“I thought we were in this together?” Mason asked. “We’re a band, not a solo performance.”

“I know,” I said quickly. “I didn’t mean for it to work out that way. I was just playing because I needed the money. I never expected to be discovered.”

“I’m sure…” Desi rolled her eyes.

Why weren’t they happy for me?
“I asked my record producer to do something with all of us but he said no. Solo performers are just easier.”

Mason glared at me. “Sure…”

Was this seriously happening?

Desi rose from her chair then stared me down. “You came down here to rub your success in our faces? Wow. That was low.”

“No! I just wanted to tell you what happened.”

“Well, good for you,” Desi snapped. “Enjoy you
r life in Hollywood while I go down to the pharmacy and resume my job restocking pills. Congratulations!” She stormed off then marched out the door.

Mason shook his head. “When you’re a band, you’re a team. If I’d known you weren’t a team player, I wouldn’t have bothered.”

That stung.
“Mason, now that I’m in I can still help you get discovered. Get a new singer.”

He held up his hand. “Don’t do me any favor
s, alright?” He stormed out the door behind Desi.

Only Gavin remained. He hadn’t said anything the entire time. At least he stuck beside me. If I could rely on anyone, it was
him. He’d been my best friend for years.

“It wasn’t like that,” I explained.

He slowly rose from the seat then rubbed his chin. “Prudence…I don’t know what to say.”

What? Not him too.
“Gavin, I wasn’t a sellout. I tried to get us all signed.”

He took a deep breath and wouldn’t look at me. “You betrayed us.”

“No…”

“Congratulations on everything. Soon you’ll have a husband who doesn’t love you, and you’ll have enormous success but have no one to share it with. Meanwhile, we’ll be here…good luck with everything.” He left me at the table and walked out.

My eyes stung with unshed tears. That conversation didn’t go the way I planned. I never expected my friends to act that way. I wasn’t a sellout. I didn’t mean for it to happen that way. What was I supposed to do? Turn down Dean’s offer if I couldn’t get us all signed. This wasn’t fair.

I couldn’t move. I was too heartbroken to function. I immediately thought of Cash, the man in my heart. I needed him right now. I pulled out my phone and called him.

“Baby?”

“Can you come get me?” I tried to keep the tears out of my voice.

Cash immediately knew something was wrong. “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine…”

“Where are you?”

“Jeremy knows.”

“I’m on my way.” He hung up.

I covered my face and stayed at the table. People were huddled at the other tables. I’m sure they saw me cry but I didn’t care. I kept my face hidden and tried to steady my breathing. I hated crying.

“Prudence?”

I recognized that voice.
I sniffed then looked up.

Isaac stood in front of me, looking concerned. “Are you okay?”

Why did shit like this always happen to me?
I knew he lived around here but I didn’t expect to run into him, especially when I was sobbing. “I’m fine. Please go away.”

Isaac pulled out the chair and sat across from me. “Why are you crying?”

I felt my anger ignite. “Get the fuck away from me.” This man humiliated me and caused me nothing but grief. There were a few people I despised, and he was one of them.

Isaac still didn’t move. “I’m glad I ran into you…but I wish it was under better circumstances.”

“Just go. Please.”

“Look, I wanted to apologize for everything that happened. I know I did at the time, but now that I’ve had t
ime to think about it I realize how much of an ass I was.”

“You just realized that?” I snapped. “Whatever. I’m over it, Isaac. Just go.”

“I still feel really bad.”

I held up my engagement ring. “I’m marrying the love of my life. If you hadn’t ripped my heart apart, I never would have ended up with him. So don’t feel bad about it. Our breakup was the best thing that ever happened to me.”

The hurt was in his eyes. I didn’t expect to offend him but I didn’t care if I did.

“Now go away. You’re annoying me.”

“Well, congratulations. You deserve a happy ending.”

The door opened and Cash came inside.
Thank god.
I just wanted to leave. He came to my table and kneeled before me. “Baby, are you okay?”

“I’m okay now.”

He grabbed my face and kissed me. “I’m here.”

“Now take me home.”

Cash stood up and pulled out the chair so I could stand.

Isaac watched us. “Is this your fiancé?”

Cash extended his hand. “Cash.”

He shook it. “Isaac.”

Cash froze when he heard the name. And a small explosion happened in his eyes. I didn’t expect him to get angry, but this was a problem I didn’t foresee.

“It’s not worth it,” I said. “Let’s go.”

Cash stared him down, threatening him with his eyes.

I pulled on his arm. “Babe, don’t do anything. Please.” I stood in front of him and kissed him gently, calling him back to me.

Cash was clearly the more formidable one of the two. His body was packed with muscles, he was taller, and he looked absolutely terrifying. And Isaac knew that. He slowly backed away.

I finally calmed Cash down with my kiss. “Let’s go.”

When we stepped toward the door, my brother walked in.

Damn.

“Pru, are you alright?” he asked.

“I’m fine. Let’s go.” I moved toward the door.

But Jeremy saw him.

“Jeremy, let’s go.”

A nuclear bomb exploded in his eyes. I knew he was too far gone. I could tame Cash, but my brother was a different story. When it came to me, he was insanely protective—and deadly.

Jeremy grabbed Isaac by the neck then slammed his head into the table, drawing blood. Everyone in the café gasped and retreated to their corners. Jeremy leaned toward his ear. “Don’t. Bother. My. Sister.” He released him then straightened his shirt like nothing happened. Cash looked at him with awe.

“Now we can go,” Jeremy said.

We left and got inside my brother’s car. After the driver
pulled away from the cafe, Cash looked at me.

“I thought you were meeting your friends?” The accusation was in his voice.

“I did. Isaac approached me after they left.”

Cash breathed a sigh of relief and pulled me to close to him. His lips brushed my forehead and gave me the comfort I needed. I love
d his smell and his touch. It was the recipe for an instant pick-me-up. “What happened?”

“I’ll tell you when we get home.” I rested my head on his shoulder and wrapped my arm around his waist.

Cash looked at Jeremy. “Thanks for bashing his head. But I wish it’d been me.”

Jeremy stared out the window. “I warned that fucker not to come near my sister. It’s not my fault he didn’t listen.”

Cash leaned toward my ear. “Did he hurt you?”

“No,” I whispered.

When we returned to the house, I was emotionally drained. This trip was nothing but a huge mistake. And all I did was suffer.

“What happened?” Cash asked.

I pulled him to the couch and sat on his lap. My brother watched us but I didn’t care what he saw. If he thought I was in love with Cash, I didn’t care. “When I told my friends about my success, they were upset, called me a sellout, and said they want nothing to do with me.”

“What?” Cash stared at me. “Are you serious?”

I nodded.

“That’s bullshit. They should have been happy for you.”

“But we were a band…I basically ditched them.”

“No, they went back to England and you stayed in America. You didn’t ditch them. And you were discovered. What should you have done? Turned it down?”

“Yes…”

Cash shook his head. “Your friends are being selfish.”

But were they right? I could have tried harder to get Dean to sign all of us.

Cash caught the look. “Baby, you didn’t do anything wrong. Don’t let them make you feel bad.”

“But I do…”

“No.”
He kissed me hard on the mouth, his lips moving against mine gently. He didn’t seem to care about my brother. Then he pulled away. “Don’t do that to yourself.”

“They are my best friends.”

“They sound like shitty friends. If they really care about you, they’ll come around.”

“And if they never do…?”

“It’s their loss.”

Jeremy sat across from us. “I understand why they feel that way, but they shouldn’t have said all those things. We naturally compare ourselves to other people, and when someone is more successful than we are, we are jealous. That’s how humans are. And there’s nothing wrong with that. But there are better ways to go about it th
an making the other person feel so low.” He shook his head. “They shouldn’t have treated you that way.”

“Really?”

He nodded. “But I’m sure they’ll realize how wrong their behavior was.”

I didn’t even tell them to come to the wedding or warn them about Clark. “I need to talk to Gavin again.”

“No,” Cash said. “Give them space.”

“Gavin was the only one who was somewhat understanding…”

“Because he wants to sleep with you,” Cash snapped.

I wasn’t in the mood for his jealousy. “Not now, Cash.”