Bent not Broken (367 page)

Alexis split a glance between Chris and me. “I’m not stupid, by the way.” She crossed her arms over her chest in typical teen fashion.

Chris’s eyes widened. “I never thought you were. Besides, why do you say that?”

“I see the news. It’s plastered all over the internet. It’s not true, is it, mom?” she asked, pleading for some kind of explanation. “You and Chris? You know, when he was a teenager and all?”

I shook my head vigorously. “No, honey. You know how that stuff is all lies. Just the media. None of it’s true.” I took her hand and led her to the couch. Sitting her down, I put my hand on her knee. “The truth is I did know Chris when he was a teenager. I was his counselor back then. He needed me, and I needed him for very different reasons. There was nothing inappropriate between us like the media is portraying. When we met again several months ago at the concert, everything changed. But, we’re both adults now. Okay?”

Alexis nodded. “Okay. I didn’t believe any of that crap anyway.”

I smiled, relieved. “I knew you didn’t. I just wanted you to know the truth.”

“Thanks,” Alexis said as I wrapped my arms around her.

Giving her a squeeze, I whispered, “As Abraham Lincoln once said, you can’t always believe the crap you read on the internet.”

She laughed. “I know, mom. You’ve always told me that, but I really get it now.”

Chapter Twenty-Seven

SALEM

For the most part, Chris’s transition from the tour had been a fairly easy one, except the occasional run-in with the paparazzi. I’d learned to cope with the sensationalistic media propaganda. Every now and then, a blurb would run in the tabloids insinuating an inappropriate relationship between a juvenile client and his former counselor, and for a few days, I wouldn’t be able to walk through town without all-knowing eyes glaring at me. We’d learned to ignore the judgmental stares from little old ladies in line at the grocery store. They’d glance at the celebrity gossip headlines then peer at us. Finally putting two and two together, they’d look down their noses in disgust at our clasped hands. It was exhausting and comical at the same time.

Chris loved living in his new apartment and working in the recording studio. We’d spent several weekends repainting and remodeling to get them ready. Jeremy and Tommy even came to visit for a week to check everything out and get some practice time at the studio before they started recording the new album. I’d kept my distance that week so they could get a lot of work done, but was eager to meet the guys for the first time that Friday night.

****

CHRIS

“Look guys, Salem will be here any minute. I need you to be on your best behavior.” I tore through the apartment, trying to clean it up a little before she got there. My band mates were slobs. Salem shouldn’t have to deal with the nastiness I’d had to put up with while they were here this week. “Damn, Tommy, ever heard of a trash can?” I griped as I tossed the half-eaten Chinese takeout box and empty beer cans in the garbage.

Tommy kicked his feet up on the coffee table. “Damn, Chris. What’s the big deal? She’s just a girl.”

I stopped dead in my tracks.

Jeremy glared at Tommy, giving him the ‘I’d-shut-the-fuck-up-if-I-were-you’ look.

“What?” Tommy asked, ripping a bite of cold, leftover pizza off with the sides of his teeth like an uncivilized barbarian.

“You’re disgusting, man,” Jeremy groaned, and threw a pillow at him.

“What?” Tommy repeated. “I mean, who is this chick? She
is
just a girl, right?”

I hadn’t really talked to the guys much about Salem or my whereabouts during my free time since the day they gave me shit about her. They knew there was a girl, but they didn’t know much more than that. I’d just let them assume whatever they wanted. So I guess the fact that Tommy didn’t have a clue was my own fault.

“She’s not
just
a girl,” I stated, matter-of-factly. “She’s
the
girl.”

Apparently Jeremy had been keeping tabs better than I thought because he chimed in, waving his hands in Tommy’s face, “Earth to Tommy. Remember the girl? The one he met in Charlotte a while ago. The one he didn’t want go out with us that night for. The former counselor. Ring a bell?”

Tommy’s face lit up with understanding. “Oh shit.
That
girl?”

I nodded. “Yes. That girl.”

“Damn. I thought she was just a thing. I thought you moved here to be closer to your family, not because of some chick.”

I shook my head adamantly. “I told you a while ago, she’s different.”

A moment of clarity hit him like a ton of bricks. I knew what he was thinking. He was remembering all the hell I’d been through over Kaitlyn and how I never let another girl get to me like she did—until now. “Well, hell,” he said, throwing the half-eaten slice back into the box. “That changes things.”

Tommy didn’t have the emotional capacity to understand my feelings for Kaitlyn because the right woman just hadn’t come along for him yet. But he did see how shattered I was after she left the beach all those years ago. He watched me mope around the apartment, unable to eat or sleep. Those first few weeks after she was gone, he played the bass next to me on that stage, sensing the hollowness in my music. He bought me round after round of alcohol, trying to help me wash the pain of losing her away. He stood by me the day we signed with our first agent, and he watched me take that downward spiral into stardom. Yes,
downward
. There’s just something ironic about the phrase ‘rising to the top.’ That’s the thing about becoming a star. One day you’re this average, down-to-earth, good-hearted, talented artist and then suddenly you find yourself in a crazy whirlwind of money, parties, women, and alcohol. You become so wrapped up in it all that you don’t know which way is up or which way is down. You do things you never would have done in your average world because somehow becoming a star makes you feel larger than life. So, yeah, Tommy was with me every step of that downward spiral, helping me cope with the heartache of losing Kaitlyn in the only ways he knew how—women and alcohol.

“So, this girl’s the one, huh?” Tommy asked, tossing his pizza box in the garbage.

I nodded.

With a huge smile, and firm handshake that turned into our usual intricately choreographed display of hand movements that ended with a fist bump, he said, “I couldn’t be happier for you, man.”

“Thanks, man,” I said, giving him a one-armed side hug.

Just then, we heard a soft knock at the door.

I jogged to it, swinging it open. There stood Salem, beautiful as ever in a soft, black off-the-shoulder shirt, some skin-tight dark wash jeans, and some sexy as hell high heels.

My eyes raked over her exquisite body. “You look stunning,” I told her, wrapping my arms around her. “I’ve missed you this week.”

She buried her head in my chest, inhaling a deep, staggering breath. “I’ve missed you too.”

I ran my hands through her hair and across her back, feeling her warmth against me.
Damn, I so wish we were alone right now.

Remembering that we weren’t the only two people in the room, I interrupted the moment by blurting, “Oh yeah, come on in. I want you to meet my boys.”

She stepped inside and it was as if all the oxygen were sucked out of the room. You could almost hear a pin drop. The guys stood there with their hands in their pockets, wide-eyed with that deer-in-headlights look. I knew they were just as blown away by her classic beauty as I was.

“Guys,” I said, snapping them to attention, “this is Salem. Salem, this is Jeremy and Tommy.”

Salem extended a hand to Jeremy first. “It’s so nice to finally meet you…uh…”

Taking her hand and giving it a shake, he responded, “Jeremy. It’s nice to meet you too, Salem. We’ve heard a lot about you.” Jeremy shot a sidelong glance in my direction.

Salem chuckled. “All good stuff, I hope.”

“Oh definitely.” Jeremy released her hand and immediately stuffed it back into his pocket. I never knew a woman to make him so nervous.

Tommy reached out, taking Salem’s hand. “And I’m Tommy. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Salem,” he said, branding the top of her hand with a kiss…something he did to all the ladies. He really knew how to turn on the charm around women.

“So nice to meet you too, Tommy.” She curtsied in response to his gentleman’s kiss.

Breaking up the awkward introductions, I said, “Sit down. Stay a while. Anybody want a beer or soda?”

Salem took a seat on the sofa. “Sure, I’ll have a soda if you’ve got one.”

I walked into the kitchen with Jeremy following close behind.

“You didn’t tell us how fucking hot she is,” he hissed
. I didn’t know I was obligated to.

“Watch it, now,” I teased, opening the fridge.

“No, seriously,” he said in a hushed tone. “So, this is the counselor? The
juvie
counselor?”

“Yes,” I whispered harshly, then called out to Salem, “Coke or Sprite?”

“Coke, please,” she answered. Thankfully she was far enough away that she couldn’t hear the ramblings of my asshole band mates.

Turning back to the refrigerator to grab a can, Tommy leaned over the open door.

“So, this is your fucking juvie counselor?” His voice was low, like I was doing something dirty.

I shrugged, annoyed that this was such a big deal. “Yes. Why is this such a hard concept to understand?”

“Because we expected her to be ancient,
not
sexy as hell,” he murmured, glancing in her direction as she stared out the window.

Asshole better watch it.
“I told you guys, she was only twenty-four when I was almost eighteen. There wasn’t that much of an age difference. And besides, I already told you she was smokin’ hot.”
Now back the fuck off.

“Yeah,” Jeremy looked wistfully her direction as she stared out the window. “We just didn’t expect her to be
this
...” He stopped himself before he got himself punched in the throat.

I flashed my best ‘back-the-hell-off’ look, and pushed past his stupid, horny ass to give Salem her soda, leaving them both gawking by the fridge, jealous as fuck.

“Thanks,” Salem said as I handed her the soda and gave her a quick peck on the lips. “Your band mates are nice.”

I glared back at the two dumbasses standing in the kitchen. “Yeah, for a couple of idiots, they’re not half bad.”

Jeremy and Tommy finally grew a set and joined us. As much as they drove me crazy, they were like my brothers. I couldn’t stay mad for long.

The rest of the evening went off without a hitch. We drank some beer, ordered a pizza, and played some cards. Salem fit in just like one of the guys, only a hell of a lot sexier.

I stole some glances and found my hand sliding up her thigh more than one time during the night.

I was glad the guys were finally able to meet her. While I didn’t really need their approval, I still smiled when Tommy gave me a wink on his way out the door and whispered, “You’re a lucky man.”

“Thanks bro,” I said, looking at the amazing woman standing next to me. “I think so too.”

****

SALEM

I’d had a blast that night with Jeremy and Tommy. It was fun to see the guys bring out that side of Chris—the cut-loose, not-a care-in-the-world Chris. While the transition from traveling on tour to settling down and opening the recording studio had gone pretty smoothly, it was still stressful nonetheless. Chris needed that night to relax and unwind. The guys were an absolute hoot. They kept us both in stitches the whole time. I was already looking forward to their next visit.

The following night Chris and I kept it low key, choosing to stay at home and cook a homemade meal. After dinner was over and the kitchen had been cleaned, we were curled up on my sofa watching our favorite late night comedy show when my cell phone rang. The caller ID popped up on the screen.

“It’s Alexis,” I said, reaching for the phone.

Chris grabbed the remote to mute the sound on the television. A worried look came over his face. He knew she wouldn’t call unless there was a problem.

I’d always told Alexis she could tell me anything. We had the kind of relationship most mothers dreamed of having with their teenage daughters. I’d spent years trying to undo all the ugly thoughts I’d had when she was a baby while I was in the depths of my postpartum depression. Probably overcompensating for my guilt, I’d worked hard to build a firm mother/daughter bond. Once Alexis became a teenager we’d had discussion after discussion about her being able to come to me about anything. Ever. I just never expected that night would come so soon.

“Hello?” I answered, bringing the phone to my ear.

Alexis’s voice was hushed, but frantic. “Mom, can you come get me?”

Come get her? She was supposed to be at Olivia’s house. Why would she need me to come get her?
Panic immediately welled up in my chest.

I switched our conversation to ‘speaker mode’ and laid the phone on the coffee table, scanning the room for my shoes. “Of course, honey. What’s wrong? Where are you? Where’s Olivia?” I pumped her for answers.

“Mom…I…I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have come here.”

Chris was already off the couch, grabbing his jacket and reaching for his keys.

“Where are you, honey? Are you okay?” I was starting to feel the panic welling up in my chest.

Alexis whispered harshly into the phone, her voice laden with fear. “I’m fine. I just need you to come get me, please. We’re at a party.”

“A party?” My voice raised an octave, but I didn’t want to push her away. Lowering my voice I repeated, “A party? Where?”

“Down past the old furniture factory.”

Southside? She’s always known better than to go to Southside. That’s a dangerous area. “The old factory? Alexis, that’s in Southside. What are you doing all the way in Southside?”

“I know, mom. It was a mistake.” By that time, I could hear the sobs in Alexis’s voice. “Olivia’s dating a guy from Southside and wanted to sneak out to come see him, so I agreed. But she left with him. Please, mom. Come quick. I’m scared here by myself.”