Healing Melody (26 page)

“Just leave us alone,” I cry.

Mingus barks at him.

Charlie turns his camera back to Kade.

“You must really need the money, huh, Kade? How much does Melody pay you to have sex with her busted up body?”
 

Kade turns bright red and punches Charlie in the face. The camera flies out of Charlie’s hands. He crashes to the floor. The paparazzi looks up, blood pouring out of his nose. I think Kade broke it. But Charlie doesn't look upset. In fact, he has a smile on his face. He wanted Kade to hit him!
 

“You just fucked yourself, dude.” He smirks, pointing his finger at Kade. “I’m suing your ass for assault.”

“Well, if that's the case,” Kade replies. “Let me really fuck you up.”

Charlie wasn't expecting that, his eyes widen with fear. He scrambles back as Kade lunges forward.

“Kade don’t,” I shout. I drop Mingus to the floor and run in between them.

“He can't talk to you like that,” Kade hisses. His eyes are on fire. “I won't let anyone ever talk to you like that.”

“Oh, I get it. He's not only your fuck toy but your bodyguard,” Charlie says as he stands up. “You get a bonus for that, Kade?”

Kade wants to take another swing at Charlie, but I press myself against him. I grab his face with both my hands and stare deeply into his eyes. “Don't Kade. He’s not worth it.” Kade’s eyes meet mine. He is full of rage. I try to calm him down. “He’s not worth it,” I repeat. His chest is heaving. He’s so angry.

Then I hear Charlie talking into his cell phone. “Yes, is this the police? I’d like to report an assault.“

I turn and stare at him. “Please, don't do that,” I beg. “Please, don't press any charges.”

Charlie shoots me a curious look. “Your boyfriend should learn to control his temper.” He begins talking into his phone, “Yes, I’m at Kade’s Cage. I’ve just been assaulted by the owner, and I’m worried for my safety.”

I can’t let this asshole press charges against Kade. This mess is my fault.

“What if I take off my mask?” I blurt.

Charlie turns and looks at me, shocked.

“Really?”

I slowly nod. “You’ll get the exclusive on two conditions: you don’t press any charges, and we never see you again.”

Charlie ends his call. His face breaks out in a smile. “Deal,” he replies.

“You don’t have to do this, Melody.”

Kade looks at me with concern.
 

“Yes, I do,” I reply. I look into his eyes. I see a love so powerful. “For you, it’s the least I can do,” I admit.

He softly smiles.
 

I turn, face Charlie and say, “Okay, you sleazy son-of-a-bitch. Get your shot.”
 

Charlie snatches his camera from the floor and points it at me. “No need for the name calling,” he replies as he turns on the camera. “Alright, I’m ready. This is Charlie Winger with an exclusive. America’s sweetheart, Melody Swanson, is about to reveal to the world the face she’s been hiding for so long.”

Staring into the camera lens, I take a deep breath. I slowly reach behind my head and begin loosening the straps of my mask. My heart races and my body trembles, as I slowly slip it off. Then I look up and stare into the bright light of the camera… exposed.
 

I breathe a sigh of relief.
 

I’m finally free.

Three Months Later…

The last time I was in this dressing room, I was falling apart. I was gripped by a deadly fear that rocked me to my core. The thought of stepping on stage had become so terrifying; I believed I’d never be able to do it again.

A lot has changed since then.
 

I've performed eleven sold-out concerts throughout the country. My new album and tour are a qualified success. The reviews have been amazing and the support from the fans has been incredible. Sure, there have been some trolls on social media who make disgusting comments about my face. But now I see them for what they are: inconsequential. It was only by truly accepting my face and body for what it was – and not what I wished it to be – that I finally found the courage to just be me. In a strange way, I have that paparazzi motherfucker, Charlie, to thank for all this. When he threatened to press charges against Kade, I stopped thinking about myself. I wanted to do whatever I could to help Kade at that moment.
 

My love for him overpowered my fear.

Now, I'm back in the dressing room of the LA Forum. It's the last show of my tour – a make-up appearance for the one I canceled. I finish putting on my makeup and check my appearance in the mirror. The foundation helps hide the scarring. But it's still noticeable, especially when they flash an image of me on the huge monitors during the show. I’m not going to lie to you; the first time I saw my face plastered on that screen, I freaked out a bit. But the audience got me through it. They were cheering me on and singing my songs. They just cared about the music and not what I looked like.

I put on some mascara, then glance at Mingus. He’s playing with a ball in the corner of the room.

“What do you think, Mingus?”

Mingus looks at me and barks.

“I think you're just being nice,” I say with a smile. Mingus has been with me the entire tour. And these last three months, he’s gotten a lot bigger.

There's a knock at the door.

“Come in.”

“Babe, the crowd out there is going crazy.”

“Really?”

Kade nods. “They're really pumped.”

The second he’s in the room, Mingus darts toward Kade, wanting to play. “Hey buddy,” Kade says as he rubs his coat. “I bet you're excited to finally be home, huh? Aren’t you, boy?”

Mingus licks his dad’s face and then hurries to fetch his ball. Kade walks over to me. He places his hands on my shoulders and stares at my reflection in the mirror.

“How about you, beautiful? You happy to be home?”

I turn in my chair and face him, grab hold of his hands. “You have no idea,” I answer as I stand up.

I give him a long lingering kiss. “All I want,” I tell him, “is to stay in bed with you for a week.”

“Sounds like a plan,” he says as he kisses me and squeezes my ass.

Mingus growls. We both look down and notice the tennis ball in his mouth. Kade grabs it and tosses it across the room. Mingus chases after it.

“I have a surprise for you,” I tell Kade as I rest my hand against his chest.

“You back home with me is all I want,” he whispers. He kisses me and tugs on my bottom lip.

I look into his eyes and can't believe how much I love this man. I'm so grateful to have him in my life. And he's made it irrefutable: how much he loves and cares for me.

“Just promise me, honey, you'll be near the stage during the show.”

“Of course I will, babe. I'll be standing offstage just like you asked.” He looks at me curiously. “Why? What's the surprise?”

“It won't be a surprise, if I tell you. Now, will it?”

Mingus growls again. He wants another round of catch. Kade snatches the ball from his jaw and tosses it once more.

There's a knock at the door.

“Who is it?”

“It's Randy and Suzie. We need to talk.”

The door swings open. Randy and Suzie enter, both beaming.

I notice Randy is walking a little gingerly.

“What's wrong with you?” I ask her.

Randy points her finger at Kade. “I started going to your boyfriend’s gym. That’s what’s wrong with me. Luke, my trainer, might be gorgeous but he’s a drill sergeant.”

“No pain, no gain,” says Kade with a smile.

Randy places a hand on Kade’s shoulder. “Kade, sweetie,” she says, shaking her head, “You need to talk to him.” Randy then shoots me a look. “You realize he doesn't even let me answer my phone during our workouts? He says I can’t learn how to kick box while having a conference call. Can you believe that?”

I look at Kade and grin. Kade just stands there, shaking his head at Randy.
 

“Kade, I saw your last fight in Chicago,” says Suzie. “Is that poor guy alright?”

Kade nods. “Just a few bruised ribs. He wants a rematch.”

“Melody, I don’t know how you do it,” says Suzie. “I was a nervous wreck watching him fight. I kept covering my eyes whenever he got punched or kicked.”

“Well, just wait until Vegas next month,” I reply. “There’s nothing like watching him fight live.”

Kade grins at me. He’s fighting professionally again. And he is up for a championship fight next month in Vegas.
 

Shane is his manager.
 

Months ago, when Shane showed up to Kade’s gym – looking to kill him – Kade talked him out of it. Kade told Shane that he wanted to see how far he could go in the cage. He wanted to fight professionally again. With Shane as his manager, they could make a lot of money. Apparently, there’s nothing Shane likes more than money. And now that Kade is the hottest fighter on the circuit, Shane is raking it in.
 

Kade’s even scheduled to do a commercial next week. He’s dreading it. I’m giving him some pointers on how to act in front of the camera.
   

“I’ll let you three talk business,” Kade says. He looks at me and grins. He gives me another quick kiss. “Knock them dead, babe.” He turns to Randy and Suzie. “I’ll see you two at our place for dinner this week.”

“See you, Kade.” They both smile as he’s about to leave.

“Remember what I told you,” I shout at him before he closes the door.
 

Kade nods. “I’ll be there the whole show, honey.”

When he closes the door, I turn to Randy and Suzie. They're both still beaming.

“What is it?” I ask.

“I just got off the phone. The label wants to go worldwide,” shouts Randy.

Suzie excitedly claps her hands. “You're back, Melody. You’re better than ever.”

I can’t believe it. “Really? A worldwide tour?”

Randy nods. She’s so excited she can hardly contain herself. “Your album is number one. And this tour is the hottest ticket of the summer. My phone hasn’t stopped ringing. I'm getting calls for endorsements. Universal Studios just called. They want to know if you'd be interested in co-starring with Bradley Cooper in a new movie. Also, Taylor Swift wants to do a song with you, and so does Jay-Z.”

I hold up my hand, trying to calm her down. “Randy, I need to take a break.”

“What about the worldwide tour?” she asks.

I shake my head. “It will have to wait. I've fulfilled my obligation to the label. Now I need some time for myself.”

She looks at me and slowly nods. “Alright,” she replies, a little disappointed. “But can we at least squeeze in a commercial, and a Swift/Jay-Z collaboration?”

“Fine,” I say, “But no world tour. Not yet.”

Randy gives me a hug and a kiss on the cheek. “Okay, sweetie. Knock them dead tonight.” She looks at me and says, “I’m so proud of you.”

“Thanks.”

Randy leaves.

Suzie, whose been playing in the corner with Mingus this whole time, looks at me.

“I’m so happy to be home.”

“Me too,” I agree with a sigh. The last three months Suzie has been with me every step of the way.

“Are you sure you don't want to go to the after party?” she asks.
 

I nod. “I’m exhausted. I just want to go home and spend some time with my man.”

Suzie shrugs and says, “I can’t blame you.”

“Five minutes!” the production manager shouts as he knocks on the door.

I take a deep breath and smile. “Okay, I got to go.”

I walk over to Suzie and give her a hug. “Love you.”

“Love you too,” she says squeezing me back.

Mingus barks.

I rub his head. “I love you too, buddy.”

The crowd erupts with thunderous applause as I step on stage. I walk toward the piano and take a seat. I soak in the moment as I scan the thousands of faces cheering me on. I never thought, in a million years, I would be back here. I glance stage right. Kade is smiling at me from the stage wing. The audience can’t see him, but I can. I move the mic toward me and begin playing my first song.
 

The audience is with me the entire night. They know the words to all my new songs. The amount of love I feel in the arena is overwhelming. And when I get to the last song of the night, I can hardly contain the emotions running through me.