Love Resolution (Black Cat Records series) (8 page)

Avery felt the heat of Marcus’ hand on the small of her back as they descended the short row of stairs into the private entrance of Blue Water Grill. Word had gotten out where the private dinner for the sponsors of the tour would take place. The front entrance of the upscale restaurant in Yaletown was swamped with paparazzi and fans. It seemed as though everything she or Marcus did somehow became public knowledge.

He held the door open for her. The warmth flooding from inside the basement was a welcome contrast to the nip of the late night air. He helped her shrug out of the car length coat she wore, handing it over to the hat check girl.

“Thanks,” she returned, turning around to face him.

“Hell no, Avery!” Marcus exclaimed as he took in her outfit.

“What’s wrong?” She feigned an innocent expression, understanding full well his objections.

He raised a dark brow and leaned in close, trailing his index finger underneath the braided silver chain and following its path over her bare skin down to where it ended just below her breasts. “You’re a little exposed here.” He began to fasten the buttons of the silk blouse she was wearing underneath the black mohair vest.

“Marcus Anthony,” Samantha Daniels admonished walking up with her hand on her hips. “Leave her alone. She looks fantastic.”

“I take it you’re the one responsible for talking her into wearing this.” Marcus turned to glare at Black Cat’s PR intern.

The petite woman shook her head. “Avery picked it out. You know just as well as I do. She makes her own decisions. I just helped her accessorize.”

“If she turns the wrong way, someone’s gonna get an eyeful, Sam.” Marcus resumed fastening buttons. Avery put her hand over his when he got to the one between her breasts. “I think that’s good enough, Marcus.”

“Mary’s in the Ocean room at the end of the hall,” Sam told him. “She wants you to see you.”

Marcus closed his eyes briefly. “Ok.” He kissed the side of Avery’s mouth and then pulled his thumb across her bottom lip, parting it. “No leaning over,” he warned.

Watching him walk away, Avery’s frown transformed into a distracted smile. He looked really good in those low pocketed jeans.

“Avery,” Sam called pulling on her arm.

“Huh?”

“The necklace looks much better when it actually lies against your skin.” She pointed at Avery’s chest.

“Yeah, I know.”

“He’s a little controlling, huh?”

“You could say that,” Avery admitted. “He went ballistic this morning about some innocent pictures of me and Ty from Cold Snake.” She shook her head, the large hoop earrings she wore brushing against her jaw. “And all we did was jam together.”

“I saw those pics.” She raised a shaped brow. “I can see how he might have thought otherwise.”

“The media is becoming like a third person in our relationship.” Avery blew out a breath. “I guess I better get used to it.”

Sam nodded and took a step back looking Avery over, hand under her chin. “The brown leather pants look great with the green silk. And those suede ankle boots! Are they Michael Kors?”

“Yeah. I got ‘em yesterday.”

“Love, love them,” Sam drew out.

“You’re a bad influence,” Avery said with a half-smile. “Marcus says I’m going to need my own closet soon.”

“Fashion’s fun though, isn’t it?”

“Yeah, I guess. I never gave much thought to what I wore before, but Mary wants me to work harder on my image. So, I might as well pick things out I like.” She tugged at the low waistband of the hip hugging pants. “These are so tight, though, I couldn’t even fit my cell in the pocket.”

“I don’t think you would hear it in here anyway. It’s pretty loud down between all the guests and the BS tunes piping in through the sound system.” She shrugged and pulled on Avery’s hand. “Come on. I’ll take you around and introduce you to some people.”

“Thanks, Sam. Avery sighed. “I looked through the packet of stuff you sent over and tried to learn all of their names but there were just too many.”

“No worries. That’s what friends and good PR women are for.”

Avery gave Samantha’s hand a squeeze. “How are things with you and JR?” she asked as they strode down the empty basement corridor side by side.

“Good. Real good.” Sam’s face lit up with a beautiful smile. “He’s a bit stressed out about being apart for three weeks though.”

“Duh,” Avery remarked. “Marcus has definitely been stressed about the tour. And we’re going together. JR’s gonna really miss you.” Avery stopped. “And so will I.”

Sam got a funny look on her face that Avery couldn’t decipher. “Me, too,” she eventually said.

After working their way around the Atlantic Room with its blue glass sculptured ceiling and exposed red brick walls, Avery’s face hurt from smiling so much. She never realized how many people had a hand in a big road tour, but she had just shaken about every one of them tonight.

Sam pulled her toward another room that was similarly appointed. Noticing the look on Avery’s face, she whispered, “Only one more after this. Mary has some announcements for the top sponsors, then dinner, and then you’ll be done.”

“Great,” Avery sighed.

Forty-five minutes later, Sam and Avery finally entered the Ocean Room. It was the largest of the private rooms, holding about eighty, with smoky sphere chandeliers hanging down from the exposed brown duct work and a kitchen and bar of its own.

Avery spotted Marcus across the room and gave him a weary look. One side of his mouth crooked up into a lopsided smile. Her heart ached in her chest. It was strange how the smallest things about him made her love him so much.

Next to him, Mary was decked out in a beaded black cocktail dress. Marcus leaned over and whispered something in her ear. She glanced across the room at Avery and nodded. “Ok, everyone,” she announced in a commanding voice, tapping a knife against a crystal wine glass. “Can I have the members of Brutal Strength up here in front with me?”

Avery, JR, and Dwight moved to stand beside her at the head of the two long tables as the evening’s VIPs turned their attention to Black Cat’s CEO.

“First, I want to thank you all for coming tonight and for sponsoring Brutal Strength on their latest tour. Given the number of you present tonight, I would dare say that interest in the band is at an all-time high.” She paused while the light laughter played out. “I’d like to take this opportunity to make a couple of important announcements. First after careful consideration, I’ve selected a tour manager. She’s young but very capable. Samantha Daniels, can you come forward?”

Avery’s gaze flew to her friend’s face. Sam’s smile was huge as she crossed the room. As she passed Avery to stand next to Mary, polite applause filling the room, Avery hissed in her ear, “I can’t believe you didn’t tell me!”

Sam grinned.

Avery glanced down the line at JR. The BS drummer’s mossy green eyes were shining with pride and adoration for the young intern who everyone knew had stolen his heart.

“Ok, folks, one more announcement and then we can all enjoy the delicious food Blue Water has provided.” Mary turned to Marcus. “I’ll let you make this one, since it was your idea.”

“Close your eyes, Ace,” he whispered, pulling Avery close to his side.

“What’s going on?” Avery started.

“Trust me,” Marcus said near her ear. She closed her eyes as he continued. “Stephen couldn’t go on the road with us this time, but I was fortunate enough to talk a very experienced AR man into subbing for him.”

“Open your eyes, kid,” a familiar voice intoned.

Avery blinked, meeting a pair of very familiar brown eyes framed by wire rimmed glasses. “Trevor!” she exclaimed throwing her arms around her friend and former manager. He returned the hug earnestly.

“That’ll do it, then.” Mary smiled. “Let’s eat. The band needs to leave for Seattle in a couple of hours.”

“How’d you manage this?” Avery asked, looking from Marcus to Trevor as they took their seats at the table.

“Your fiancé is a pretty determined man.” Trevor smiled, unruly brown bangs falling into his eyes. “Stephen’s promised to cover my clients while I’m gone. Mary more than made it worth my while. And of course, I didn’t want to miss the opportunity to be a part of your debut tour with BS.”

“Thank you, Marcus,” Avery told him as a uniformed waiter placed a sushi platter in front of them. She looked into his sky blue eyes fringed with long dark lashes. “What an awesome surprise.” She squeezed his hand under the table. “I love you.”

“Ditto, Ace,” he said, squeezing back and placing his hand up on her thigh and resting it there.

Avery picked up her chopsticks and pulled apart a slice of sushi roll for her plate. Taking her first bite, she sighed, savoring the complex textures and tastes of the dynamite roll.

“Mom,” she heard Marcus say and turned to see Rheta approaching them, a serious expression on her face. “What is it?”

“Avery.” She laid a hand firmly on her shoulder. “I need to talk to you both in private. It’s urgent.”

Avery stared blankly out the window of the Mercedes as Ray deftly maneuvered the car in and out of the late night traffic. Marcus twisted around to make sure that his parent’s taxi was able to keep up. He swiveled back around in time to notice Avery’s shoulders slump. Her forehead dropped against the window pane. She’d hardly spoken since they’d received the news. She had withdrawn into a silent world of suffering, and he felt helpless to reach her.

He unbuckled his seat belt and scooted over beside her. Placing both his hands on her tense shoulders, he began to massage them. She leaned her head back onto his shoulder and sighed.

“Ace.” He couldn’t stand it anymore.

She turned to face him, eyes haunted.

“I really don’t know what to say. I just…” He laid the palm of his hand against her soft cheek. She leaned into it. “I love you. And I want you to know that I’m always here for you. No matter what. We’ll get through this together.”

“Thank you.” She closed her eyes and buried her face against his shoulder. Her voice was muffled into his leather jacket. “If it weren’t for Justin, I don’t even think I’d want to see him.”

“You would,” he said with absolute certainty.

“I don’t know. I’ve hated him for so long.” She shook her head against his chest. “I don’t know how I feel right now,” she admitted numbly.

When they arrived at St Paul’s Hospital and entered the emergency room waiting area, Justin rose to greet them.

“Sis,” he sighed, crossing the room, arms open. Avery stepped into his embrace.

After a long moment, she asked quietly, “What happened?”

Wearily, he ran a hand across his face. “When I got to his hotel tonight, he didn’t look so good. He was really pale, and his hands were shaking. We talked for a long time about mom…about the past…his drinking.” He pulled her over to one of the chairs and took her hands in his as they sat down. “Sis, he told me he sobered up as soon as we left. Stopped cold turkey. And he spent what money he had left hiring private investigators trying to find us after we ran away. He kept telling me how sorry he was…” His voice deepened with emotion. “I told him that didn’t change anything and he agreed.” He was quiet for a moment. “Except that he does seem really different.”

When Avery didn’t comment, he continued. “Anyway while we were talking he kept excusing himself to go to the bathroom. The third time he left the room, he didn’t come back for the longest time. So I went to check on him.” He let go of her hands and pulled his fingers through his hair. “He’d been vomiting blood, Avery. It was all over him, his clothes, and the counters. I guess something had really broken loose. That’s when I called an ambulance.”

“What did the doctors say?” Marcus asked.

“Something about putting some bands in to stop the bleeding and that they would have to give him a transfusion. They took him right back for surgery, and I haven’t heard anything since then.

“Mr. Jones?” A tall man with glasses and blue scrubs approached them.

“Dr. Roberts.” Justin took Avery’s hand and stood with her. “This is my sister, Avery.”

“Oh.” The doctor’s eyes widened slightly with recognition. He cleared his throat. “I wanted to let you know we’ve got your father stabilized. He’s being transferred to a private room on the fourth floor.”

“Will he be alright?” Avery asked in a soft voice.

“For now,” the doctor responded with empathy. “But your father has end stage liver failure. He’s dying. He asked me to tell you both in case you had any questions that he couldn’t answer.”

Avery felt the blood drain from her face. She swayed unsteadily. Marcus immediately put his arms around her shoulders. Rheta, Don, Dwight and Lisa gathered around the twins.

“How long does he have?” Justin asked with a clenched jaw.

“Without a liver transplant, six months to a year. We were able to control the bleeding this time, but at some point it will happen again.”

Avery sat back down, putting her head in her hands. She looked up at Marcus, “I can’t even process this right now,” she told him. The antiseptic smell of the hospital was messing with her equilibrium. It brought back unpleasant memories of the last months of her mom’s life, especially that awful feeling of helplessness. “I’m going out to the courtyard. I need some fresh air.” She stood, spun on her heel, and fled down the hall.