Melody of the Heart (17 page)

A knock came at the door. “Lils?” Brayden asked.

I unlocked the door for him, and he stepped inside. His eyes bulged at the sight of me. “Damn, you look amazing! Just like I thought you would.”

“Thank you,” I mumbled.

“Are you going to be mad at me all night?” he questioned softly.

Turning back to him, I shook my head. “I’m not mad at you. I’m hurt.”

“Just because I said you needed to be presentable?”

“It’s not just that one statement. It’s the way you’ve made me feel since I got here. That I’m not good enough to be with you.”

“Jesus, Lils, that not what I meant at all.” He drew me to him. “I’m sorry if I made you feel that way. You know I love you, and you’re the only woman I want to be with.”

I hoped, rather than believed, him to be sincere. “I love you, too.”

“Good. Now let’s go have some fun.”

                                                                      ***

When I got into the limo at the house, I was never so glad to see AJ and Rhys in all my life. I slid across the seat to hug them both. Neither one of them had a date with them. I wondered what had happened to AJ’s last girlfriend who I met once or twice. I didn’t ask where Jake was. After our initial run-in at the house, I hadn’t seen much of him.

Being with AJ and Rhys felt like old times, and it helped to ease the tension still hanging in the air between me and Brayden. When we got to the venue, I gasped and tried to hold my excitement in. 

Brayden turned to give me an amused smile. “Why are you so fidgety all the sudden?”

“Um, hello, we’re at a party at the Chateau Marmont. This is huge!”

He gave an apathetic shrug. “I’m at these kind of places all the time now.”

“Yeah, well, I’m not,” I replied, as we got out of the car. On the way inside, I had to bite my tongue from squealing at some of the celebrities that walked past me.

When we got in the elevator, Brayden laughed. “You’re freaking out inside, aren’t you?”

I nodded. “Do you know that my students, especially the musical ones, would literally fall over in a heap at some of the singers and musicians I just saw? They might even piss their pants.”

“I don’t have to worry about you doing that, do I?”

I laughed. “No, but that doesn’t mean I’m not nervous.” Grabbing his arm, I said, “Promise you won’t leave me?”

“I won’t.”

“Not even to go to the bathroom?”

Brayden’s brows rose. “You want to go with me to piss?”

“Maybe. Or at least wait outside the door.”

“Jesus, Lils,” he muttered.

The elevator dinged open, and we stepped out onto the main floor. Wall to wall people packed the room. I shifted uneasily in my heels before gripping Brayden’s arm a little tighter. He led me through the crowd, occasionally stopping to talk to people. Most had no idea who I was, least of all that he had a fiancée. “We’ve got some good PR people hiding that one, don’t we?” he joked.

A middle-aged woman nodded. “Yes, they’ve got to keep the image that you’re all young, single, and available. The image is just as important as the music.”

I gave her a fake smile. I didn’t see what harm it would do for people to know Brayden and I were engaged. Didn’t happy couples sell records as much as single guys? I knew it would be a losing game to push the issue around these people.

We continued working our way through the crowd. I had to fight myself from yawning at some of the boring conversations. I’d already spoken to at least fifty people before one finally said, “And what is it you do?” a balding man with a large gut asked.

“I’m almost finished with my teaching practicum. I should have a class of my own next year.”

“A teacher? What a noble profession.”

“Thank you.”

He winked at Brayden. “Since it doesn’t pay shit, you better keep your hooks in this one, eh?”

“Yes, I suppose I should,” I replied coolly. Brayden quickly steered us away from the man. “Great people,” I muttered.

“He’s an ass.”

“Yeah, he is, but I’m sure most of the people here would share his sentiments about my lowly tax bracket.”

Brayden ignored my comment. Instead, his attention seemed focused on the tall guy with glasses who I had seen at the house the day before. “Hey, Marcus, I didn’t get a chance to introduce you to my fianceé yesterday.”

Marcus sized me up. “So this is the future little woman?”

“I’m Lily,” I said, extending my hand.

“Nice to meet you. I’ve heard only good things about you.”

“I hope so.”

“Are you having a good time?”

“Oh sure,” I answered quickly.

Marcus laughed. “No need to lie. These parties can be so fucking boring.”

“If you say so.”

“Speaking of boring,” Marcus said before he leaned over and whispered something in Brayden’s ear. At Brayden’s nod, Marcus smiled. “Lovely meeting you Lily.”

“The same to you.”

As Marcus started walking off, Brayden said, “The label has some people they want us to meet.”

“But you promised you wouldn’t leave me,” I protested.

Brayden’s aggravation was apparent. “Dammit, Lily, it’s only for a few minutes. Give me a break.”

His tone and his words stung me, but I managed to plaster a smile on my face. “I’m sorry. You’re right. Go do your thing.

Without another word to me, he strode off with Marcus. I took a few deep breaths, trying not to panic in the overwhelming situation.
Come on, Lily. You were Homecoming Queen for God’s sake. You know how to win people over. Go forth and win these assholes over.

Trying to be proactive, I started to walk around the room, lingering by groups of people and trying to join in on their conversations. While I gave them my best smile, most only offered me a frosty hello before they turned back to their own friends and acquaintances.

I took a flute of champagne from one of the waiters. Sipping it slow, I willed myself not to cry. This was Brayden’s world now, and because I was with him, it was mine as well. I just had to get used to it. But I couldn’t help wishing for the past—the days when the band was just starting out and Brayden and I were of one mind and body.

I don’t know how much time passed. It seemed like an eternity. I’d downed two flutes of champagne. After a trip to the ladies room, I ran into Rhys in the hallway. “Hey!” I cried, enthusiastically.

He grinned. “Hey, yourself.”

“Sorry. It’s just good to see a familiar face among all these people.”

“I know what you mean.” After glancing around, he made a face. “I thought I’d escaped all the pretentious bullshit when I left home. Unfortunately, I’m right back in hell tonight.”

“I’m glad I’m not the only one who isn’t comfortable with all this.”

“If you ask me, this is the worst part of the business—boot licking and ass kissing.”

I giggled. “You’re right. I was just thinking how I missed the early days, especially last summer when we were all together on the bus.”

“Yeah, those were some good times.” He smiled at me. “I’ll never forget how sweet you were to me. I was in a really bad place with my parents disowning me because of the band. You really came through for me.”

“Stop, you’re going to make me cry,” I said, as I felt my eyes moistening.

“It’s the truth.”

“I feel the same way about you.” Glancing around, I asked, “You guys done with your meeting?”

Rhys brows furrowed. “What meeting?”

“Marcus came and got Brayden because the label had some people they wanted you to meet.”

Shifting uncomfortably on his feet, Rhys said, “Uh, I haven’t met with any of the label guys tonight.”

My stomach plummeted to my knees, and although I hated myself for it, tears stung my eyes. “I see.”

Rhys hand came to touch my shoulder. “I’m sorry, Lily.”

I held up my hand. “You don’t need to apologize. It isn’t your fault.”

He sighed. “Look, I know it doesn’t make it any easier, but we’ve all noticed a change in Bray over the last few months. And it’s not a good one.”

“Thanks,” I replied, in a whisper.

“He’ll come to his senses soon.”

“You sure about that?”

“This world,” he motioned around him, “is hard for the others to acclimate to. I grew up with money and excess, so it doesn’t have the shiny appeal to me like it does for the others. AJ would be the same guy if he was living in a mansion or in a box on the street. He’s just that kind of guy. As for Jake and Brayden…” He shook his head. “The greatest prize comes from corrupting the incorruptible. He’s been a target of theirs from the beginning.”

“The label’s?”

“Their minions, yeah.”

The thought of Runaway Train’s handlers manipulating Brayden made me sick. “I just thought that Brayden was too strong to let all this get to him.”

“You hear their line of bullshit day in and day out, and anyone can fall for it, especially when the brand of propaganda comes in the form of houses, clothes, and cars. Money talks more than anything in the world.”

“I guess you’re right.”

“Just give him some time. He’ll come around.”

“I hope so, Rhys. Because if he doesn’t…” I bit down on my lip to keep from crying.

“The worst thing in the world that could happen to him would be to lose you.”

I barreled forward and threw my arms around Rhys’s neck. “Thank you for being so good to me.”

He chuckled. “You don’t need to thank me for that.”

I pulled away and kissed his cheek. “Yes, there is. Just like you thanked me earlier for being good to you last summer. You have such a good heart, Rhys. In spite of what you grew up with, you are a decent, caring person.”

Rhys’s jaw clenched like he was fighting his emotions. “Thank you, Lily. That means a lot coming from you.”

“I’m going to go find Brayden. I think it’s time I left for the night. Let him do his thing.”

“Good luck.”

“Thanks, I’ll probably need it.”

After I made my way back to the main room, I started searching through the crowd for Brayden. When I didn’t see him, I started down another hallway. Just as I came around the corner, AJ stepped into my path. “Hey, Lils, what’s up?” he asked, a plastered smile on his face.

“I was trying to find Brayden, so I could tell him I was leaving.”

“No, you can’t do that.” When I cocked my brows at him, he said, “I mean, you can’t leave yet. Why don’t you stay and dance with me?”

I knew then that Brayden was in the next room, and he was doing something that would be hurtful to me. I shook my head. “AJ, get out of my way.”

“Please, Lils, you don’t want to see him like this.”

Closing my eyes, I willed myself to wake up from the nightmare I found myself in. “Is he with another woman?”

“No, God, no. It’s just he’s…really fucked up.”

“He’s not even been gone an hour.”

“I’m sorry. But he is.”

Even though I knew it wasn’t the best time to confront Brayden, I side-stepped AJ and hurried around the corner. Overstuffed sofas filled the room along with the pungent aroma of pot. With his tie undone and suit disheveled, Brayden lounged on a couch with two other men—I think they were label executives. On the table in front of them were probably dozens of empty shot glasses along with a white powdery substance with a razor blade.

At my gasp of horror, Brayden jerked his head up to meet my gaze. “What are you doing in here?”

I crossed my arms over my chest. “I think I could ask you the same thing.”

“I’m unwinding. Having a good time. Something your uptight ass doesn’t know how to do.”

“By drinking and smoking pot? I mean, please tell me you’re not in here snorting up.”

Brayden shot off the couch and grabbed me by the shoulders. “Keep your fucking voice down!”

I shoved him away. “Don’t you dare put your hands on me!”

Glancing behind him, Brayden said, “AJ, get her out of here.”

“I think it’s you that needs to leave, man.”

Brayden’s brows shot up. “You’re taking her side now? Whatever happened to bros before hos?”

AJ closed the gap between them in one long stride. Grabbing Brayden by the neck, he shoved him past the couch and up against the wall. “AJ!” I cried.

Ignoring me, he practically snarled at Brayden. “You need to shut your fucking mouth before you say or do anything else you’re going to regret in the morning.”

“Get off me.”

“I will when you apologize to Lily.”

Brayden glanced at me over AJ’s shoulder. He looked like a stranger. No, he looked at me like
I
was a stranger. Tears stung my eyes at the final revelation that the man I had once loved, the man I wanted to marry, was gone.

“Sorry,” he finally muttered.

“I’m sorry, too,” I whispered. I was sorry for what had been lost between us in the last few months. I was sorry for the countless promises he’d broken. I was sorry that the future we had once dreamed of together would never come to fruition. I was sorry that no matter how hard he had once tried to stay grounded, Brayden was now just another casualty of fame and fortune.