Risky Rockstar: A Hero Club Novel, стр. 82
“Benji got his facts twisted. The guy he’s talking about isn’t Kade. It also isn’t the way he painted it. I was there and I walked in on the party. I’m not saying it wouldn’t’ve happened if I didn’t walk in when I did, but believe me when I say there was no underage sex going on. I cock-blocked the guy involved, much to his disgust. And he wasn’t aware of the age issue either. Benji’s full of shit. He used you like he uses everyone. Don’t let him come between you and Kade.”
I don’t tell her that I’m the one getting between me and Kade.
“I’m going to take him down, but I need your help.”
I hear the smile in her words. “Just tell me what I can do.”
We spend the next thirty minutes coming up with a plan and decide a live video is the best way to handle things, once we have the legalities squared away. Neither of us wants Benji to have a chance to do anything to get out of the hole he’s dug for himself. I tell her I’ll work out the logistics with Sam and give her the details. A thrill runs through me at the thought of Benji getting his due.
“Emily, I just want to thank you for talking to me.”
“Don’t sweat it. Hayley? Can I be the one to talk to Kade? I did a number on him back in the day, and I need to make it right.”
I know what it’s like to have regrets. Right now, I’m drowning in a pool of them. If I hadn’t listened to Benji, maybe Kade and I would’ve worked things out.
No sooner does the thought enter my head than I shake it out. It’s not true. Benji might be responsible for blackmailing me, but Kade’s and my relationship started dying the moment I faked it with him.
“Of course,” I agree.
“Thank you. And thank you for telling me about Benji. I always knew he was a piece of work, but I never imagined he’d be capable of such evil.”
We get off the phone, and it feels good to have chatted with Emily. I immediately call Sam. As the sun dips behind the willow tree, I start feeling the tension I’ve been carrying over the last few days seep out of me. Sam is livid and wants blood.
I’m glad. I do too.
She agrees to sort out the logistics and I head inside to start packing. She’ll let me know when she has a flight out for me.
I smile as I place my phone on the bed. I’m heading home to take my life back.
Chapter 43
Kade
“Fuck, Kel. Maddie has to stop with the food.” I open the door and step aside so Keller can set the box he has in his arms on my foyer table. The table’s empty these days; my housekeeper usually brings flowers of some sort, but I told her not to come in this week.
“You tell Maddie that. She’s convinced you’re going to starve.”
I quirk the first smile since my life imploded. “Coffee?”
“Yeah, please.”
I silently pour the coffee and slide a cup over to Keller. I know he’s chewing on something, but I wait it out.
“Josh called.”
I nod. “I’m surprised he waited so long.”
“Yeah, he’s been partying hard.” Keller takes a sip of his drink. “He’s worried about you. We all are.”
I catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror-like surface of the fridge. I look like shit. “I shouldn’t have lost it that way.”
Keller shrugs. “If he’d said that about Maddie, we’d be paying him a visit in hospital right now.”
“Maybe years ago, but now you’re a big teddy bear.”
“Fuck you.”
My lip curls up in a smile. “Only if you buy me flowers.”
I walk to the island and pull up a chair. Keller follows me and does the same. “You talk to her yet?”
And there it is. But it took three minutes longer for him to get on my ass about it this time. We’ve been over this and fucking over this for the last week.
“You’ve got to tell Maddie that not every story has a happy ending.”
“Maddie didn’t send me. Kade, you’re fucking miserable, man. And quite frankly, I don’t see the point of being so miserable. So she gave in to Benji. We’ve all bent over to take one up the ass from him at one point or the other.”
I place my cup on the table and look out the window. “It’s not that simple.”
“It can be. Just talk to her—find out where her head’s at. How the fuck are you going to go up on stage and do that little stint you two do when you’re shredded up?”
This is a fucking mess. I don’t have a clue how I’m going to get on stage and touch her, have her touch me. My stomach twists just thinking about it.
“I don’t know.”
“Well, you better figure it out soon ’cause we’re back at it in a week, and the fans are gonna expect what you two have given everyone else.”
My phone vibrates on the kitchen counter. Saved by the bell. Thank fuck!
I stand and pad over to pick up my phone. I feel the color drain from my face as I see the name that’s popped up.
Keller stands and walks over to me, his boots sounding suddenly way too loud. “What is it?”
I shake my head and turn the phone so he can see the name on the screen. “It’s Emily.”
His eyebrows shoot up. “Well, fuck!”
We both stare at the screen like it’s a bomb about to go off. Eventually it stops ringing. “Shit!”
“You gonna call her back?”
“I don’t know. I’m fucking messed up, man. I don’t know if now’s the time.”
Keller claps me on the back. “Seems to me now’s the perfect time. I’m gonna head out. Call her back. And eat something. You know Maddie will be over later to check on you, and you don’t want her finding the food untouched.”
Keller leaves and I