Page 4 of Fractured Frets

I grabbed a few clothes and things out of my luggage and stuffed them into a small overnight bag. The rest of my gear could go with the band.

I slipped into the backseat of one of the waiting cars and rested my head against the plush leather seat. Beckett shut the door after me and jumped in next to the driver.

As we drove off, I kept my head down as we passed through the group of paparazzi hovering outside Flint’s front gate. Cameras flashed. Voices hollered. We escaped. Heading for LAX, my palms sweated. My stomach swayed. My head and chest ached.

I had no plan. No idea what to say to Maddy when I got to her place. But I knew one thing for certain—I’d do anything to make this work.

I wriggled on the seat, trying to get comfortable. But as I twisted, a sharp pain pierced the top of my hip. It radiated across my lower back, down my right butt cheek and my thigh, and settled in my bad knee. Fucking injury. No matter which way I sat, nothing relieved the tension.

I dug in my bag and retrieved my pain-killers. I popped two Tramadol into my mouth, washed them down with some water, and closed my eyes.

They’d kick in soon and all would be okay.

It had to be.

I needed to convince Maddy we were a good thing. There was nothing in her past that could change the way I felt about her. There was nothing I wasn’t prepared to do for her. I had to make this right. She was my wife. We were married. And I planned on staying that way.

Vancouver, here I come.

Chapter 2

MADDY

Sitting in front of the gas firepit on my condo’s balcony, I drew the fluffy mink blanket across my chest. I stared over the top of the flames and across the broad expanse of Vancouver’s harbor toward Kip Point. The city lights reflected off the ocean’s surface like shimmering sheets of colored satin. Usually the cold winter air, sea breeze, and dark gray waters calmed and cleared my mind, but not today. Tears blurred my vision. My head pounded. The pain in my chest wouldn’t subside. I wanted to turn back the clock and erase the past twenty-four hours. But as I lifted my red wine to my lips, the huge yellow diamond and gold bands sparkled on my finger. Shit. Why was walking away so hard? I loved Slip. But I couldn’t marry him. The notion of being happy and together forever wasn’t in my life’s script. I was stuck in Groundhog Day, not The Princess Diaries.

My cell phone pinged on the glass-topped table. I didn’t even look at it. Was it Slip for the gazillionth time? Or my publicist, Jodie? After photos of Slip and me in Vegas had hit the gossip sites, she’d been in damage control, toning down what had happened and releasing a respect-our-privacy statement. That wasn’t her favorite part of the job. Writing off another wedding mistake wasn’t a highlight for me either.

How could I undo this mess without obliterating Slip’s heart? Wait...I’d already done that when I’d said I wanted an annulment and left. He didn’t deserve to be hurt. I was the wreck. Not him.

My phone buzzed again, skipping to life on the table. I couldn’t ignore everyone forever. I stole a glance at the screen. Sutton’s name blazed in the evening light. She’d called several times today. She’d be worried. All our friends would be. At least it wasn’t my mother. I wasn’t ready to return to that reality just yet.

I placed my hand on my belly to settle the lead weight in my stomach. I missed Sutton so much. I needed her now more than ever. I hated we were one thousand miles apart.

My hand trembled as I picked up my cell phone and hit the video call button. “Sutt?”

“Mads?” Worry swam through her dark blue eyes. “Are you okay? You married Slip but want to have it annulled? Why? Talk to me. Tell me everything.”

I scanned the living room behind her as she curled up on her sofa. “Has everyone gone?” Slip, the rest of the band, and their entourage should’ve left for Tokyo a few hours ago.

“Yes. I miss Flint already.” She pushed her bottom lip into a sulky pout and hugged a cushion against her chest. But then light shimmered in her eyes. “I’m already counting down the weeks until we see each other again.”

I closed my eyes, nodded, and zipped my lips together. Each breath hurt my lungs. “Was Slip okay?”

“Nope.” I loved how she didn’t sugarcoat anything. “He was wasted and devastated.” She narrowed her eyes and pointed a long red fingernail at the screen. “We’re gonna talk. You’re not getting out of this.”

I slumped back in my chair. “I wish I could.”

“Well, you can’t. We’ve been through too much together. I’m here for you. Whatever you decide to do, I’ll have your back. I’ll be your shoulder to cry on. Your wonder woman strength. Your gatekeeper, minder of secrets, or your army if needed.”

I sniffled and nodded. “You’re the best.” We’d been best friends since we were twelve, after being cast together on the same TV show. We’d seen each other through relationship ups and downs, breakups, and fallouts, and had survived in the ruthless entertainment industry. Nothing hindered our friendship. We were besties for life.

“I know I am.” Her smile was full of cotton-candy sweetness, but then steel set in her glare and she raised her glass toward me. “So, go inside, refill that wine and start talking.”

“I don’t know where to begin.” With phone in hand, I dragged my feet inside and shut the door behind me. I headed into my kitchen, refreshed my drink, then sank onto my cozy cream sofa. Sitting sideways, I bent my knees and propped my cell phone against my thighs so I didn’t have to hold it. After wriggling until I was comfy, I leaned back against the padded armrest. “Last night is all a bit of a blur.”

Sutton took a sip of her drink, then licked her lips. “Do you remember any of it?”

I swept my fingertips across my eyebrow. The dull headache after the huge night hadn’t gone away. “Most of it comes back in flashes.”

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