Page 111 of When the Storm Breaks
I kept meaning to sell Phoenix, but something always stopped me. And that something—someone—was standing right next to me, stroking Phoenix’s neck.
“What did you need to tell me?” What if she was pregnant? Wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world, but I knew it wasn’t something she wanted so that might explain why she was gnawing on her lip, like she was scared to say the words. “Whatever it is… we’ll deal with it.”
She closed her eyes briefly then turned to face me. “When I was in L.A., I did something…”
My body tensed. Fuck. No. I took a step back. “Did you sleep with your ex-boyfriend?”
Her eyes widened. “What? No. God, I’d never do that.” My momentary relief disappeared as soon as she uttered the next words. “I … told Dean I’d record a duet with him.”
“You what?”
“I agreed to record a duet with Dean,” she repeated as if I needed to hear the words again. “In December, I have six weeks free and I… I said we’d do it then.”
Un-fucking-believable. I couldn’t wrap my head around this. I reared back like I’d been sucker punched which was how it felt. “Why the hell would you do that? Why would you give him what he wants?” I needed some explanation as to why she would have thought this was okay.
She closed her eyes and blew out a breath then raised her eyes to mine. “I’m sorry, okay? I just… the song is… it’s amazing, Brody.”
I huffed out a laugh. I didn’t give a shit if it was Grammy-worthy. “Yoursongs are amazing. Why the fuck would you go into a recording studio withhim? You don’t need him, Shy.”You’ve got me. But I wasn’t a musician, and I couldn’t writeamazingsongs or play a guitar or do jack shit when it came to music.
“It’ll be good for my music career.”
“Who the fuck told you that?” I grasped her chin in my hand and lifted her face to mine. “Is someone forcing you to do it? Your management team? Your publicist? The record label?”
“Would it make you feel better if I said yes?”
“I don’t know, Shy. Is it the truth? Because that’s all I want from you. The fucking truth.”
She took a couple steps back, putting distance between us and folded her arms over her chest. “You want the truth? I love you. How’s that for a truth?”
“What does that have to do with this conversation?”
“Why can’t you say the words?”
The fuck? “Oh, hold on.” My eyes narrowed on her. “Are you saying you agreed to record a duet with the douche because I haven’t said three little words yet?”
Her shoulders sagged. “No. I’m going to record a duet with Dean because the song is good, and I don’t want…” She released a breath and shook her head a little.
“You don’t want what? What don’t you want, Shy? Fucking say it.”
She lifted her head, her eyes defiant. “I don’t want Ari Bell to sing that duet with him.”
I stared at her for a long moment, letting the words sink in and trying to make sense of them. I knew who Ari Bell was. The newest member of Acadian Storm, the one the paparazzi were asking about in London. “Why? Are you jealous of her? Do you wish you were back with Dean?”
“No. God, no. It’s nothing like that. I told you, I’m not in love with Dean. I don’t care if he fucks her from here to Sunday. I don’t want her to sing a song that’s so personal to me. Please… try to understand where I’m coming from.” She was pleading with me to understand, but I didn’t. I couldn’t.
I raked my hand through my hair and blew out a frustrated breath. “Nothing about this is okay.”
“I know. And I’m sorry.”
I looked over at Phoenix. Shiloh moved closer to me and put her hand on my chest right over my heart. “I don’t want to hurt you, I swear.”
Yeah, well, it fucking hurt. But right now, I was more pissed off than hurt. “Let’s just get this straight. Every time Dean comes up with an amazing song, you’ll drop everything to record it with him? Every time Dean asks you for something, like opening for you at a concert, you’ll roll over and say yes? What more will you give him when he asks for it, Shiloh? Will you spread your legs because he asked you to?”
“That’s not fair and no. It’s not like that.”
“You sure about that? Because from where I’m standing, it’sexactlylike that.”
“If Lila asked for your help, you would drop everything and run to her side. I know you would.”
