Page 90 of Rock Bottom

“Is that what this is?”

“You’ve been distracted, and rightfully so. I get it. If I had a kid, I’d want to be there for everything too. But you’ve missed a lot the last few months. Other than a few events we were committed to for the band, we didn’t hang out once while Carter was in rehab. When was the last time we went three or four months without hanging?”

“We just spent two years on the road together twenty-four-seven,” I protested.

He spread his hands, palms up.

“Is this my fault?” I asked, starting to get an uncomfortable feeling in my gut.

“It’s not one’s fault. It’s our current reality. It’s happening, regardless of who or why or what. And if we start fucking around with the foundation—namely the people who helped get us where we are—I think it’s going to make it worse.”

“Did it ever occur to you making some changes might make it better?”

“Sure. But is it a risk we want to take? We’re on top and changing things could impact everything we’ve built. Especially if Aurora is the vindictive bitch she’s showing herself to be.”

I didn’t have an answer to that.

Not yet anyway.

But I was going to figure one out.

33

Presley

I’d never been on a red carpet before, and I would’ve been lying if I said it wasn’t exciting. Even with the weird vibe happening with Aurora, I was having a blast. Cheyenne and Didi were both nice, especially Cheyenne. She was one of the top supermodels in the world, but very down to earth and easy to talk to. Didi was a lot more reserved. Zeke had told me she and Kellan broke up and got back together regularly so she tended to keep her distance from the band and anything they were involved with.

Cheyenne had no such qualms, even admitting to me that things with Kingston weren’t serious.

“Oh, it’s just sex,” she said, dabbing gloss on her lips. “Don’t get me wrong, he’s lovely. Handsome, good in bed, rich, generous. He ticks all the boxes. But he’s thirty and I’m only twenty-two. I’m at the height of my career and nowhere near ready to settle down.”

“Is he ready to settle down?” I asked curiously.

She laughed. “These guys all want that. They’re just not comfortable admitting it, as if needing some stability to go with the chaos of rock and roll is something to be ashamed of. It’s bloody ridiculous.”

“Zeke seems ready,” I said thoughtfully.

“Oh, please.” Aurora came out of one of the stalls, shaking her head. “You had his kid, honey. That’s the only thing he’s interested in. Once the band goes back out on tour, he’s going to forget all about you.”

“I live in his house,” I said, refusing to let her intimidate me. “So I doubt he’s going to forget me.”

She looked momentarily surprised but then shrugged as she washed her hands. “It’s convenient. He doesn’t want to schlep back and forth to Minnesota or even to some little house he sets you up in, in the Valley. Plus, he has a very high libido.” She smirked at me. “Keeping you close is advantageous. He gets to see his kid whenever he wants, and he gets to fuck the pretty little thing that’s already in his bed. Who wouldn’t like that kind of arrangement short-term?”

“What would you know about his libido?” I snapped, irritated at her insinuation that it was nothing but sex between Zeke and me.

She paused, cocking her head. “Honey, I was sleeping with Big Z while you were still in middle school. I’m guessing he didn’t mention that.”

I was too shocked to respond, so I was grateful Cheyenne had my back.

“Past tense, eh?” She cocked her head. “It’s always a bitch when you’re replaced with someone half your age.”

Aurora narrowed her eyes. “I’d be nicer to me if I were you. The women in the boys’ lives come and go, but you know who’s been here through all of them? Me. And I have no plans to go anywhere.”

Cheyenne wasn’t even a little bit put off. “I could have every one of those boys eating out of the palm of my hand with a snap of my fingers.” She glanced at me. “No offense.” Then she looked back at Aurora. “If I wanted you gone, you’d be gone.”

“Don’t flatter yourself. You’re nothing but Kingston’s flavor of the month. Like you said a few minutes ago—it’s nothing but sex.”

“You’re the one flattering yourself if you think someone like Zeke is going to marry a woman almost as old as his mother.” This time Cheyenne was the one who smirked.

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