Hot Southern Mess (Hide Your Crazy) (22 page)

“Thanks
, Molly Anne, I appreciate that you took the time to tell me,” Reid stated, nodding his head and turning back to the conference room door.

That wasn’t the reaction I expected. Well, I really don’t know what I expected, but it wasn’t that. For some reason
, I thought maybe a hug and an “I understand”, or even a kiss on the cheek would have sealed the apology. Just a thank you and walking away kind of sucked no, actually, it hurt. I have walked in on this man banging other chicks, got verbally scolded when I shooed his groupies out, and spent the entire night talking to him about my dreams and aspirations. He had never apologized to me for his actions, and I guess he never will. What was I thinking that things between us were going to be different? Maybe I should take Brody’s advice and start wearing the big girl panties after all.

Chapter 21
: I’m not your late night booty call.

The concert tonight in Austin was amazing. Black Laden had totally sold out the arena, and couldn’t have played any better. The guys played an extended encore, since the crowd was fucking fantastic, which gave me a little more time to go over the next week’s schedule with Megan.

“There you are,” Brantle
y’s voice came over my shoulder; his arms snaked around my waist, pulling me closer into him.

“Excuse me,” I barked.
There was no way in hell he was going to get away with this. I wasn’t a home-wrecker. I didn’t care who he was, or what the ‘code on the road’ was. He had a wife, and there was no way I was going to take part in his cheating ways. I had morals, and letting that man try again with me was crossing that line.

“What’s wrong
, Molly?” Brantley let go of my body and gave me a questioning look.

He knew exactly why I was p
issed at him. It might be dumb for a man to cheat on his wife, but never call that man stupid. Nope, it took a lot of thought to do what Brantley did, so stupid he was not.

“I’m sorry
, Megan, can you go check with Danielle in wardrobe to make sure things are ready to be loaded on the truck?” I offered an apologetic smile to her.

“Sure thing
, Molly.”

I glared at the man standing
there guiltier of something than a pregnant nun, and motioned to BL’s dressing room. I don’t think I have ever been angrier at a person in my entire life, than the feelings I was hashing out for Brantley right now. My mother pissed me off, my sister irritated the living daylights out of me, and my ex tortured my soul. But Brantley, well, he hit an all-time low in my book, just looking at him made me want to take a swing at the fucker.

I heard the door click behind us, and that was all I needed to unleash the anger I had held inside for the last twenty-four hours.

“How in the fuck could you possibly think that what we were doing was okay? I honestly thought you were one of the few good guys left in this fucked up world. But oh good lord was I wrong.” I was screaming at the jackass, and if the band wasn’t still playing I’m sure everyone in this entire place would have heard the words spewing from my mouth.

“Molly,
it’s not what you think,” Brantley said calmly.

“
It’s not what I think? Oh please, Brantley, let me know what I’m thinking,” I mocked, clenching my fists tightly to my sides. I knew if I didn’t keep myself in check, I was bound to come off the handle and lob this fucker right across his smug little face.

“I got married a couple years ago. We are off then we are on,
it’s not really like we have a great relationship. I like what we have, Molly, you are completely different than what I’m used to.”

“What we have
?  You stupid mother fucker! There was no what we have, nor was there ever anything between us. You lied to me, Brantley; you flat out lied to me.”

“I never lied
, Molly,” Brantley said firmly.

“Bull-fucking-shit!
I can’t even believe the crap that comes out of your mouth, Brantley. Never once did you mention you were married. That’s lie number one. Never once did you mention you had a kid. That’s lie number two. Who knows if anything else you told me was true? I’m betting every single thing that came out of your mouth with complete bullshit. I don’t know who was more of an idiot; you, for spewing that kind of crap, or me for believing it.”

Brantley took a couple steps toward me, holding his hands up in some sort of peace offering.

“Don’t fucking touch me,” I seethed, taking a few steps back.

“Molly, come here.”

“Don’t fucking touch me,” I screamed, louder than I ever expected to. My body was shaking and my teeth chattering. There was no controlling what I was about to do next.

“Just walk away
, Brantley,” Reid’s voice boomed from behind him.

My
head snapped over to the voice before I could even think about taking a swing.

“Mind you
r damn business Reid,” Brantley cautioned, taking another step closer to me.

“She is my fucking business, so I suggest you think twice before moving one more inch closer to her.”

You could feel the tension in the room, and for once, I didn’t know what to do next.

“
It’s not about you, Reid, so I really don’t want to do this,” Brantley sneered, turning to face Reid full on.

“Leave,” Reid
threatened, his body now rigid and ready to fight.

Both of these men could hold their own in a brawl,
but Reid had at least a good twenty pounds on Brantley, so I was betting whatever happened wouldn’t turn out in douche bags favor. The two men stood mere inches away from each other, both ready for whoever would swing first.

“Both of you back off,” I snapped
, realizing if I didn’t do something, this altercation was going to end badly.

All of a sudden the door slammed open again
and in ran Brody, Tysen, and Ryder.

“Calm down
, Reid,” Ryder exclaimed, placing a hand on Reid’s anxious shoulder.

“Do as your friends tell you
, Reid,” Brantley taunted, as a sickening smile spread across his lips.

Tha
t was all I could handle from Brantley. That man made a complete fool out of me, and now he was taunting Reid, who only got mixed up in this mess because of me. It wasn’t Reid’s battle to fight, nor did I want him to. Someone needed to teach this man some manners. If not for me, but for his damn wife and kid.

“Hey Brantley,” I called, standing directing behind him.

Brantley whirled around with that stupid looking grin, as I heaved my foot up into his balls, smiling like a sick bastard once my foot connected with his crotch.

A high pitched squeal came from the pig as he cupped his junk and immediately fell to the floor. I watched as he writhed in pain on the cold concrete floor, moaning and groaning loudly.

“Fuck you.” I smirked, stepping over his body to exit the room.

Reid,
Tysen, Brody, and Ryder sported the look of complete shock as I smiled, walking past them. That had to be the most satisfying thing in the entire world. Really all douche bags needed to be lobbed in the balls every now and then to help them face reality.

“
Have a good set, boys?”

“Uh……………….yeah.
” Brody laughed, while opening the door for me.

“Good to hear, you all about ready to head out?”

A collective laugh came from the four of them as I kept walking down the hallways. Brantley deserved more than a kick to his balls, but I’m sure karma would come back for an ass kicking later on. I had to trust in the universe to deliver the rest of the goods to the two timing douche canoe.

“Hey Megan, I need you to make sure PD gets on the bus tonight, thanks,” I said with a wicked smile while waiting for the rest of the boys to finish getting cleaned up, and other activities they partook in after the show.

“I’m sensing some tension between you and that band,” Megan pried.

“Nope, no tension at all.” I couldn’t help but laugh after that comment. Sure, Brantley sucked a big fat toe, but racking him in the man-jigglies was really satisfying for my anger issues. I could totally see why women were getting into the MMA thing. Sure, they would cheapen the sport with a swift kick to the naughty bits, but I can see why it’s catching on.

Once I managed to tear Brody away from the twins that were servicing him, the rest of the round up was quiet easy. It was only a nine hour drive to Jackson, so the morning was wide open for rest and relaxation. I was looking forward to finding a coffee shop and cracking open my notebook and writing.

“
You riding with us tonight?” Tysen asked as he headed for the bus. I really hadn’t thought about where I was going to ride. Normally Stephanie had a car that she drove to the next location, either that or she flew. Now that we had Megan, we were short one bunk on the crew bus.

“Yeah, I guess so,” I responded, flashing a small smile.

“Wow, don’t sound so excited now,” Reid softly stated behind me.

Pursing my lips, I rolled my eyes at the man. Sure, he was becoming a good friend, and yes he was fantastic in bed, but that was all that would develop with our relationship. I started out on this tour playing over and over in my head that this was a job. I completely lost sight of that with Brantley, and once again I had come to my senses.

“Whatever, Reid; just get on the bus.” Once all four members of BL were on the bus, I set out to find Megan and let her know the sleeping arrangements. I watched as Brantley walk out the back door, talking in a hushed tone on his cell phone. The fucker didn’t even look over at me as he stormed over to his bus. My middle finger instantly shot up as he climbed on the bus.

“Whatever he did, I’m sure he deserved it,” Megan joked, making me realize what my body had been doing.

“Oops.” I giggled quietly. That man deserved everything the world dished out at him. “So, I have a bunk on the crew bus that you can take.”

“I don’t want to take your spot
, Molly; I can just sleep on the couches.”

“No,
it’s really okay. I’ll catch a ride with the guys. Their couches are way more comfortable than the ones they have on the crew bus,” I said with a smile. Besides, I doubt if I would really sleep tonight anyway. There was too much going through my mind tonight, that sleeping would be damn near impossible.

“Are you sure
; I really don’t mind?” Megan asked again.

“Really, not a problem.
Thanks for all the help tonight,” I called out while walking over to BL’s bus.

“Thanks,” Megan shouted before I jumped on the bus. I flashed a quick smile and wa
ved before ducking through the door. Climbing up the couple steps into the lounge area, I was suddenly taken back with three sets of eyes staring at me.

“What
?” I questioned, as my eyes darted around at the three of them sitting there.

“We are wondering what in
the hell we walked in on earlier?” Brody laughed.

“Nothing that I
couldn’t have handled on my own.” I shrugged, claiming the seat next to Ryder.

“Well
, that was obvious by your Jackie Chan moves you busted out on Brantley, but can you tell me why dipshit back there got all alpha male and possessive?”

“I don’t know what you are talking about,” I lied. There was no
way I was giving up that I had slept with both of the leading front men on this tour. They already knew something was going on with Brantley, and hopefully all the drugs the others had done fried their brains enough that they didn’t notice what went on with Reid.

“Don’t give me that shit. I know Reid has wanted in your panties since meeting you at Stephanie’s office,” Brody announced, kicking his feet up into my lap.

“Boy, you must have a death wish; get your nasty feet off me.”

Brody just laughed and moved
his feet off my legs. Reaching behind him, he grabbed a spare guitar and handed it over.

“Here, take all your rage out on this beast.”

“You want me to smash it?”

“No
, karate kid, play.” Brody smirked, leaning back against the couch once again.

I pondered for a couple seconds on what to play, and settled on an acoustic version of
Paramore’s Decode. The words came bursting out of my mouth, like I had been dying to sing all day. The lyrics played into so much emotion of today’s events, and vocalizing them tonight was another form of therapy to mend my damaged soul.

I didn’t even realize that tears were rolling down my cheeks,
until I sung the last note. It’s amazing how freeing I felt after picking up the guitar. It makes you remember that the simple things in life create the most joy. Love wasn’t something that was reliable; however, music was something that would always be there for me. Ryder nudged my shoulder for the guitar, and I quickly passed it over, wiping the remaining tears off my face once my hands were free.

Ryder began to pick out the melody for Incubus’s Drive.
I found myself being lost once again in the soft melodies of another amazing song. Tonight couldn’t have ended any better if I had a fairy godmother, and finally met prince charming. I wasn’t Cinderella, hoping for the glass slipper to fit. Who needed the damn shoe, when walking on my bare feet gave me such pleasure in being alone? Once again, my mouth opened to let the lyrics spill out, filling the bus with the emotions I was carrying with me tonight.