STONED (Wrecked Book 1) (35 page)

“Is that even an option?” I sit forward, truly interested in what he has to say. I missed talking shop with him.

“‘Willow’ is the last album that we owe them on this contract. Judge is in negotiations now, but I’m leaning more toward going into business for ourselves, pick up some awesome new talent and call it a day.” The excitement in his voice makes me smile. Stone doesn’t get excited about much. He gives meaning to the word “broody.”

“I think that’s a great idea. You guys would have no problem putting together a client list.” I nod enthusiastically.

“That’s what I’m thinking. I’ll know more once Judge gets back.”

We’re interrupted briefly by Kim bringing our food and another sweet tea for Stone. I thank her as she sets everything down, doing her best not to stare at him. I’ve never seen her so flustered. When she leaves I ask, “So is that why Judge is so uptight lately?” Popping a bite of my cranberry orange muffin in my mouth I chew slowly and wait for him to answer.

“Partly. You wouldn’t believe me if I told you what really got him all fucking pissy,” he chuckles.

Nudging his foot with mine, “Tell me right now.”

“You remember that one model chick that was in a couple of our videos? Judge liked her, called her back?”

“The tall blonde, Brianna?” I remember because I didn’t like her. Not even a little. She was all over the guys, trying to gauge which would stick, it seemed like.

“That’s the one. Apparently she’s pregnant.”

When he stops there I sit and watch him, waiting for the rest and then it dawns on me. “With his baby?” I ask, stunned. “Is he sure? Holy shit. Out of all of you, I never would've bet on Judge . . .”

“He's not positive and he wants to wait to do the paternity thing. Something about testing now being dangerous for the baby. So he's paying all her medical and whatever else she fucking needs.”

I agree, “Yeah, it can be really dangerous for the baby and mom. Best to wait.”

“Did you?”

“Did I what?”

“Wait until Lyric was born to have the paternity test? How does that even work?”

I shake my head, confused. “I never got a paternity test.”

Stone straightens in his seat, setting his sandwich down before leaning in and asking quietly, “What do you mean you didn't have one? So there's a chance she's mine?” His voice is hopeful, making me feel bad.

“No, Stone. There's no chance.”

“How can you be so sure, Birdie? Let's schedule one. What if she's ours?” The hopefulness in his voice is laced with excitement as he goes to stand. With a hand on his forearm I stop him.

“Stone, for almost a year I made you wear protection on top of me being on the pill,” I remind him gently. “And before that night we hadn’t slept together in more than four months,” I remind him.

“What? It was that long? And I thought you told me you stopped taking the pill?” he asks confused.

I flush with guilt. I had lied to him, but I had done so because I knew he had been lying to me. “I had to, Stone. I knew you were using, I didn’t know what though, and then I knew there were other girls. I didn’t want to take any chances, And eventually I did stop taking it. It seemed pointless to keep taking it when I didn’t need it.” I murmur a little broken heartedly. I won’t be sorry for lying. His sins are way more serious than mine.

“Fuck. Willow, I never would have fucked around had I not been high. You have to believe me,” he whispers earnestly, reaching for my hands. “I never looked at another woman in all the years we’ve been together, never even fucking wanted to. I wasn’t me when I was using, Birdie. I have no idea who that fucking guy even was. But it wasn’t me.”

“I understand that, but that fact is—”My voice is starting to rise so I stop speaking. “You know what? This isn’t the time nor the place for this discussion. We can talk about it all another time. In fact, we need to if we’re ever going to be able to be friends again and not have this anger and resentment between us.” I had been looking at a spot right over his shoulder, watching for someone to be listening in on our conversation, but bring my gaze to his when he starts speaking.

“You’re cute.”

“Wh-what?” I stammer, baffled by his abrupt one eighty.

“You’re cute. You think we’re gonna be friends.” With a dangerous glint in his eyes he leans back in his chair stacking his hands behind his head, making his biceps bulge, his ink rippling over the muscles. Just watching me, a sly grin on his too damn handsome face.

“I’m not looking for a boyfriend, Stone.”

“
If I was your boyfriend, I’d never let you go,”
He sings softly.

“Oh. My. Jesus. Did you just sing Justin Beiber to me?” leaves my mouth on a strangled laugh. His smile widens and he shrugs, “
Is it too late now to say sorry? ‘Cause I’m missing more than just your body . . .”
He sings with a semi straight face, which is more than I can say for myself. I burst out laughing, spilling my chai in the process. I may have even snorted a little.

“Shhhh, you’re causing a scene, piggy,” Stone says through his own laughter.

Looking around, I see that we have drawn some curious glances. “Why do you even know Justin Beiber songs?” The question sets me off into another fit of giggles.

“The Beibs is an amazing musician and artist, Willow. You should learn to appreciate good music,” he deadpans before losing it again.

“Yeah, well, you’re going to have to do a hell of a lot better than some weak ass Beiber to win me over,” I toss out, not thinking.

“Is that right? That a challenge, Birdie?” The dare is there in his voice.

“That’s a fact, Jack,” I volley.

“Original or cover?”

“Either. No, both.” Screw it. Go big or go home, right?

“And what do I win if you approve?”

Swallowing a little nervously, I shrug. “Whatever you want,” I say, stupidly. Or maybe not so stupidly.

“I accept,” Stone says, that wicked glint in his eyes the most wicked I’ve ever seen. His smirk, reckless and way too sexy. I believe I just made a deal with the devil.

Stone

I’M COMING DOWN THE STAIRS
, pulling my phone out of my pocket to call Wills when it rings. Smiling I answer,

“I was just getting ready to call you, Birdie. What are you doing tonight? I haven’t seen you two ladies in a couple days. Let me take you to dinner.” With the phone tucked against my ear, I snatch my guitar out of the stand and head out to the patio and flop down on the lounger.

“I can’t tonight, I have a set at The Dirty Bird,” she answers.

“Can I come? Maybe we can sing together again. No fucking Johnnyswim though; that shit’s depressing.” Leaning my arms across the top of my ratty ass Fender, I grab a cigarette off the end table and fire it up.

Willow laughs. “It is not depressing. And maybe. But I was wondering if you and the guys want to come over to Bear and Cora’s for a little barbecue?”

“Does Bear know you’re inviting me to his house?” I ask jokingly, but serious.

“Of course he does. Bear’s the one who said to call you guys. It’s nothing big, just some people from the bar, his brother, and his family. It’ll be fun.” She rushes on to say, “You don’t have to come if you don’t want to.”

“No. I’m in. What time?” Taking a drag off my forgotten cigarette, I put the phone on speaker and start texting Law.

“We’ll eat at one so that those of us who have to work tonight have time before our shifts.”

I fucking hate that she feels the need to work. And hard. Between The Dirty Bird and school, she’s always working. She puts in a ton of hours at the school, but she loves it so damn much and so does Lyric.

“Text me the address. We’ll be there. Do you need me to pick you up? Or watch Lyric tonight?” I ask her, hopeful. I would love to get a chance to spend more time with her.

“No. Perry is watching her tonight. Plus, I thought you were gonna come sing sad songs with me.” Her voice is playful, almost flirty. It gives me butterflies like a fucking thirteen-year-old girl. Pussy.

“Sold. I’ll be there. Do I need to bring anything? Case of beer, chips, or some shit?”

“Nope. Just yourselves. I gotta go, Lyric just got up. I’ll see you in a bit.” She hangs up and I laugh.

“Bye, Birdie.”

We leave Dane at the house—he’s not a friendly guy. He wants to do his job and be done. He’s been with us for years and he’s still like that, so we don’t try to change him.

“Is that it, Judge?” Law asks from the back, pointing over his brother’s shoulder.

“Yeah. Gotta be,” I answer, checking the address on the house to what Wills texted. I’m certain when I see her Jeep parked in the drive.

After finding a spot to park down the street, we walk to the house and knock on the door. Nobody answers so we go out to the back where we can hear voices. The house is on an awesome little lake, gravel drive, big front porch. And the yard is packed.

“Holy shit,” Arrow says from behind me.

“Willow said it was nothing big.”

“Yeah, well, she lied,” Law says, slapping my back and moving around me to enter the party. We follow behind him, stopping and shaking hands as people introduce themselves. Finally, we make it through the throng to the area where the tables are set up. I catch sight of Willow sitting there, Lyric in her lap as she talks to Cora. She throws her head back and laughs at something her friend says, making Lyric laugh too, and the sight warms me from the inside out like nothing ever has before. Protection and love surge through me. These are my girls. Paternity be fucking damned, man. Willow must feel me watching her as she lowers her hand and scans the group, the smile on her face real. She’s found a place for herself here. With these people. As much as that hurts my fucking heart, it also makes me so happy that she had them when I failed her.

Her eyes land on me and her grin widens. Willow waves me over. Turning to Judge, I swat his chest with the back of my hand. “Found her, come on.”

She stands, shifting Lyric to her hip when we get there.

“Hey, guys,” she greets brightly. The boys all take turns giving her a hug. When she finally gets to me, I wrap my arms around them both, laying a kiss to Willow’s temple. Glad that she lets me because I would have caused a scene if she hadn’t. Pulling back, I hold my arms out to Lyric. She hesitates at first but then reaches for me. Willow’s never really let me hold her unless she’s asleep so this is a huge step, for both of us. I tickle her and talk some nonsense about buying her a pony or some shit when I glance up to find five sets of eyes on me, but Willow’s are the ones that I focus on. Bright with unshed tears.

“You okay, Birdie?” I ask bringing my attention back to Lyric who is now trying to get the hat off my head.

“Y-yes,” she stammers. Still watching. All of them still watching. I’m about to ask them why when Cora speaks, breaking the silence.

“So you must be Arrow, eh?”

Ro steps forward and holds out his hand. “Nice to finally meet you. Willow has told me a ton about you,” he says in that smooth guy voice of his. Bear’s gonna beat his ass if he hears that shit. I grin at the thought. I’m broody and moody because I’m a prick. Arrow is more of a broody fucker because it gets him chicks.

“The quiet, mysterious one of the group, I see,” Cora says a little coyly.

“Gotta keep the ladies on their toes; can’t make it too easy,” Arrow tells her, winking.

About that time Bear comes up behind his wife. “You got something in your eye, Bow?”

I clamp my lip between my teeth to stop from laughing. Willow looks at me, the amusement on her face mirroring my own.

“Bear, you remember Arrow, right?” I ask innocently. Knowing damn well he does.

“Bow, Arrow. Same shit. Did you just wink at my wife?” His eyes are narrowed, waiting for an answer.

Arrow glances at me, then at Judge, not quite sure what the fuck he should do. I just shrug, tilting my head in Lyric’s direction as if to say, “You throw down and you’re on your own, bro. I’ve got a baby.”

“Umm, not really at her. Just in general?” Ro states it as a question and I lose my shit. I can’t help it. I laugh so loud I startle Lyric. My laughing sets off the rest of our little group. Arrow looks between all of us and then flips us the bird. “Man, I thought Paul Bunyan over here was gonna chew my ass up,” he says, shaking his head at us and our teasing.