Fame (5 page)

Grey pulled out a “How to Play the Bass” book from the box and chuckled to himself when he saw the worn cover and tattered pages. Memories of him reading the book over and over again flashed through his mind as he flipped through the pages.
 

He drove Landon crazy, playing the same cords repeatedly until his fingers were callused over. It wasn’t until Landon got ahold of a set of drums that he paid Grey back for all those long days of playing the same music. The simple tap of the snare and the boom from the bass drum echoed through Grey’s head as he put the book to the side; he would be keeping that for sure.
 

The thought of his brother pulled at his heart. He missed Landon; he was the one person in the world that he could go to about anything and never receive judgment. He used to be able to talk to Landon about anything, and now, it almost felt like Grey had lost a limb from what happened between him, Quinn, and Landon. What Grey didn’t understand was why Landon would betray the bond they had for a girl; it just didn’t seem like him.
 

Shaking his head from his thoughts, he reached into the box and found a small leather-bound book. Thinking it was song lyrics from when he was younger, he opened it to a page and started reading. But what he found wasn’t song lyrics; it was Landon’s diary from high school. Grey had no idea that Landon kept a diary.
 

Not quite caring about invading Landon’s privacy, he started reading.
 

Quinn was at the house today. She wore a pink dress that went down to her knees, and her shoulders were showing, something she rarely did, but it was hot today, so I understand the choice of the dress. She looked so beautiful. It was hard not to stare at her. She stayed for dinner and I got to watch Grey hold her hand through the entire meal while they giggled together about their math teacher and the way he spoke. What I wouldn’t give to have an inside joke with Quinn.
 

Grey’s brows creased together as he read another page, this one earlier than the first one he’d read.
 

Grey is working on a project with this new girl Quinn. God, she is so beautiful. The moment she walked in the door with Grey, I just knew I had to get to know her from that bright smile on her face and the cute laugh that came out of her mouth. I’m glad Grey and Quinn are only working on a project, because if they were together, I think I would lose my mind. I know Quinn was made for me. For the first time in my life, I believe in love at first sight.

“Love at first sight?” Grey mumbled to himself, as he flipped to another page, feeling thoroughly confused.
 

I feel like I can’t breathe. Grey told me today about his feelings for Quinn and how he asked her to be his girlfriend. She said yes. Of course she did; Grey’s the one with the looks…and me, well, I’m the funny one. I could see how happy Grey was, so instead of telling him about my feelings for Quinn, I gave him a high five and came up to my room. What the hell am I supposed to do now? The girl I’m in love with is now dating my brother. Yes, I’m in love with her. I knew it from the moment I saw her, and then spending some time with her and Grey just solidified my love for her. She is perfect in every way possible. Too bad she’s with a different Cross boy.
 

“Find some interesting reading material?” his mom said, scaring the hell out of him.
 

“Damn, Mom, you startled me,” he replied, while shutting the diary and tossing it to the side. He acted like he wasn’t reading it, even though it was blatantly obvious that he was. He wasn’t quite smooth about being caught.
 

“See anything in there that might be interesting?” she said with a smirk.
 

Realization dawned on him the minute his mom raised her eyebrow at him. She set him up to read Landon’s diary…that sneaky, sneaky woman.
 

“You know what I found,” Grey said, as he leaned against a box and took the iced tea from his mom.
 

His mom sat down next to him and put her hand on Grey’s knee for comfort.
 

“Did you know, Mom? About Landon’s feelings for Quinn?”

She shook her head no, and said, “He never told me, but I assumed. The boy would look at her the way your dad looks at me; he was madly in love with her, Grey. When I came across his diary, it only solidified what I thought when you two were in high school. I was shocked to see how much he really loved her. He goes into great detail about her eyes, her hair, the way she smells, how her face scrunches up when she’s lost in thought, and the way her smile lights up the room. You should really read more.”

Shaking his head, he replied, “I don’t need to read more. I get the gist of it all.”

Mama Cross grabbed Grey’s hand and squeezed it. “Honey, I wanted to show you his diary because it’s not like Landon sought out to ruin your life. Please know, I’m not taking his side, I just want to help you see where he’s coming from. This wasn’t a random thing he decided to do to you one night. He’s been harboring feelings for the girl for years…years, Grey, and he spent day in and day out with you and Quinn, watching her be loved by you, not him. I think the moment you two broke up, it was his breaking point. He’s an honorable man and brother…he truly wouldn’t do anything to intentionally hurt you…you, of all people, should know that by now.”

“I know,” Grey hung his head low. “Now that all the steam and hurt has left my body, I know he wouldn’t do anything to intentionally hurt me, but I was just so confused. His diary kind of clarifies everything; doesn’t mean I forgive him, though.”

“Sweetie, forgiveness is a powerful thing, not just for the person seeking it, but for the person giving it. To forgive someone is to heal yourself, to move on and start anew. Don’t you want that?”

Grey nodded his head. “I really do, Mom, but I still feel so damn pissed off.”

Landon going off into the sunset with Quinn wasn’t the main reason he was upset. Nope, it was Cruz and Willow that added to the twisted knots in his stomach. Grey knew he had no claim over Willow, none whatsoever, but knowing that Cruz and her were somewhat of an item was killing him.
 

The memory of Willow kept Grey up at night…her smile, her eyes, and her body haunted him, and the fact that Cruz had access to all of those things any time he wanted was slowly, but surely, eating away at Grey’s sanity.
 

He admitted to his mom a little bit ago that he knew he wasn’t in love with Quinn…that he loved her, but wasn’t in love with her, that he was holding on to their past when they were really drifting apart in their present. It was obvious from the way they just didn’t physically connect anymore. It took Quinn breaking up with him and some serious Mom therapy to see the truth, but now that he did, he was slowly starting to let go of that pain. But that didn’t mean he forgave his brother; he was still working on that.
 

“Have you talked to your brother at all?”

Shamefully, Grey shook his head. He’d been avoiding Landon ever since they got off the tour bus.
 

“Grey, family is forever. When your dad and I pass, we want to know that you boys will be there for each other…”

“I get that, Mom,” Grey interrupted, “But, can we acknowledge the fact that my brother stole my girlfriend?”

“Don’t raise your voice at me, son.” Grey cowered from her stern tone. “He did not steal your girlfriend. You two were no longer together when Landon decided to make his move.”

“For a day, Mom, one damn day was all it took.”

“A day for you, but years for him…”

“Why does it seem like you’re taking his side?”

Grey’s mom squeezed his hand and said, “I don’t take sides; I’m the voice of reason in this house and yes, Landon should have waited and talked to you about his feelings before he went after Quinn, but you, my son, are being an ass. Your brother loves you, and he’s shown how much he’s loved you over the years by allowing you to be happy with the girl he considers his soul mate. If that isn’t selfless, I don’t know what is. It may hurt now, but know this, that boy accepted the notion that you two were on the road to marriage, and he never once tried to break you two up. Instead, he was supportive and was your sounding board. He’s your brother, your blood, it’s time you forgive and forget.”

Mama Cross stood up, brushed off the bottom of her pants, and winked at Grey, then strolled down the stairs, leaving a Mama Cross wake behind her. She sure knew how to disturb the peaceful float of the bitter boat he was sailing.

Chapter Three

**Willow**

“Don’t forget the nacho dip, I plan on heating that up and licking it off that gorgeous body of yours,” Cruz spoke into Willow’s phone as she walked up and down the aisles of the closest convenience store. She wore a hood over her head and giant sunglasses that made the store look pitch black, making it incredibly difficult to see things. She wasn’t too recognizable to many people, but when she went to buy lube, condoms, and nacho cheese, she wanted to be as inconspicuous as possible.
 

“If you plan on licking my entire body, then I don’t care what you put on it. Nacho cheese, check!”

“Mmm, that’s my girl. I’ll see you in a few.”

Willow hung up, pleased with the fact that she had a sex date with Cruz tonight, and started looking around for her musts.
 

Scanning the aisles, she tried to look like a regular customer, but who was she kidding? She wanted sex and she wanted it now. So, she went straight to the lube and condom section. She had no shame whatsoever in buying lube or condoms; it was kind of fun for her actually. So, when she turned the corner to the correct aisle, she stopped in her tracks as she watched a man struggle with embarrassment as he hovered over the lube, looked around, and then casually read the different bottles.
 

Because Willow could be a creeper at times, she stood off to the side so the man’s back was to her and she watched him. His hands fidgeted as he held his head low and grabbed a bottle of lube for closer examination. By the way he was pinching the bridge of his nose and shaking his head as he put the bottle back on the shelf, Willow could tell the poor guy was out of his element. She desperately wanted to help him, but she didn’t want to totally emasculate the guy. She could only imagine the horror on his face if she went up to him and offered her assistance.
 

So, instead, she continued to watch him from behind, trying to send him telepathic messages about the cooling lube that would not only please his lady friend, but would pleasure him as well.
 

“Do you always creep at the lube section?” A feminine voice asked Willow, practically whispering in her ear.
 

The question startled her, which made her yelp, causing confused lube man to turn around and face her with a horrified expression. Willow smiled and said, “Cooling lube, it will be pleasurable for both of you.” She winked, trying to ease the awkwardness.

The man nodded, grabbed the lube with a shaky hand, and ran off to the self-checkout counter. Smart move on his part.
 

Gathering her wits, Willow turned to face the cause of the disturbance. When she made eye contact with a black haired, brown eyed, goddess, she almost choked in shock.
 

“Maelani?” Willow asked.
 

“Eeep! You remember me,” Maelani said, as she grabbed Willow and pulled her into a hug.
 

“Of course I do! I’d never forget my first girl kiss,” Willow winked.
 

“I feel so honored,” Maelani held her heart and smiled. “What’s been going on? Are you still hanging with Kaid and Maisy?”

Willow laughed; Maelani was always off the grid and never really paid attention to what was going on in the celebrity world. The girl hadn’t changed.
 

“Oh, you know, just posing for
Playboy
and working on my second album with Maisy and Kaid.”

With a push to the shoulder, Maelani gasped and held her hand to her mouth in shock.
 

“You’re kidding me? You guys finally did it?”

Smiling widely, Willow nodded her head in excitement. Being foster kids, they didn’t have anyone to turn to. No one to tell about their accomplishments and have that pride of making it big come from someone else, so to tell Maelani her news, Willow couldn’t be happier and beamed with pride.
 

“We did. We just wrapped up our second tour as an opening act.”

“Oh, my God!” Maelani jumped up and down excitedly. “That’s so amazing. I’m so proud of you guys. Wow, I knew you three were good, but to see you succeed from where you came from…that is something you should be so proud of.”

“We really are,” Willow said, getting a little choked up about thinking where they once were and where they were now. Willow actually had a cash flow, she had clothes, she had food, and she was never going back, ever.
 

“And
Playboy
? Damn, girl.” Maelani leaned forward and whispered, “Did you show pussy?”

Laughing, Willow shook her head. “No, the label made me keep it tasteful, but you know I would have been spreading my legs…”

Maelani swatted her shoulder and said, “Please, you would never show pussy. Your boobs, yeah, you would flaunt those anytime, anywhere, but not that delicate lady garden of yours.”