Almost Ordinary (The Song Wreckers Book 2) (22 page)

Chapter 28

Cooper closed his eyes and rubbed his hands up and down his face. He rubbed his eyes a few times, then dropped his arms to his side. He sighed. “Shit, Molly. I’m sorry.”

“Shit,” one boy said.

“Damn it,” said the other.

Shit and damn it were right, though I was horrified those words slipped out often enough for the boys to imitate. I always thought I said them in my head until Caleb would ask if I realized I said them out loud. Oops.

I pushed and tugged the strollers so they were lined up in front of me, instead of spread out like they had been. My pride suggested I run and hide so he couldn’t witness me struggle.

I couldn’t hurry, so I put on my fake smile to play nice. After all, he did drive me to the hospital not even two months ago. “Hey Cooper, I thought your plane left earlier this morning.”

He kept his eyes on me and angled his body slightly toward the boys. “Our plane had engine trouble and got delayed.”

“Our?”

“Franny’s here with me. Somewhere.” He looked behind him as if he could will her to come save him from this moment.

“Well, maybe I’ll run into her.” I tried to push the strollers forward, one in each hand. “Excuse me.”

Cooper stepped aside. I pushed the handles. The strollers smacked into each other. I glided them back, then attempted again. And again they smacked. Once more for insanity’s sake. Yup, same result.

Shit.

“Damn it,” both boys said, letting me know I hadn’t said that in my head.

Maybe if I begged, a hole would open up and swallow me. I put my head down and counted to five. Nope, no hole. I lifted my head to see Cooper staring at Zander and Alex.

“Bye, Cooper,” I said, and arranged the strollers into a long line like we had on the way to the restroom.

Cooper watched me struggle. “Can I help you with those?”

I needed help, and if it had been anyone else who offered, I would’ve taken it. “No thank you.”

Vivian started fussing. She was freshly changed and fed, so she probably wanted to be held. She calmed as I snuggled her in the sling.

My eyes darted between the strollers as I tried to figure out a way to maneuver them and two kids—while wearing a third—to our seats.

Cooper wrapped his hands around a stroller handle.

I swatted them off. “No way.”

“Would you please let me help you?”

I tapped my foot.

“Molly, please.”

For crap’s sake, this should be no big deal. I mean, this was Caleb’s boss and the man who made sure I didn’t have a home birth. Nothing more.

Yeah, right. “Fine. You push Vivian’s stroller to Gate C62.” I turned the boys’ stroller around, and waited for Cooper to move first.

I made sure he stayed in front of me so he couldn’t look at the boys. With all the visits I’d made to him, he still had never asked about them. He didn’t deserve to see them.

If he did look at them, he might see how great they were, cursing aside. If he saw how great they were, he might want in their lives. If Caleb and I let him in their lives, he might not stay. I didn’t want my kids to have parent issues like I had growing up.

I slowed my pace, increasing the distance between me and Cooper. I didn’t want anyone to think we were together. Not that I cared what the strangers all around me thought, more like Cooper didn’t deserve to have people think he was my kids’ dad.

“Cooper!” a familiar voice called out.

Franny jogged over to us. “Hey, Molly.” She handed Cooper a bottle of Coke and sipped her coffee.

“Hey, Franny.”

She peeked at Vivian in the sling, then went to the front of the boys’ stroller. “Hi, guys!”

Zander and Alex’s legs kicked like crazy, and they held their arms out for her to hold them.

“Can I?” she asked.

“Of course.” I unbuckled Alex while she unbuckled Zander.

Franny squatted down to their level to play around with them. Cooper and I fidgeted, and I was sure he felt every bit as awkward as me. I didn’t want to look at him, so I focused my gaze on the boys and rocked Vivian side to side.

My foot started to tap a few times, but I stopped it. The last thing I wanted to portray was how anxious being here with Cooper and Franny made me. My stomach twisted in knots.

I couldn’t take weirdness anymore. “Well, I gotta go catch a plane.”

Franny looked up at me, then at Cooper. “Sure. You going to Nashville?”

I lifted Alex into his seat. “Yeah. I need to check in with the bosses.”

She helped with Zander, and with both kids settled I rose, still needing help getting to my gate.

Cooper gripped the empty stroller and strode toward C62. I stayed glued to my spot.

“You coming?” Franny asked.

My mouth opened, but nothing came out. She took the double stroller from me and followed Cooper. Only then did I start moving.

Joy was at the gate, finished with her browsing. I introduced her to Franny and Cooper. They said a few pleasantries—I think, I wasn’t paying attention—said good-bye to me, then left.

Joy sat down, but I kept my eyes on Cooper. I had to see if he’d bother to—

Cooper stopped, turned his whole body around to look at the twins, then at me. Franny smiled at us before putting her hand on his arm and leading him away.

Breathe, Molly. In through the nose, out through the mouth
.

I sat next to Joy and texted Caleb.
Ran into Cooper and Franny at airport.

No response. No biggie, I knew he was busy.

I lowered Vivian into her stroller. Nervous energy from seeing Cooper take a good look at the boys made me antsy. God, I’d love to be in my own basement, surrounded by workout equipment.

I held a hand from each boy and walked them around. Their squeals and fascination at every little thing helped me relax. Until one of them picked a piece of gum off the floor. Gross.

I didn’t think I liked airports anymore.

“Thank you. Again,” I told Kent as Joy and I stood in his living room with our suitcases and bags and my kids sitting next to us.

“Any time, Molly. You know that.”

I did, and boy was I grateful. I’d already spent a fortune on airfare.

I gave Kent a real hug, not one of my usual, half-assed, elbows-in-so-you-can’t-get-too-close-hugs. “You rock. I’ll be in the offices in an hour or two.”

He backed up and scratched his head. “You need any help with,” he gestured to our stuff on the floor and the kids.

“Nope, Joy and I can handle it. You called Gina for me, right? She’ll be in the studio today?”

“Yeah. Listen, I have to go back to work. Nice meeting you, Joy.”

I opened the doors to the studio. Gina and her band were spread out; some on chairs, some gathered around a high-top table. All fiddled around with their instruments. Drum sticks tapping on a table were heard over two different guitars and someone plunking random notes on a piano. Gina sat on a couch looking over a small stack of papers, with Dex right next to her.

“Hey, everyone.”

“Hey,” and, “What’s up?” and “Good to see you,” all came at me.

Gina waved. Dex gave me the once-over, then refocused on his papers.

I knew that was his version of letting me know I was nothing special. I didn’t expect to be treated like royalty, but a little respect would’ve been nice. I mean, I helped launch Gina’s career. I not only mentored her in the beginning, I wrote nine out of the thirteen songs on her album.

And the album continued to do quite well. In the four months since its release, three songs had been playing on country music stations around the country. Two of those songs were mine.

Downloads have been pretty damn great. Gina hadn’t been soaring up the charts in Taylor Swift fashion, but her fan base was solidifying. Of course, the four already released songs were downloaded far more than the other songs. Overall, the numbers were still impressive. Gina spent her summer performing at multi-artist country music festivals in at least ten different cities. Her popularity grew at a steady pace, and this next album could launch her to a higher level of fame.

I walked over to the happy couple.

“They’re not you,” Dex whispered to Gina.

Gina’s face turned red, but she plastered on a smile. My eyes narrowed, just a bit, trying to decipher the cause of Gina’s discomfort.

“Whatcha got there?” Finding enjoyment in irritating Dex, I plunked down next to him as he set sheet music he’d been holding on the table. I’d sent over that song last month.

They’re not you
, Dex had told Gina. I felt my face flush.

“So, what do you think?” I nodded toward the sheet music.

“I was telling Gina—”

“I wasn’t talking to you. Gina, what do you think?”

She shrugged, and tension tightened her face. “I like it. It’s fun.”

Dex huffed in disgust. “I’m going to my office. Gina, remember what we talked about.” He gave her a peck on the cheek and left the studio without a word to anyone else.

The door shut behind him, and I swear the tension in the room dropped.

“Okay then,” I said. “Let’s play some music.”

My phone rang, and when I went to answer it I saw the time, which I had completely lost track of.

“Oh my God, I’m so sorry,” I told Joy.

“No worries, dear. I wanted to let you know I put the kids to bed.”

I held up my hand in the “five minutes, please” signal and found a spot to talk privately. Joy reassured me once more that everything was fine so I felt less guilty when we hung up.

I’d been at the studio for hours playing for the band, playing with the band, and making rough recordings of the songs I’d finished so far. Time flew by.

It felt like two summers ago when Gina prepared to record her first album. Gina, her band, and I all gelled on the same wavelength, and work wasn’t work, it was fun.

A lot had happened since then, and I became tired a lot earlier these days. “I’m calling it a night, guys. I’ll see you all tomorrow.”

Tilting my head toward the door for Gina to follow me, I painted a smile on my face. “Congratulations on your engagement. I saw it on TV.”

Through her grin, embarrassment reddened her face. “I’m sorry I didn’t call, it just happened so fast, and I’ve been busy.”

“No need to be sorry. Are you happy?”

“Of course.”

I studied her face. I wished I saw something that indicated she’d lied, or that she at least wasn’t sure. But, damn, she really did appear happy.

“Okay then. Any chance we can do lunch tomorrow? You and me?”

“You bet.”

I loved a lot about Nashville—the friendly people, the restaurants, and the sheer beauty of almost everything. What I loved most is that I could go out to lunch with a rising star, and not have to worry about paparazzi. I’ve seen a few famous faces in Nashville, all going about their business like everyone else.

I met Gina at Loveless Café on Highway 100. Since it was Tuesday, there wasn’t too much of a wait, and we’d be able to talk there. They seated us in a corner at my request. My goal was to talk to Gina and reassure Cindy that Gina wasn’t making a huge mistake in marrying Dex.

I mean, I didn’t like the guy at all, but he could still be good for her, right?

If I’d never met Dex, I’d think the sun shone out of his ass the way Gina gushed over him. According to her, Dex was smart, caring, and made her feel good about herself.

Translation: he rocked in bed and made her feel sexy and confident.

I listened to her go on and on, then mentally scolded myself. Had I even given the guy a chance? I made my judgments on meeting him twice. Of course he was overprotective at Brett’s. I should know better than anyone that there are a lot of sickos out there. Maybe he had a reason to be concerned about her safety.

I thought about the song he claimed wasn’t Gina, “Bring Me Down,” about a woman who loved a man that everyone else said wasn’t good enough for her. I sang the chorus in my head.

So baby bring me down with you

My head’s up high, I love the view

I finally see and it’s so clear

We’ll show them all, it’s better down here

Maybe Dex thought if Gina put that song on the album, it’d reflect badly on their relationship. Its message wasn’t that everyone was right and he wasn’t good enough for her. The message was more,
Fuck off, I love this man and will follow him anywhere.

As Gina and I talked, I felt bad for judging Dex and convincing myself he was a bad person. When I freaked out about meeting Caleb’s family, Katie had told me I was an acquired taste, so they might need some time to like me. Maybe Dex was the same.

And speak of the devil, our waitress led Dex to our table.

I tried to fist-bump my new comrade. “I’m an acquired taste too.”

He sneered, and did not bump my fist.

I dropped my arm. He kissed Gina on the cheek and sat next to her. Our waitress placed a menu in front of him.

Gina bit her lip, and twirled a lock of her hair, which I found odd. It was as if Dex and I being near each other made her nervous.

Dex snapped his fingers to get our waitress’s attention and spoke before she had a chance to take her notepad out. “I’ll have the country fried steak and eggs, scrambled. Hard, not soft.” He thrust the menu into her hands.

Gina’s head was down, and Dex leaned to whisper in her ear. I mouthed the word
douchebag
to the waitress, and she smiled. I almost hoped they’d spit in his food.

Damn it, Dex was my new buddy and I should play nice.

“So, Dex, how’s it going?” I bit into my last biscuit.

He exhaled so loud it had to be on purpose. “You didn’t discuss the songs with her?”

“This album is a done deal,” she said. “I told you to leave it alone.”

“You don’t like my songs?” Neither one answered. “Gina?”

“I like them plenty, Dex thinks they’re . . .”

“Trashy,” he finished for her.

My jaw almost dropped. Trashy?

Yeah, okay. I could see that. But they weren’t as trashy as my Song Wreckers stuff, and trashy didn’t equal bad. Trashy songs were fun.

Caleb’s ringtone for me, “Trashy Women,” came to mind, and I laughed.

“What’s so funny?” Dex asked.

I sobered myself. “Nothing. What’s wrong with trashy?”

He inhaled and exhaled in the most annoying way—as if he were a teenage girl explaining to her parents why she
had
to go to that party. “Molly. It is my job, as Gina’s manager, to give her sound advice and guide her career into a path that will provide her with the longevity she needs to sustain the lifestyle she has become accustomed to.”