The Beauty Series Bundle (30 page)

W
ow
. I’m driving home in a daze because I have a dad and he wants to ruin the man who threatened me. He said Blake Phillips wouldn’t be able to find a job bagging groceries in this town when he’s finished with him. The thought makes me happy, until I remember that he has three little kids depending on him. As much as I’d like to see Blake crawl on his belly like the snake that he is, I can’t live with the guilt of being the reason behind any misfortune for those children. It’s not their fault their dad is a total skeezer. Which is why I asked Jake to do nothing where Blake is concerned.

I park in my usual spot outside the apartment and sit staring at the door. I don’t want to go inside. Being alone for the past couple of weeks hasn’t been good for me. It’s given me too much time to think about how much I miss Jack Henry.

I’m startled out of my trance when I hear Addison’s ringtone. “Waddup,” I cheerfully answer. I hope she can’t tell how phony I am.

“Hey, girl. What are you doing?”

Addison’s called to check on me every day—sometimes twice. She’s been very attentive for… well, for Addison. I’ve never seen her so concerned. I think her feelings for Zac have given her empathy—something I’m not certain she was capable of in the past. “Umm, I just got home from my mom’s.”

“How’d that go?”

I hadn’t had enough time to process Jake Beckett, so it wasn’t something I was ready to discuss, especially over the phone. And Addison is going to have a come-apart when she finds out. “It was fine.”

“What about your meeting with your record pro-doucher?”

I can’t help but laugh every time I hear Addie call Blake a pro-doucher. The name is so fitting. “It went great. He was very cooperative—until he followed me out to my car and basically held me down while he threatened to ruin my career if I didn’t come back to him.”

I hear Addison huff. “Did that fucker hurt you?”

“Nah! You know I’m a tough bird. He scared me a little, but it’s more likely that I’m the one who hurt him. I don’t think he’ll be needing a vasectomy any time soon. I can say with a fair amount of certainty that my knee probably busted his balls.”

Addison cackles. “I’m really glad to hear you racked ‘em good for him, but what does that mean for your career?”

I sigh deeply before I admit where I stand, as if it’ll make it sound better. “It means I’ve lost it all—everything I’ve worked so hard for—and I’ll have to start over. All because I refused to have an affair with a married man.”

“But that’s not fair!” she yells and almost bursts my eardrum. “You can’t walk away with nothing. He should at least have the decency to give you back your songs.”

She didn’t see the fury on his face. “That’s not going to happen, but it’s okay. Really. He can hold my songs hostage if he wants. I still own half so he can’t give them to anyone else. And I have new material that’s way better than any of my old stuff.”

“That’s because all of them are about him.”

I don’t have to ask whom she’s referring to. “They are, but they’re honest and from my heart.”

“Then they’ll go platinum ten times because fans know when it’s real. They’ll get what he means to you. I just wish he would.”

Me too.

“I have good news.” Her words are cheerful but her voice lacks its usual pep. “At least I hope you think it’s good. I’m coming home tomorrow. Cleve has an audition for me and says it’s mandatory that I’m back on Thursday for it.”

Thank goodness. I don’t think I could go on being alone in the apartment. “I’m thrilled you’re coming home, but you don’t sound excited.”

“The audition is with a band and I won’t be lead vocalist.” Not being lead could definitely be a problem for Miss Front and Center. “I’ll have to share it with a dude.”

“Those kinds of bands are doing really well in country right now. It’s sounds like a great opportunity,” I encourage. “Would I know them?”

“Southern Ophelia.”

“Damn, Addie. They’re hot right now. Like, really hot. I can’t believe one of their vocalists walked away in the middle of all that success. That’s crazy.”

“Maybe, but it’s not what I want because it’s not my style. I just don’t see me being happy with sharing the spotlight. You know I love being the center of attention. It sounds like a great gig, but the whole thing is so rushed. Heather quit last week and they’re scheduled to cut an album next month, so it won’t give us long to mesh. After that, we’d be hitting the road for six months to promote the album.”

Addison was no spotlight sharer, but Cleve was right in thinking this was a good move for her. As such, it was my job to encourage her. “Addie, that sounds like exactly the opportunity you need to give your career a huge jumpstart. Cutting an album and going on the road—that’s huge. And who knows? You could love singing with a guy.”

“I’m gonna hate it. I just know it.”

Always the pessimist. “There are worse things.”

“I’m sorry, Laurie,” she apologizes. “It’s really insensitive of me to be whining to you after what happened with Blake.”

Frankly, I’m a little shocked by her consideration. Her relationship with Zac seems to have changed her in a very positive way. “It’s sucks but I’ll be okay.”

“I know, but I haven’t been very considerate of your feelings. I’ve been a shitty friend and I’m sorry. I swear I’m gonna make it up to you.”

I accept Addison the way she is and I don’t expect her to make anything up to me. “You haven’t been a shitty friend. You’ve called every day—sometimes twice—to make sure I’m okay.”

“We both know I could do a lot better.”

She wasn’t the only one who could improve. “I’m the one who moved out on you to live with a man I barely knew.”

“Because of what my brother did to you. And I took his side. I’m so sorry.”

Agreed. She definitely should’ve supported me more on that. “It’s okay. It all worked out for the best. Living with Ja… Lachlan for those two and a half months was the best experience of my life.”

“How are we ever gonna get over those Aussie men?”

“I have no idea, Addie.” And that is the honest-to-God truth. I don’t know how I’ll ever be able to give up the love of my life.

I
’m helping
Addison sort her laundry—all humpteen bags full—when I see her take a gift bag from her suitcase. “I bought something for you while I was in Cali—not that you couldn’t get them here—but I knew it was something you wouldn’t buy for yourself.”

Some people are natural-born gift givers. They love giving because it makes them feel good. But Addison isn’t one of them, so I’m interested in seeing what would spurn spontaneous gift-buying. “You didn’t have to get me a gift.”

She’s beaming, so I see she’s proud of herself. “I think I did. Because I’m pretty sure you need this. A lot.”

I take the box from the bag and instantly feel heat rise to my face. No she did not. I stare at the purple vibrator through its plastic packaging and I know that she did.

“It’s purple—your favorite color.” She swipes the package from my hands and takes it out when she sees I’m not going to. “This thing is fantastic, Laurie. Look what the tip can do. It swirls.”

That’s not natural. “I’ve never seen a penis that swirls or twirls or has bright-colored beads rotating at the base.” Of course, I’ve only spent time with a couple of them, but if any man’s dick did tricks, it would’ve been Jack Henry’s. I’m sure of it. “It looks like it has a gumball machine in it. If it starts lighting up, I’m gonna swear it’s a kids’ toy.”

She rolls her eyes. “Trust me—this isn’t child’s play. The swirling and rotating is what makes this rock.” She points to a phalange-looking probe thing. “This is the magnificent part.”

I think I’m frightened. “What the hell is that thing?”

“A clitoral stimulator.”

Good grief. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”

She’s laughing as she shakes her head. “Oh, no. I would not kid of such things. This little beauty will make you come in under a minute. I guarantee it.”

Under a minute? Shit!

I see an attached probe and I’m scared to ask, but curiosity has set in. I touch it as I ask, “And this?”

“An anal probe.”

I jerk my hand back, as though the probe might have already been used. I make a face, one that tells her I’m grossed out. “I’m not putting that in my ass!”

“You don’t have to. This baby works just fine without it. I know it’s a bit much, so I bought this beginner for you also. It’s called a Bullet.” She takes out a shiny little silver gadget and places it in my hand. It looks a lot less intimidating than the purple trick penis with gumballs dancing in the shaft. The Bullet definitely seems more my speed.

Addison has never made it a secret that she’s the ultimate sex-toy expert. She’s made a lot of comments in the past about how I should try them, but this is the first time she’s brought me the goods. “When you had to leave Lachlan, you gave up all those great orgasms cold turkey.” Yup. “You need this, Laurie. And trust me—these are the best gadgets out there.”

“You would know.”

She points the purple vibrator at me. “There are a lot of reasons you need this, and not all of them have to do with Lachlan.” It’s still weird hearing her call him that. “Orgasms keep your girly parts healthy. And having an orgasm will help you sleep, which, by the looks of you, I’m certain you haven’t been doing.”

There’s the old Addison. “Thanks a lot.”

She shrugs, as if she can’t help herself. And she probably can’t. “I’m just sayin’… “

At least she doesn’t blow smoke up my ass. “Thank goodness I can always count on you to say whatever’s on your mind.” Perhaps I’m a little too sarcastic because she cuts her eyes at me.

“It’s a medically proven fact that orgasms release endorphins. That means they can help with migraines. How many did you have when you were in Australia? Migraines, I mean. Not orgasms.”

I couldn’t count the multitude of orgasms I had with Jack Henry if my life depended on it. “One.”

“And when did you have it?”

I hadn’t moved in with Jack Henry yet, so it was very early during our visit. “It wasn’t long after we got there.”

“See? You started having regular orgasms with Lachlan and your headaches went away.”

Jack Henry! Not Lachlan! I want to scream it out loud.

But she’s right. My migraines were happening increasingly more often before I went to Australia. Except for the one, they disappeared entirely while I was with him. I’ve never gone that long in between occurrences. “You’re right. I didn’t have another migraine after I moved in with him.”

“See? Orgasms are a physical necessity and should be prescribed by your doctor for good health. There’s no reason you shouldn’t be having at least one a day. Personally, I recommend three. You brush your teeth three times a day to keep them healthy. Shouldn’t your vagina be in tip-top shape too?”

Is she serious? “You mean to tell me that you use your vibrator three times a day?”

“Yeah. It’s been working overtime since we left Australia,” she giggles. “And I bought an extra just in case I wear it out. Damn, I miss Zac.”

Addison and I have been best friends for four years, and I’ve come to know that she will never understand the concept of TMI. “What’s the plan with him?”

“Girl, I’m so confused about what I want. I mean, I’m not confused about wanting him. That much I know. I’ve never loved anyone the way I love him.” She’s biting her perfectly manicured thumbnail. It’s an unfamiliar sight. “He’s asked me to come back to Australia. Indefinitely.”

She’s crazy about him. I can’t believe she hasn’t hopped a plane headed back to Oz already. “You came here to audition for this band. Does that mean you’re taking the job and not going back to be with him?”

“I don’t know what I’m gonna do. I’m not sure I can up and leave my entire life behind to move to Australia for a guy I’ve known three months. That’s crazy talk, right? My whole life is in the U.S. My parents. My career. You.” She looks as though she might burst into tears. “What would you do?”

I love my family and Addison, but there’s not a shade of doubt in my mind. I’d be on the first Aussie bird I could find if Jack Henry called and asked me to come back. Maybe I feel that way because I no longer have a career, but I wouldn’t even take the time to pack a bag if it meant I could be back in his arms sooner. “He wouldn’t have to ask me twice.”

“I wish I had your confidence. I’m just so unsure… of everything.”

It’s easier to be confident in answer to a question I won’t hear. Jack Henry will never ask me to return to Australia. I’ll never have to choose between him and my career because I have neither. And it’s a cruel reality to face.

I
wake
to the sound of a knock on my bedroom door. Addison slowly eases it open. “Are you awake?”

“Yeah,” I lie as I push myself up to a sitting position. Last night was a bad one for me. I tossed and turned most of the night, thinking about Jack Henry. There’s no way I’ve been asleep for more than a couple of hours, but I don’t want Addison to feel bad about waking me. “What’s up?”

She walks over and sits on the edge of my bed. “I never went to sleep last night.”

My contacts are out so she looks blurry, but I can see the troubled expression on her face. “Are you worried about the audition?”

“No way. I couldn’t care less about that. It’s Zac. I can’t stop thinking about us and how bad I want to go back.”

I can’t believe her. If she loves him the way she says, she shouldn’t stick around here and let him slip away. “Then do it. Stop being miserable and go.”

“You really think I should?”

I wouldn’t hesitate. “Absolutely. You love him and that’s not going to go away.” I know that much from experience.

She reaches for my hand and squeezes it. “I’m gonna do it, but I want you to go to that audition instead of me.”

Has she lost her mind? That’s not the way things are done in the music industry. I don’t get to decide I’ll go in her place. “I can’t show up for your audition.”

“Yes, you can. Get up and get dressed. You have an hour.”

“No. No. No, I can’t do that.” Can I?

“They’re expecting a female vocalist. That’s what you are—and a great one. They won’t care about the details after they hear you sing. And it’s actually a pretty perfect situation, if you think about it. They need a singer who can play guitar. You need a job. Problem solved.”