Undefeated (Unexpected Book 5) (9 page)

“Maybe I’m wrong,” I say, regretting everything I blurted out without thinking. “You know I’m not very smart.”

She faces me with a grief-filled face that makes me want to punch myself for being such a fucking idiot. A slight frown starts forming on that sad face, her lips twitching a couple of times and she shakes her head.

“I hate when you say that, Port, you’re smart,” she whispers while wiping her tears and shaking her head in disappointment. This is one of the many reasons why I love her so much. After fucking up really badly, this pretty girl is trying to make me feel good about myself. “I’m crying because maybe you’re right. Why would anyone keep hiding the love of his life?”

That’s an answer I don’t have and I don’t dare to think about, one wrong move and she might head back inside the house to pick a fight with her parents.

“When you’re famous, you’re not going to do this, are you?” I shake my head at her question, because when I’m famous, I’ll be dating her. AJ being mine would be an honor. In a few years, I’ll ask her to be mine and we’ll be different from her parents. “Good, I trust that you’ll do the right thing with . . . whoever.”

“Ainsley Janine,” I hear one of her parents calling her. “It’s past your bed time, young lady.”

“Is it wrong to hate them a little?” she asks and I tilt my head to the side not wanting to answer that question. “Have you ever heard them calling my brothers because it’s past their bed time?”

“You have to sleep eight hours,” I remind her.

“If I were Gabe’s daughter, he wouldn’t hide me and Chris would love me as much as he loves my brothers,” she whispers, tears rolling down her cheeks. “If I were Gabe’s, I wouldn’t be sick . . . fuck, I hate when I get emotional.”

As she clears the new tears with the hem of her shirt, I rise from the swing and pull her to my body, holding her for a while and letting her cry. Tonight this is all I can do; my words are worthless. Maybe my arms will be able to scare the sadness away, but I want to do so much more with her. Kiss her; feel her, as I fill her body with something else to replace the sorrow that her parents evoke.

“Some days I think you’re the only person who understands me, Port.” Her words fill my heart with love. After releasing a long breath, she pushes herself lightly from my chest and gives me a fucking smile that weakens my knees. “Thank you, for listening. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

“I don’t know what I’d do without you either,” I respond, offering her my hand and walking side by side toward the house. “No matter what, I’ll always be by your side, AJ.”

“Good night, Port,” she says, entering her house. As her green eyes meet mine, my world makes sense again.

“W
hat do you mean you’re not going to college?” AJ exclaims, as she takes a seat next to me. “My parents wouldn’t allow us to do that. Before you can have a music career, you need to have a degree.”

Yes, that’s the rule. Except, I’m not their kid. Last night my foster parents and I had a long conversation about my future. Chris had sent a demo to a few of his friends to see what they thought about my music. The feedback we received helped me change their minds as to what I should do after I finish high school. A couple of his friends wanted me to sign with their label, but of course, Chris told them that I’m taken. He agreed to be my agent and produce my records. In a week I’ll be recording my first EP, the four songs we picked are from some of the music AJ and I have been composing.

My foster parents have their reservations about the no college thing, but if I show them that I’m capable of handling myself in the music business, they’ll get off my case. If everything that Chris told me comes to fruition, I’m going to live on a tour bus for almost a year, and if I do everything right, in about four years, AJ and I will have our own home just the way she wants. A big house for a big family—our family. We haven’t taken any steps yet, but soon we will. I can only be away from her for so long.

“AJ, next week I’m recording an EP,” I explain. “This is my start to becoming a famous musician. Our music will be heard in places we haven’t visited yet.”

“College is important, Port,” she retorts. “I believe in you. You’re so talented; it won’t matter if you start now or wait for a couple of years.”

Her eyes dim, and I don’t want to disappoint her because she’s the reason why I work hard every day. The reason why I wake up at five in the morning to practice. The reason I go to bed long after I finish all my homework. But as much as I love her, I can’t wait any longer. College isn’t for everyone, and it’s definitely not for me. I don’t belong in some classroom, and whatever they can teach me there, I can learn in life. Chris Decker was inducted into The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame a couple of years ago and he didn’t go to college. Well, he eventually went back years later. Still, he’s a prime example that college isn’t necessary to succeed. Except, I won’t bring that up to AJ, she always finds a way to prove me wrong.

“Can you be happy for me?” I take her hand. “Please, your approval and support mean everything to me.”

“Online classes?” I growl at her suggestion. “That’s what Jacob, Matthew and I are doing, taking some general-ed college classes from home so when we turn eighteen, we can head to a real school and graduate early. Dad doesn’t want us to miss the
college experience.
Why not do it? You can work, attend classes from wherever you’re at, and graduate in four years.”

AJ is the last person I want to disappoint. There are plenty of reasons, but the biggest one is because I love her. Since the first day we met she’s tried to protect me, to nurture me and make sure I’m happy. Just as I do with her. I’d give anything to see her smile all the time; I’d give my life for hers and would cross the entire universe if that’s what she needed from me. The only thing I don’t do is kiss her or touch her more than a friend would. We’re not ready to take that step, and I fear that if I do before she’s old enough, her parents might kick me out or hate me. Gabe and Chris Decker are important to me, even if they are only my foster parents; I love them as if they were my real parents. Fuck, this entire thing with AJ sounds fucked up, but it’s so real. A few more years I tell myself. Once she turns eighteen we can be together. They’ll understand, and I’ll always be the man that she deserves. That’s why I work hard, to deserve her.

I brush a strand of hair from her face, watching her irises grow wide. Fuck, if only I could kiss her. “You’re the smartest person I know, AJ. If you think that’s what I should do, I’ll do it. For you.”

She shakes her head. “No, do it for yourself, Port.” She places her delicate hand on top of my chest. “You’re also smart, I believe in you.”

There’s a famous saying claiming that what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. As I look around the dressing room, I consider this. The other two bands I’m playing with have been fucking around with the fans. A couple of them have girlfriends and the vocalist for Paranoia is married. The groupie who is riding him doesn’t seem to give a shit about it. Hell, Archer Doherty isn’t giving a shit about his marital status either. I pledged my love, my heart, and my soul to one woman four years ago—when I met her. Correction, a girl. She’s only sixteen. A beautiful, girl who doesn’t know I love her. She’s miles away from me and we’re not a couple.

Then why is it that I feel guilty by only looking at the groupies with barely any clothing on who are trying to score a man tonight?

Searching for some wise words of advice from my foster parents, I only remember one phrase: Always use condoms, boy. Yes, Chris told me that I was old enough to have sex, but not to drink or experiment with drugs. If I am to stay a part of his record label, I have to accept and follow his rules. No alcohol, drugs, or disturbing behavior. Not sure what the latter meant, but I am staying away from alcohol and drugs.

“Hey, Kendrick, relax,” Archer shouts at me, as the woman who rode him only seconds ago gets off his lap. “Get laid! Estella here knows how to treat the newbies, right, babe?” He spanks her bare ass.

Estella flips her dark hair to the side giving me a tempting smile with those full lips that I want to bite. Fuck. I swallow hard. Rubbing my face, I search around for something to distract me. I need an excuse to push away the hot, fucking, little number that is right in front of me.

“Here,” Archer says, handing me a joint. “Have a little something; it’s mixed with some other shit to wake you up.”

“No man, Decker will have my balls if I do.”

“What happens on the road, stays on the road.” Archer winks at me, pinching Estella’s tits. “Decker won’t know that his prodigy is having fucking fun like the rest of us.”

I close my eyes for a moment, thinking about AJ. We’re not serious, and no one would ever tell her the shit I do. When the time comes when I can be with her, I’ll stop whatever I’m doing. For now, I can have fun and learn a thing or two before I make her mine. It’s only two years, how bad could it be?