Total pages in book: 82
Estimated words: 78016 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 390(@200wpm)___ 312(@250wpm)___ 260(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78016 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 390(@200wpm)___ 312(@250wpm)___ 260(@300wpm)
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
KAYLEE
“Is he okay?”
Declan shrugs, closing the hotel room door behind him. “He passed out.”
“I’m worried about him.”
It’s been several days since Braxton ran into his mom and lost his shit, and he’s spent every waking moment drunk or high—or both. I’ve tried to talk to him, but he keeps pushing me away, refusing to let me in. Not that it would matter if he did, because he’s always so drunk, he wouldn’t be able to have a conversation anyway. But I can’t imagine all this drinking is good for his liver.
My thoughts go to my dad and how his drinking led to his death.
“We need to get him help.”
“He needs time,” Camden says, walking over and joining us.
“Like Gage? You guys keep saying that about him, and it’s been six years. I get you guys are rock stars, but that doesn’t mean you have to go out like them.”
Camden sighs. “They’re grown-ass men, Kaylee. We can’t make them do anything they don’t want to do. And Braxton isn’t Gage. He’s hurt right now and lashing out, but he isn’t going to be like this forever. He just needs a damn moment.”
“Fine.” I shrug, walking away from them.
When I get to my room, I call Layla, needing to vent.
“How are you?” she asks when she answers the phone.
“Better than Braxton.”
“That bad, huh?”
She saw the aftermath the next morning when we all had to go to the airport. Braxton was still drunk, and she had to keep Felix away from him, telling him that Uncle Brax was sick.
“It’s been days, and he’s only getting worse. And the guys are enabling him.”
“They mean well,” she murmurs.
Since I don’t want her caught in the middle, I change the subject. “Evolution reached out.”
“The PR company?”
“Yep. They wanted to apologize. They’re probably afraid now that the truth is out, thanks to me going live, I’ll throw shade their way.”
“Which they would totally deserve.”
“True, and I’m not interested in working for them anyway. Working with musicians is not my cup of tea. But at least it seems my reputation has been somewhat restored.”
“And with the pay from working on the tour, you’ll have money in the bank so you can look for the job you want.”
“Exactly.”
There’s a crash and then, “Mommy!”
“Shoot, Felix just knocked the lamp over doing some new dance. I gotta go. Hang in there. Braxton loves you. He’s just struggling right now. We’ll talk soon. Love you!”
“Love you more.”
We hang up, and since I have the entire night to myself, I pull out my laptop to search for jobs in New York to apply for. Life’s too damn short to settle for something you don’t love doing.
“Have you seen Braxton?”
Camden flinches and shakes his head. “I’m sure he’s around here somewhere...”
“Well, he needs to be around here now,” I say, irritation evident in my tone. He almost missed a show because he was passed out and nobody could find him. He’s skipped two meet and greets and blew off a radio interview. This is quickly becoming an issue.
I get it. His mom messed up. I messed up—although I was hoping we were moving past that, I mean, we even got tattoos that symbolized a fresh start—until he compared me to her, saying we both promised him forever, only to walk away while claiming we were doing it for him. She hurt him... I hurt him. I one-hundred-percent get it. But instead of him dealing with it, he’s choosing to avoid it all by remaining drunk and high twenty-four seven. I imagine he’s even pissed at his dad since he lied as well, but as far as I know, he hasn’t confronted him yet.
“Let’s just do it without him,” Declan says.
“Again? Fans have posted, calling him out. It’s supposed to be all of you. Rumors are going to start circulating.”
“We’ll talk to him on the bus. But right now, they’re waiting for us.”
“Fine!” I throw my hands in the air and stalk off, determined to find him. As I’m checking out each of the rooms, I see Gage come out of the room all the way at the end.
“Hey, the meet and greet is starting. Is Braxton in there?”
Gage’s bloodshot eyes meet mine. “Yeah,” he slurs, “but—”
His words are cut off by the sound of giggles. Fucking giggles. “Motherfucker!” I storm into the room and find Braxton sitting on the couch with a bottle of JD in his hand, taking a large swig while two women are sitting on the other couch, making out like they’re in a damn porn film.
“Are you fucking serious right now?”
Braxton glances at me, and then his gaze goes to the women who are still kissing and feeling each other up. His eyes go wide for a split second before he schools his features.
“They’re with Gage,” he says nonchalantly, looking around. “Speaking of which...where is he?”