Chapter 13

Mick

Waking up holding Candice for a second time was amazing but not having sex with her again, that’s rare. The scariest part of this all is even without the sex, being around her makes me happier. When Felix showed up, I was pissed she might get back with him. When he started talking to her like she owed him something, the overwhelming need to punch him won. Except maybe she does owe him something. He pays for her life? I assumed Knox was footing the bill, but this is worse. When someone pays for your life, they feel like they own you.

Even with the new pieces of information, all I know is right now, here in her bed with her warm body next to me is enough. I slip out of bed and head into kitchen. I pour a bowl of Fruit Loops and place it on the serving tray Candice has. I then grab some orange juice and fill up a glass. I carry it into her bedroom. Before I wake her, I just stare. Her long, blonde hair is spilling over the pillow, and she looks peaceful. I place the tray on her bedside table.

“Wake up,” I whisper and sit beside her. She opens her eyes.

“What time is it?” She yawns.

“Six-thirty.”

“Why are you awake?” She pulls the blanket up to her neck.

“I have to get to practice,” I say. “So do you.”

“I don’t have to be there till nine.”

“I made you breakfast,” I say.

She opens one eye but doesn’t move. “Sure you did.”

“I did.” I point over at the tray, and she sits up.

“Who are you? Where is Mick Davies?”

“I’m not sure. Maybe you have something to do with my changing mood.” Of course she did. She’s the only reason I’ve been nice, even if it’s only been a glimpse.

“I’ll take the credit.” She takes a sip of the orange juice. “You’re a regular Jamie Oliver aye?”

“Cereal is my specialty. Ask Violet.”

“I’m a fan.” She giggles.

“Is it cool if I take a shower?” I ask.

She pauses for a moment. “Sure. There’s a towel in the closet.”

“Thanks.” I head to the bathroom. I look at myself in the mirror. Why am I still here? I shouldn’t be dragging her into my shit. The bet with Tommy is still in the back of my mind. There’s still a need to mess with Knox and Caroline. But I want to be around Candice all the time. I turn on the shower and step in. This past week I distanced myself because I don’t want to hurt her but now here I am, at her house. I have to tell her the truth—about my parents. The stuff about my dad is all true but she still thought he was dead. Sadly, he’s very much alive and kicking and same with dear old mum. I crack open the shampoo bottle and immediately the shower smells like Candice. Coconut. I take a deep inhale before I pour some on my hand. I rinse my hair and hop out. I dry off and slide my jeans back on but stay shirtless. At least I have a change of clothes at the rehearsal space. I walk back into the bedroom. Candice is propped against the headboard, scrolling through her phone.

“Try to resist staring at me.” I smile.

“I’ll try my hardest.” She rolls her eyes.

I sit beside her again and she moves closer to me.

After a moment of silence, Candice says, “So this is awkward but what are we going to do? About this?”

“What is this?” I ask.

“I don’t know,” she says and fidgets with her phone.

“Me either.”

“Should we talk about this?”

“Do you want to?”

“Not really, but we are going on the road together tomorrow so it might be a good idea.” She lets out a breath.

“Yeah true. I don’t know—we probably should just be friends,” I say. The words tumble out so swift I can’t take them back. Idiot.

“Y—yeah.” Her eyes glisten but she shakes her head, and the emotion is gone.

“I don’t want to get you in trouble with Rick or anything. Maybe we can just keep it friendly then when the tour is over we can figure it out?” I say. I really need to learn to stop talking.

“All right,” she says.

My instinct to run kicks in. I’m not good enough for her. She’ll figure it out soon enough. “I’d love to spend the day with you but I gotta run. I’ll see you later yeah?”

“Yup.” She doesn’t look at me. I slide my shirt on.

“See ya.” I give her a nod before leaving her room. The walk from her room to the front door feels like it takes ages.

When I get outside, Rex is waiting for me in the SUV. I hop into the front seat. There are no paparazzi around. It feels weird to not be followed.

“You all right, mate?” he asks as he pulls away from the curb.

“I’m fine.” I buckle up my seatbelt. The streets of London are already buzzing with commuters. There’s a part of me that wonders what it’d be like to be one of them—to be someone normal.

“Bollocks,” he says.

“I might have just messed everything up. I told her I wanted to be just friends while we’re on tour and she looked absolutely gutted.” Candice’s upset face flashes in my mind.

“Why would you do something so foolish?”

“I don’t know. I don’t want her to get in trouble,” I say.

“Since when do you care what happens to someone else? You’re in love.”

“I am not. Don’t say that.” Rex’s comment is outrageous. “I barely know the girl.”

“I knew I loved my wife the second I met her.”

“I’ve known Candice like two weeks. I am definitely not in love,” I say. I can’t be in love with someone I haven’t even slept with… can I?

“In any case, you better figure out what you want with her. Girls like her don’t just stick around and wait for assholes like you to make up your mind.”

“You’re such a wanker.” I shake my head.

We sit the rest of the way in silence. We pull up to the rehearsal space and there seems to be more fans at the gate than usual. I hop out of the SUV, and I hear a roar from the crowd.

“Better give ‘em what they want,” Rex says and hands me a black sharpie. He keeps a box of them in the car for these exact moments.

“Guess so,” I say and head over to the gate. It was a chilly morning, so I zip my leather jacket all the way up.

“Hi Mick,” a girl says as I get closer.

“Hello gorgeous.” I smile.

“You’re so amazing!” another woman shouts.

“Thank you.” I sign some more autographs.

“What’s wrong with your hand?” Someone asks.

“Hit it off a drawer at home.” I flex my hand. It’s stiff from the fight with Felix but there’s nothing I can do about it now.

“Is it true you have a new girlfriend?” A voice floats over the crowd.

“Not at all. No girlfriend for me.” I scribble my name on another piece of paper.

“Who’s the blonde girl you’ve been hanging out with? Knox Bryan’s sister?” she asks.

“Just friends. Knox and I are friends you know.” I continue to sign other things.

“Not according to the tabloids.” My eyes finally connect with the person throwing out all the questions. She’s definitely not a fan, she’s a reporter.

“Don’t believe everything you read, love. That’s all for now. I’ll be back after practice. You all coming to the show tonight?” The crowd cheers. “Good! I can’t wait to see you there.” I give them one last grin and head inside. My hand hurts like hell after gripping the sharpie. I go into the break room to grab a bucket and some ice.

“Get into another fight?” Caroline asks as she goes to grab some coffee.

“Just a small scrap. Husband talking to you again?” I ask.

“We’re all good.”

“Thank God! I don’t know what I would have done if you two kids couldn’t have worked it out.” My body flinches as the frosty cold hits my knuckles.

“I’m sure you’d be heartbroken.” Caroline stirs her coffee. “So, who did you hit this time?”

“None of your business.” I take a seat at the small round kitchen table.

“I know but for curiosity’s sake,” she says and sits across from me.

“Felix,” I say, and she spits out her coffee.

“You didn’t.” She lets out a low groan.

“Oh, but I did. He stopped by Candice’s house…” I say and she drops her coffee.

She gets up to grab paper towel. “You’re just full of surprises.”

“You asked.”

“Now I’m sorry I did.” She picks up the pieces of shattered porcelain.

“Anyways he said some stuff I didn’t agree with, so I hit him.”

“What did he say?” she asks.

“Something about Candice not being allowed to have me in her house because he’s paying for it and that we were probably fucking,” I say.

“Felix.” Caroline shakes her head.

“He’s a shitty guy.”

“The sad part is he isn’t. I think he’s just in disbelief she left him.”

“He has a funny way of showing it,” I say.

“This is the nicest thing I’m ever going to say to you. Thank you for being there and for defending her. She needs somebody to protect her,” she says.

“Happy to help.”

“What’s going on with you two anyway?”

“This isn’t a gal pal gab session, Caroline. I still don’t like you.” I raise an eyebrow.

“I don’t like you either so don’t get confused. I very much love Candice though.”

“I care for her too.”

“Good then don’t hurt her.”

“You’ve already told me that,” I say.

“I really mean it and I’ll keep reminding you.” She shrugs and walks out of the break room. If only she knew how badly I had blown it this morning.

*****

An hour later I hear Candice in the hallway laughing with Brandon.

“Mate, you need to let me change your hair,” she says to him.

“Why? I think it looks great. If you tell me differently, I’ll be gutted.” I see him grin at her. He doesn’t get to smile at her.

“Isn’t this lovely?” I step into the hallway.

“I’ll see you later, Candice,” Brandon says and walks away. Candice stalks down the hallway towards me but passes by without stopping. I follow her to the dressing room.

“Go away Mick,” she says and starts to set up the room.

“Why?” I ask and lean against the dressing station.

“I don’t want to talk to you right now. You have a habit of showing up uninvited a lot.” She continues to search for something. She’s opening drawers and slamming them.

“Candice, if you’re pissed about this morning—”

“I’m not pissed about the fact you said we should be friends. I’m pissed you think you can just do whatever you want with whomever you want and nobody else matters.” She stops now. Her green eyes are dark.

“You matter.” I stand up and move closer to her.

“Let’s just not do this today or any day. We work together and that’s it,” she says.

“How is it we manage to take four steps forward and then within a matter of hours take ten steps backwards?” I ask, running a hand through my hair in frustration.

“I don’t know why we take any steps forward in the first place.” She crosses her arms.

“Because I like you.” I do like her, more than I had ever intended to. The thought of not being able to kiss her again, it’s just not something I’m willing to admit is real.

“You don’t even know what that means. The only person you’ve liked before is you.”

My blood begins to boil. “You know what? Fuck it. I’ll come back when you’re not in such a pissy mood.”

“Just get out Mick.” She turns away from me.

“Fine.” I stride to the door and slam it behind me.

“So, she’s finally figured out you’re full of shit, aye?” I look up to see Brandon smirking.

“Shut up.” I turn away from him, ready to stomp down the hall.

“Violet texted me today,” he says, and I stop.

“Why would she message you?” I ask.

“Maybe because she doesn’t know what a dick you’ve become and thinks we’re still friends.” Brandon cocks his head to the side.

“What is your fucking problem with me?” I shout at him.

“My problem with you? Maybe it’s the fact you’re single handedly ruining this band or it could be because you treat everyone else like they work for you. We don’t, mate. We were a band of equals before and I’m not sure what happened that made you feel so entitled, but shit I really wish you’d knock yourself down a peg, so I didn’t have to.” He comes closer to me and puffs up his chest.

“Look, I already beat up some asshole last night. I don’t have time or the fist strength to do it again.”

“Yeah, like last time?” Brandon doesn’t back down. Last time he had sucker punched me and I had landed on my back. He had the advantage when I didn’t get up fast enough.

“Keep telling yourself you’re tougher than me. We both know it’s not true.”

“How did we get here, Mick?” His eyes show an expression I can’t read.

“Might have been when you kicked my ass worse than my dad used to,” I say.

“I didn’t mean for things to go that way—it got out of hand,” Brandon says.

“I guess it’s the only apology I’m going to get from you.” I turn and walk away.

“One day Mick, you’re gonna realize I did it for your own good,” he says to my back.

“You beat the shit out of me for my own good. Do you want me to start calling you dad too?” I ask and then slam my dressing room door behind me. Fuck him. He beat the crap out of me for my own good. All I know is Brandon has never been my friend. Ever.