My phone rings, and I answer it, using my Bluetooth. “This is Jackson.”
“Jackson. Henry Vail. Good news. Empire Five wants to sign you immediately. Between you and me, they’ve been waiting for years for this opportunity.”
“That’s amazing news.” I hit the steering wheel. “I have these songs—”
“Empire Five already has some picked out for you, but they have agreed to take a look at yours. If they like them, they have absolutely no problem recording, and they’d like to release the album under your real name, instead of buying the Jaxon Hunter brand from your old label. Your fans will follow with your image plastered everywhere.”
“Fair enough.” It’s not exactly the control I wanted… but at least they’re willing, which was more than I could ever say for Everett. “When do I start?”
“Tomorrow. Seven am, but only if you’re willing to sign.”
“Hell yes, I’m willing.”
He chuckles. “Nelson wants to get you in the studio as soon as possible. He’s shooting for a fall release.”
“I’ll be there.”
“And Jackson?”
Yes?”
“Even if you’d chosen to go with another agent, I’d still say this—it’s a damn good thing you’ve parted with Everett. I know he’s your dad, but you can’t be singing the same songs, the same way, year after year, and expect to stay on top.”
Ain’t that the damn truth? “Thanks, Henry. I’m looking forward to working with you for a long time.” I turn off my Bluetooth and head home. Bliss is going to love my news.
Ten minutes later, I’m parking the car and heading upstairs. The elevator isn’t fast enough for me.
But when I walk through the door, the entire house is quiet. Eerily quiet. I know Bliss is quiet by nature, but this…
“I’m home,” I call out.
“In here.” Bliss’ voice sounds strange, all raspy.
I jog to the bedroom, find the flat screen on, but the sound is off. Bliss sits cross-legged on the floor, a box of tissues in her lap.
“Did you watch a sad movie?”
“No.”
“Scary one?”
“No.”
Kneeling beside her, I take her hand in mine. It’s cold to the touch, despite the bedroom being warm. “What’s wrong?”
“A delivery guy brought a DVD to me.”
Dread washes over me. “And?”
“There’s a girl, Tara Flowers, and she’s pregnant,” she says.
Oh shit. No, no, no. This cannot be happening. “Everett’s a liar. He’s—”
“I know he’s a liar.”
The breath I’d been holding comes out in a whoosh. “Then why are you crying?”
“Because she’s on camera, saying it’s yours, and that you paid her to keep quiet. She even has the paperwork where money was transferred from your account to her parents.” She looks at me, eyes and nose red. “Explain how that’s a lie. Is everyone lying about you? Or am I the only one dumb enough to think you were different? That you were more. Explain that to me!”
The room closes in on me. “The money’s mine, but the baby isn’t.”
“I don’t believe you.” Then she stands up and walks out of our bedroom.
Chapter Twenty-One
Jackson
“Why don’t you believe me?” I ask, chasing after her.
“Why would I? She looks like your type, you spent time with her, and it’s not like you were faithful to Callie while y’all were engaged.” She stops in the middle of the room. “The only person you ever attempted to be faithful to was Violet.”
“I was always faithful to her.”
“You cheated on her with Callie, then you tried cheating on Callie with Violet, but she wouldn’t have it, and then there was me—oh God,” she cries. “I was the other woman. I let you touch me while you were engaged to someone else.”
“We weren’t really engaged.” My earlier good mood is gone, banished by my past coming to bite me in the ass. “I was her beard.”
Bliss blinks at me. “What’s a beard?”
“A disguise. She and my dad were the ones that were having an affair, not me. I wouldn’t willingly have touched Callie. Ever. She was Violet’s best friend, and I never touched her. I couldn’t stand to be in the same room as—you know what? I’m done explaining myself. I’m over defending myself to you, to Violet, and to any other woman.” I slash my hand through the air. “For once I’d like someone to believe me, to take my side, and no matter what… to trust me.”