Page 22 of For Puck’s Sake (Seattle Vipers #2)
TWENTY-ONE
brEA
“ M iss Brookes, this is Damien Greer. I think you and I need to talk.”
His voice was polite but there was a clipped edge to it as well. I had a feeling this was going to happen. I knew the minute news about Ridley and I got out there would be backlash.
“Damien. Hi, it’s great to hear from you,” I said tentatively. Picking up my two coffee cups once more I decided I needed to go somewhere a little more private for this conversation. Opening the door to my jeep, I secured my coffee and climbed inside.
“Likewise, Brea,” he said with a sigh. “Listen. Every artist who signs with Solstice Records is watched closely by our in-house PR Team. No, before you ask, we aren’t spying on you in any way. We do this to get ahead of negative press of any kind. Our image, as well as that of the artist on our label, is of the utmost importance. Do you understand what I’m saying?”
“Okay,” I said hesitantly. “Yes, I understand,” I replied, dreading what he might say next. I didn’t give him a chance though. I knew exactly why he was calling. “Does this have something to do with me and Ridley Masters? We are back together. The media attention will die down eventually,” I assured him.
“Yes, I have seen the various stories about the two of you, and I have to say, I’m concerned. Brea, you’re newly signed to our label. I think it would be prudent of you to stay focused on your music for now. Muddying the waters by rekindling your relationship with a public figure with a less than stellar reputation is not the image we here at Solstice Records want for you. I need you to consider your future. Is this hockey player worth you not reaching your full potential?”
I listened to Damien and let his words slide off me. If this had been a year ago and he’d given me this same speech, I wouldn’t have disagreed in the slightest. I was so hellbent on pushing for what I wanted, I didn’t think my life had any room for anyone else in it after I resigned myself to living this dream solo. But I knew differently now. I knew Ridley and I could have our careers and each other.
After a minute of my continued silence, Damien cleared his throat. “You’re about to embark on a major national tour. I need your attention there. I don’t know much about hockey, but I’ve heard their schedule is grueling. I think it may be in your best interests to put this relationship on hold until ? —"
“No disrespect to you at all, Mr. Greer,” I said as I tried to hold back my attitude. “Yes,” I said with conviction. “Yes, he is worth it. He has always been worth it. As far as my relationship with Ridley Masters, there is no negotiation in that regard. I’m not sacrificing him again over petty gossip and rumors you feel will paint me in a bad light. What I will do for you and the record label is show up, sing my heart out for my fans night after night, and make music as per my contract. My personal life, Mr. Greer, is untouchable.”
He sighed and I knew he wanted to argue but I meant everything I’d just said. I wasn’t going to discuss Ridley with him. He was not going to get in my head and convince me otherwise. My mother had caused enough damage to last me a lifetime.
“Well, you’re right. I can’t make you do anything you don’t want to do. As long as you fulfill your obligations to the label, successfully, your business is not my business,” he said reluctantly.
My phone beeped and I glanced down to see I had a message notification from Damien.
“I’ve just sent you a post the PR Team intercepted. You were tagged in the post as well as Ridley Masters. I’m sure he has his own team, but Brea, this has the potential to do major damage, and I think it is best to get you out of Lark Bay as soon as possible.”
I wanted to open the message, but I was too stunned by Damien’s words. “I have to perform tonight, the Summer Festival, the label is recording it. Then I have three more shows at Red’s then we move to the next city,” I replied frantically.
I felt panic. I didn’t want to leave yet. I needed these last few days with Ridley before we had to make a go at being far apart. I needed to shore up my walls so I could get through the next few months of video chats and phone calls. I couldn’t leave my friends without a proper goodbye.
“Yes, you will perform tonight. Then you will catch a flight out of SeaTac airport late tonight. I expect you in Los Angeles, at the Solstice Records office by nine a.m. tomorrow. Dean has called to cancel your music class this morning, so you can go pack your things,” he said matter-of-factly. We will be canceling your last three performances at Solo Reds, and I’ve agreed to compensate the owner as well. I know you’re friends and we will do it as a goodwill gesture.”
I looked at my phone in disgust. I was upset. I didn’t know what to say or do. My hands were tied, and I knew it. But of course, I tried anyway. “Can I fly out tomorrow?” I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, because I already knew his answer. He was doing this, he did this out of spite. I’m sure whatever message he sent to me only solidified this.
“No. I need you on a plane to LA tonight,” he said nonchalantly. “Oh, Miss Brookes, as per your contract, this demand is nonnegotiable. Check my message. It might enlighten you. Help you see things as they are.” He said goodbye and that he was looking forward to seeing me tomorrow.
I didn’t remember hanging up the phone, just the silence on the other end of the line. I held back my tears, refusing to cry over this. He was right, for now, they controlled where I went and when. He was cutting my time here short to get me away from Ridley. Well, Mr. Greer, your efforts would be futile.
I sat back in my seat and braced myself as I clicked on the message he sent me. As the image loaded, I froze. It was a screenshot of an Instagram post. A black and white sonogram picture. The image of the baby was triggering, I could feel my heart rate spike, my breathing, shallow and rapid. Panic lingered on the edge of my consciousness. The first tear fell when I read the caption underneath.
Baby Masters.
The whirling carnival rides, flashing lights, laughter, and loud conversation pull me from the memory of the phone call this morning. Time sped up after that, as I sent messages to Ridley with the hope we can talk before I’m whisked away from him. I’m sure the world has seen the image of the sonogram and the claim that the baby is his. With me leaving without warning tonight, I want to reassure him I’m not leaving him because of it. He has my heart. I’m not going anywhere. I will not run. This time, we will get through all this together, no matter the distance between us. Tonight though, tonight will be bittersweet, because this is it. The end of our time here in Lark Bay, but hopefully, the beginning of our forever.
The Lark Bay Summer Festival is a yearly event where both sides of town come together for a night of fun and celebration at the end of the summer season. In a couple of weeks, the kids will go back to school, the tourists will travel back down south, and the town goes into what I consider hibernation until the holiday season. It’s the highlight of summer, with carnival rides and games, food vendors from all over the state, and local arts and craft merchants who live and work in and around Lark Bay.
I remember when I was a kid it was the one event I looked forward to the most. My parents never spent much time with me as I grew up but for some reason, the summer festival was the one exception. My father used to let me hang from his back, pink and blue cotton candy in hand and a big smile on my face. We would ride all the rides, leaving the Ferris wheel for last. He’d make sure the attendant stopped our car at the top so I could look at the horizon, the darkness broken by glittering lights from activity below.
My mother was like another person, smiling and playing carnival games alongside me. I remember every year I would wish for this piece of normality to remain. I wanted nothing more than to wake up the next morning and run into both my parents’ arms, eat breakfast—to receive just an ounce of the affection I was shown the day before. But of course, it was like waking from a dream and reliving the same dream every year, until I got old enough to realize it was all an act. The picture-perfect family. The entire town thought my mother and father were model parents. It’s no wonder my mother has been the leader of the town council for so many years, she’d been brainwashing the town with her fakeness even then.
I can’t believe I agreed to be here tonight . “You are a Brookes, you must represent the family tonight, it is your duty.” I almost laughed at my mother’s first text to me in almost five years. Instead of hello or how are you, daughter, I received a demand to perform. I wanted to tell her to shove her performance up her stuffy ass, but of course, the record label thought it would be great to send a small film crew to record the performance. They say jump and I have no choice but to oblige. Unfortunately my mother got what she wanted in the end.
So, here I am. Standing at the bottom of the stairs that lead up to the pavilion. My father stands next to me with a plastic smile on his face as we listen to my mother drone on about how important community and family is to the town of Lark Bay.
“What a load of bullshit,” I mutter, adjusting Bessie’s strap over my shoulder. I wish this night ended with me in Ridley’s arms, playing games and riding rides. Tor and Alexis arrived this morning and I would have loved the chance to catch up. I don’t know Alexis well, but anyone who loves and befriends Lia is someone I know I will like. But unfortunately, all those plans went out the window with the late-night flight looming over me. To say I’m unhappy about the control my label has over me is an understatement. Quitting isn’t an option, so renegotiations are definitely in my near future. Although, I doubt Damien will be amenable to said changes, considering I didn’t roll over and let him manipulate me. I may be a newly signed artist, but I am not green by any means. I have an untouched trust fund. If the time comes when I want to break my contract, I know several great lawyers. It would be the one time I use my parents’ wealth to my advantage.
“Brea, not tonight, please,” my father pleads as he lays a hand on my shoulder. I glance over at him and scowl. Yep, all familial pleasantries have long gone when it comes to him and my mother.
“Anything for Selah, right?” I purse my lips as he turns his indignant gaze on me. Eyes wide as if to say, ‘don’t you dare, young lady’, like I’m a five-year-old child. I hold up a hand to stop him, because I don’t want to hear it. “Of course, I won’t make a scene, but it has nothing to do with whatever shit she’s spinning.” I know I shouldn’t let him, or my mother get under my skin, but I can’t help it. I’ve been here for weeks and not once have they reached out to me. Although, I must admit I was dreading it, but fuck it, a part of me wanted them to at least try. I think about Red and Charlie, how their families have washed their hands of them. I guess it’s official, after tonight, I’m done with them both. They can forget they have a daughter.
“She’s your mother!” my father whispers harshly. Usually this would be the moment I blew up and let my anger make me do something rash. Instead, I snort laugh. There is so much noise around us, no one can hear our conversation, so no one is paying us any mind. But dear old dad still looks around like I’ve tarnished the Brookes name somehow.
I wave him off. “Oh, come on, Father, she is no more my mother than all the nannies who raised me over the years. She doesn’t care about me, and as much as I wanted to give you the benefit of doubt, you’re just as bad as she is. In fact, you’re worse because you know how awful she actually is. I really thought you used to love me but were too afraid to show it. I used to think you were trapped by her as well. You were the good parent, who loved me but had to ignore me because of her.”
I feel my eyes stinging as my father looks away from me then. Yeah, I’ve hit a nerve. He can’t even look at me because I’m speaking the truth. And yet, all he has to do is look at me, at least try to make it right. But he won’t. It hurts, but I’m done letting my parents disappoint me.
“It’s okay. I’ll make it easy on you both. Make sure you relay this to Selah for me. I won’t apologize for not being the daughter you wanted me to be. I’m not sorry for taking control of my life, instead of following the plans you and Mother set for me. I will always be a disappointment to her, and you know what? I don’t care.” I point to my mother on stage where she’s now wrapping up her speech, and turn back to my father. “I love you, whether your heart ever beats for me or not, but I can do that from afar. Maybe one day we can fix what’s broken between us.” I chuckle half-heartedly. “But I won’t hold my breath.”
“Lark Bay, I’m so pleased to have my daughter here tonight. She graciously agreed to perform for the town. Help me welcome her to the stage. Brea, honey.” My mother turns our way clapping and waving for me to go on stage. Her smile looks warm and genuine, she even looks, dare I say, proud. For a moment, if I didn’t know better, it’s almost believable. It’s laughable how convincing she is. When I don’t move right away, her nostrils flare in anger, just enough to let me know she’s irritated. I don’t miss the break in her facade when she chances a quick glance in my father’s direction and sees his shell-shocked face.
“Enjoy the show, Dad.” I take one last look at my father and bound up the stairs. I don’t even give my mother a second glance as I pass her retreating form. As soon as I hit the stage, I’m scanning the crowd. It doesn’t take long to spot the collection of massive hockey players amongst the screaming fans near the front. Tor holds Alexis close to his chest as she claps excitedly. Bast, Devan, and even Derrick are standing beside them. But as I wave to the waiting audience, I only have eyes for one man. Ridley’s smile is big and bright, his blue eyes sparkle as the lights from the stage reflect off them. I woke up with him this morning, yet I miss him already. He gives me a little wave, then takes his right hand and places it over his heart.
He mouths. “I love you,” and it’s all I need to get through this tonight. With his love, I can get through anything.
Approaching the mic, the crowd goes silent, waiting.
“Hello, Lark Bay!” The audience erupts with applause. I can feel the vibration through my body, the experience sends a thrill through me.
“For those of you who don’t know me, I’m Brea Brookes,” I say leaning into the mic. Taking my place on the stool behind me, I stake my claim here and now. I want the world to know who holds my heart.
“This song is for Ridley. My muse, my ocean, my everything,” I say as I look directly into the crowd at him. My smile is wide, unapologetic, I don’t care about anyone’s reaction but his as I rotate Bessie to the front of my body and begin to play.