“He didn’t do anything.”
“Guys, come on.”
“Look he didn’t, he, um, he just threatened the guy, er, with his belt, but he didn’t actually do anything. Dennis got there and talked him out of it. Which, frankly, I’m surprised worked. He was really fucking pissed.”
“But, well, the guy’s friends had followed us out there and took photos of Seb with the belt in his hand and um, threatening him.”
“Damn. Idiot!” I did not want this. I hate that I have put the guys in any sort of PR trouble. It’s part of the reason I didn’t want to get involved with Sebastian in the first place.
“He didn’t do anything to the guy, Cadence. He… might’ve, but he didn’t. These claims are bogus. Don’t worry about it. Dennis will take care of it. He knows what he’s doing.”
“Where is Sebastian now?” I ask, wondering if he’s trying to stay away from me, the troublemaker.
“We don’t know.” Brad shrugs.
“He’ll come back. He has loner tendencies, he just needs time to work through shit.” Jez reaches over and squeezes my arm to reassure me.
“Now… YOU guys,” I point to Brad and Marius, ready to lecture them for their part in this.
“Uh oh…. nap time!” And they run out of the room.
SEBASTIAN
I hear the guys come back to the rehearsal room from visiting Cadence in my room. I’m dying to ask them how she is, but I don’t want to hear the same lecture they’ve been giving me for the last few hours.
“Hey,” Jez comes to sit down next to me.
“Hey.” I say, not looking up from my phone.
“She’s OK.” He tells me, knowing me well enough to know I’m dying to know but too stubborn to ask.
“Good. Yeah, um, good to hear.”
“She’s asking after you.”
“Yeah, I’ll, um, I’ll go visit her later, she needs her rest. You guys probably got her all riled up.”
“We didn’t,” he protests instantly, and I feel bad for saying it. I know they care about her a lot. “Anyway, she’s fine, maybe a little rattled, but her bruise doesn’t look too bad.” He adds, running his fingers along the side of his face as if picturing her.
I grip my phone tight, wondering how he could be so blase about her injuries.
“Yo, Seb. Why don’t you get off your ass and stop being a dick and go visit your girl?” Brad yells over to me from his spot in front of the TV.
“She’s not my girl,” I reply through gritted teeth.
“Coulda fooled me,” Marius says under his breath.
“What did you say?” I challenge him.
Marius stands up and faces me, “Come on, man. You think we don’t know what’s going on? What’s been going on since you brought her here? You’re so fucking in love with her, you can’t see straight. Although, since I’m guessing you haven’t gotten her into bed yet, I’m surprised you can walk straight too.”
“Marius…” Jez says, in a warning tone, and stands up, moving in between us.
“No. He needs to hear this. She is lying in a strange bed over there, probably scared out of her fucking mind, not to mention hurt, and he’s just sitting here because what? Actually, I don’t know why? Why don’t you tell us?”
“Shut up, Marius,” I snap at him, my fists gripping the sides of my legs, holding my anger back.
“No, I’m not going to fucking shut up.”
“Hey, maybe you’re the one who’s so in love with her.” I throw the accusation at him, glad to finally get it off my chest.
Marius snickers, and waves his hand dismissing my words. “Yeah, keep deflecting.”
“You’re the one who flirts with her, dances with her. Hey, she might not even have been on the dance floor if it wasn’t for you.” The comment hit below the belt, but it’s too late for me to take it back.
He looks at me hurt for a moment, and I want to apologize, but I can’t. I need to blame someone for what happened to her.
“You are such an asshole. Don’t blame what happened on me.”
“You were right there! Why didn’t you stop it?!” I spring up onto my feet and hurl my words at him.
“She didn’t want me to.” His voice somehow still remains calm, which just enrages me further.
“Who cares? Get the girl OUT of the dangerous situation!”
I’ve pushed too far.
“I told you, she didn’t want me to!” He growls and his face twists into a red rage, throwing his arms over his head.
“You do it anyway.”
“So how does that make me different than the guy who’s grabbing her?”
“It’s for her own good. She got hurt.”
“You don’t think I feel bad about that? She’s like a little sister to me, man. You think I don’t feel like shit that I was right there and didn’t stop it?”
For the first time since it happened, I see the guilt painted all over his face. It’s how I feel inside and it’s horrifying to see it I’ve made him feel it too.
Before I can say anything, Dennis walks through the door.
He knows us well enough to know there’s something going on, but he ignores it.
“It’s taken care of,” he says, referring to the photos, I assume.
“And?” I ask as I watch him walk to the drinks cart. He’s obviously had a long day.
“And that’s it. It’s done.”
“How much?” Brad wants to know. It’s not the first time Dennis has had to buy us out of some bad publicity. It’s just part of our life now.
“Enough.”
We know better than to try to get more information from him. He downs his drink and sits down on the couch. Naturally, we gather around him.
“Are we going to have to talk about Cadence?” He turns to us, his tone serious.
“What do you mean?” Marius asks for clarification.
“You know what I mean. Four hotblooded males and one woman. It’s my worst nightmare. It’s been my worst nightmare since I took you guys on.”
“You don’t have anything to worry about.” Marius responds.
“I’m not so sure about that.” Dennis leans forward and peers at Marius, tilting his head.
“Well, don’t look at me, I just told the guys, she’s like a little sister to me.” Marius points to me. “Ask him.”
“Sebastian? Is this something we’re going to have to sort out? Say it now before it’s too late.” Dennis
“No.” I answer with one word, not trusting myself to not reveal my true feelings.
“Seb.” Dennis says warningly.
“I said no.”