Reckless (Thoughtless, #3)(173)

My stomach felt so tight I was sure I’d never be able to eat again. “Crap, did I just make a huge mistake?” I looked between the two men whose opinions I valued the most.

They both glanced at each other, then simultaneously said, “No.”

Kellan laughed once then sucked in a quick, pained breath and bit his lip. Denny gave him a sympathetic smile, then turned to me. “You’ll get there your own way, Kiera, and you’ll feel great about how you did it. I may not have read your story yet, but I’ve read your papers, and you’re brilliant. I know you’ll get there.”

I gave him a soft smile. I’d need to let Denny read it before I did anything with it. It was too personal for both of us to not get his permission before I published it. But just having his support meant the world. “Thank you. That means a lot to me.”

When the room quieted, a sense of expectancy filled the air. Kellan and I looked at each other, then looked over at Denny. He’d wanted to say something before Sienna’s interruption, and by the look on his face, I was pretty sure he still wanted to say it.

Releasing Abby’s hand, he leaned forward on his knees and clasped his palms together. For a second, he reminded me of how Nick looked when he’d made us an “offer of a lifetime.” Unlike that moment, though, I had no qualms or terrors in my stomach. Not when it came to Denny. Aside from Kellan, he was the one person I wholeheartedly trusted.

Denny’s dark brown eyes took in Kellan and me sitting very closely together on the bed. “Abby and I have been discussing something recently. We’ve been discussing it a lot actually.”

Brows knitted, I tried to read Denny’s expression for some clue as to what he was thinking about. I had no idea. I couldn’t read him anymore. “Discussing what?” Kellan asked.

Denny smiled and looked over at Abby. Not missing a beat, she pointed at Kellan. “You, mate.”

Kellan looked bewildered by that, and Denny laughed. “You and your band,” he clarified. His amusement faded away and seriousness darkened his features. “Abby and I both feel that you are being poorly represented. The band isn’t being looked out for. The people who are supposed to be protecting you aren’t.” He gave Kellan’s hospital bed a pointed glance. “That much is clear.”

Indicating himself and his fiancée, he continued. “We both have a lot experience in marketing things, people, brands, creating positive PR.” Pausing, he leaned back in his chair. “If you’re interested, we would like to manage you. We would speak for you, be your voice to the world. We would protect you.” He jerked his thumb behind him at the large window showcasing the dark world outside. “And crap like what happened with Sienna wouldn’t ever happen again. Not to that extent, at any rate.”

Kellan looked like Denny had just confessed that he was actually his biological father. I understood the reaction; I was pretty shocked myself. “You want to be the band’s . . . agents? You would do that for us?”

Denny’s lips curved up into a warm smile. “Yes, of course we would.”

I shook my head at them, amazed. “But, your jobs . . .”

He shook his head. “The D-Bags would be my only clients, and I don’t anticipate you needing my help full time.” He indicated Abby with his head. “As long as we’re able to, we would continue with our jobs on some level.” Leaning forward again, Denny set his hand on Kellan’s arm. “But you would be my top priority, and if you needed me, I would be there for you. I would be honored to be the one standing up for you.”

Kellan feebly nodded his head. “Yeah, okay. I mean, I’ll need to run it by the guys, but . . . yeah, let’s do it. I’d be honored to have you guys represent me.” He stuck out his hand and Denny shook it, then Abby did. Everyone was all smiles. It warmed my heart. “And we’ll pay you, of course.”

Denny laughed. “We’ll talk about that part later.” He indicated the IV dripping fluid into Kellan’s body. “Maybe when you’re not on drugs.”

We all laughed, and I marveled at how far we’d all come. We were so different from the people we were when we’d all started living together—stronger, more confident, more secure in ourselves. And yet, we were still exactly the same. We cared about each other. We supported each other. We looked out for each other. And now that the sting of betrayal and guilt was only a dull ache in the background, the three of us were what I’d always hoped we would be—the best of friends.





Chapter 30


Success





When Kellan was released from the hospital, he was put in a wheelchair and instructed to take it easy for the next six weeks. He looked irritated that he couldn’t walk out of the place on his own two feet. He was walking around much better now, and probably could handle the journey downstairs just fine, but I made him suck it up and keep his ass in the wheelchair. His internal organs were sewn up, and rest was what he needed, not some macho display of invulnerability.

Much to the delight of Griffin and the other D-Bags, Kellan frowned the entire time I pushed him down the hall. Because I couldn’t help myself, I patted his head like he was an obedient puppy. He pursed his lips at me, not amused. I thought he’d try and bolt for the door once he saw freedom, but he surprisingly stayed in his chair and let me continue to take care of him. A couple of nurses trailed after us with carts full of get-well flowers and gifts. I had no idea what we were going to do with all the stuff the fans had sent him.