Reckless (Thoughtless, #3)(47)

I cleared my throat while Kellan asked her, “What was it like, growing up in this business?”

She paused between bites, then lowered her fork. “Not easy. I had the domineering, stage-mom type parents. Not a lot of sympathy if I wasn’t perfect. That sort of expectation is . . . challenging . . . to say the least.” She looked down. “There were many nights I just wanted normal, loving parents who didn’t care if I flubbed a line or missed the high note.” She looked back up and her eyes were glossy. “It just would’ve been nice to feel loved, no matter what.”

Kellan was staring at his glass, his expression thoughtful. After a moment, he whispered, “I know just what you mean.”

Knowing what he was referring to, I put my hand over his. He smiled, his eyes still on his drink. Sienna glanced between us, then her expression brightened. “Well, if I’ve learned anything in this business, it’s that you either roll with the punches, or you simply roll over.” She popped a bite in her mouth. “And I’m not rolling over for anyone.”

Remembering just how Sienna had skyrocketed to fame—mainly her very private moment being exposed to the world—I fixed my eyes on my plate. I didn’t know how she dealt with the entire world knowing so much about her. I couldn’t handle that. I wondered how Kellan would handle it, once his intimate act was exposed.

Seeing my face, Sienna asked, “Wondering about the tape, aren’t you, love?”

My head shot up. “No, I . . . maybe. I just . . . can’t imagine anything more horrifying.” I glanced at Kellan and he sighed; the apology in the sound was crystal clear.

Sienna studied us for a minute before answering. “Yeah, that was a moment in time I’ll never forget. The media had a field day—Sienna Sexton’s Scintillatingly Scandalous Sex Tape.” She rolled her eyes. “Alliteration junkies.”

Pausing, she took a sip of her drink. “But, like I said, you develop a thick skin in this business, or it will eat you alive.” She shrugged. “Was I thrilled that someone I once trusted betrayed me? No. But the genie was already out of the bottle, and before I knew it, the footage was everywhere, so what could I do? In the end, I did the only thing I could. I embraced it. I rode the hype, and steered my career down the path I wanted.” A coy smile touched her lips. “It wasn’t how I planned it, but it’s been an incredible journey, and I haven’t looked back.” She gave Kellan a pointed look. “No regrets. It’s the only way you’ll survive in this town.”





Chapter 9


Finishing Touches





The following morning Kellan and I took Anna back to the airport. Properly chastised for not being at the airport when we arrived in L.A., Griffin came with us to see her depart. It was weird to see my sister off. I kept feeling like I was missing my flight by not boarding with her. Even though I’d spent a few months on my own in Seattle when Anna had been back east with our parents, I’d gotten used to having her around. Watching my sister leave the city was hard.

But I still had Kellan, and that made things considerably easier.

After Anna left our sight, Griffin turned to Kellan. “Did you hear, man? She’s having a boy . . . my boy.” He lifted his chin up, pride evident in his light blue eyes.

Kellan smiled and tightened his grip around my waist. “Yeah, I seem to recall hearing that somewhere.”

I contained my smile as best I could. Anna had found a way to mention the sex of her baby at every possible moment, most of the time with a perturbed scowl on her face. She still wasn’t overly excited about Maximus, but I knew she would be when he arrived.

Kellan clapped Griffin’s shoulder, then we made our way back to the car. As was usually the case with boys, whatever beef had been between them was over. Kellan and Griffin seemed just like they always did as they joked around while leaving the airport. I was starting to get over the embarrassment too—I could finally look Griffin in the eyes again.

As Griffin went on and on about how hot Anna and Sienna were when they lounged by the pool together, I thanked fate that Sienna was also leaving the city today. She hadn’t done anything wrong, per se—and I did like her—but her interest in Kellan got under my skin a little. Sure, it was mainly a professional interest, but I wasn’t na?ve enough to think that that was all it was. She found him just as attractive as she found him talented. She knew he was taken, but would that stop her from making a play for him? I didn’t really want to find out. Distance was a good thing.

We went straight from the airport to the recording studio. Kellan and the guys were finishing up their stuff so they could get started on the new song with Sienna. I was excited to see the recording process. I’d heard Kellan describe it a thousand times, but I was eager to see it with my own eyes. Plus, I hadn’t seen Kellan sing in ages, and I’d really missed it.

Showing the proper credentials to security, Kellan confidently walked me back into the working area of the studio. True to form, Kellan had his preferred instrument slung over his shoulder, while a plethora of studio instruments were waiting for everyone else to use.

The “live room” was a large soundproof space designed to achieve the best acoustics possible, or so Kellan told me. In the back was a room-within-a-room holding a drum set. There was another room off to the side that only had a microphone in it. Different sections of the main room were separated by movable panels that isolated sound. Two guitars were amped and miked, while a third space was empty and waiting for Kellan’s guitar.