This One Moment (Pushing Limits, #1)(60)

After getting nowhere with that, I returned to the guys, who were eating the pizza as if it were their final meal, especially Mason. I grabbed a couple of slices before he could devour them all. We quickly finished up, then went back to work.

But as much as I tried to concentrate on the music and lyrics, memories of my last time with Hailey crept into my head. It didn’t help she’d been the inspiration for my songs. A bit of Hailey was in all of them. The loneliness that had kept itself at bay while I was with her returned with a vengeance.

An hour later, after I’d screwed up on my part for the tenth time, Mason exploded, “Fuck, Tyler—or Nolan, or whatever your freakin’ name is. Are you gonna get with the f*cking program or not?”

Jared tensed, ready to throw himself between me and Mason if necessary. Kirk and Aaron glanced between us. Unlike Jared, I couldn’t see either of them jumping in front of the bulky drummer, any more than they would have jumped in front of a speeding semi.

“Hey, look, I’m sorry.” Though I meant what I said, exhaustion, frustration, and anger pushed through to my words. “I never claimed I was perfect. I’m pretty screwed up, actually. Have been for years thanks to my craptastic dad.”

Mason’s features softened at the reminder of what I’d been through. He nodded, indicating we should get back to work.

“No,” Jared said, “we need to talk about this.”

We all threw him a look that clearly said, What the f*ck are you talking about, you *? Guys didn’t talk about their emotions. We drank beer and got laid. Which would be great if the woman I wanted to have sex with lived in the same city as me. After being with Hailey, no one else would do.

“Yeah, I get it,” Jared said. “We’re cavemen *s who are only capable of grunting at each other.”

Kirk chuckled. “But at least they’re musical grunts.” He threw me a glance that was part amusement, part frustration. “Most of the time.”

“Shit, you’re not gonna make us hug, are you?” Mason’s arms were folded, emphasizing his huge, tattooed biceps. “Otherwise I’m gonna need some serious therapy.”

Aaron smirked. “Given that you won’t even hug a woman, I’d say you need serious therapy either way.”

That earned Aaron a harsh glare. Aaron shrugged it off.

“Can we just play the song again?” I said. “I promise I’ll do better.”

“You better,” Mason huffed.

Kirk chuckled. “Someone needs to get laid.”

“Damn straight I do. But until you ladies get your act together, I’m going all monk,” Mason said with a frown. I had a feeling the monk part wasn’t by choice. Jared probably had something to do with it, demanding there was no getting laid until the album was finished.

“All right. Before Mas starts reciting religious scriptures,” I said, “let’s get back to work.” Anything to avoid talking about all the shit going on with me, and about my fears for Hailey after what had happened to her colleague.

Jared and Kirk grabbed their instruments. Mason returned to his drums, and Aaron switched his keyboards back on. This time when I sang the song, I pretended I was singing it to Hailey. By the time we were finished with it, all four were nodding their approval.

We continued well into the night. To save time, we’d planned to crash at Mason’s until the songs were all written. Like the past few nights, we slept only two or three hours before starting up again. Coffee became our food of choice.

Before crashing on Mason’s couch, I checked my phone. Hailey had finally replied to one of my texts: I’m fine, thanks. Have fun tomorrow night.

At first my sleep-deprived brain had no idea what she was talking about with the last part, but then I remembered: Alyssa’s movie premiere. Hailey must have seen it on the entertainment news. To her, I was moving on with my life. That’s why she hadn’t responded to my messages. It was her way of saying she understood.

I deliberated for a minute whether I should respond. What I wanted to say was, I wish it were you, but that would only hurt her more. And her message was quite clear. She was brushing me off. She wasn’t fine about Chris’s death. That much I knew.

I hurled the phone against the wall. Mason’s drywall survived the assault.

My phone didn’t.





Chapter 39


Nolan


The limo pulled up to the security post of Alyssa’s gated community. After a brief word with the guard, we were waved in. The record label had arranged for the limo. They wanted to ensure we showed up at the movie premiere together, since I was there as her boyfriend.

My mouth dropped open as we drove past houses that were better described as estates. My parents’ home was large, but it was nothing compared to these.

The limo turned in at the driveway of a house that belonged in a fairy tale. Hailey would have loved it. Sighing, I pushed away thoughts of her. This was Alyssa’s big night. The last thing she needed was for me to be moody and ruin it for her.

I waited for the driver to open my door, then I walked to the house and rang the doorbell. A moment later the front door swung open.

Alyssa’s painted pink lips curled up in a smile, and all I could do was wonder why she was wasting time with me. She should’ve been going to the premiere with someone who wanted to be there with her. She shouldn’t have been going with someone who’d been coerced into being her date.