Rise (Rock God 1)

“Oh God, really, Mom?” Gia’s eyes are huge as she stares at her mom.

I sit back. Christ, the way her disapproving eyes look at me, it’s like I’m ten again, begging her to let me stay for dinner since my mom has been gone for days. It’s fucked up. All of this is fucked. I’m one of the biggest musicians in the world. I work my ass off to be the best at what I do, and the way Janet is acting, it’s as if Gia and I are Bonnie and Clyde coming to dinner.

“Both.” My voice is clipped because I’m done. “There’s no scholarship. As for our relationship, that’s private. All you need to know is that I’ll take care of her.” The room is silent except for the soft sounds of Bing Crosby and reindeer bells that seem to be on replay.

“Jesus, Rhys,” Gia whispers. “Let me handle the rest.” She sits up and tosses her hair off her shoulder.

“Look, Mom. I…” She motions with her hand in a circular motion almost as if she’s strumming a harp. “I saw a fantastic opportunity and I took it.” Her cheeks turn red instantly. “Wait. That came out wrong.”

I frown and look at her. “What are you doing?”

She goes to open her mouth, but Janet jumps up. “Rhys Granger, don’t you dare snap at my daughter. You’re not the boss of her.”

Gia lets out a loud groan and I stare at Janet. I take a deep breath, smelling the ham cooking in the kitchen. If Gia doesn’t do some fast talking, I’m not even gonna make it to dinner.

“Mom, I’ve been lying from the beginning. I made it all up. There never was a scholarship.” She shakes her head. “I made that up because I knew you would never say yes to me touring with the band.” She holds up a hand. “Although, two of my professors are insane fans of Rhys and The Stuffed Muffins.”

She clears her throat. “I wanted Rhys. I wanted him and I was willing to lie so I could get to him.”

Janet sinks back down onto the couch. “Please, tell me you’re on birth control.”

Gia cocks her head at her. “Yes, Mom. I’m on birth control.” Her hand reaches for my leg and her mom’s eyes follow.

Janet takes a huge sip of her wine. “How do you think this can possibly work? He’s a star, Gia.” She laughs as she puts her glass on the coffee table. There’s a whole train set on it. Thankfully it’s not on, or I might toss it out the window.

“You’re coming back to college in two weeks. I don’t understand what you want me to say. I’m glad you finally caught Rhys’s attention. We all know you’ve been seeking it since you were a child. But”—her eyes drift toward me—“that’s all this is, a fascination with a hero that morphed into a young girl’s fantasy about a rock star. And since you knew him, you think he’s what you want. He’s not.” Her voice is flat. “Trust me.”

“Huh. Thanks for psychoanalyzing us, but you have zero idea what you’re talking about.” Gia leans down for her purse, grabbing her cigarettes. “I was gonna try to sugarcoat this.” She flicks the lighter as Janet looks like she might faint. “I’m not going back to Berkeley. I’m going to stay with Rhys because he’s my man.” She blows smoke up to the ceiling and my cock hardens. I’m a sick fuck, I guess.

Janet looks as if she might throw up. “You’re kidding me.”

“She’s not. I told you I’d take care of her.” I stand. This is about to get ugly. That, and it’s uncomfortable to sit. I’m not going to fight with Gia’s mother. This is her cross to bear. She’s disapproving, controlling, and judgmental. It’s why Axel was never close with her.

As a kid, I was jealous because at least she cared enough to be critical. But he was right—Janet hated the band. Always said we were average, at best, and needed to spend more time studying. And she really despised the Disciples. God, the first time she met Jason and David, I thought she was going to have a stroke.

“So, you’re engaged?” she says in a raised voice, her face going from sheet white to red and splotchy.

“Mom, relax. I understand that you’re in shock, but you need to stop. Don’t you want me to be happy?” Gia jumps up and goes to her mother.

“Happy?” She laughs. “You can’t be that stupid. Look at him. He will cheat on you, Gia. Drag you through things you can’t even imagine.”

She covers her mouth and shakes her head. “He says he’ll take care of you. Look at how he takes care of his own mother. When was the last time he checked on her? When?” She turns to me.