Rise (Rock God 1)

Smiling for the camera as the photographer takes pictures. Laughing with Dolly. I do all these things, while in my head I’m counting the moments until I can hide in a corner and fucking sob and let out all of today’s joy. Because as happy as I am for my brother, I’m still human.

“You okay?”

I look up to see Edge. How long he’s been standing next to me is anyone’s guess.

“Edge, how are you?”

His blue eyes focus on me, and he wraps an arm around my shoulder. “Better than you.” He grins. “Come on, let’s get fucked up.”

Laughing, I let him steer me into another large tent with tons of decorated tables. I almost groan. I didn’t know we were having a sit-down dinner, or I guess brunch, in this case.

He walks me straight up to Axel who’s laughing with Blade and David, his arm planted possessively around Antoinette. I could have sworn I saw Julianna come in here. We need a plan. I figure we let everyone start drinking, then call an Uber and have them take me to my house in Venice.

He looks over at me and brings an arm around my shoulder but keeps talking. Again, I have this odd sensation like I’m missing something, but quite frankly, I’m too tired to care.

“I need to use the restroom.” Axel looks down at me, frowning, but lets me go. Stepping back out into the afternoon sun, I head into the massive, ranch-style house for the bathroom.

“Oh my God, in a way it’s fucking hot,” I hear Dolly as I turn the corner. She and Cindy are watching something on her phone, and I know this has something to do with me, or Rhys.

“It’s hot. Even the fuck you part.” Cindy bites her lip, watching the screen.

“Especially the fuck you par—” I walk straight up and hold out my hand to Dolly. She purses her red lips, and she glances at Cindy who looks a mess already. Her big boobs are almost falling out of her dress, and her eyes are slightly glazed. I almost ask her what she’s taking because whatever it is, she looks comfortably numb, and I could use some of that right now.

“Gia, I’m not supposed to show you this.” Dolly looks at me and suddenly it all clicks.

“Is this why you guys are all acting weird around me?” I almost stomp my foot, but I’m in five-inch Jimmy Choos, so I flop down on the couch.

“Just give it to me. I don’t have a phone anymore.” I put my head back. I’m so tired I could probably fall asleep, but that can wait until I see why the whole world seems to be looking at me like I’m some kind of different species.

Dolly flops down next to me and holds the phone away from me.

I sit up. “What? And who told you not to show me?” I reach for it, but she has speed on her side right now.

“Everyone.” She waves her hand. “I wasn’t even a Granger fan, but fuck, Gia.” She winks as a wave of adrenaline flows through me.

“Give me the phone.”

Dolly smiles and hands me the phone as she digs in her bag for her cigarettes. Her screensaver is Edge and their baby, Gunner, who has red curls and fat, rosy cheeks. Dolly and Edge need to have more babies. He’s incredibly cute.

“What’s your password? And I love this picture.” She smiles and lights up, taking the phone back so that her face can unlock it as Cindy sits on the other side of me, fixing her dress. Maybe she’s not as numb as I thought since her energy is rather aggressive.

“What’s the deal with your friend?” she says curtly.

“Why?” I may sound defensive, but fuck it, my life is out of control, and I need to watch the video. Her eyes laser on me.

“Cindy. Do I need to slap your tits?” Dolly leans over me to give Cindy a warning stare and hands me her phone.

“Is this going to upset me? Because I can’t—”

“God, Gia, really?” Cindy rubs her head. It’s kind of harsh since I don’t know her all that well. She’s close with Charlie. Dolly and I stare at her.

“I’m sorry. I’m a bitch, but come on. The fucking Rock God is singing about how his heart beats for hers, and she’s sitting here crying.”

“She doesn’t know any of this. And you’re cut off,” Dolly snaps right back as Cindy stares straight ahead. The only thing moving is her heeled foot, bopping up and down.

Suddenly I want to hug her. I’ve seen that look in so many women’s faces. Desperation, it takes over. You’re consumed with a person who you know, deep down, has moved on, but you can’t accept it.

“It’s okay, Cindy.”

She looks over at me, her blue eyes full of tears, and I nod. I want to say I get it, but the way she looks at me makes me think I should watch the video. Dolly takes her phone and presses play as she shakes her head and rolls her eyes at Cindy.