“No, Chelsea, we haven’t been together for three years. Regardless of that fact, I don’t want kids. You know that.”
“So put a condom on and make love to me.”
I shake my head and stand up. I walk over to the chair where she put my folded clothes at some point during the night.
“I’ve gotta go.”
“I just got you back and you’re leaving me?”
“I’m not back, Chels. This was a mistake.”
I put on my jeans, pull on my boots and slide my t-shirt over my head. I walk over to the girl I once loved knowing that I’m never coming back here. I cup her cheek and pull her to me.
“You know it’s for the best. Your dad doesn’t approve of me and he’ll make your life a living hell.” I kiss her once on the lips and back away from her.
“Don’t leave me. I need you, Jimmy. You have no idea how bad I need you.” Tears follow her words, but they aren’t enough for me.
“Goodbye, Chelsea.”
“HOW was Los Angeles?” Liam asks while he tunes his guitar.
“For the first time since I moved there, I couldn’t wait to get out. I have some news though.” I hand Liam the papers that were delivered to my apartment from Mr. Moreno. He flips through them, his eyebrow moving up and down each time he gets to an interesting part.
“She wasn’t ever pregnant?”
“What?” Harrison says as he stands up from this stool. He takes the papers from Liam’s hand and reads them. He looks at me then at Liam and back at the papers.
“What a bitch,” Harrison spits out.
“She was sick,” Liam says. Why he’s defending her, I have no idea.
“Sick or not, she tried to ruin your life. If you keep reading, it lists out all of the other shit she did. She kept a diary and Mr. Moreno has included some of her entries,” I add.
“She rigged the tour last year,” Harrison says as he reads. “The dressing room, the weird phone call I received after I met that chick in the bar, it’s all here Liam. She kept notes on everything.” Harrison continues to turn the pages, flipping them rapidly. “Nothing about Alicia though.”
Harrison throws the papers on the table and runs his hands through his hair.
“Liam?” he’s staring off, not really listening to what Harrison just said. “Yo, man you okay?” I push him slightly on the shoulder. He looks at me and shakes his head.
“What?”
“You’re off in cloud cuckoo land.”
“She lied,” he says. “I didn’t get her pregnant.”
“She lied about everything. Everything that’s happened to us since we’ve met her has been because of her evil mind. She’s fucking twisted,” Harrison says. I know he’s upset that the information he’s after isn’t in there. He’ll never know why Alicia did what she did, but at least with the rest of the information, we can move on.
Liam picks up the papers again and reads through them before putting them aside. “We need to get serious about hiring a manager or hang it up.”
“You want to quit?” I ask. The band splitting up is the last thing I want, but if he’s ready to call it a day I’m not going to stop him. He’s got a kid now. Christ, Harrison has three. I’m the odd man out. No wife, no kids. Nothing keeping me at home.
“No, I don’t, but we need a manager. We need to release a CD and get the airplay. I’ll make some calls,” he says.
“I can make some too,” I volunteer. With me still living in LA, I’m around the scene more. I’m sure there’s someone looking to add to their client list and won’t mind if the talent doesn’t live anywhere near them. It shouldn’t be a problem at all. “What’s going on with Jenna’s ex?” I ask, needing to know the latest.
Harrison sighs. “It’s not good.”
“No, it’s not. Her parents are here and her dad tried to get a restraining order against him, but the Judge wasn’t buying our reasoning. He’s not a threat just because he showed up at the café.”