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Chapter 17: Big Decisions
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2024-04-03 14:20:25Montana
I lean my forehead against the cool window glass. Though my eyes peer toward the Vegas Strip, I see nothing. The cool air-conditioner feels good on my face. I’m married. I got drunk and married to a guy I met only two days ago. I married a freaking rock star.
My parents will be ashamed. They raised me better than this. They instilled in me that marriage isn’t a frivolous decision and should be a lifelong promise.
My older brother will kill me. I fear his impending lecture more than my father’s. An annulment is a quick fix for a fuckup. Carson’s too good to be a fuckup. He’s so sweet.
When he sat by me in the hallway, a cozy, warm feeling surrounded me. Not a temporary sensation, a full, complete feeling. I’m me with him. I’m not fake. Carson is a gentleman. I haven’t had a first date since high school that the guy didn’t try for more at least once. Two days together, dates of sorts,
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Montana I do my best to concentrate on his words as he shares his idea with me, but I fail. My body’s reaction to his gentle touch grows exponentially. My mind drifts to him caressing other parts of my body, causing me to miss his entire plan.“So,” Carson drawls out, “what do you think?” His eyes ping pong back and forth, searching mine.I blow out a long breath as I search my brain for any clues to the plan he shared. I’ve got nothing. “Sounds good to me,” I lie. Well, is it a lie if I don’t know what I’m agreeing to?“Awesome!” Carson taps on his phone several times, then his thumbs type. “I’m scheduling a band meeting in my room in fifteen minutes. I need to apologize to the band for the negative publicity. We’ll share the plan with them and see if they’ll agree.” **** Carson Of course, Meredith shows up early for the meeting. I don’t want to deal with
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Carson I scan my band members’ faces. “First, I want to apologize for the publicity storm you woke to this morning. I’m sorry my actions last night might have placed you in a negative light because of your association with me.”Lying starfish-style on my bed, Eli raises his head. “Negative, dude. Your marrying Montana did not put a blemish on Communicable.” He scoffs. “There’s a bit of speculation, but your ‘Prince of Rock’ image remains untarnished. Fans want to know all about the girl that stole your heart.”“Well, trust me when I say my actions last night were careless on my part. I would have liked to drink less and remember every second of it.”Laughter fills the room.“You don’t…” Jake laughs.“Neither of us remembers much from the time we left the club,” Montana confesses.“Seriously?” Peyton asks, voice rising as she moves to stand beside her friend. “You didn’t seem wasted. Did she?” She looks to Eli
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Montana “With that settled,” Peyton starts, “look at these photos I took last night.”Her fingers scroll through photo after photo. Unimpressed, Meredith leaves the room. Eli pauses beside Carson.“Here.” He places his palm flat upon Carson’s chest. “It’ll work. The two of you, I mean. Watch this, and you’ll believe like we do.” His index finger moves between Peyton and him.When he pulls his palm from Carson’s chest, I see he’s given him a flash drive.“What’s this…?” Carson asks.“It’s a video of last night.” Eli grins.A video of our wedding. I’ll need to thank him for recording it. As we can’t remember, it’s our only window into the ceremony, our vows, and our drunken behaviors last night.“Can you send me the photos?” Carson asks Peyton. “Montana has my number.”It seems he’s as eager as I am to relive last night.“Watch the video. I’ll head to our room and send the pics to Montana.”
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Carson “Montana, we’re here,” I murmur near her head which is resting on my shoulder. “It’s time to wake up.” I can’t believe she didn’t wake up when we stopped at the security gate at the entrance to the neighborhood.It warms my heart that she feels comfortable enough with me to sleep on my shoulder. We shared a long night of sex last night that neither of us remembers, and except holding hands while watching the wedding video, this is the first physical contact we’ve had since. My body craves her touch and loves having her near.Her groggy eyes take a moment to focus on me before turning to my house.“It’s not the over-the-top mansion I thought it would be,” she states, taking in my simple three-story beachfront house in Huntington Beach, CA.“I’m not a mansion type of guy,” I tell her. “Oh, fuck.”“Are those your…?”“Yep. Those are my parents,” I groan under my breath. “They’re supposed to be in San Diego
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Montana With our empty wine glasses in hand, Kurt and I join the others in the kitchen, Denali, the Malamute, trotting behind us.“Let me give Montana a tour, then we can meet on the rooftop,” Carson suggests to his parents.“So, this is the kitchen.” He swings his arms wide.I’m already very familiar with this open space, with the large island with seating for five, and the bar area to the side, near the floor-to-ceiling glass doors, leading to the outdoor grill.A few steps away, also on the first floor, we walk through a giant living room, complete with a wall of glass, two French doors to the patio where we ate, a small powder room, and a mudroom with a shower off to the patio side.Near the table where we ate, the stone patio holds a wicker sectional with large, cushioned chairs, a glass railing all around, and a glass gate that opens to a wooden ramp which leads down to the private beach he promises to show me
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Montana The next morning, while eating breakfast, my phone vibrates, signaling a FaceTime call. “Excuse me. I need to take this.” I scoot my chair from the breakfast table and Carson’s parents.“It’s my brother,” I whisper to Carson as I pass by.“Hello,” I greet nervously, aware of the lecture coming my way.“I didn’t wake you, did I?” Joe asks.“We’re eating breakfast. It’s eight o’clock here,” I answer. “What time is it in Africa?”“About five. We’re getting ready for dinner,” he explains.In the background, I see bare dirt and huts in the distance.“I miss you,” I whisper, fighting back my tears.“I’m sure you do, but we’ve got other stuff to cover.” My brother’s voice takes on an authoritative tone. “What were you thinking?”“Joe…” Tears fall, and my throat swells shut.“Let’s put aside the fact that you were blitzed in an unfamiliar city with strangers that are rock stars. Mom says y
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Montana Carson and I sleep in until Denali signals he needs to potty by licking my face to wake me up. We flew him out on a different airline that allows larger dogs to fly coach instead of in the bowels of the plane. The pet sitter dropped him off last night, no worse for the wear.We hook him to the leash and head out on a long walk near the lake. Since we won’t be leaving Corey’s property, I keep on the t-shirt and boxers I wore to bed last night.We laugh at Denali’s attempt to lift his back leg to wet on everything over six inches tall.“No way he has more urine left to mark with,” I giggle.“Don’t make fun of him!” Carson acts offended. “He’s a growing boy, trying to make his mark on the world.”“What is it with males of every species needing to pee as many places as possible? My brother used to pee on Mom’s plants in the backyard and everywhere on Dad’s farm,” I share.“Not all of us pee everywhere,” C
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Montana Mom's words swirl in my head. "We have a ton to talk about." “A ton.” That’s an understatement. I’m not sure exactly what my mom’s reaction is and am sure she has much to lecture me about.Mom is unusually quiet as we drive down the long lane from Corey’s house. I find the silence unbearable.“In the mood for Gilroy’s?” I ask nervously.“Ooh, I love that place,” Mom states. “Is that on 8th Street?”“Yes. We can sit on the patio and drink Moscow mules with lunch,” I add. “Mom, let’s start our conversation now, so we can enjoy lunch.”“We’ll enjoy lunch, no matter what,” Mom declares. “This lunch isn’t to punish you, Montana. We have a lot of questions and answers to cover.”“So, shall I tell you about him?” The urge to start our talk grows with every silent, passing moment.“First, I have something to tell you,” Mom says.I swallow hard. Here we go. Here’s the disappointment statement.
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Montana Snuggled close, my head on Carson’s chest, my mind rewinds the past twenty-four hours. What a day it turned out to be. “Are you ready to talk about our news?” Carson asks, tucking hair behind my ear to reveal my eyes. “This baby has made me so happy, love.” “What will I do while you go on tour?” I ask, feeling nervous. “Stay in Des Moines or LA?” “What do you want to do?” he asks. “I don’t know,” I confess. “Well, I’d prefer if you were with me in LA while we prep for the tour. Then, I’d love to have you on tour with me,” he says, pulling me closer. “How would that work? Would I drive my own RV and follow your tour busses or be on the bus with you and all the guys?” I inquire. Carson shrugs. “The guys have had women ride the bus with us from time to time. Most of theirs were one-night stands. But I’m sure we could lobby to sleep in the actual bed at the rear of the bus. The guys love you, and as long as you could tolerate al
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Carson When Tony joins us in the emergency department, Montana’s still unconscious. I share the information Fran told me. In her motherly tone, she tries to calm my nerves.I watch as the nurse replaces the empty IV bag with another. She promises Montana’s improving with the fluids in her system.Later, a rustling sound near my head wakes me. I lift it from the bed, finding Montana looking down at me.“Kiss… Beth…”I barely make out her raspy whispers.“What?” I ask.Tony appears on the opposite bedside.“Kiss…” Montana’s eyes flutter closed. “B-e-t-h…”And she’s out again. Neither Tony nor I understand what the two words mean. We attempt to work through it out loud, but we’re too tired. The wall clock reads six a.m. We need Montana to wake up. Then, we need to go home and sleep. **** Hours later, the nurse returns, taking Montana’s vitals. At her movement and tou
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Montana I wake deliciously exhausted from our session in the studio followed by hours of lovemaking here in our bed. I take my time stretching my arms over my head then pointing and flexing my toes. Beside me, Denali groans as he stretches, too. He takes up more of the bed with each passing week. He’s going to be huge.My phone informs me it's nearly ten o’clock. Carson’s already in the studio. I’m surprised Denali let me sleep so late. I guess we kept him up late last night, too.“Let me go potty, then I’ll take you outside,” I tell him as he nuzzles my neck, and I scratch his belly. Never far from my side, he follows me into the bathroom, whining as I wash my hands. It’s hours past his usual potty break, so I don’t delay him any longer.Every muscle aches as I descend the stairs, and my head hurts. Once outside, I take a seat on a patio chair as Denali does his business then runs to greet his friend, Snoopy, now on my lap.
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Montana When his parents come into view through the large, glass window, separating the production area from the recording studio, shock and worry flood Carson’s face.“What’s wrong?” he asks through the studio mic, filling the booth.I open the door to the studio. “Nothing’s wrong. I asked your dad to help me with some marketing—I didn’t plan to mess with your recording schedule. I’m sorry.”He shakes his head, smiling. “It’s okay. A break will be good for the four of us. We’ve spent too many hours in this little space without windows to the outside world.”I wrap my arms around his neck, looking up at him through my lashes. “I love you,” I whisper.“I know,” he teases, guiding me into the booth. “Let’s break for the day.”“I’ll be at the pool,” Eli announces.“Remember sunscreen,” I tease him. “Set an alarm on your phone.”“Yes, child bride,” he sing-songs.I hear Jake murmur to Warner,
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Montana It’s Wednesday of the next week, and I’ve a billion things to do. Carson’s already in the studio when I wake up. I forego a shower, grab a quick bite, then lock myself in the office. I reached out to Carson’s father last night, hoping to get some ideas on marketing our product. We’re set to meet in a videoconference on Monday.I swallow my last bite of cherry toaster pastry as I enter the office. What a mess. I take in the piles of papers I’ve spread out on the floor. Today, I need to focus on a presentation for Carson’s father, explaining our product so he can best help me with a marketing strategy. The piles on the floor will need to wait.I settle myself in the large, leather office chair behind the desk. I move a stack of papers, freeing up room to open my laptop. While I wait for my presentation software to open, I check my cell phone calendar for today through Monday.Crap! I have my annual doct
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Montana When we return to the backyard, I pull on my swimsuit coverup. I find that Carson and Eli are manning the grill full of burgers and chicken breasts.I join my brother near the kitchen door, placing all the fixings on the long table. Working as a team, we position the buns, condiments, onions, tomatoes, lettuce, chips, and dips. Mom and Dad set up a cooler of water, beer, and pop.Taking turns, we fix our plates soon after then scatter around the patio and poolside, gathering around tables and chairs. Sporadic conversations continue while we enjoy dinner. Dad commends Carson on the burgers and asks which seasoning he used. The two discuss the best flavors of seasonings and barbecue sauces. Luckily for me, the band is on their best behavior, and we enjoy hours with my family.“Time for gifts,” Mom announces.Carson takes my hand and leads me to the round table by my parents. He pulls out a chair for me, kissing my ex
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Montana “You know, many couples get a dog to prepare themselves to become parents,” Carson’s mother tells my mom.I’m lounging in the sun in the chair next to theirs. My eyes are closed, and they believe I’m asleep. Wanting to hear what they say next, I keep pretending.“A grandbaby may be in our future.” My mom claps excitedly.“They rushed into marriage,” Carson’s mom reminds mine. “It would be okay if they took their time in starting a family.”“Do you have any grandchildren?” Mom inquires.“No. Do you?”“No. I can’t wait. I do look forward to it,” Mom states excitedly. “I assumed my son would give me my first grandchild, but he doesn’t usually stay in the US long enough to meet a girl. Although, I don’t know what to make of Starr traveling from Africa with him.”“She knew the band. Maybe she tagged along to see them,” Carson’s mom offers. “I’ve got another son and a daughter, both married, but they
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Carson Fresh from my shower, I towel dry my hair then secure the towel around my waist. I smile at my reflection. I can’t wait to wake Montana and reveal my plans for us today.A female scream tears through the house. I lean into our bedroom. She’s gone. It’s Montana! I sprint from our room and down the stairs, hopping from the third step to the tile floor below.I narrowly miss falling from water dripping off of me onto the marble of the front room. I use a Scooby-Doo-like maneuver until I gain traction and run into the kitchen.I’m unable to speak or catch my breath when I stand in the doorway, finding Montana wrapped in another man’s arms as Fran and another woman watch.She pulls away, wiping tears from her eyes. “What are you doing here? And why didn’t you call me? I could’ve picked you up at the airport.” Before the man can respond, she asks, “How did you get here?”“Mom brought me ov
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Montana I feel like I’m right in the middle of an entertainment show publicity scandal. Like Jake said, “This sucks!” I understand the woman’s need to seek the father of her unborn baby. On the other hand, though, I can’t imagine Warner’s fear that he might be the father. I suspect he fears the DNA result, and that’s the reason he’s protesting it so.I try, but my mind can’t help but wonder how many women Carson slept with while on tour. Having witnessed the women throw themselves at the guys while in Las Vegas, I’m not sure Carson could have refused many of them.I refuse to sit here and wonder about this all night. I snag a bottle of vodka from the bar and head toward Warner’s room. I knock lightly three times.“Leave me alone,” Warner snarls.I ignore his demand, turn the knob, and find it’s unlocked. I slip inside, shutting it behind me.“I come bearing a gift,” I state, extending the vodka bottle for him.
