3 - Radar Love

~Trey’s Point of View~

“What’s the fucking point in trying to keep me married to her? We don’t love each other, and she’s with someone else … and everyone knows it! Who gives a damn if he’s a cleaning guy, she loves him. I’m not staying married to her just cause daddy objects. She’s an adult and this is what she wants to do … divorce,” I said, scoffing and reaching for a drink.

We were back at Slade’s house, which was basically our band’s home too. We’d all lived here at one point or another since he had a mansion all to himself. I grew up in an upper middle class family and we did more than alright. However Slade’s family was filthy rich, trust fund shit. But you’d never know it from hanging out with him and that was one thing I always appreciated. He was generous with his money but he didn’t flaunt it, there’s a big difference.

“He’s a politician, he only thinks about himself. I can’t believe his own people leaked the story. What a fuckwad. I can’t believe I voted for him, but I’ll tell you what … never again! I don’t give a damn who he is, we’ll get another law firm to do the divorce. Hell I’ll type up the papers myself if I have to. Let me handle it,” Slade said, picking up his phone.

I should really get him a shirt that says, “let me handle it” since he must say it a hundred times a week.

I nodded and threw back a glass of whiskey. If I didn’t have Slade to clean up my messes it would be pretty bad. Thank fuck he knows what he’s doing and he knows a ton of people. Who knew the joke of marrying Halsey years ago would blow up in our faces so badly all this time later?

Really for me, I could care less. This wouldn’t do shit to my career, might even help it. But for her, it was a huge blow. I couldn’t deny that I still thought about her, even had some feelings there. I certainly didn’t want to see her so upset and if I could help her out in any way I’d do it. This was something we both did together, but it seemed only she was paying the price for it.

As Slade got busy doing what he did best I wandered out to his pool with a half bottle of Jack, put on my sunglasses and settled into a lounge chair. It was a beautiful day and I loved the sun, it seemed a shame to waste it.

I closed my eyes and of course my mind wandered back to the sweet little blonde at the lawyer’s office. I fucking hated that I didn’t get her name. Hmm. I might have to fix that cause it’s highly unlikely I’m getting her outta my head anytime soon. I let my mind drift as I felt the sun on my face.

“Hello asshole are you deaf,” I heard, as I struggled to wake up.

Suddenly a liquid hit me in the face and I smelled the Jack. 

“Motherfuck,” I shouted, sitting up quickly.

My sunglasses fell on the ground and then I heard a crunch as I looked up at our publicist, Angie. She was a real piece of work if I ever met one. I always thought for sure her and Slade were fucking but they claim they haven’t. They really should since they both carry way too much stress.

I started to unbutton my wet shirt, which was now probably ruined. My sunglasses were certainly dead.

“This was my one nice shirt, I’m sending you the cleaning bill,” I snapped.

“A millionaire with one nice shirt? Just go shopping with your girlfriend Jude,” she said, shaking her head and pulling up a chair.

“Tell me everything about today, start at the beginning and don’t leave a fucking thing out,” Angie said, as she pulled out her tablet. 

When she started working for Feisty in our early days she was a nobody, a scared little thing but we toughened her right up. Now thanks to Slade’s financial backing she’s got one of the most successful PR firms on the west coast. She’s completely terrifying and that’s exactly what you want in someone who is supposed to save your ass.

I sighed and tossed my shirt on the ground after wiping my face off. She didn’t even spare my bare chest a glance. Hmm, could be gay … might have to ask Slade. I sure eyed her naked legs anyhow, even if there was no chance in hell I’d ever get Ang, she was mean as hell with a mouth you wanted to duct tape shut. But she taunted me in a mini skirt anyways.

Before I knew it Slade’s house manager was calling for dinner. Much to my annoyance my entire band showed up, even my drummer Lukas who was supposed to be out on a solo tour.

“They run out of shirts since I been home,” I heard as I walked onto the patio. 

Smart ass.

I heard a snicker and looked up to see Juliet, Jude’s girlfriend. She was about halfway along in her pregnancy and her little belly was adorable. I loved watching them together, but then again I liked seeing people happy. Maybe that was my mom coming through.

“Hey Cookie! Find out what you’re having yet,” I asked, as I fell into a chair.

We called her Cookie since the first night we met her, when she delivered food to our hotel from the restaurant and bakery she owned. Her last name was Cook and I was certain she probably hated the nickname. But … I couldn’t help myself.

I watched as Jude pulled out a chair for her carefully and kissed her head. I grinned.

“Not yet, uncle Trey. A couple weeks,” Juliet said, smiling.

“Whoa dude, you been drinking all day or some shit? You reek! Go jump in the pool,” my bass player Corey shouted, waving his hand in front of his nose.

I gave Angie a face but she just sipped her water like she had no clue.

“All right kids knock it off,” Slade said, dropping some papers on the table and sitting down.

“I’m dying! What happened today,” Juliet said, practically leaping out of her seat.

Everyone looked at me, but I looked at Slade.

“Seems daddy dearest hates Halsey’s new boyfriend, like with an undying passion. He had his own people leak the marriage without our consent because he wants to force Halsey to leave him and get back with Trey. Because of his fame and bank account Mr. Comstock is apparently a better option,” Slade said, rolling his eyes.

I nodded and reached for a plate of chicken. Didn’t matter what was going on, I ate like a tank when food was present. Growing up I may have been an only child but I had two dozen cousins that were always around. You had to grab up all the food you wanted while you could, old habits die hard.

“What? But they weren’t ever actually together,” Juliet yelled, stating the obvious.

I just hummed to myself and nodded. Slade usually had music playing through his house system all the time, even just on low. Right now George Thorogood’s “One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer” was playing. I mindlessly tapped my leg with my hand to the beat.

“Daddy doesn’t care. He thinks if the world knows they’ll like … I don’t know peer pressure them into staying together,” Slade scoffed.

“Daddy’s princess with one of the world’s biggest whores,” Corey said, dead serious.

I jerked my head to the rhythm of the song, not really paying attention. I hadn’t picked up my guitar in over a week and it always made me itchy. I’d need to play tonight, maybe we could all hit Slade’s studio. Playing was absolutely a drug to all of us. Free therapy.

“And in the middle of all this, numbnuts is trying to pick up one of the attorney’s secretaries,” I heard, snapping my gaze back to Slade.

“Yeah and this prick totally cock blocked me before I could even get her name! She had braces, legit metal braces, I mean…” I trailed off, licking some butter off my lips.

Juliet laughed and Jude joined her.

“Oh yeah? Hmm, maybe I need a lawyer,” Lukas said, snatching a baby potato off my plate.

I shot him a death stare, and it wasn’t because of the food.

I was absolutely going back to see about this girl. No doubt. The song changed to The Marshall Tucker Band, “Can’t You See,” and Juliet and I sang along as everyone began to eat.

How fitting.

After a lengthy dinner then a three hour jam session, I finally took a cab home. I dropped on my couch and looked up the firm’s website, determined to see if she was on there. Between her shiny hair that just looked silky smooth and her frumpy clothes with that little girl facade, I was just convinced I had to know more. There was definitely a story there. I was too much like my mom in that regard, she called me a nose bag. And I certainly was, but hey I’m a people person.

Well, mostly females.

After thumbing through way too many stuffy attorney profiles I finally found it. Intern … I called it. Bailey Kline. Bailey … oh that’s fucking hot. I read her profile and licked my lips.

“Bailey is a sophomore at Cal State, majoring in communications. She joins our team under the supervision of her uncle and founding partner Gregory Kline. She enjoys reading and spending time with her family, especially her mom to whom she is very close.”

There was her picture, wearing a similar blouse to the one she had on today. Baggy, likely a size too big. Why would a rich girl dress like a 60 year old substitute teacher? I tapped my fingers on my lips, it was clear I was too far gone. 

Bailey Kline. You’re on my radar.