Finding Us (Finding #2) (9 page)

The band wasn’t really looking to be famous. Grady’s life goal was merely to play music. Billy and Lex played because they didn’t think there was anything else they could do other than that and bartend. Neither one of them had a lot of support growing up. No one ever told them they could “do whatever they set their minds to.” They barely made it through high school and had no career plans or dreams. They lived day-by-day.

Last was Nick. I wasn’t sure what drove him to stay with the band. He had some corporate job he did from home, and he was married to a girl that none of us had ever met. The band was just a side gig to him, but he was as dedicated as the rest of the group.

While they weren’t looking for a million-dollar contract, they ended up with a possible offer they couldn’t refuse to go after. The band, which had never even had a name, had been playing around town a lot. People were always hounding them about buying their songs, so it only made sense that they wanted to have a merchandise table to bring in some extra cash. Their homemade recordings would sell even if they weren’t radio quality.

I knew I was lucky to be able to play with them, and I knew it was only a matter of time before they were either on to bigger and better things or broken up. Allegedly there was a chance a fairly large record label might be interested in signing them if they could get a decent demo together. It seemed like I was working on something potentially important with the band even though my relationship with Maggie seemed to be suffering for it.

Everything took a turn for the worse the night we were working on the last of the three Maggie songs when Preston shouted down that “some chick” was at the front door for me. I knew it wouldn’t be Maggie because she would just walk in and hang out with Pops and Preston. She certainly wouldn’t be there to see me, especially not that particular night when we had yet another fight about me leaving her to go play with the band.

Maggie had a bad day. Something happened with her mom (big surprise), and then one of our professors was a complete dick to her, but he was a dick to everyone. Maggie worked so hard to prepare for his class because his use of the Socratic Method terrified her. Today she had trouble verbalizing a defense, and he annihilated her in front of the class. It was awful to watch, but I couldn’t say anything to my professor. What was I going to do? Threaten to kick his ass?
Yeah. Right.
Instead, I wrapped my arm around Maggie’s chair and rubbed my thumb down her arm until I needed my arm back, so I could write something down.

I took her out for ice cream and listened to her for an hour after class, but she still wanted me to stay home with her and study. After thinking about it again, I probably should have stayed considering how difficult of a semester she was having. Instead I reasoned that this surprise was going to be so worth it in the end. She was used to people being assholes to her anyway. My girl was tough.

When I arrived at the front door of Pop’s house, I was surprised to find a bleach-blond Alexis staring back at me.

“What are you doing here?” I asked rudely. She wasn’t welcome at my house, and I wanted to make sure she knew it.

I didn’t intimidate her though. She knew too much about me. “My band is practicing here. I’m a member of the band or did you suddenly take my place?”

“No, but you know why you can’t be here, Lex.”

She stared at me and leaned against the porch railing. With one combat boot crossed over the other, she looked like she could have been smoking a cigarette rather than pleading with me to let her in to hear her own band. “Look, I won’t cause any problems. Grady has been going on non-stop about these songs you guys have recorded, and I wanna hear ‘em. He told me when he’d be here and said it was just you guys.”

I looked at her in disbelief. She caused a problem for me by simply existing.

“I swear,” she pleaded with her hands up in surrender, “No funny business. I’ll be gone in an hour”

I don’t know what made me do it, but I held the door open for her and followed her down into the basement. Maybe it was the way she pleaded. Maybe it was that I saw a hint of the old, cooler Alexis. I wasn’t sure, but I should have known I was destined for trouble the second I opened the door that night.

Maggie

Three times it had happened. I asked Parker again to do something with me when we made it home after class, but again, he was too busy with the band. It was a Friday night for goodness sakes!

Not to mention I’d had a terrible day. It started with my mother telling me not to come down for Daddy’s birthday. She reminded me of how I always cause such a stir (not true), and he needed a relaxing weekend for his birthday. Knowing my mother, she would tell Daddy I didn’t want to come down. When I told her I was definitely coming, along with Parker, Max, and Becca, she said, “You can’t go one day without being difficult, can you? Your sisters are respectful enough to do what we ask. It’s a wonder that you were even raised in the same house as them.”

Her antics threw me off my game that morning and made me mess up in class. I knew the class material backwards and forwards like always. I had studied and was prepared, but when the professor called on me to argue a point for filing a summary judgment under Rule 56, I blanked. It was humiliating. I felt like Elle Woods on her first day at Harvard. I was always prepared for class, and I mean ALWAYS, but the one day I was distracted by my awful mother was the one-day the professor called on me. Then, on top of the shit with my mother and our professor, Parker couldn’t even spend time with me after having that kind of day. I never even had a chance to tell him what my mother said because he was too busy overcompensating for the professor’s bad behavior.
Guess what? He thought our professor was an ass. Big shocker.
Did he let me say what I thought? Not so much.

In an effort to get some clarity and actually vent a little, I called Sarah, the one person who could give me decent advice and make me feel better other than Max. I was sure she wouldn’t be there, and I would be left to my own devices, but thankfully she answered on the third ring.

“Hey lady! How’s it goin’?” She answered cheerfully.

“Pretty terrible right now. What are you up to?”

“Just got in from taking care of the horses. What’s terrible? Tell me what’s goin’ on. I could use a good drama. I haven’t even gotten to catch up on my Real Housewives yet this week.”

“Tragedy,” I said sarcastically.

“I know,” she responded seriously. Man, I missed Sarah. Where I was rarely silly and fun, she was rarely serious. She was the yin to my yang, and I missed having her around all the time.

“Tell me what’s up. Is Alexis being a bitch again? Parker being stupid? Did Max admit he’s gay? What’s up?”

I laughed. “First, Max isn’t gay. You know this.”

“I know. I know. I still can’t figure out why he didn’t try to sleep with me.”

“Because you introduced him to Becca…his fiancée!”

“Right…ok then. Devil woman or hottie tottie? Which one’s giving you trouble, girl?”

“Ugh! Parker!” I groaned. Then I blurted out how I was constantly feeling disappointed in our relationship. “Even when we’re together, he isn’t really there. Unless we’re talking about school, I don’t really get much out of Parker, and I’m tired of being the needy girl who’s desperate for his attention. I’m tired of “quickies” in the morning before school. I was tired of going to bed without him there even though he lived with me. I want my sweet, romantic boyfriend back who held me close every night and told me how much he loved me.”

“Friend, I think this is what they call growing pains. I wouldn’t know. I don’t do relationships, but this sounds like it could be that.”

“You don’t do relationships? What about Billy?”

“I told you a hundred times, we were just having fun.”

“Did he know that? He seemed pretty bummed when you left…and after you stopped calling or answering the phone.”

“I had to stop talking to him. Nothing was ever going to come of us. I’m in Alabama for the foreseeable future. Can you see Billy moving to Alabama? Hell would have to freeze over.”

“I’m just saying that I think he liked you more than you would allow.”

“Perhaps, but my family comes first, then my career, then romance. Billy doesn’t have priorities or ambition, so he doesn’t understand what obligation feels like.”

“Relationships suck.”

“That’s why I don’t do them. You’d think you’d learn a little something from me after all this time.”

“You’re my romantic life coach.”

“Really?” she squealed excitedly.

“No, not really.”

“Fine. So anyway, what are you going to do?”

I huffed and fell back on the couch. “I don’t know. Suggestions?”

“Where is he?”

“Practicing with the band…again,” I frowned. “You know, if this is what it’s always like after being in a relationship for a few months, I’m going to be really disappointed in some authors who led me to believe otherwise.”

“You and your romance novels.”

“Shut it. You love ‘em too.”

“That I do. I’m a sucker for an alpha with good abs,” she sighed.

“Sarah! Come on! Focus.”

“All right. All right. I say, go get your man. Go over there and show him how much you support his music, but wear something that will make him forget about his music. That way you both win. He knows you think what he’s doing is valuable, and he forgets about valuable and takes you home to alpha his way all over you.”

“That makes no sense, but I get what you’re saying.”

“Oh…it makes perfect sense. Now get off the phone with me and go get ya some.”

“Get your mind out of the gutter. I’ll talk to you later.”

“Adios muchacha.”

I laughed. Sarah had an uncanny way of making me laugh no matter how bad I’m feeling. You’d think nothing ever gets to her, but I happen to know it does. I have seen her throw a fit of epic proportions. Picture frames within 20 yards were in no way safe that night.

In order to mentally prepare myself for showing up at the band’s rehearsal, I ran for an extra mile that night. Parker used to hate me running alone, but now he wasn’t around to go with me. Max offered to come when I talked to him right after I left, but I needed time to think alone.

It was dark by the time I made it back to my empty house. I showered quickly then dressed in my favorite skinny jeans and a really cute navy blue and orange chevron tunic top. I threw my dark brown boots on to give me some height and make me look skinny. I knew Parker liked it when I wore heels, and I wanted him to
want
to come home with me. After I fixed my hair so I could wear it down, I touched up my minimal makeup and headed to the Pryce house.

Walking in the door to the house where Parker grew up, I found Dr. Pryce sitting in his favorite chair reading. “Hey. How are you?” I asked as I walked in the front door. I had been welcome in their house ever since the first time I brought them food. They stopped letting me ring the doorbell the first time I brought them fudge brownies and fried chicken. The Pryce house felt like home to me even when Parker was being difficult, so I loved going over there.

“Well, hey there Maggie!” Dr. Pryce greeted as he stood and hugged me warmly. “To what do I owe this pleasure?”

“I came to hear what the band has been up to. I haven’t seen Parker much lately, so I wanted to try to catch him here. Where is everyone?”

“Band’s downstairs. Preston’s on a date with that little elfin girl. I’m always glad to have you come by. How about lunch on Sunday?”

“That little elfin girl” was what Dr. Pryce called Libby, Preston’s slightly wild girlfriend. He wasn’t a fan, so he decided not to bother learning her name. He said they wouldn’t last, but they had been together over six months.

I smiled at him. “Sounds great. I’ll bring something delicious. I have been wanting to try a new recipe, so I hope you like it.”

He rubbed his slightly protruding belly. “When have I ever not liked something you brought me to eat?”

“True,” I patted his shoulder gently as I walked by. “I’m going to head downstairs. I’ll see you in a bit.”

“Sounds good, Maggie,” he said as he waved me down the stairs.

As soon as I opened the door, I heard it. The distinct sound of a female voice that belonged to the one girl I specifically never wanted to see again. There was no way she was there. She wouldn’t.
He
wouldn’t. I couldn’t believe it.

“Are you kidding me? I’m not playing in a band that plays loves songs for a girl who freaking hates me!” She shouted.

“She wouldn’t freaking hate you if you weren’t such a bitch!” A male voice yelled back. I thought it was Billy, but it was hard to tell when it was so laced with anger and frustration. Billy barely ever spoke loud enough for anyone to hear let alone yelled at anyone.

“I don’t think this is helping the situation,” I heard Nick say calmly.

“What do you guys know?” The female voice snapped back. “She wouldn’t hate me if Parker kept his dick in his pants.”

That’s when I stepped onto the landing. Billy was the first person to see me. His head dropped, and I heard him mutter, “Oh fuck.”

“What?” Alexis snapped right before I turned the corner.

Grady said, “Shit!” at the same time Nick said, “Oh fuck is right.”

I crossed my arms feeling uncomfortable, but I wasn’t letting this go. The old Maggie would have run away and hid from the big, bad, scary mean girl. The new Maggie wasn’t taking shit from anyone. Ok, the new Maggie wasn’t taking shit from anyone…well, anyone except her professors and her mother.

“Babe? What are you doing here?” Parker asked as he approached me like nothing was out of the ordinary.

Then I did something I never used to be able to do. I looked right in his eyes when I spoke. “I came to see what was so important that you couldn’t even spend one night with me.”

Alexis laughed out loud. “That’s probably because he doesn’t want you anymore. I warned you about that, didn’t I?”

I turned around and stepped closer to her. She was smaller, so I looked down at her but held her gaze. “Listen to me, you trashy skank. You may be right. My boyfriend may not want me. He may want to crawl back in your bed for more threesomes and whatever other impersonal disasters you have experienced together, but I know one thing for certain. If he prefers a girl like you, then I definitely don’t want a guy like him. No guy I would ever want to be with would have any interest in someone with so little self-worth.”

Then she slapped me across the face. Hard. Tears stung my eyes, and my face burned. I had never been hit in the face before. Sure, I headed the ball in soccer. I had been elbowed, pushed, pulled, punched, and kicked all over my body, but never had my face felt the sting of a slap like that.

I brought my hand to my cheek and found my jaw was still on the floor from the shock of it all. I heard the commotion of the guys dealing with the slut bag with the fierce slap, but it was like I was out of my body watching it. I couldn’t even process what was happening, so I just started walking back up the stairs. I heard my name, but I didn’t care. I just wanted the one person who could comfort me in a time like that. Unfortunately, he wasn’t there.

With one goal in mind, I walked out of the house without even saying goodbye to Dr. Pryce. I was almost to my car when Parker grabbed my arm and turned me around to face him. I kept my eyes on my feet and popped my jaw in an effort to get the sting out of my cheek. My face hurt, burned really, and I didn’t really care what he had to say at that point. I was so done with him and his stupid band.

“Babe, I’m so sorry. She just showed up.”

Anger flared up inside of me. “And you just couldn’t deny her, could you? Does it stroke your ego to have a girl around who is desperate for you to pay attention to her, Parker? If that’s the case, then you could have stayed home. You make damn sure I’m desperate for you before you spend time with me! In a way I feel sorry for her. She’s been this way for years. I’ve only been like this a few weeks and already can’t take it.”

“Maggie, I know you’re angry, but I think you’re being a little unfair.”

“Unfair! You want to talk about unfair? That girl was awful to me and to you at the beach, but you welcome her with open arms back into your dad’s house like nothing happened. I thought we agreed that she was gone for good?”

“We did, but-”

“But nothing. I’m done. I have to go.” I pulled my car door open, but Parker blocked me from closing it.

“What do you mean?”

“I mean, I’m done with all of your bull shit, Parker. Now move.”

“Where are you going?”

“Somewhere I can be without feeling like shit.”

He threw his hands up in the air. “That’s great, Maggie. Run to Max. Instead of talking things out with me, go ahead and run to Max like you always do.”

“Great idea, Parker. He never lets me down.” I took advantage of the fact the he stepped back in surprise and slammed my car door. I floored it out of the driveway then headed straight for Max’s.

In the parking lot of Max and Becca’s apartment, I sent Sarah a text.

Me: the devil slut slapped me! She was there and slapped me!!

Sarah: WHAT!!!