Crazy Baby (19 page)

“You know, I love this song just the way it was written. It’s really very poetic, isn’t it? That a man would cheat on you, leave you for that woman, and then she leaves him for someone new,” she walks slowly across the stage, back directly in front of me.

“But it got me to thinking. I had to ask myself this question. ‘Self, if I had written that song, would I have ended it that way?’ And my self answered me with this. ‘Hell no, Andi. You wouldn’t have ended it like that at all.’

“So, here’s the extra part that my self said I’d add. Hope you enjoy it,” she adds, her eyes throwing daggers at me.

You left me alone when I needed you

You chose her, now baby, we’re through

Lyin’, cheatin’, whorin’ deceiver

And on that day when you finally see

She’s long gone, baby, you don’t have me

’Cause I’m lovin’, and I’m touchin’,

I’m pleasin’ my lover

As she finishes the song with a repeat of the chorus, the anger starts building up inside me. She’s accusing me of cheating on her? When she cheated on me? And she’s rubbing her sexual escapades with Travis in my face? She’s emphasizing that she’s pleasing her new lover with pride. I’m about to explode out of my seat and up on the stage with her when Syndi grabs my hand.

I look over at her, and she shakes her head no, imperceptible to anyone else but me. There are cameras everywhere, and any outburst could damage my reputation before I even get started. Tomorrow night is a big deal because I’m fighting someone who already has a solid record. If I beat him, or
when
I beat him, I’ll be seen as a serious contender and can get my own sponsors.

If I’m seen as an impetuous hothead before I even get in the ring, I could throw everything away.

Andi sings a few more songs and then another cover song. When she dedicates the song to “the love of my life,” I just about come unglued. I can’t believe I’m being forced to sit here and listen to her call another man the love of her life and dedicate a song to him.

When the music for Madonna’s “Crazy for You” starts, I’m on my feet before I even realize what I’m doing. Syndi is instantly beside me, standing like we both meant to stand in praise of Andi’s singing. Many others quickly join us, using the flash from their cell phones as their tribute, and the white lights sway along with the song.

All I can see is red. Murderous, red rage.

When she finishes and the spotlight is back solely on her, I notice that she brushes a tear away from the corner of her eye, and the light glints off the charm bracelet I gave her at Christmas. Confusion sets in, and I’m aggravated because I don’t understand what’s going on. She’s wearing the symbolic gift. She looked happy to see me at first. My heart jumped for joy. One look at her and all was forgiven. All I wanted was one more chance to make up for all the times I took her for granted, when I fucked up and she should’ve left me, and when I didn’t appreciate what I had in her.

Then she dedicated that song to
him
. My mind immediately went to hunting him down and putting him in the hospital for splitting us up. I don’t know what to feel now. I don’t know what to think.

The cheering and clapping die down, and Syndi pulls on my hand, urging me to take my seat again. I do as she asks, but my mind is anywhere but on the four girls who’ve taken the stage now. What their band’s name is, I couldn’t say, wasn’t even listening. I keep straining to see behind the curtains. Is Andi back there watching me? Or is she back there pleasing her new lover, Travis?

Pure jealousy eats me alive from the inside out. The pain in my heart is as real as it comes. It feels like my heart is being ripped out one chunk at a time. By the time these girls finish singing, my hands have become permanently clenched into fists and they’re ready to pound someone in the ground.

Then Travis steps on the stage. Brandon must have been watching me very closely this time because he reaches across me at the exact moment to break my concentration.

“Don’t, Luke. It’s not worth your career.” He tries to convince me.

At this very moment, it feels like it would be worth my career. It really does.

Turning my eyes back to Travis, I somehow make it through his excruciating show. He smiles, throws witty banter out to the crowd, and has them completely eating out of his hand. They’re all drinking the Travis-flavored punch without question. The part I’m having the hardest time with is how completely different he is than me. He’s good with people, charming, and loved by so many fans everywhere. He’s built his career from the ground up and never faltered on what he wanted in life.

I’m more brutish, less politically correct, and have historically been unsure of what I really wanted to be when I grow up. Even now, I question if he would give up his career for Andi if she asked. I know I would have—probably still would today if given the right circumstances. Travis is driven and built for success. I feel like I’m destined to wander aimlessly from one thing to another, trying to find what I really want to do.

“Now, I’d like to ask the gorgeous and talented Andi Morgan to join me for a couple of songs,” Travis says and the crowd goes wild.

Looking around, I’m completely shocked at their reaction. I knew the duets were doing well on the charts, but I had no idea they were this big. I’ve been in a secluded bubble for the past month while I’ve been training, so this reaction completely stuns me.

When Andi joins Travis onstage, he extends his hand to her as she approaches him. I can see her slight hesitation to take it and narrow my eyes in suspicion. Why would she do that? Does he not normally do that? Was that for my benefit?

These fucking questions are driving me insane.

Their first song, “Just Lie,” tears my fucking heart out. I picture them together, making their own music as they make love.

I don’t want to fight this

You’re the only one I need

Your love is such sweet bliss

So just come lie with me

Baby, just for tonight

Let’s just lie
.

Now I do believe there’s such a thing as cruel and unusual punishment. Sitting through this concert tonight is definite proof that it does exist and I’ve lived through it. So far, anyway. I have to question if anyone has ever actually died of a broken heart because it sure as hell feels like it could happen at any moment.

LUKE

If I thought the first song was bad, the second song was the musical equivalent of waterboarding. Watching Andi and Travis sing the emotional love song, gazing deep into each other’s eyes, and holding hands to keep their connection was the worst four to five minutes of my life.

Love Me Tonight

If I asked you to stay, I wonder what would you say?

I’ve loved you for so long, even though I know it’s wrong

But if I can’t have you, I don’t know what I will do

No one could take your place, Close my eyes I see your face

Baby, love me tonight, and I’ll never let you go

I’ll make you feel so right, baby, just love me tonight

Can you feel me tonight? I’m right here by your side

Put your arms around me, One touch and you will see

I’ll make you forget him, my lips hold the answer

Kiss me before it’s too late, my love can hardly wait

Baby, love me tonight, and I’ll never let you go

I’ll make you feel so right, baby, just love me tonight

Kiss me, never let me go

Take me places only you know

Hold me all through the night

Love me, baby, love me tonight

Baby, love me tonight, and I’ll never let you go

I’ll make you feel so right, baby, just love me tonight

The thought of your kisses only fuels my desire

The way that you love me sets my body on fire

I can’t take one more day, I’m asking you to stay

Let me make love to you, our time is overdue

Baby, love me tonight, and I’ll never let you go

I’ll make you feel so right, baby, just love me tonight

I can’t fight anymore, take me and make me yours

Dream of you every night, making love till daylight

Only you satisfy my burning need inside

When I look in your eyes, you see through my disguise

Baby, love me tonight, and I’ll never let you go

I’ll make you feel so right, baby, just love me tonight

The concert is finally over, and all I want to do is leave and never look back. Charlie, Artie, Syndi, Joe, and Mack all surround me. Apparently, the CEO of Heavy Handed Boxing Gear is backstage meeting the bands, and he wants to meet me, too. This is my big chance at gaining a huge corporate sponsor, but I have to go to him because he doesn’t want to leave his present company.

So I’m forced to go backstage and play nice with Travis and Andi just to have a shot at taking my dream to new levels. What kind of shit is this?

“Does Andi know about this?” I ask Mack.

“I don’t know, Luke. I’m going to tell her how proud I am of her, and I’ll know then. You know she’s my daughter by love even if not by blood. I don’t want to see either of you hurt, but if you want the chance to meet Steven Garrett before any of these other boys get to him, now’s the time,” Mack says, pinning me with his serious gaze.

“Shit. Fine. Let’s get it over it,” I concede. “Now. Before I change my mind.”

Backstage looks nothing like the party scene I’ve pictured in my mind. Maybe it’s just because this is more of a social event than a normal concert, but everything back here is decorated just as elegantly as the main concert area. I’m glad I agreed to wear this tuxedo because everyone here is dressed similarly.

My eyes land on a familiar tattoo of a colorful phoenix, plainly visible on her shoulder blade under the thin strips of beaded material crisscrossing her back. Her dress is completely open on her back to just above her ass, and I immediately notice a new tattoo. Moving slowly up behind her to get a better look, it takes my breath away when I realize what it is.

Feeling the weight of eyes on me, I raise my gaze to find Travis watching me. Intensely staring me down, Travis narrows his eyes at me as he slowly snakes his arm around Andi’s waist, covering the tattoo as his arm moves into place. He takes his time raking his fingers across her exposed skin and around her hip before he pulls her into his side. She’s busy talking to someone else and absently steps into his space.

When he smirks at me with a shit-eating, fuck-you grin, I lose all semblance of control and charge at him full throttle. His shocked reaction fuels my carnal drive to knock him the fuck out. Just as I reach him and grab his jacket, both of our security teams react quickly to separate us.

Andi jerks her head around, oblivious to the silent taunts and wordless jabs that instigated the altercation. She reads my face easily and turns to look at Travis, her eyebrows rising in question to him. He can feel her stare, but he won’t move his eyes from mine.

Mack and Joe are standing in front of me and Brandon is behind me, holding me back. “Luke,” Joe hisses at me. “Fucking control yourself right now.”

“I got it,” I say, straightening and collecting myself.

My gaze strays to Andi, and she’s watching me closely. I feel someone move up beside me, and Andi’s eyes instantly harden again. Glancing sideways, I see Syndi at my side, and I wrap my arm around her waist. Andi follows my subtle movement before her eyes swing back to mine, unshed tears shining in the lights.

Travis takes her hand and starts to lead her away, and I call her name.

Turning to look at me, I dig the dog tag necklace she gave me out from under my collar, jerk it off my neck, and fling it at her. “You can have this back now.”

She catches it, looks at it for a second, and then glares at Syndi before turning her stony gaze back to me. “Why the hell would I want it?” she sneers before she throws it back at me and walks off.

“Didn’t like the show?” a new voice laughingly asks me.

“Luke, this is Steven Garrett, the CEO of Heavy Handed Boxing Gear,” Joe says to alert me.

Extending my hand, I shake his. “Luke Woods. Nice to meet you.”

“I’m impressed with you, son. You don’t take shit off anyone, do you?” he asks with a smile.

“No, sir. No one,” I reply.

“That’s what I like to hear. We should set up an official meeting, get to know each other better. You may be just the perfect fit for the image we want to project,” Steven says.

“Lucky for us both, my PR person is right here. She keeps up with my calendar, tells me where I’m supposed to be, and how I’m supposed to act.” I smile in return.

Steven gives Syndi his personal card with instructions to call his secretary to set up some time on his calendar. Maybe my hotheadedness isn’t completely unappealing after all.

We continue mingling with others, rotating through the room and meeting new people. I’ve been introduced to so many people, there’s no way I’ll remember who even half of them are or what they do.

One thing I haven’t missed is how Andi has avoided being in the same circles with me the entire time. I hear her laugh, see her smile, and feel her voice reverberate in my veins. With every heartbeat, she’s still in there, owning me and making it impossible to remove her from my life.

Even now, all I want to do is take her in my arms. She hasn’t been touchy-feely with Travis like he has been with her. They’ve posed for pictures together, the photographers arranging them in different scenes. But as soon as the photo is taken, she steps out of his personal space again.

Am I reading too much into this?

As she turns her back toward me to speak to someone, I see the new tattoo again and I’m dying to go over and ask her about it. She’s never more than a foot away from Travis, and I know I can’t approach her with him there. I’ll end up in jail the night before my fight if I get any closer to him.

She glances over her shoulder, her eyes searching the room until she finds me again. Our eyes meet and linger for too long for it to be a coincidence. Sliding my hands into my pockets, I shift my weight to one leg and let my eyes rake over her beautiful body. Her sleeved arm is on full display. Her hair cascades down, framing her face, and falls onto her shoulders. Her chest rises and falls faster, evidence of her increased breaths and my effect on her.

The spell is broken when Travis’s hand cups the side of her face and his mouth covers hers. I don’t waste time watching to see what happens next, because I can’t stand here and not do anything. Taking Syndi’s hand in mine, I decide this isn’t where I need to be tonight.

“I’m ready to go,” I say to Syndi.

“Give me five minutes. There’s someone I have to talk to before we leave or I’ll never get the chance again,” she states, but her tone of voice asks for permission.

“Take your time. I’ll be waiting outside,” I say and leave the arena.

TRAVIS

Leaning in to whisper into Andi’s ear, I wrap my arm around her waist. “We need to go. Our crew still has to break down the stage and these people won’t leave as long as we’re here.”

“Okay.” She smiles up at me.

Spreading the word as I say my goodnights to our fans, I realize I haven’t seen Katelyn anywhere in a while. I’m tempted to leave her behind, but I know there’ll be hell to pay if I do. Besides, she does do a lot for us, and I couldn’t be that mean to her.

Hearing raised voices coming from a small office down the back hall, my first thought is that Katelyn’s already working on the next deal for us by raking someone over the coals. When I reach the office, the door is barely cracked but I can clearly hear Katelyn.

“Have you lost your mind?” Katelyn sneers. “You were supposed to make her jealous, make her leave the tour to run back to Luke! Not run to Travis’s bed!”

“I’m sorry, Katelyn. But I love Luke, and I want to be the one he loves. That’ll never happen with Andi in the picture,” the other woman replies apologetically.

“Syndi,” Katelyn says with exasperation, “you don’t think I love Travis? She was just about to leave until you showed up on the news wearing her ring and that necklace. After that fiasco, everything between Andi and Travis changed. He stayed all night on the bus with her, and now they’re all lovey-dovey.”

“I know you don’t want to hear this, Katelyn, but Travis doesn’t love you. If he did, you’d know it by now. He’s obviously crazy about Andi. You need to let them be together.”

“So, you get what you want. Andi gets what she wants. And I’m the one left out in the cold when this was all my idea to begin with!” Katelyn yells.

Slowly pushing the door open, I lean against the doorframe and glare at the two conniving bitches. Katelyn tries to play it cool at first, but she quickly changes when she sees my anger tipping over the boiling point.

“You arranged all of this to get Andi to leave the tour? You better start explaining right fucking now,” I demand.

Syndi starts to leave the room when I block the door. “Where do you think you’re going?”

“Just giving you two some privacy.” She shrugs.

“By all means, stay and talk with us,” I say sarcastically. “You’ve evidently been all up in my business to this point anyway.”

She shrinks back and lowers her chin to her chest, keeping her eyes on the floor. She’s ashamed.
Good.

“Spill it,” I command Katelyn.

“What did you hear?”

“Quit stalling.”

“I had Syndi assigned as Luke’s public relations assistant through InMotion PR,” she starts, referring to the side business she started with her cousin. “I have a friend in the communications department of the boxing commission. She helped me arrange it.”

“Arrange what, exactly?” If she thinks she’s getting away with not telling me every single detail, she’s crazy as hell.

Her eyes flit around the room, trying to settle anywhere but on mine. “Arranging for Syndi to be Luke’s PR rep. Syndi was supposed to make Andi doubt Luke, make her jealous enough to leave the tour. I thought she’d put him first before her singing career.”

“Which one of you is responsible for leaking all the fake pictures and hype about Andi and me before there was even anything to talk about?” I ask.