Heavy Metal (A Badboy Rockstar Romance) (30 page)

“I’m home!”

I looked up from the stack of paperwork in front of me to see Brandon walking in the door of our lush hotel room.  He looked incredibly sexy in his ripped jeans and black t-shirt.  And there was an uncharacteristic lightness about him, as though a weight had been lifted.

Since the terrifying abduction incident, life had pretty much returned to normal.  Brandon and I had been busying ourselves with plans for our new cottage in Maine, as well as putting time and effort into our individual projects.

Over the past few weeks, I had been throwing myself into becoming a mentor for survivors of abuse.  I was enrolled in a counseling course and had even had the opportunity to train with a telephone hotline that offered support to individuals in crisis. 

Sometimes the learning process was emotionally taxing.  Sometimes it was even downright heartbreaking.  But I also found it empowering and very rewarding.  I loved making a difference in people’s lives, and it helped me feel like my ugly experience with Carl hadn’t been all in vain.  Turning a bad situation into something constructive felt good.

After Brandon and I had taken a bit of time to relax and recover in Maine, he had regretfully announced he had business to tend to.  He needed to meet up with the rest of the band in Los Angeles.  He hadn’t wanted to go and I hadn’t
wanted
him to go.  So I had gone with him. 

A hotel wasn’t a home. 

I longed to be back in Maine where we were trying to build our life together.  It was proving difficult since we were almost never there!  But I was more than willing to make certain sacrifices for the love of my life.

“How was your meeting?” I asked as Brandon leaned down to kiss me hello.

“Eventful,” he replied, pulling up a chair so he could sit across from me.  “As it turns out, the other guys in the band are feeling the exact same way I am.  They’re sick of being jerked around and treated like pawns by shady management teams and record labels.  They’re done with it.”

“They’re done with the band?” I asked in disbelief.

“For now, yeah,” he nodded. 

“What...what does that mean?”

“We’re not calling it a breakup.  None of us were comfortable with that or the way fans would react to the news.  But first thing tomorrow morning, we’re announcing that we’re going on an extended hiatus.  That gives us the option of playing again in the future, but we’re under no obligation to do so unless we want to.  If we put out anything new, it will be on our terms.”

“What about your contract?” I asked, wide eyed.  Brandon’s news was too good to be true.

“That’s the best part,” he replied.  “Today we met with a team of lawyers who went through the contract with a fine tooth comb.  The record company has breached several contract terms, which apparently renders the whole thing void.  So we’re legally released from our obligations without any repercussions.”

“Are you kidding me?” I demanded, barely able to contain my excitement.  “That’s amazing!”

“Right?” he grinned, looking every bit as ecstatic as I felt.  “I finally feel free.”

“So what do we do now?” I asked happily.

“We head back to Maine?” he suggested.

“Sounds good,” I agreed as Mittens strolled over and jumped onto Brandon’s lap.

“Do you think the cat will be upset that we’re not going to be touring?” Brandon asked.  “I still can’t believe he likes being on the road so much.  The way he gets all excited about getting to ride in any vehicle is kind of crazy.  I’m pretty sure he thinks he’s a dog.”

“He might be disappointed,” I agreed with a smile.  “But he’s going to love exploring all that wide open space at our new place.  Just think of all the trouble he’ll be able to get into!” I joked.

“Well we can still take him on long car rides,” Brandon vowed.  “I don’t think I’ll ever want to give up my spur of the moment road trips...not even when I fade into obscurity and nobody recognizes me anymore.  I love my aimless driving in the countryside.”

“I doubt you’ll ever fade into obscurity,” I replied.

“I wouldn’t mind if I did,” he shrugged.  “I still want to write and play music in my spare time, but I think I want to focus on other things for the time being.”

“Like what?” I asked.

He leaned forward and surveyed the pile of papers I had been going through.  “It looks like you were busy while I was at my meeting,” he said instead of answering my question.  “How’s all your training coming along?”

“Good,” I replied.  “I love what I’m doing.”

“It shows,” he replied.  And then, somewhat shyly, he confessed, “I want to be like you.”

“What do you mean?”

“I can’t get what happened out of my head,” Brandon explained.  “I don’t mean that in a bad way, necessarily.  It’s just...I keep thinking about that poor woman and what she must have been going through to wind up in such a bad place.”

Nodding sympathetically, I murmured my agreement.

“I keep wishing someone would have helped her when she was too sick to help herself,” Brandon said.  “And I keep wondering what could have been done differently and how her care could have been improved after the incident in Germany.  So I want to be like you.  I want to help people like you’re doing.”

“That’s fantastic,” I told him sincerely.  “What do you have in mind?”

“I want to start a charitable organization to help people suffering from mental illnesses like hers,” he replied.  “I’ll admit I’m in way over my head and don’t know the first place to start.  But I’m going to figure it out.”

“You are?” I asked, impressed.

“Mmhmm,” he replied, sounding excited.  “I’m going to get in touch with some people who are way more knowledgeable than me – doctors and patients and social workers and politicians.  I want to get the ball rolling as soon as I can.  I want to be an advocate for those who can’t advocate for themselves.”

“You’re the best,” I smiled, touched by his empathy and desire to help people.

“Nah,” he said dismissively.  “You just put an idea in my head, that’s all.”

“So, should I start packing for Maine?” I asked.  The entire hotel room was a mess, as though the contents of my suitcase had thrown up.  I had been so engrossed in what I was reading that I hadn’t even noticed until then.

“Yeah, sure,” he agreed.  “But I was thinking maybe we could make a little detour first?”

“Okay.  Where are we going?” I asked as Mittens began to mewl at me, demanding food.

“I don’t know about you, but I could really go for a rollercoaster ride,” Brandon replied.

*****

The next day we hopped on a private plane, which Mittens inexplicably loved.  Then, while the cat napped at a nearby hotel, Brandon took me back to the very same amusement park we had previously visited together. 

Once again, he’d had to rent the entire place out for security reasons.  It was our own private paradise to explore at our leisure.  It was fantastic!

We spent the afternoon playing carnival games and eating cotton candy.  In fact, we didn’t even get around to rides until the sun was beginning to go down.  That was when Brandon looked at me and grinned.  “Rollercoaster time?” he asked, looking like an overgrown kid.

I hesitated.  “You know what?  I think I’m going to sit this one out.”

“Are you alright?” he asked with concern.

“Yeah, I’m fine!” I assured him.  “I think I overdid the cotton candy, though.  You go ahead.”

“Are you sure?”

“Absolutely,” I smiled.  “Wave at me from the top, alright?”

“You bet,” he promised.

Taking a seat on a nearby bench, I relished the opportunity to put my feet up.  Smiling contentedly, I watched as Brandon was strapped into the rollercoaster car and made a slow ascent to the top of the ride.  He dutifully waved at me from the top.

Then he did something slightly vulgar before going over the edge.  I burst out laughing.

“Can I go again?” Brandon hollered to me from the car when the ride was over.

“Go as many times as you want!” I called back, perfectly happy to stay put.  “Have fun!”

As it turned out, Brandon went for three more rounds on the roller coaster before stumbling off.  He looked slightly green and a bit unsteady on his feet, but was in high spirits.  He sat down beside me on the bench, letting out a groan as he did so.

“Too many rollercoaster rides?” I teased.

“Maybe,” he replied, reaching down to retie his shoe.

“You’re not going to hurl on me, are you?” I demanded.

“Probably not,” he replied.  “But I make no promises.”

“Are you ready to go back to the hotel?” I asked.

“Almost,” he replied.  “There was kind of one more thing I wanted to do, if you’re up for it?”

“As long as it doesn’t involve a rollercoaster, I’m in,” I told him.

“Good.  Come with me.”

Standing up, Brandon took my hand in his.  Then he led me across the amusement park to an area I recognized immediately.  In fact, it had been burned into my memory following my first visit to the amusement park.  I lit up when I saw it, suddenly getting a little burst of energy.

“Look at the carousel!” I exclaimed excitedly when I laid eyes on it.  “It’s so beautiful!”

It was all lit up, and was playing sweet, melodic music.  Behind it, the sun was beginning to set.  The sky was like a canvas painted with brilliant blues, breathtaking purples and vibrant oranges.  It was, perhaps, the most gorgeous sight I had ever seen.

“Are you up for a ride?” Brandon asked, unable to take his eyes off me as he took in my reaction.

“Yes, of course!” I said eagerly.

We climbed onto the carousel and he helped me onto the back of a beautiful winged unicorn.  Then he nodded to the ride attendant, who turned the crank.  We began to move at a slow, leisurely pace.

“Aren’t you going to get on a horse?” I asked Brandon as he stood next to me.

“No.”

“Alright then,” I shrugged, thoroughly enjoying my ride.

Brandon let go of my hand then.  Suddenly his legs seemed to fold beneath him and he was down on his knee.  Alarmed, I immediately assumed he was feeling ill after all those back-to-back rollercoaster rides.  Poor guy!

“Are you okay?” I demanded, wondering if I needed to have the attendant stop the ride.

Brandon swallowed hard and ran his hand through his hair before answering. 

“To be perfectly honest, I’ve actually never been better,” he replied, reaching into his pocket.  Then he produced a small black velvet ring box and looked up at me rather shyly.  His eyes had never looked greener – and he had never looked more nervous.

Suddenly it all made sense.

Stunned, I could only gawk at him as he reached up and once again took my hand. 

“Hayley, you’re my whole world.  There’s not a lot in my life that I’m sure about – I’m still figuring out where I’m going.  All I know is I’m sure about you and I want you by my side.  I love you so much.  Without you, none of this means anything.  Will you marry me?”

With tears welling up in my eyes and a lump forming in my throat, all I could do was nod.

Brandon slipped the ring – a gorgeous princess cut diamond ring, to be exact – onto my finger.  It sparkled under the twinkling lights in the most mesmerizing way.  I could hardly take my eyes off it.  It was magnificent. 

But even though I was distracted by the diamond, I still noticed that Brandon’s hands were shaking every bit as much as mine were.  I had never seen him like that, so vulnerable and timid when he was usually so strong.  Apparently I had brought him to his knees – literally and metaphorically.  It was adorable.

He stood up and kissed me tenderly, his hands sliding into my hair.  Leaning into him, I didn’t want the kiss to end.  It was so perfect, so magical. 

I felt dizzy and giddy, my face flushed with excitement.  I was going to marry the man of my dreams!  It felt so surreal, but it was truly happening.  Happy endings weren’t just a myth after all and dreams did come true...even for an ordinary girl like me.

“Did you go on so many rollercoaster rides because you love rollercoaster rides, or were you working up the nerve to pop the question?” I teased as the carousel came to a stop and Brandon helped me down. 

“A little of both,” he admitted sheepishly.  “I was going over it in my head, trying to remember everything I wanted to say.  I think I screwed the proposal up,” he admitted. 

“What do you mean?”

“I’m pretty sure there were things I meant to say that I forgot,” he explained regretfully.  “I kind of went blank when I saw how gorgeous you were sitting up there waiting for me to say something.  I should have written it down.”

“You didn’t screw anything up,” I told him firmly, unable to contain my jubilation.  “The proposal was perfect, Brandon.  This entire day was perfect and I will never forget it!  I love you so much.”

“I love you too.  Should we head home?” he asked, slinging an arm around my shoulder.

“Yes please.”