Chapter Thirty-Four:
Braxton
“Dude, wake the hell up!” I hear an angry voice bark, and then I feel myself being aggressively shaken. Opening my eyes, the room comes back into focus, and I realize that I passed out at our rehearsal space.
Cade is standing above me, glaring down into my eyes. I’m too hungover for this.
“What?” I ask annoyed, shielding my eyes from the light. I have a pounding headache.
He doesn’t even flinch from my harsh tone, just stays firmly planted with his arms crossed. “What the fuck is this?” He brings his hand to eye level, and I notice a silver band on his left ring finger.
“I don’t know, man. How much did we have to drink last night?” My eyes trail over the rest of the practice space. Red is on the floor in a heap, as usual; Spencer is cuddled up on one of the couches with his girlfriend, and Geo is also in a far corner of the room with an unfamiliar female. The whole band is accounted for.
Suddenly, the door of the practice space opens, and the gorgeous girl Cade met last night walks in. She is carrying a drink carrier packed with coffee and a bag of what smells like bagels. She is much more put together than the rest of us. I’m surprised she’s so awake and alert considering the heavy drinking we all took part in last night.
She places the drinks and food on the dirty coffee table, moving empty beer bottles and soda cans to the side. “Good morning, husband,” she says with a smirk and then kisses Cade on the lips.
Shit. It’s all coming back. The instant chemistry, the copious amounts of shots, and then a shotgun wedding. None of us were even dressed for the occasion, but we didn’t let it deter us. We ended up at the courthouse around the time it opened. Partied all night and then accompanied my best friend to get married. Suddenly, I realize just how terrible the idea was to begin with.
Cade is having trouble stringing together a full sentence. His eyes are dancing between me, his ring, and his new ‘wife.’
He rushes to her, grabbing her left hand and examines the ring on her finger. “Where did you get this?”
She pulls her small hand back, almost offended. “You gave it to me!”
He reaches for it again, his eyes wide. “That is my grandmother’s ring.”
She laughs uncomfortably. “Like I said, you gave it to me. Are you okay?” Pressing the back of her hand to his forehead, she checks his temperature.
“You’re telling me this is real? This isn’t some kind of fucked up prank you all are pulling on me?” Cade’s eyes are manic. I can only imagine what is running through his head.
The poor girl stares back at him with a sad expression. “Okay, I knew you were drunk, but you didn’t seem that far gone.”
Cade is breathing heavily, pacing about the room. “Well, you’re about to look at me in an even worse light,” he pauses, gathering his thoughts, “because I don’t even know your name.”
She shakes her head, frustration building on her face. “Well, you made up a name for me, Bella, which you said meant beautiful in Italian.”
Cade rubs his hand over his face. “So you’re telling me we were piss-ass drunk, didn’t know a thing about each other, but decided to get married any way?”
She glances around the room. “Yeah, basically.”
He groans. “Then why the hell did we get married?”
She stares back at him, her mouth hanging open. “You honestly don’t remember anything?”
Cade shakes his head. He’s blacked out a few times before from heavy drinking, but this takes the cake.
Bella, or whatever her name is, glares back at him. “My name is Pooja; I’m not officially legal here in this country, so you offered to marry me so I could stay permanently.”
Cade stares back at her, jaw to the floor. “Where are you from?”
“Dubai,” she answers simply.
He swallows, staring back at me with a helpless expression. “Does Emerson know?”
I shake my head. “I don’t think any of us had time to talk.”
“Good, let’s keep it that way,” he replies.
Cade is in way over his head. I feel for him, I do. This is something you would see on The Hangover. Not something that happens in real life… or maybe that’s what movies have been based on all along. Small truths and some lies.
***
“Have you spoken to your brother today?” I ask casually, grabbing a glass from the cupboard and turning on the faucet, helping myself to water.
I take a long gulp, needing to rehydrate after so much alcohol. I have to stop drinking so heavily.
Emerson is staring back at me concerned. “No, why?”
I shrug. “No reason. I should let him tell you.”
“What?” she exclaims, rushing toward me. When it comes to Cade, she has blinders on.
“It’s not a big deal really.” There is no way in hell I’m going to dive into what happened last night. It’s not my place.
“Braxton, you can’t just say something like that and then not elaborate. That’s messed up.”
I sigh. “He probably doesn’t remember, seeing as how obliterated he was last night, but Spencer and Cassi broke the news to the band that they are moving to California soon so she can go to UCLA.” Technically, I’m not lying.
Emerson’s mouth drops open. “What is Spencer going to do?”
“You know Spencer; he’s one of the most talented people I know. He’ll have no trouble getting plenty of paid gigs. I don’t think much will change; he’ll still play music every day… just not with us.”
“But you guys are doing so well right now; you have labels who have been watching your every move. He’s such a big part of ADS. Are you guys going to replace him?” She’s making valid points, asking normal questions, but it’s stressing me out.
“Can we not talk about this?” I ask, gulping down the rest of the water and then placing the glass in the sink.
She nods with a sad look on her face. “Okay, but I’m here if you decide you do want to talk about it. I love Spencer too; we all love Spencer.”
I reach out for her and pull her into me, kissing her deeply. I’m so wrapped up in her that I don’t hear the front door open or the heavy footsteps. Neither of us have a clue what is about to happen until we are literally pried apart, and Cade is up in my face.
“What the fuck, Braxton?” he bellows.
Emerson is so shaken up that it takes her a moment to register that our secret is out, for good. “Cade!” she screams.
“How long?” he growls.
“Dude, it never stopped. I know you tried to keep us apart, but I really care about her,” I say gently. This is my best friend, and although I made my choice long ago, I’m still going to fight to have them both in my life.
Cade’s eyes grow darker and he steps toward me. His hand is on my throat faster than I can process a clear thought.
“No!” Emerson shouts frantically, rushing to get in between us. “You’re not going to do this. Not here, not ever.”
She somehow manages to slip in between us, and she pleads with Cade, “I love him.”
The second the words leave her lips, his grip releases around my neck, his arm falling to the side. It’s the first time I’ve seen the anger and betrayal leave his eyes. Tears begin trailing down his face. “How do you know?” he asks in a soft voice.
Emerson pulls him to the couch, sitting down beside him. “He’s not trying to take your place. He would never try to do that. I would never want that. But he makes me happy, Cade.”
Cade looks at her through teary eyelashes. “What if he hurts you?”
She shrugs. “It’s a definite possibility, but I know Mom and Dad would want me to be with someone who makes me smile, and makes me laugh. Someone I feel comfortable around and someone who makes me feel safe. Don’t ya think?”
Her words really hit home with Cade, and he begins sobbing, clutching on to her for support. “I never meant to ruin your life; I was just trying to protect you. I couldn’t lose you too.”
Now Emerson is crying, and everything is a mix of snot and tears. I’m not one for the waterworks, but I’m having trouble holding it together myself.
“I know, you’re my big brother and nothing can change that. You will always be my number one.” After a few more moments of loving words, they hug it out for a long while, finally being able to squash the past mistakes.
Cade looks at me with a fallen face. “Did you tell her, or should I?”
I throw my hands up in surrender. “That secret wasn’t mine to tell.”
He nods at me, a show of appreciation. “I’m sorry about the whole…”
I wave his apology off. “Don’t worry about it. We’re brothers and always will be, blood-related or not.”
He forces a smile on his face before he turns back to Emerson, ready to spill the beans. I don’t need to hear the story, so I slip outside, allowing them privacy.