“YOU READY TO go, Princess?” Bass’s large frame fills my bedroom doorway. He leans against the doorframe with his hands shoved in the front pockets of his jeans.
“No,” I reply honestly, shaking my head and fighting back the tears. “I’m not ready. I know he’s not physically here, but he is here. He’s everywhere in this house. This is where he died, B.” I cover my face with my hands to hide the unpreventable ugly cry. “I still feel him. I can’t leave him and all of the memories we made in this house behind.” Pulling my hands from my face, I wipe my damp palms down the front of my dress. “I’m sorry, B. I can’t do this.”
It’s only been six months since my dad passed and already everything is changing. I know I promised Dr. Ramos that I’d try, but I don’t think I’m ready to make this move.
Bass wipes away his own tears as he takes a step forward and pulls me into his arms. I thought I was ready for a fresh start and a chance to be a normal teenager for a while, but I can’t leave the only home I’ve ever known and all the memories it holds.
I can’t leave my dad.
Bass pulls back and cups my cheek. “Princess, we’re not leaving him. He lives in here now.” He taps my chest. “And the memories are in here.” He moves his finger to my temple. “We have to move forward. You have to trust Emerson to do what’s best for you and you have to trust me to take care of you.” He lifts my chin so I’m looking up at him. “Do you trust us?”
With a slight nod and a heavy sigh, I grab my oversized handbag and follow Bass to the door. Grabbing the handle, I glance over my shoulder one last time before closing the door on my past.
“GOOD AFTERNOON, MISS King,” George, our pilot, greets as I step inside the brand-new jet called The Jaybird, of course. A gift from my dad.
“Hi, George.” I return the greeting with a hug before scanning the interior of my new jet. Cream-colored leather sofa and bucket seats with a shiny wood-grain table between them. A small kitchen and a bedroom with a queen-sized bed and full-sized bathroom, complete with a bathtub and stand-up shower.
It’s beautiful.
A bit over the top, but I know his heart was in the right place.
I always had nice things growing up, but I’ve never thought of myself as spoiled. I knew my parents had money, but they weren’t the type to spend it on extravagant material things just to show off their wealth. Our garage wasn’t filled with expensive sports cars and toys. My dad had one car, a 2013 Range Rover Sport, which he gave to me when I turned sixteen. We lived in a beautiful house on Malibu Beach and had a couple of vacation homes—a villa in St. Thomas and an apartment in New York City—all of which they considered good investments. They were smart with their money.
My parents taught me early on not to take life or this lifestyle for granted because it could all be gone tomorrow. If I wanted nice things, I had to work for them.
So, I did.
I started earning my own money writing music. I built up a nice bank account for myself, too. I didn’t have the kind of money my parents had, but I could get by for a while if I had to. The best part is that it’s mine. And I haven’t even started earning royalties from Jaybird yet.
Just a few days after the charity dinner, Mom and I met with my dad’s attorneys, including Jack Reynolds, for the reading of his will.
Yes, it took me three months to finally get there.
When all was said and done, I had more money than I could spend in a lifetime, most of it set up in a trust to be disbursed monthly. He also left me the villa in St. Thomas—which used to be my favorite place until a certain someone ruined it for me—as well as the apartment in New York City. Forty percent of King Records—once I turn eighteen—making me the majority shareholder. And my own private jet.
He left me everything.
According to my mom, those investments had always been meant for me.
And why would he buy me a jet, when King Records already had two? It’s not like I traveled all over the world. When I asked, Jack’s eyes shifted to my mom with a look that clearly said “This is where you jump in.”
She shifted in her seat beside me. I turned my head in time to see her blow out a breath before she said, “Jayla, we’re leaving California. Indefinitely.”
Turns out, my dad had this planned all along. Mom wasn’t exactly thrilled with his plan, considering it involved us moving back to her hometown, Heritage Bay, the one place she swore she’d never go back to. However, the rest of the family is ecstatic that we’re coming home. Mom told me that my dad built us a new home. All I know is that it’s in a private gated community only minutes away from my grandparents and the rest of the Mackenzies.
I’ll be attending Heritage Academy with my cousin Cole. Mom, along with the Mayhem Foundation, has been in contact with the principal of Heritage Academy, who was more than excited to be the first school to represent the Project Mayhem class. This year, the foundation gave out nine scholarships and, if things go well, the class will expand next year, meaning more scholarships and more teachers. I look forward to being a part of the first Project Mayhem class.
Before leaving California, I had a few loose ends to tie up. I met with Miles Townsend and gave him an interview. The article came out two days ago in the August issue of Rhythm & Riffs, which I plan to read during the plane ride to Florida. There’s a cartoon version of me on the cover because Mom doesn’t want pictures of me floating around on the Internet and risking the chance someone will recognize me. Since the album release has been moved, there’s no hurry to expose my identity.
The cartoon version of me came out a little sexier than she’d expected. Personally, I think I look pretty damn hot.
After my interview, Miles and I hung out for a little while. He’s a cool guy and he had some interesting stories about my dad, Andrew, Tommy, and Chaz with his dad, Davie. Miles proposed doing a tribute article in next year’s February issue, with the whole magazine dedicated to the memory of Marcus King. I loved it and, of course, I bawled my eyes out. Miles agreed to let me read the article before it went to print .
I also posed for Anna Sizemore’s “Girl Next Door” fashion campaign in exchange for her assistance in designing some Project Mayhem T-shirts and hats. Working with Anna was an awesome experience and I can now check modeling off my list of new things to try.
Now here we are, Mom, Bass, Grace, and me, on my new jet and heading to Heritage Bay, Florida.