Spider

I hear snippets.

“Hiya, sweets . . . see you soon . . . love . . .”

He laughs warmly.

“Tell him I’m going to bring you a puppy, love. See how Papa likes that. . . . who’s your favorite big brother, Bella?” he says, plain as day, and my chest constricts.

Bella!

Of course he knows Bella, Robert and Anne’s three-year-old. We both see her now and then—just never at the same time. I’ll show up for Christmas and then Robert will casually mention that Spider is arriving a few days after I leave. It’s weird and bizarre but I guess he just doesn’t want to see me.

“Bye, sweets. I love you. Tell Papa I’ll see him soon, okay? Also, tell him to lighten up on the carrots—you need more chocolate pudding.” He chuckles as he tucks the phone in his pocket, his body turning toward me. I steady myself against the wall, preparing for the moment he finally sees me.

Spider

“I NEED TO HIT THE loo,” I yell to Sebastian over the crowd as he orders another round of drinks from the downstairs bar inside Bono’s. I raise my glass of ginger ale and give him a smirk. Thanks to a damn good therapist, my art, and my father who’s been supportive, I’ve been clean for a while.

We’re celebrating with the crew because next week is our last concert and once the tour is done, Sebastian and I will be jetting off to different locations. Sebastian and company will be heading back to LA, where I used to live but have long since abandoned for a flat in London. It’s less hectic there, and it feels like home.

He gives me a chin nod and I take off, needing some distance from the noise so I can call Father. He’s tried to call me several times today, and this is the first opportunity I’ve had to get back to him.

I call and he tells me the location of my new place in the city. My head spins when he lets me know it’s the same building and the same floor where Rose lives. I’m not prepared yet to see her, but there’s little he can do. He doesn’t have anything else available, and the personal penthouse he owns on Park Avenue is currently being painted. I could get a hotel, but groupies always find a way in, and it’s loud when people walk up and down the halls at all hours of the day and night. I need peace and quiet. I need my own space.

So, I’m stuck in Greenwich Village.

Robert puts Bella on and I chat with her before I go. I tell them both goodbye and hang up the phone. I straighten up, about to head into the loo, when a shadowy female figure catches my eye under the staircase. I narrow my eyes as she ducks her head, a curtain of long auburn hair shadowing her face.

Feeling like I must be blocking the way, I immediately mutter an apology and give her room to pass.

She doesn’t pass.

I look at her again, this time with more discernment, trying to get a read on her features.

Is she a stalker? Reporter? Groupie?

I study her as she takes a tentative step out from the alcove. A sense of familiarity pricks at me.

Ruby red lips.

Long legs.

A short dress.

I swallow, my chest expanding as I inch in closer.

It can’t be. She isn’t supposed to be working tonight. I called earlier and checked with the manager to make sure.

It’s funny why I chose this place for our group tonight. It’s because I want to be where she’s been—without actually seeing her.

“Rose?”

Her name on my lips is like a blow to my heart.

“Spider.” She moves fully out from the shadows and the overhead lighting illuminates her face.

I suck in a sharp breath.

She’s different with the auburn hair. God, I can barely believe it’s her.

But it is . . .

She’s beautiful . . . magnified by a million.

Wearing a short beaded white dress with spaghetti straps, she stands there with a slight tilt to her chin, as if preparing to battle. Green eyes that once read my soul peer up at me. She reaches out to steady herself on the painted white brick of the wall.

I can barely breathe, and I don’t think she’s unaffected by me.

“What are you doing?” I ask. Such a stupid question.

Her mouth opens, but nothing comes out, until finally she clears her throat. “I work here . . . literally I’m a server.” Her breath and voice seem to gather strength as she speaks, her features settling into a cool mask as she composes herself.

Of course, I know this, but I can’t tell her how.

I clutch both my hands in my hair, just to stop myself from reaching out to her. I mean, it’s been my intention since I got clean to get her back, but I’ve been waiting . . . I don’t know what for. God, I’m scared.

I’m fucking terrified she’ll hate me.

I’m fucking terrified she’ll love me and then leave me.

I’m not prepared to see her tonight, and my heart pounds.

“You’re real then?”

I ask because there are nights when I think she is with me, nights when I was stoned or high and she was fuzzy image in the background.

“I am.”

I lean my shoulder against the wall, digging deep for some nonchalance. I’m fresh from a performance and feeling edgy; there’s no telling what I might say to her. “I’ve imagined this a thousand times . . . seeing you again.”

She flushes, the red color rising up her cheeks. “Yeah, I bet,” she says dryly. “I came to see you at a concert two years ago. I showed up at the stage door, but you obviously didn’t want to see me. It was a weak moment on my part. It’ll never happen again.” She shrugs. “You never manage to see me at the family holiday dinners either.”

Because it hurts to see what I lost.

Someone brushes past us as they exit the restroom, and I barely look at them.

I bite my lip. “I know. I’m busy. I go home when I can. Bella . . . she’s amazing. I’m crazy about her. She calls me “Spidie”.”

She nods, her lips flattening.

Fuck.

She’s angry with me.

Can you blame her?

She moves her head and a copper curl slides over her shoulder and down into the cleavage of her dress.

“I like your hair.”

Still stupid, Spider.

She swallows. “I . . . need to go. Oscar is upstairs . . .” Her voice trails off as she turns to leave.

I grab her arm. “Wait.”

“What?” She blinks down at my arm and then back up at me, swaying on her feet.

“Are you okay?”

She shakes her head, her eyes bright. “No . . . yes . . . I don’t know. I just didn’t expect to see you.”

My heart hammers. Fuck. She’s so . . . Rose . . . and my head is all over the place. “Are you glad you did?”

“No.”

“Rose!” Someone calls out her name. She turns her head and her face fills with something that looks like relief.

I turn to watch as Trenton approaches, wearing a gray suit, no longer a fresh young boy of seventeen. He kisses her on the cheek before whispering something in her ear that makes her smile.

My heart flops around like a dying fish.

“Trenton, you remember my stepbrother, Spider?” She gives me a brief and rather formal smile.

He grabs my hand, shaking it firmly, looking every inch the polished businessman he clearly strives to be. More gregarious than I recall, he slaps me on the shoulder, and I notice he’s been drinking, a lot, if the intensity of the smell of bourbon is anything to go by.

“Of course, the music guy. Hope you’re not here to steal my girl from me.” He laughs and glances at Rose, who attempts a half-smile. “She’s always listening to your music, man. Loves it.”