Play Me (Jaded Ivory Book 5) Read online

  “And on guitar we have Jackson Hadden.”

  I waved to the crowd, but my eyes were focused on Cole as he walked across the stage. What was he doing?

  He took the mic from her hand, placing it in the stand, and handed her the peach rose in his fingers. The same kind he used to send to every show before she agreed to speak to him again.

  It didn’t make sense to me why Cole would interrupt our show. I peered over my shoulder to see if Sawyer had any clue as to what was going on. A huge smile lit his face, his head nodding up and down.

  When I turned back it was to see Cole down on one knee holding a box out to Mari. My mind, unbidden, went immediately to Megan. The love you could see between Mari and Cole made my chest ache. We could’ve had that, had she not traded it in for secrets and deceit. And she still clung to the lies as if they were her lifeline to a reality that didn’t exist. Disgust tried to bleed through me again.

  The sound of the crowd going wild yanked me from my thoughts. Mari knelt on the ground with her arms around Cole’s neck. They stayed that way for a moment before both of them stood. Mari returned to the microphone as Cole left the stage like nothing extraordinary just happened. I clapped my hands and sent a smile in his direction. As much as seeing Megan again had me all twisted up, I wouldn’t let it ruin my happiness for my friends. Not like I let Megan almost ruin my friendship with Monty.

  After Mari finished introducing herself, we started back in on the set list. If the crowd had been excited before, their energy had increased tenfold. The whole arena vibrated, making it hard to worry about all the bullshit, and helped to just focus on the music.

  Sweat dripped down my temple as we played the last notes of the final song in the set. The cheering of the crowd filled the stage and the lights dimmed. Stupid ankle making everything more difficult than it needed to be. The stagehand from earlier returned with a towel and my crutches. I took the towel from his hands and wiped my brow.

  “Thanks.”

  The crowd chanted our name as we cleared the stage, me barely making it across the stage on crutches. If I had my way, I wouldn’t leave the house again until I was done with the stupid things. Better to spend two weeks in front of the TV instead of trying not to fall on my face with every step.

  The second I made it off the stage, I saw everyone surrounding Mari and Cole. Jenna and Allana were practically screeching in their excitement. I smiled at Cole and Mari. “Congratulations. I’d give you a hug, but I’m afraid I’d fall over.”

  “Thanks.” Mari wrapped her arms around my waist, careful to not knock us both over. Cole nodded at me when she let go and moved onto Heath.

  As I watched each one of my friends share congratulations with the newly engaged couple, my eyes strayed to the way Sawyer and Reagan stared at one another and I knew it wouldn’t be long before I was the last man standing. The perpetual third wheel.

  I’d forever be the only bachelor in the group and no amount of love and romance surrounding me would change that.

  9

  Jackson

  “Hey, man, you here?” Heath’s voice traveled down the hall from the door.

  “Yeah,” I called. “Where else would I be?”

  He shrugged as he appeared at the end of the hall. “Never know if Monty or someone else picked you up to get you out of here for a bit.”

  I shook my head. “Not worth the effort. Come to keep me company?”

  He laughed and walked around the coffee table. “I brought something—” His gaze stopped on the TV. “What the hell are you watching? You must really be bored.”

  I lifted the remote, hitting the off button. “Don’t blame me, there’s nothing on daytime TV.”

  He rolled his eyes. “You have every channel ever made. If you can’t find anything on there, watch something online.”

  “Let’s not worry about my TV watching habits. What did you bring me?” For the first time since he came in, I noticed the large manila envelope in his hand.

  “Just a few things I need you to look over.”

  I narrowed my eyes. “Anything specific?”

  “Not really, but I figured since you had time on your hands, right now would be the perfect time.”

  I reached out for the envelope, but he kept it in his hands. “When do you need it back by?”

  Something passed over his face, but as quick as it appeared, it was gone. Weird. Either I wouldn’t like what was in that envelope or boredom had me looking for things that weren’t there, just to give me something to do.

  “Whenever. I have to run and pick up Mia but give me a call if you have any questions.”

  “Okay,” I said, drawing out the words. Heath was acting really fucking weird. Ever since the night of the charity concert when his phone kept going off.

  He handed over the envelope and waved as he walked to the door. I dropped it down on the couch next to me.

  “Don’t forget, call me if you need anything.”

  “I will. My next appointment isn’t until next week, so until then, I’m stuck here unless you guys take me somewhere.”

  He chuckled. “Enjoy the time to relax. You know we have a lot of grueling weeks ahead of us in a few months. We’ll be happy for the time off then.”

  “I’d be happy with the time off if I could do anything. Until the doc clears me, I’m stuck.”

  “We’ll make sure you get out in the next few days.” He glanced down at his watch. “I gotta go. I’ll see you later.”

  When I heard the door shut, I picked up the remote and turned the TV back on. I didn’t like so much silence in the place. Being alone was fine as long as there was some kind of background noise.

  Until now, I didn’t understand all of Monty’s bitching about everyone going home before he met Allana about everyone ditching him to go home. It never bothered me, except now when I couldn’t get anywhere on my own. With my foot still needing to be elevated, I tried to remind myself I wouldn’t be able to do anything anyway.

  The credits for the movie I’d been watching started to roll. Out of the corner of my eye, the envelope caught my attention. Up until that moment, I’d almost forgotten about it. Heath hadn’t made a big deal out of it, and I’d been so caught up in what I’d been watching that I’d pushed it out of my head.

  My curiosity now piqued, I picked up the envelope, wanting to know why Heath had acted so weird when he dropped it off earlier.

  Undoing the clasp, I turned it upside down only to find it full of a bunch of small envelopes. Some smaller manila ones, others a normal letter size. I picked up the closest letter sized one and tore open the back and pulled out the fold piece of paper inside.

  What was all this?

  I opened the letter and the first line made me drop the paper like it had burned me. What the hell had Heath brought me? No way had I seen that right. There was no way he’d help.

  I snatched it up again to make sure I wasn’t seeing things. The symbol and information in the letterhead was for the college we all attended. I read a little lower.

  To Miss Megan Randall,

  Heath had talked to Megan. I dropped the paper again and snatched up my phone. Blood roared through my ears as I hit send on Heath’s number.

  “Hey,” he answered on the third ring.

  “Don’t fucking ‘hey’ me. When did you talk to that bitch?”

  “Jackson—”

  “No,” I snapped. “You told me to call if I had questions. And I wanna know why the hell you talked to her.”

  He was quiet for a little too long for my patience.

  “Heath!” I yelled into the phone.

  Under normal circumstances I wouldn’t let Megan Randall bother me, the last two weeks had been the exception. One of those times where she tried to lie through her teeth about why she left in the first place. I knew it was irrational. I was way too old for this shit. Didn’t stop me from getting pissed off that my ‘friend’ went behind my back. “I heard you.” He sighed. “I also said call if you hav
e questions about what’s in the envelope. Everything else I’ll explain after you go through it all.”

  “And what makes you think I haven’t?”

  “Because if you had, you wouldn't be yelling at me. Now, you have some reading to do. Look through all the envelopes, then we’ll talk.” The call disconnected before I really had a chance to let him have it.

  I lifted my arm to hurl my phone across the room when I caught sight of my booted foot. Getting a new phone with crutches would be too difficult. With an extreme amount of effort, I forced myself to drop it onto the couch.

  Moving the papers aside, I lifted my foot down from the pillow. A drink and more ice were definitely on my to do list. I grabbed my crutches and slowly made my way to the kitchen. I refilled the ice pack and tied it to one side of the crutches. My foot seemed to weigh a hundred pounds as I did my best to keep it off the ground while I filled the bag.

  I opened the fridge and grabbed a beer. Dropping the bottle opener in one pocket and the bottle in the other, I looped my arms over the crutches and took myself back to the couch.

  With a snarl at the papers that still sat next to me, I popped the top off the bottle and took a long swig of the cool liquid.

  I hefted my foot back onto the pillow before popping the Velcro on the front and covering my ankle with ice. The bruises had gotten a little darker, but a few of the first ones to appear that day had gotten a greenish quality to them.

  I tipped the bottle up again, taking long pulls from it, hoping the alcohol could burn away the frustration rising inside me.

  With each sip of the beer, my resolve grew to prove to Heath what an evil, twisted liar Megan was. Then with no one else to help her, she’d be out of my life for good.

  The bottle empty, I leaned forward to set it on the coffee table.

  Sitting back, I closed my eyes. The only way to prove she lied was to go through the papers Heath had brought. Even if I had no desire to deal with it at all, this was my one chance to push her out of my head for good.

  With a groan, I picked up the letter and started at the top—again.

  To Miss Megan Randall,

  This letter is to inform you of the school’s decision to revoke your academic scholarship. While we understand that the charges against you were dropped, your actions of underage drinking are still unbecoming of our expectations of the student body at Greenville University.

  We’ve carefully reviewed the matter at hand, as well as your appeal. However, at this time we believe it is in the best interest of the school to part ways with you when it comes to monetary support to attend this institution.

  You may still continue your classes for the spring semester once complete payment is made in full to the bursar’s office.

  Thank you for your attention to this matter,

  Maxwell Stiner

  Dean of Students

  I read the note once, twice, three times, but my brain was still struggling to keep up. I looked for something, anything out of the ordinary to tell me the letter was fake. A sinking feeling started in the pit of my stomach by the fourth read through.

  Megan had lost her scholarship. She hadn’t lied. At least not about that. It still didn’t explain why she disappeared off the face of the earth, or how she’d gotten caught drinking underage when she was on break.

  I got arrested.

  The words floated through my head before I could stop them or realize what they meant in this whole strange scenario.

  Curiosity made me pick up the other two manila envelopes. I opened the first and pulled out the contents. A packet of papers and a newspaper clipping fell out.

  Minors Arrested in Large Drug Bust

  I scanned the article, but it didn’t mention any names, just ages. Apparently the party had been busted by the cops after a call to report underage drinking. Once they got there, they’d found drugs all over the house, enough to arrest the homeowners with intent to sell, but they also arrested at least half of the partygoers for having drugs or drug paraphernalia on them.

  My stomach twisted even more as I set the article down and looked back at the packet in my other hand.

  It was a transcript of a court hearing for one Megan Randall.

  Shit. She’d been one of the ones arrested for drugs.

  Except it didn’t make sense. In all the time I’d known her, Megan never touched a single one. Alcohol yes, but drugs—never.

  Needing another drink to get through the rest of what was in the envelopes. I hobbled on the crutches back to the fridge. My shoulders burned by the time I made it back to the couch. And before I looked at another thing, I opened the bottle, chugging the contents. The empty bottle fell to the floor with a loud clang as I turned my attention back to the papers in my hand.

  Turned out Megan went to the party with a friend from high school. When the party got busted, one of the guys there shoved the heroin in her bag to save his own ass. Megan, along with the court appointed attorney, were able to prove it and get the charges dropped.

  I read through it at least two more times before I set it to the side.

  Why didn’t she tell me all of this from the beginning? And how the hell had she become a nurse?

  The only reason she could go to school, much less Greenville had been her academic scholarship. Without it, it made sense she’d have to go home again.

  The last little envelope eyed me like an animal about to pounce on its prey. I knew I wouldn’t like whatever I found there. Didn’t stop me from reaching over and picking it up.

  I sucked in a deep breath before tearing into it. No letters this time. I turned it upside down and dumped the contents onto my lap.

  Pictures.

  I picked up the first one. It was of a base camp in the desert, a group of people in fatigues. The next one was of group of military personnel standing in front of the tank. Picture after picture was of a group of people in the military. It wasn’t until I reached the sixth picture that everything fell into place. This one wasn’t of a group in fatigues but a woman in a dress uniform in front of a flag. A woman I’d recognize anywhere.

  Megan.

  She’d joined the goddamn army to finish her nursing degree. How did I not know this? I picked the bottle off the floor and hurled it across the room. It shattered against the wall, glass flying everywhere.

  My chest tightened. I wanted to know why she didn’t tell me this from the beginning. Snatching my phone off the couch, I hit send.

  The call connected, but I didn’t wait for a greeting. “Why didn’t she tell me any of this at the time?”

  “Well, hello to you too, Jackson,” Heath drawled.

  “Don’t start, Heath. Why didn’t she tell me?”

  “Give me a minute. I’ll be right up.”

  The phone disconnected. Right up? He was supposed to be at home across town. I heard the front door open.

  “I thought you went home,” I called down the hall.

  Heath appeared at the end of it. “I was waiting in the coffee shop down the street. I knew if I stayed you wouldn’t open the envelope.”

  “Fine. Back to my question.” I crossed my arms over my chest. “Why didn’t she tell me?”

  “It’s not really my story to tell.”

  “Heath,” I warned, my temper getting the best of me.

  “Jackson,” he mimicked. “You had the opportunity to listen to her twice and you blew her off.”

  “That’s ’cause I thought she was a lying bitch,” I growled.

  “Thought. Does that mean you don’t think she’s a lying bitch anymore?”

  I ran a hand through my hair, Heath’s question piercing through my frustration, as well as the realization that I had used the past tense. Did I think she was a liar? No. Did I still think there were pieces to the puzzle missing? Yes, and I wanted to know what they were.

  “No, but I don’t think this is the whole story. Hell, I don’t think I could get the whole story from some pictures and a couple of papers.”

&nb
sp; “No, probably not. But it was the one way to get you to understand that circumstances were out of her control.”

  I scoffed. “All except for the fact she didn’t tell me any of this seven years ago.”

  He cleared his throat. “She had her own reasons for that. Reasons I think you need to hear from her.”

  “Why? Why now? It was seven years ago. We’ve obviously lived two very different lives,” I said, looking at the picture of her in her uniform. “I’m not sure it really matters to either of us.”

  He sighed. “I think it matters to both of you. Hell, look at how you reacted to Allana—”

  I cut him off. “You reacted just as badly as I did.”

  “You’re right and we’re lucky Monty still speaks to us, but my reasons were very different than yours. I wanted to protect my family. You, on the other hand, didn’t trust women. Hell, you still don’t.”

  “Why should I?”

  He stood and walked into the kitchen. I could hear the clanging of glasses. He reappeared a few minutes later, one in each hand, full of a clear liquid.

  He held one out to me. “Here, I think we both need this.”

  Eyeing him, I took the glass and tipped it back, feeling the burn as it slid down my throat. Heath did the same and set both glasses on the coffee table before sitting down and turning back to me.

  “Look, Megan isn’t looking for you to see her again, forgive her, and fall head over heels in love with her. She’s made that very clear. It’s not about the money or the fame. She wants to move on with her life and give you a chance to move on with yours without all the hatred and mistrust.”

  “I don’t—”

  “Don’t even say you don’t have trust issues. You avoid women even for more than a night ’cause you don’t trust what they’ll do in the morning.”

  “Since I’m not sticking my dick in everything like a single rock star is supposed to, I have trust issues?”

  He shook his head, rolling his eyes. “Look, like we told Mari years ago, you need this. If nothing but to move on with your life and give yourself a chance to find someone.”