Page 20 of Lost Lyrics

Bring on the wedding plans.

Nothing was going to stop me from marrying the man of my dreams.

Absolutely nothing.

Chapter 6

SLIP

As the elevator headed up to the rooftop bar at the Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills Hotel, I wiped my clammy palm on my suit pants. Beneath my long hair, sweat broke out on my brow and trickled down the back of my neck like I had a rampant fever. It had been four weeks since Flint had proposed to Sutton. Tonight, at their engagement party, it would be my first time around a lot of alcohol and possibly drugs since I’d been out of rehab. Nothing I’d said to myself had settled the unease swirling through my gut or stopped the fear lurking in the depths of my mind. I didn’t want to give in to temptation, be lured back to the bottle, cave to cocaine, or taste one pill on my tongue.

Fuck!

I’m okay. I can do this. I can.

Maddy’s here.

The more time I spent with Maddy, away from LA, the more I liked it. The move to Bowen Island had been what we needed to get healthy, to strengthen our relationship, and lay a foundation for our marriage. I’d promised Flint, Lewis and Cole the band would get back together, but I had no timeframe in sight. I wasn’t ready. They’d been so supportive of my need for a break, even if they gave me a nudge to come home now andthen. I loved them for it. It meant they cared. But I refused to give them any false hope. I’d missed hanging out with the guys, but not enough to return to Cali permanently. Not yet...maybe never. I didn’t want to return to LA without being certain I could handle the shit the music industry and life in the public eye threw our way. Therapy had done wonders. My sponsor was great. I didn’t want to damage the good work and progress I’d made toward getting better.

Maddy had been the main key.

It had been months since we’d gotten dressed up to go to an event of any kind. Tonight had called for us to venture out of our jeans, sweatpants, and hoodies and put on something more suited to the occasion. Maddy had outdone herself. Glamorous, as always. Just one look at her in her yellow party dress stole my breath. She radiated pure warmth and sunshine through her big, bright smile. Her long, dark hair shimmered as it caught the light.

We stepped out of the elevator. With a bounce in her step and a hurry-up tug on my hand, Maddy dragged me across the rooftop promenade toward the bar. Her excitement at seeing Sutton bubbled in the air as we approached the mass gathering of guests. There must have been about one hundred people there.

Maddy drew me to a halt beside the oversized array of pink flowers.

“Are you sure about this?”

I didn’t miss the anxious edge in her voice. “Yeah, Mads.” I set reassurance into my smile and drew in a deep breath to clear my head.Shit. That’s beer. And champagne.The sweet scent drifted in the air, burning my throat like wild fire. I swayed on my feet but fought the urge to drink taunting my insides. “I wouldn’t be here if I wasn’t.” But how long I could stay was questionable.

She rubbed my arm. “If at any time you need to leave, just say so.”

“Will do.” I gave her a sly smirk, then kissed her on the lips. “Does that include the need to take off so I can do wicked things to your gorgeous body?”

She caught my chin and arched one sexy eyebrow. “Yes, but later.”

“Deal.” I kissed her again, just because I could. “I love you, Mads.”

“Always.” She slid her hands down my black button-up, toyed with a button, then took me by the hand. Just as our fingers entwined, a loud, excited shriek pierced the air.

“MADDY!” Sutton charged forward, flung her arms around Maddy’s shoulders, and hugged her tight. “You made it.” With tears glistening in her eyes, Sutton laughed. Her infectious energy zapped the center of my chest.Yeah.It was good to see her.

“Ohhhhh.” Maddy reciprocated Sutton’s overzealous embrace, and they rocked from side to side. “It’s so good to see you. I miss you soooo much.” She shuffled back a step and flapped her hands at Sutton. “Show me the ring again.”

Sutton beamed as she held out her hand. The huge diamond glittered in the golden lights.

I hadn’t had the chance to see it close up before.Fuck. It is a huge rock.

Maddy and I hadn’t spent much time catching up with everyone during our last visit. When Sutton and Flint returned from lunch after he’d proposed, they’d been tipsy, wanting to drink more champagne and down some vodka shots. I’d had to leave. Maddy didn’t have to, but she’d gone home with me. The craving for a drink had hit hard. It’d burned too much. I’d been sober for eight months. I didn’t want to blow it. But I had to take small steps toward returning to a normal life withoutsuccumbing to drinking. Tonight would be a good test.

I had my therapist on speed dial. And my sponsor.

But Maddy was all I needed.

Flint swaggered over from the bar to join us. I flicked a finger at Sutton’s ring and jutted my chin toward him. “You’ve done good.”

“Thank fuck, right?” An I’m-cool smile inched across Flint’s face as he drew me in for a hug and slapped my back. “It’s good to see you, man. Real good.”

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