Page 43 of Her Beastly Billionaire Rock Star
Malakai picked up his sister’s luggage and walked to the first-floor landing. “I’ll put these up for you.”
“Thanks.” Bella watched him until he was out of sight. Her gaze came back to Charlotte, and she stepped closer. “It wasn’t Malakai, right?”
“Why would you think that?” Charlotte asked, motioning for Bella to follow her into the living room.
Bella pulled out her phone, opened up her web browser, and held the phone so Charlotte could read it. The headlines were awful. “They’re saying it was because of him. One of the reporters even claimed they smelled alcohol on him.”
Charlotte’s mouth dropped open. “He wasn’t, and he was at the hospital the entire time with me, so he hasn’t even been able to get anything. I don’t know what they’re talking about.” She took her normal seat. “Besides, he wouldn’t do that anyway. Your brother is…he’s sweet and kind, and you really shouldn’t expect the worst from him all the time.”
His sister collapsed on the couch with a huge sigh. “You didn’t know him back when he was using. He’s always had anger problems. Anything would set him—”
“Would. You’re using words that are past tense. I get that he made mistakes, but he’s not that same person anymore.” Charlotte squared her shoulders. “He’s a good man, and people need to stop expecting the worst from him.”
Bella studied Charlotte. “You like him.”
“He’s likable.”
“I’m pretty certain there’s a hidden room in this house with a rose that’s on its last petal.”
A laugh popped out of Charlotte. “I may have asked about that my first night here.”
Bella sat up. “He’s a good guy. He just—”
“Needs to watch his temper.” Malakai finished the statement.
His sister looked at him as he entered the room. “Well, am I wrong?”
“No, but you don’t have to be so…vocal about it.” He smiled, walking to Bella and pulling her off the couch into a hug. “It’s good to see you.”
When he released her, she stood back and crossed her arms over her chest. “Who are you?”
Malakai groaned. “Shut up. Did you just fly in to give me grief?”
Her hands dropped to her sides. “No, I wanted to check on you.”
His phone rang, and he pulled it out of his pocket, glancing up at Charlotte. “I have to take this.” He strode out of the room as he answered the call.
Bella shot Charlotte a puzzled look over her shoulder. “Wonder what that was.”
“No clue,” Charlotte responded.
Spinning on her heels, Bella faced Charlotte. “Back to my brother. You like him.”
“I think we’ve already gone over that.” It wasn’t a subject Charlotte wanted to deep dive into with Bella either. She’d fallen for Malakai and knew he needed someone who didn’t panic in crowds.
“You know exactly what I mean. Youlikehim, like him.” Bella grinned and parked on the end of the couch closer to Charlotte. “I’m right, aren’t I?”
“Uh…” Charlotte scooted back in the chair and put her head down. She didn’t need any soul-searching looks from his sister. “I…like him. He’s…”
She caught the drop of Bella’s jaw from the corner of her vision. “Oh…it’s not like; it’s way more than that.”
Charlotte jerked her head up. “No, that’s…that’s not…I mean…” For the first time in her life, her tongue wasn’t working properly. It was as if it was preventing her from lying, something she wasn’t especially good at anyway.
Chuckling, Bella scooted to the edge of the couch and touched Charlotte’s arm. “Actually, I think you’d be great for him. Before the fame and money and…all the other things that come with being famous, he was still prickly, but he was kind and compassionate and protective too.” Bella pulled her hand away and leaned back. “He was a different person.”
“I can see that. People react to fame in so many different ways. Some can handle it, some can pretend to handle it, and then some realize they don’t want to handle it. It’s not always what it’s portrayed to be.” Charlotte had witnessed so many different reactions that it was hard to categorize them all.
Bella nodded. “I bet you’ve dealt with a lot of it.”
