Jessi Bradbrooke, 24, from London, never thought that one day she’d be a notch on disgraced rock royalty Colter Slade’s belt.
“He was in love with me, but I told him I couldn’t be with him anymore. His lifestyle was changing. He was changing, and I didn’t like who he’d become,” Bradbrooke says tearfully to Ant and Dec in their interview with the former Slayette from the world’s most popular rock group—12GAUGE-Slayed.
“I loved him, I did, but with all the reports that he was seeing another woman, I couldn’t take it. When we found out I was pregnant, he told me he loved me and he would stop seeing her. But he never did. That’s why I had to leave him… he had not once kept his word.
“When I lost the baby, he tried to win me back, but I couldn’t be around him anymore. It was too painful. So I did the only thing I could. I sat and I wrote a beautiful song called“Candy Shop.”It sounds upbeat and all about sex and drugs, but the message is hidden in the lyrics, and I dedicate that song to my lost baby.”
“Candy Shop is now available on Spotify, and I’d love it if you’d play it in remembrance.”
I scoff. “What a load of crap,” I say too loud. I see through that woman’s bullshit! It’s just a ploy to sell the bitch’s song, whichhehelped her record.
What a backstabbing, skanky-assed, god-forsaken, vapid whore!
“Slut,” I mumble for good measure as I click out of the story.
I don’t know how long I spend reading through stories and reports on12GAUGE-Slayedandhimin particular. About how their tour ends in a month, and howhisperformances are less than average. Suspected drug use is also reported as causinghislapses on stage, forgetting words, and staring aimlessly into the crowd.
I bite my bottom lip as I look at pictures ofhimat interviews.He’salways wearing sunglasses—henever used to do interviews with sunglasses on. It makes me wonder ifhe’sstill using and utilizing shades to hide it. The thought makes my stomach flip.
The home phone rings, distracting me from my thoughts ofhim,and I jump up and race to answer. “Hello?” I say, expecting Joseph or Danny.
“This is Melanie Simms from theDaily News. Am I speaking with Deliah Norman?” My eyes open wide, and my heart jumps into my throat.
“Um… no. How did you get this number?”
“Miss Norman, is it true—”
I hang up before she has time to tell me whatever bullshit story she wants to spin me. As I lean against the wall, the phone rings again, making me jump. With that, I take the receiver off the hook, press the button to hang up, and let it hang to the floor.
I walk over to my cell and dial Joseph.
“Hey sweetie, how are you going? Sorry, I haven’t rung today. We’ve been swamped here—”
I tune out to what he’s saying and interrupt him. “Joseph, the paps have your home number. Melanie Simms just called,” I say, sounding more panicked than I feel.
“Okay. What did you say to her?”
“I didn’t say anything.”
“Okay, be calm, Dee. Take the phone off the hook, and we’ll talk via our cells. It’s not a big deal. We only have that homephone for emergencies,” he states, trying to make me feel less guilty than I do because now he can’t even use his own damn phone.
“I’m sorry. This is so frustrating for you.” I sit on the couch and run my hand through my hair.
“It’s okay. You, me, and Danny, we got this. We make a great threesome, and we’re having beer and pizza tonight. In fact, once I’ve finished what I’m doing, I will slip out early and spend some time with my favorite girl. How’s that sound?”
“Joseph, I don’t want you to miss any more work because of me.”
“You are way more important to me than work. Plus, between you and me, this place is really starting to piss me off, so coming home early is doing me a favor,” Joseph says with a slight chuckle.
“Okay, beer and pizza sound good, but we’re not watchingThoragain. I never thought I’d say this, but thereissuch a thing astoo muchChris Hemsworth.”
There’s a gasp on the other end of the line, which is the exact reaction I was going for.
“Blasphemy, Deliah Norman! Go and wash your mouth out and say tenHail Marysbefore you are damned to Hades for what you’ve just said, young lady,” he exclaims, making me laugh.
“I love you.”
“I know. I love you too. Be home with beer in, say… half an hour?”
