Once she was settled into his bed he flicked off the lights, climbing in behind her, dragging her into his chest again, securing her in place. He held her until the shivers subsided and he felt her breathing even out. Only then did he allow himself to close his eyes.
Grace slept fitfully. Every time Alex moved her eyes drifted open, tightening her grip on him, making sure he didn’t leave the bed. By the time the sun rose she had given up trying to sleep. Sneaking out of bed she tried not to disturb him, knowing she had most likely kept him awake most of the night. They had the naming ceremony to attend today; quite how they were going to explain Alex’s battered hands was yet to be decided. Slipping on one of Alex’s shirts she had found on the back of the door she left the bedroom in search of caffeine.
Alex woke with a start, suddenly realising Grace was missing from his bed. Throwing on last night’s boxers he flung open the bedroom door, shouting her name as he ran downstairs.
“Kitchen,” she shouted out as she heard the panic in his voice.
His heart rate settled the moment he heard her voice. “You scared me. I thought you’d gone. Did you put the washing machine on?” Enveloping her in his arms again he breathed her in. “How’re you feeling?”
“I washed your clothes from last night. Your shirt had...blood on it. Best to get it out now. Is he...you know...never mind, I don’t wanna know.” He hadn’t even thought to check his clothes last night, unable to believe now that he had comforted his girlfriend whilst having that prick’s blood spattered over him.
“He’ll live. Thanks to Ben. He dragged me away. Told me you were waiting here for me. Grace, I’m so sorry...I don’t even know wh...”
“Are you apologising for beating the crap out of him? ‘Cos if you are, stop it. None of this is down to you. I’m angry because this changes everything. Can’t you see that?” She rubbed her fingers over her temples as she tried to make some sense of the previous night. “I’m angry ‘cos I allowed myself to get into that situation. I’m angry that I may have ruined your career. You know, you’re never going to be able to work with him again after he...well after last night.”
Not letting his grip loosen on her, Alex breathed out slowly, trying to calm himself before he spoke. He wanted to make sure he got this right. “You haven’t ruined my career; I have a very successful career. One which will continue in some form or another. I don’t understand how you think this will change anything between us, that is unless you don’t want there to be an ‘us’ anymore.”
The lone, almost cynical laugh Grace let out echoed around the room. “How can it not change anything? Are you seriously going to be able to go back to working with him? How can the band continue without either one of you? It’s not happening, Alex. Even you have to see that.”
Shrugging his shoulders he bent to kiss her neck. “I don’t know how anything is going to work out with the band, but I do know I am not letting this come between us. Let me worry about my career.”
Spinning around on the barstool Grace ran her eyes over the full form of him, checking for cuts and bruises. “You have a black eye. How did I not notice that last night? I’m going to have to cover that with make-up. Your knuckles are a whole different ball game though.”
“The eye is Ben’s fault. He swung at Jez and I kinda got in the way.” He pulled his eyebrows in to a frown as he remembered.
Grace shuddered at the thought of him being hurt, but soon turned her attention to the task in hand.
Alex belly laughed as she dragged him out of the kitchen and back up to his room. Pushing him into the shower room she lined up all the contents of her toiletry bag on the counter. Whether he liked it or not she was covering up the black eye at least.
As he sat in front of her she set to work with her cover stick, dotting it around his eye. As she concentrated on the job in hand she spoke softly. “He told me you had asked him to bring me to you...”
“Grace, you don’t have to go over it again, babe.” Alex placed his hands on her waist.
“Izzie had gone to the toilet. Max said he would hang on for her...bring her upstairs too. He was smiling...I didn’t think...God, I was so stupid.” Grace inhaled a deep sigh as Alex’s chest constricted, his heart aching as she spoke. “I wasn’t worried until he locked the door. Then I saw it...I saw it in his eyes. The pure rage...” The tears spilled from her eyes once more. “I screamed at him to open the door, to let me out...I could hear Izzie shouting at Max. I am so sorry.” Alex removed the cover stick from her hands. Pulling her into his arms he held her tightly against his chest as she sobbed freely. He ran his hand through her hair trying to calm her, making soft shushing noises into her ear. The sobs slowly eased. She pulled away from him slightly so she could look straight at him. “I have no idea how you think we can come back from this.”
The last couple of days had been hell on earth, even though the naming ceremony had gone better than he thought it would. Grace had gotten on really well with his brother and sister-in-law. The kids had adored her; she had spent ages playing with them while he chatted to his family. His parents had bought the story he had spun them about trapping his hands between two equipment crates. Ann had graciously accepted his lies without question but insisted he keep his hands from view for the photos. Patrick had taken him to one side amidst all the celebrations to speak to him about it.
“I don’t want to know the real story, son, but I am guessing from the looks Grace keeps shooting you that it has something to do with her. I’m also guessing it has something to do with the band seeing as Ben hasn’t taken his hands out of his pockets either for the lasttwo hours.” Patrick handed his son a bottle of beer from behind the temporary bar. “I raised my kids well enough to know that if you used your fists it must have been necessary. She’ll forgive you. Just give her time.”
It had been an eye opener. Alex hadn’t realised that Grace may actually be mad at him. Not for what happened but for how he had dealt with it. Suddenly the frosty looks made sense.
They had spent yesterday alone, holed up at his house on the outskirts of the city. Neither one of them had felt like playing happy families back at his parents’ house. They had talked a lot about that night; still nothing was resolved.
Now here he was about to go into a meeting with his management company, the record label and the rest of the guys. His lawyer had just arrived to brief him on his options. Jan had found them a free office to talk over his issues; the questions running around in his head were driving him mad. Speaking to the well suited man had put his mind at rest somewhat but until he was in that room with everyone else, well, he wasn’t making any promises.
As he exited the room with his lawyer, Jack, Ben jogged up behind him. “Hey, Jan just told me Jez isn’t here. His lawyer is speaking on his behalf. At least you don’t have to sit opposite him for the next hour.”Taking in the look on his friend’s face, Ben stopped in his tracks. “Al, let’s just see what they have to offer, eh? I thought we decided we’d see what they come up with.”
“I don’t know. Grace doesn’t see how we can fix this. I just don’t know. Max is in there now with Chris and the guys from the record company. I think I’m done with this shit. I really think this is it. You know, when we come out of here it may just be all over. I’m sorry but I really think I need to do this now.”
Ben opened his mouth to speak only to close it immediately. What was the point in arguing with him? They must have had this same conversation a hundred times over the last six months. Alex had said on numerous occasions that he was going to leave and nothing ever materialised. Why would today be any different? If push came to shove then Jez and Max could be replaced; they could just carry on.
As they entered the room the tension was heavy in the air. Alex stood at the end of the long table which ran almost the full length of the room. His eyes swept the faces around the table before he settled on Max. The arrogant bastard had the balls to grin and wink at him. Pulling out the chair nearest to him he settled himself in for the fight that was sure to follow.
Ben looked at Max’s smug expression, the sickfeeling rising inside him as the anger swelled again. The memory of seeing him standing outside that room, threatening Izzie, flashed fresh through his mind. His fists balled at his sides as his jaw clenched instantly. He realised his friend was right; there was no way back from the shit this time. Jez and Max had to go. Ben could no longer work with the two men either. Alex noticed his stance. Dragging out a chair beside him he beckoned for Ben to sit.
Chris was the first to speak. “At last. I thought maybe you two were too embarrassed to show your faces. Jez won’t be joining us today as he is currently nursing a couple of broken ribs, a fractured jaw, oh and two missing teeth. You are lucky I talked him out of pressing charges, Alex.” Chris shuffled the papers he had in front of him as Max unsuccessfully tried to hide his smirk.
Thumping his fist on the table Alex growled at Max. “I’m glad you think it’s funny. You are lucky he got to you before I did.” Alex indicated to Ben with his finger.
