Page 126 of Get A Fix

“What a shitshow,” Ash grumbled.

“Seems to come with the territory when you’re a celebrity. These things happen, unfortunately,” he told Ash. “When I first became Nick’s fixer, there were so many keys to his house floating around, and even more credit cards and people with access to his bank account. You don’t have the funds issue, so that’s great. And unlike Nick, your bedroom had a separate keypad lock, so nothing important was stolen. Owen was very pleased about that, as I mentioned, but now it’s going to have a biometric lock, because he doesn’t like the idea of trying to punch in numbers if you were being chased or something. He’s a worrier.”

Ash took a deep breath. “You did all this because Owen checked the security feed in my house?”

Locryn looked at me, and so Ash followed suit.

“We’re fixers, Mr. Lennox,” I teased him. “This is what we do.”

He leaned into me, and I put my arm around his shoulders.

“It’s all getting taken care of,” I assured him. “Now let’s do something really scary and introduce you to my sisters.”

“I can’t wait,” he said, cupping my face and kissing me.

The video call with my sisters and mother, all their faces there on my laptop screen, would have been horrible, but Ash was the first one they saw, not me.

“Hello, everyone,” he greeted them with a huge smile. “I’m so happy to meet you all.”

“No one ever said you were stupid,” Locryn praised me under his breath.

They were all so thrilled to meet Ash, couldn’t wait to chat with him in person, and he said that as soon as he was done with his current project, he would fly to Chicago to meet them. When I finally leaned into the frame, Ash kissed my temple, and they all awwed, their smiles huge. Not that I wouldn’t get hell when I got home, but I wouldn’t have to beg their forgiveness for weeks. There would just be the normal yelling and the light smack on the back of the head from Cora.

Locryn and Nick’s house in Santa Barbara was stunning. The driveway was lined in California privet and popcorn viburnum, and the house was flanked by thick, high hedges of boxwood. Inside it was open concept with an enormous kitchen on the left, and straight through, there was the living room that opened into a garden oasis. There were so many gorgeous mature trees, it was like an arboretum back there.

Leaving our bags by the door, Locryn walked us out onto an enormous patio, where you could see, if you followed the path, down below, a pool and cabana, and even farther down, a small cottage. The entire property was lined in Italian cypresses.

“We added the cottage last year for guests,” Locryn explained. “You two are welcome to stay in the house, of course, we have room, but the cottage is nice too, and it has a beautiful view. There’s a microwave, snacks, and a mini fridge stocked with water and juice and kombucha, for whatever fuckin’ reason.”

We had a great view of the valley from where we were, but the cottage looked like a dream.

“We’ll take the cottage,” Ash and I said at the same time.

Locryn chuckled and then gestured to his right where, under a pergola covered in wisteria, Nick Madison had just started strumming his guitar.

“Is he trying to look like he’s in a movie?”

“Nope,” Loc assured me. “He’s just naturally beautiful.”

When he saw us, his hand rose in greeting, and then, carrying the guitar, he crossed the grass. He didn’t immediately greet us, though. Instead, he walked over to Locryn, slid a hand around his waist, and leaned in and kissed him. It was quick, but he didn’t move away, instead he remained close, whispering something that made Locryn tip his head back and forth like maybe, and only then did he turn to us.

It was always to be remembered that Nick Madison was a superstar. Even in sneakers, jeans, a T-shirt, and what I suspected was one of Locryn’s hoodies, with his messy brown mop of hair, big brown eyes, and brilliant smile, he was stunning. And what I admired most was that I’d seen him before my friend and after, and clearly, Locryn’s love looked good on him.

“I’ve seen all your movies,” he gushed to Ash, holding out his hand. “Such a thrill to have you in my home.”

“Oh, the pleasure’s all mine, believe me,” Ash replied, clearly in awe of the musician standing in front of him.

“Well, we’re both so happy to have you here,” Nick said before turning to me, opening his arms.

Quickly, I stepped in and was wrapped up tight. I hugged him back and when I leaned out, found him grinning at me. “Oh God, what?”

“Just so you know, I backed up your story to the charming Levi Klein when I spoke to him on the phone yesterday.”

“That was fast,” Ash said, shaking his head.

“I told him the next time I was in LA, we would have lunch.”

“That was very nice of you.” Ash sighed. “I had no idea he could track down your number so quickly.”