Chapter 12

Chapter Twelve

Callie

Eddie Diamond flipped a switch last week. I never imagined he would put in the effort, and yet here we are.

"I win," Eddie shouts, holding up his monopoly cash.

Damien and I were out long ago, and it's been Mickki and Eddie battling it out.

"You're a dirty cheat," Mickki says and Eddie laughs.

"You're just salty because I got the dog, and all the good properties."

Mickki picks up his hotels and throws them at his brother, who just laughs. "You know I'm always the dog. Fuck this, I'm going to my own house, away from your cheating arse."

Mickki stands from his spot on the floor and so does Damien.

"Little bro, don't be a sore loser. I won fair and square this time."

Mickki shouts at his brother to fuck off and storms from the room. Damien laughs and says goodnight, leaving Eddie and me.

We are packing away the game, and when Eddie looks over at me, I feel my heart flutter. It shocks me. When I started working here, I hated him and everything he stood for; he was a rich, entitled arsehole who could get away with anything. But in the last week, while we have been locked up in the mansion, I have seen a different side to him. Maybe this is what he was like before Amelia died. I can't imagine the guilt he carries, even if he doesn't deserve to blame himself. She was already sick, and the outcome would never have been different, even though I wish it wasn't the case.

"Sorry about my brother. He gets a little competitive."

I laugh at him—Eddie really did cheat while his brother wasn't looking. "You know I know you cheated, right?"

Eddie gasps dramatically and presses a hand to his chest. "I would never."

"Uh huh," I say, as I reach for a property card at the same time he does, causing our hands touch.

I look up at him, and his eyes connect with mine—there is so much hurt behind them. Neither of us moves for a few seconds until I pull my hand back. I have to remind myself I'm not strong enough; he could ruin me and all the hard work I have put into getting myself sober. I can't go back, I won't. Beau was let down once before by my actions and he means more to me than anything in this world.

"I'm... um... going to go have a shower," he says, pushing up to his feet.

I nod, afraid if I speak right now, he might hear the wobble in my voice.

He turns away from me and leaves the room as I place the lid on the game and return it to the cabinet where he keeps all his board games. I know it was a huge step for him bringing them out; he used to play them with Sasha and Amelia. I should tell him I know them, but every time I try, I wonder if it will set him back or if he will be upset that I lied.

My stomach grumbles, so I walk through the house and into the kitchen. I almost trip over my feet when Mickki moves to stand right in front of me.

"Shit, you scared the life out of me."

He smiles—it's one similarity between the brothers. Mickki is a pretty man, and he takes pride in the way he looks. He's maybe a little over the top with style, and he is currently wearing a pair of leather pants which look like they would cut off the blood supply to his balls—Eddie even pointed it out. Luckily, tonight he is wearing a shirt, if you could call the mesh-looking material that.

"He likes you, you know."

Stepping around him, I open the fridge, pull out a meal Delilah left for us, and put it in the microwave. "He doesn't know me and right now he needs to focus on staying clean."

"Still, I was sceptical when Sasha came to me with this plan, but she knew you would be good for him."

"If you knew me five years ago, you might not have the same opinion. I was Eddie minus the money."

"And yet, look at you now. It's okay to get close to him. One thing I know about my brother is that he loves hard and maybe that's what he needs again."

I turn to face him. "He doesn't love me, Mickki. Right now, he wants to stay sober, and I'm the one he has turned to for help. He wants to cling to me."

Mickki shakes his head. "He is a good man. I miss him."

"Have faith—he wants this."

"It was nice talking to you, and he so cheated."

I laugh and wave goodbye to Mickki as he strides out of the kitchen.

Never did I think about what would happen if Eddie grew feelings for me. He is a rock star and I'm a regular woman who isn't interested in the lifestyle. Though I admit I can't complain about living here—his house is amazing. I have been considering his offer to stay on, at least for a while, since he said he is barely here, so I might as well enjoy it.

Eddie interrupts my thoughts by walking into the kitchen without a shirt on, his sweats sitting low on his hips. I wouldn't say Eddie is ripped—he has abused his body way too long for that—but he is still extremely attractive, and he knows it. My eyes shouldn't wander to the huge dick print in his pants because I'm a grown arse woman, yet they do.

"My eyes are up here, or is my body the only reason you're here?"

"What? No, of course not," I say defending myself, and yet the arsehole laughs.

"I'm kidding, Callie. If you want to see my dick, you can ask. Normally I walk around naked, but Damien said I should be respectful and keep my pants on."

I can't help but laugh at him. Is he crazy? I have already seen his penis along with half of the world. Plus, I may or may not have google searched him, and the top link is to his leaked nudes, which I doubt were even leaked given he has zero problems with nudity.

"Nah, I'm good, thanks," I say, turning away from him. I pull the meal from the microwave and put the second one inside. As I turn back around, Eddie is standing so close, I can almost feel the heat from his skin on mine.

"You always smell so nice."

He leans in closer, breathing me in, and I inhale sharply through my nose as my heart thumps in my chest. He pulls back and tucks a strand of my hair behind my ear. "Did you want to eat and watch a movie? I have really been wanting to watch The Hunger Games ."

My eyes widen in shock. "You haven't watched The Hunger Games ? Where have you been living, under a rock?"

Eddie laughs. "I've been on tour and tried to put as much distance between myself and reality. I don't think I have watched a movie since..."

He looks down, and I reach out and put my hand on the side of his face. He leans into it. "It's okay to talk about her, you know," I say gently.

He nods. "I know, it just hurts."

"How about we watch the movie?"

He nods.

The microwave beeps again, and I remove my hand, turning to get out the container. Eddie places a tray beside me, and I watch as he loads more snacks and a few cans of soft drink onto the tray.

"Now we are set for a movie, let's go to the theatre room... What?"

I must have a confused look on my face, because he is looking at me as if he is mimicking my reaction.

"Nothing, it's just I forget how big the house is sometimes. No one I know has a room just to watch movies."

"Well, now you do," he says, bumping me out of the way with his hip, then he grabs the tray.

I follow behind him as he leads us to the room. I have never ventured far outside of the places I know because it always feels like I'm intruding in his space if I end up somewhere I haven't been before.

He wasn't kidding when he said he has a theatre. It literally looks like a mini version, with the recliner seats, a screen the entire size of the wall, and LED lights lighting up the walls. He places the tray on a small table in front of the first row of chairs.

"Nice, isn't it?" he says with a smile. "It was actually built for Amelia. She loved watching action movies."

"It's really nice. She was a lucky girl to have you care so much about her."

He just nods as he picks up a tablet, and as the screen comes to life, so does the large screen. He types in the movie's name and takes a seat on the two-seater recliner, and I join him.

I didn't tell him I have watched all the movies, but I'm sure he can guess by how I reacted. So instead, I find myself watching him watch the movie every time something important happens. Occasionally, he looks at me and smiles. It's nice to see him so relaxed. The days have been getting better, and he isn't feeling as sick or so agitated. Sure, he will still have bad days, and those he will need to navigate as they come. Since he has agreed to go to meetings, I think he is as ready as he will ever be.

Waking up disoriented isn't a new feeling. I spent so many years waking up in random houses, next to men I didn't know, and in some very uncomfortable positions. Panic floods my chest as I move my head and feel something hard beneath me. Please don't let me open my eyes and find I'm back passed out in the bathroom of a seedy motel.

I peep an eye open and sigh in relief. Thank fuck, I'm still in the theatre room, but that doesn't explain the hard surface beneath my head.

Then said hardness moves.

I sit up so fast I almost give myself whiplash. Shit, I fell asleep against Eddie, and his rock-hard cock was pressed into my face.

"Morning," he says, stretching his arms above his head. "I think you drool in your sleep."

He rubs a wet patch on his crotch and my cheeks heat. "I don't drool," I protest, and he chuckles.

"Well, I'm a bit too old for wet dreams, love. Sorry about the cock in the face. I'm still young enough for morning wood, though."

"Let's not talk about your dick, please," I say while trying to compose myself, because right now, the thought of his dick doesn't repulse me. Maybe it's due to the lack of women throwing themself at him, or the dry spell I have been in, but there is no way a rock star is the best person to rip that Band-Aid off with. I'm surprised he isn't the walking endorsement for an STD campaign.

"Why? He is the best thing about me. Unfortunately, I didn't get the looks like Mickki, so God blessed me with a huge cock."

I can't help but laugh—he isn't wrong. Mickki is good-looking and Eddie's penis is impressively large.

"Look, let's be straight—you're not wrong—but there are lines and crossing any of them would be wrong. I'm going to shower and make some coffee," I say as I jump from the chair and flee the room. Eddie's laughter echoes behind me.

"Think about me while you're touching yourself," he shouts.

As I make my way back to my side of the mansion, I pass Damien, who raises a brow.

"Don't say anything, nothing happened," I snap.

He holds his hands in front of himself and smiles. "I didn't say anything."

I keep walking as fast that I can—I need to wash away all thoughts of Eddie. I have to because I can see flickers of the man he could be, but it doesn't mean he is that person. Right now, he is being nice because I'm the gatekeeper to his pills, and I can't let my guard down. I have been the one there before, and I gained people's trust only to throw it in their faces when it was convenient for me.

When I make it back to my room, I pull out some comfortable clothes. We have no plans to leave the house today and it is the last day I have to be here twenty-four seven. Which I honestly haven't minded, especially with how much I'm being paid.

My phone vibrates from my bedside table, and I didn't even realise I left it here last night. Beau's name flashes on the screen.

"Hey, baby," I say, answering the call.

"Hey, Mum. I wanted to see if you could meet up for a coffee this morning?"

Shit, normally I would say yes. I vowed to put nothing before my son ever again, but this money would set me and him up. It could help pay for his future. "Please? I really need to see you. Bring Eddie—I know you have been busy with him."

"Are you sure I can bring him? He can be a lot."

Beau laughs. "Yes, please. I'd like to meet him, since you won't let me come to the house."

I let out a sigh—he's been asking me daily to come over and meet Eddie. I haven't wanted him to come over and for Eddie to screw things up for me. All it takes is one slip up, and Beau doesn't need to see the life I used to live, to be subjected to those memories. "Okay, but let the record show I warned you."

"I will be there in an hour. Tell the rock star it's his shout and I'm extra hungry."

"I will, love you."

"Love you too. See you soon."

With that, he ends the call and I get into the shower and wash away all my wicked thoughts. I am excited to see Beau, even if I have to take the pain in the arse rock star who is becoming less and less of a pain in my arse every day.

Eddie is in the kitchen by the time I make my way downstairs, and his eyes meet mine after he gives me a once over.

"Who would've thought you'd have a rocking body under all those nanny clothes you normally wear?"

I look down at my outfit: light-denim jeans that have little rips at the knees, a tight white sleeveless shirt that is tucked in, and ankle boots.

"Oh, I have something that will look wicked with it. Wait here."

Before I can say anything, Eddie is out of his seat and running from the room.

Shaking my head, I decide to make a coffee while I wait. By the time I'm done, Eddie is back in the kitchen, holding a leather jacket out towards me. "Here."

"I can't take that," I say.

"Of course you can—it's not my only one. And besides, it's rude to turn down a gift."

I reach out to take the jacket, knowing it's probably worth more than my entire wardrobe combined. "Thank you."

"Turn around," he says instead, holding up the jacket, and indicates for me to turn. I roll my eyes as I do, and he slips one of my arms in, then I move the other to fit through the sleeve. "The thought of you wearing something of mine makes me tingle."

I turn back around to face him. "If something is tingling, we might have to get the doctor back here to run some STD checks. It isn't normal."

Eddie throws his head back and laughs. "I have a clean bill of health, thank you very much. Why are you dressed normal anyway? Not that I'm complaining."

"Beau rang and asked me to have breakfast with him." As I say the words, Eddie's face drops. "He also invited you." And now the shit-eating grin is back.

"Fuck yes, let me get my boots."

"He also said it's your shout."

"As if I would let a beautiful woman pay. Use my phone and call Damien—he should be around here somewhere."

I nod as he leaves the kitchen, then pick up his phone. As I swipe the screen, my mouth falls open. That arsehole has a picture of me sleeping with my head in his lap as his screensaver. Opening his call list, I find Damien's number.

"Eddie, is everything okay?"

"It's Callie. We are heading out and Eddie wanted me to call you."

"I will be out the front in five if that suits."

"Sounds good. Thanks, Damien."

"Send me the address of where we are going so I can find the best route."

"Will do."

After ending the call, I google his name and find the worst photo of him online, then replace the picture of me with the one of himself.

"Are you ready to go?" Eddie says, walking back into the kitchen.

I nod and hold out his phone. His fingers brush mine as he takes it, and I quickly pull back.

"Damien should be out the front shortly," I say as I move past Eddie, out through the hall, and into the foyer. Eddie follows behind me and we head outside to wait.

"Are you okay?" Eddie asks me as Damien pulls up to the bottom of the stairs. "I promise I will be on my best behaviour if that's what you are worried about."

Eddie knows about Beau, in the sense he is my son, and he lives with his dad. He tried to ask me why, but I shut the conversation down with a simple response of: he likes to live with his dad, and I see him whenever I want. He tried to push that I can have him come and stay here, but I explained as nicely as I could how until his sobriety was stable, I wasn't comfortable with that arrangement. I think he understood, but this is Eddie, and I worry with only one wrong move, he will be right back to where we started. Yes, we have made so much progress, but a week isn't enough time.

"It's not that—I worry about him. He has some stuff going on, and I wish he would open up to me more."

Eddie chuckles. "He's a teenage boy. He's probably too embarrassed to talk to his mum about boy stuff. He will open up when he needs to."

"I guess you're right. It still doesn't get any easier."

Eddie grabs my hand and walks me down the stairs as if the action is something we always do. When we get to the SUV, he pulls open the back passenger side door and helps me in. Damien looks at me through the rear vision mirror and smirks, and I ignore him as I pull out my phone and text Beau.

On our way. Eddie doesn't know about my past and I would like to keep it that way for now.

Beau texts back straight away.

That's your story to tell. I would never disclose that to anyone.

You are my favourite son ever, I love you.

I'm your only son and I love you too.

I put my phone away, and Eddie turns up the radio when "Kryptonite" by 3 Doors Down comes on. He sings along and I watch his profile; I don't think I have seen him this happy since I started working for him. He even plays the air guitar to the song.

Damien even taps along on the steering wheel. "Come on, Callie. Surely you know the song—don't be the odd one out."

Through my laughter, I join in on the chorus. I know music, it's the one thing which has kept me sane. While I'm not a Black Diamond fan, that's purely based on Eddie and the constant press buzz about his lifestyle, which has always annoyed the living daylights out of me.

We sing song after song until Damien pulls up to the small café. Eddie jumps out of the car, even when Damien tells him to wait, but Eddie just laughs and opens my door, while holding out his hand.

I take it and slide from the car. "You need to listen to Damien. It's his job to make sure you are safe."

Eddie scoffs. "The street is empty. Who is going to mob me here? That group of oldies enjoying their coffees?"

I shake my head as Damien reaches our side and motions for Eddie to lead the way.

Beau is already sitting at a table, and he stands as we get closer. He grabs me in a quick hug, then pulls back to hold out his hand. Eddie takes it.

"Nice to meet you," Beau says.

"Has your mum been saying nice things about me?" Eddie jokes, and I elbow him in the ribs.

"I signed an NDA. I can't tell him anything about you."

We all take our seats.

"Since my brother is so anal about protecting my image, feel free to ask me anything you want," Eddie says to my son.

Beau's face lights up, and I give him a look that says to be nice. "What are your intentions with my mum?"

Eddie clears his throat. "Well, up until last week, she was busting my balls every day. She can be mean."

"I'm not mean, I'm doing my job," I say as I pick up the menu.

"What changed this week?" Beau asks, and Eddie shrugs.

"Me, I suppose. I pulled the stick out of my arse and decided it was time to get my life back on track. As for my intentions with your mum, ask me again next time we talk. Right now, I'm enjoying being her friend."

Friends. Could Eddie and I actually be friends? I can't lie and say that I haven't enjoyed his company this week, even if it would be painful to admit out loud that maybe I judged him too quickly. Though the jury is still out, since it has only been a week.

Beau smiles at Eddie as the server comes to stand by our table. She giggles when she notices Eddie, and I roll my eyes as Eddie smiles at her and gives her his attention.

"Breakfast is on me. Callie, what do you feel like?" Eddie asks, moving his attention to me.

"Eggs Benny, two hash browns on the side, and a cappuccino."

The girl writes my order down and then looks at Beau. "Pancakes for me, please. Syrup on the side, with the bacon well done. And a Coke."

She turns her attention back to Eddie. "I will have what they are having, so make it two of each. I'm starved."

"Is that everything?" the girl asks.

"Get the handsome man over there a coffee, as black as his soul." Eddie motions to Damien. "In a to-go cup for him."

The girl nods and leaves us be. "So, Beau, should we ask your mum what her intentions with me are? She drooled on my pants today, right over my?—"

"Eddie!" I snap.

Eddie and Beau both laugh. "Mum, I never thought you would be into rock stars," Beau teases.

"One, I'm not into rock stars, and two, I did not drool on him. I fell asleep watching a movie. Maybe he wet himself—I hear it's not the first time."

Eddie sucks in a breath and Beau laughs and says, "Burn!"

The server eventually comes back with our meals. Eddie and Beau talk and laugh the entire morning, and for the first time in as long as I can remember, I am happy. I'm in a great place knowing my son is close and happy to be around me, even if I have to bring a pain in the arse rock star to breakfast. And as much as I hate to admit it, watching Eddie be so carefree and laughing has me feeling things I really shouldn't, especially being his sober buddy.