Valentine's Day

Chapter 2

The last time Maddie had been in Huntington Beach was the day after her grandmother's funeral.  That trip had been a painful blur. One that she was glad to get away from and as soon as she could, she was on her way back to Utah. She had followed Mason to what she thought would be bigger and better things but after he'd dumped her, she felt the strong pull to visit home and see her beloved family.

Her mother Christine had been a single parent, raising Maddie after her father walked out on them when she was six years old. Christine wasn't the normal parenting type, skipping lectures on homework and curfew and opting for more practical discussions of safe sex and the importance of being an independent woman. Sometimes Christine didn't take her own advice and Maddie often felt she spent a large part of her teenage years being the responsible one. Then in Maddie's college senior year, like a great stroke of luck, Christine fell in love and married Larry Jacobson. Apparently the two had known each other back in their high school days but Christine had thought she was too cool for the big time band manager so he just adored her from afar . Larry made an excellent father. She hoped like hell that he didn't think she wasn't grateful for all he'd done for her or that she'd runaway to Utah to get away from her new family. That was never the case. She'd followed a stupid guy and she'd paid for it.

Once Maddie pulled into the driveway of her home and saw her mother's smiling face, she knew she'd be home for a long spell. She had never realized how she missed her family until she saw them again. Larry was kind enough to let her work in his office and help out with the bands. 

Her best friend Liza who also worked in Larry's office was so happy at her return that she felt compelled to mention every ten minutes.

"Maddie, I'm so glad to have you back. Have I mentioned that?" She asked for about the millionth time as they filed contracts.

"Not in the last five minutes" Maddie said smiling as she picked up a few folders to label.

"I don't think I can say it enough. I've been kind of tired trying to have conversations with all the interns that work here but it's like the generational gap is too much to overcome." Liza said

"That's cause they don't understand if you're not talking in text. OMG, LMAO or whatever else it is they say" Maddie said. "But seriously, you're 28 and most of them are in their early twenties. Can you really call it a generational gap?"

Liza sighed. "It is when you realize you were in 3rd grade when they were born."

Both girls laughed as one of the aforementioned interns named Tess Wilson popped in. "OMG girls, did you hear Avenged Sevenfold is coming in today?" 

"OMG," Maddie said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Who the hell is Avenged Sevenfold?"

Liza's eyes widened."You don't know who Avenged Sevenfold is?"

"Uh no," Maddie scoffed "That's why I asked."

"They are only one of the biggest rocks acts out there right now," Tess gushed. "And all so gorgeous."

"Seriously," Liza agreed "And one of your step-dad's biggest acts. Don't you pay attention to his work?"

"I've been in Utah....remember?" Maddie reminded her friend. "Not much cause to keep track of Larry's lineup while I was there."

Liza considered it and then nodded. "True."

Tess continued "Well then you're in for a treat. They are all smoking hot. Zacky has these eyes, I swear they can see straight into your soul....and Matt...OMG, the dimples....Johnny....the most adorable person I've ever seen....and Brian...the most perfect face ever."

"And they are all married," Liza reminded the young girl.

"Not Brian....his divorce was final a few months ago. Remember?" Tess said.

Maddie shook her head at the dreamy intern. "So what are they doing here today?"

"They are probably coming in with the short list of new drummers," Liza replied.

"They don't have a drummer?" Maddie asked as she picked up three more folders.

"They had the best drummer in the world," Tess said

"And?" Maddie asked.

"He died," Liza said in sad voice.

"And they didn't replace him?" Maddie asked.

"They did," Tess said "But they parted ways this summer. Creative differences."

"Ah," Maddie said understanding. She and Mason definitely had some creative differences...but they'd been in a relationship so maybe it wasn't the same thing.

"I'm hoping to get Brian's attention today," Tess said confidently and Liza laughed.

"Seriously? He's 34 and you're what? 12?" Liza poked.

"I'm 22," Tess retorted.

"See?" Liza pointed at Maddie. "He was in 6th grade when she was born."

Maddie chuckled. "Well good luck, Tess. I hope you manage to snag his attention."

"Me too. Apparently he was quite the ladies man before he was married but lately he hasn't shown the least bit of interest in anyone, " Tess went on unencouraged.  "Apparently Vicky was all over him while he was here and he wasn't even remotely interested in her. You know how EVERYONE loves Vicky."

"I don't love Vicky" Maddie and Liza said jointly thinking of the office slut.

"Well don't you think that's odd?" Tess asked

"It's not like Vicky is the best we have to offer here," Liza stated "in fact, I think once you get past her looks, it's all null and void. But then again he is a rockstar....."

"Maybe he doesn't like women" Maddie blurted. The guy in Las Vegas definitely didn't like women. Ugh Vegas, the scene of the greatest humiliation of her life. She'd gotten drunk and offered sex to a stranger who just about tripped over himself to get away from her. She was so embarrassed that she didn't even share the details of the disaster with Liza who was her best friend in the whole world. She could still feel the blush of her cheeks weeks later. Maddie liked to think of him as a misogynist. Yeah that's right..made her feel better to think of him that way

"You mean you think he's gay?" Tess gasped.

No. As much as Maddie would have liked to believe the jerk had been gay, she knew that wasn't the case. She was too good at reading people. He was just one of those guys who knew how good looking he was and liked to embarrass women whenever possible. That or he had erectile dysfunction. Maddie smiled, maybe both.

Liza stared at Maddie's evil grin and a confused Tess and said "Well that would be a real God damned shame but it would explain the whole Vicky situation."

Tess looked dumbfounded at the new idea and sat for a bit wondering how she could incorporate this information when she retold the story to the next person.