Mr. Bad Influence

Chapter 21 - Part 1

Nick tucked his hand into his pocket and leaned back against the wall, while waiters and waitresses in well-pressed white shirts, black pants, and bow ties weaved about the mahogany furniture and people in formal dresses and suits.

One of the waitresses walked past him with a silver tray of bite-size food.

His cheeks were aching from the smile he'd maintained for the past hour. He looked at the glass of brandy he was holding, the one Eric had poured for him.

He knew he shouldn't allow himself a sip.

It was tempting, though.

So much was rushing through his head. His world tour would be coming up soon, and he and Kerri would be in two separate places with packed schedules for the next five months. And of course, there was what he had to do next.

He had plenty of reasons to drink, and he wouldn't be breaking any rules. He was a cocaine addict, not an alcoholic. And people used brandy to calm their nerves all the time.

Nick shook his head. The battle is not mine, but the Lord's, he reminded himself. He turned to Kerri just as she took another sip of her champagne. "Easy," he said.

"How are we holding up?" Eric asked as he came over, downing the glass of brandy he was holding in one gulp.

"Both of you need to stop drinking."

Kerri and Eric looked at each other and laughed.

Nick sighed and took the glass from Kerri. He placed her champagne and his untouched brandy on the tray as a waiter passed by. "Am I the only one who understands what we're doing here tonight?"

Eric tugged at his collar. "It's just weird that you're the sensible one," he said. "Anyway, that's only my second."

"And your last," Nick added. "You need to be able to think straight. I'm not putting Kerri in danger if you're intoxicated." He flexed his fingers when Eric actually smiled.

"Fine." Eric took a deep breath. "I won't take another sip of liquor. Now," he said and nodded at a man passing by, "keep smiling. He should be giving his speech soon."

"How's your mom?" Kerri asked. "Have you said anything to her?"

Eric sighed softly and shook his head. "She isn't feeling well." He and Kerri shared a grave look, and she nodded after a moment.

Nick had never liked Eric. Besides the reason he had told Kerri, he had also thought of Eric as one of those self-centered spoiled brats who grew up with everything yet never failed to complain about whatever didn't go their way. Having grown up on the opposite end of the spectrum, Nick supposed he had a reverse bias. He didn't look down on the poor; he just never thought too highly of the rich and famous.

So whenever Kerri told him that Eric wasn't in the best of moods because of his mom, Nick always assumed that Eric was simply being needy and pathetic or using that as an excuse to get Kerri to spend time with him.

But Nick knew better now. Kerri had explained to him after expressing concern about how the ordeal would affect Mrs. Wales. Since Mrs. Wales would be at a high-end private retreat—a place built so the rich and famous wouldn't have to reveal that they were at a mental institution—for a least a week, she wouldn't have to deal with watching her world fall apart right in front of her.

Just then, Senator Wales glanced toward Eric and nodded once.

"Here we go," Eric said and walked past them as he headed toward Senator Wales.

Nick pulled Kerri closer, and she turned to him, whispering into his ear. "My mom is going to kill me for the way I'm behaving tonight."

He grinned and tightened his arm around her. "This is the only way to make sure no one will come over and try to engage us in a stupid conversation."