Chapter 9
TEQUILA
"And that was that. We were all in," Zed whispered with a wistful smile playing across his lips. "Junior prom was AMAZING, we were crowned king and queen and then had the best fucking party at her mom's house. And that summer…" he shook his head and smiled, "it was fucking fantastic. She came up to Seattle with me and I went to the Hamptons with her. It was just...It was the best. And then Senior year started… It was perfect. Adds was the first ever cheerleader to be named HBIC for a third year. She did that Brittany Song, 3. I'm still amazed she didn't get suspended for that performance...Have you ever listened to the words?"
"Can't say I have..." Bonzo smiled.
"Well, you should. Anyway, with her only enrolled in the music program, we had every class together. Everything was falling into place..."
...
September
"So…," Zed said as he sat down on the plush leather sofa next to Addison and draped his arm around her. "Spill the epic party deets for this weekend."
She groaned and cuddled into his chest. "My mom decided to have the yard re-landscaped while she's on location. I'm pretty sure she did that shit on purpose just so I wouldn't have a party….I mean, it's my birthday...I should be able to have a freakin' party if I want!"
"I told you, you could have one here Sweet-Pea," Dale said as he walked in from the kitchen with a large bowl of popcorn. "Incoming!" He called out, tossing a piece of popcorn across the room.
Zed tilted his head back and caught it in his mouth.
"Direct hit! Did you decide on a movie?" he asked handing the bowl to Addison.
"IT… and I told you, Daddy, I don't trust any of my friends to not drown in the Pacific if we had it here. It's bad enough with just the pool at mom's."
Dale let out a chuckle. "Fair enough...and if we're watching IT, I'm going to nope right out," he shuddered. "I fully support your decision to love scary movies, but I draw the line at killer clowns."
"Weenie..." Addison teased, throwing a handful of popcorn at him playfully.
He caught a piece in his mouth mid-air and smiled. "You know it… You two enjoy." As he turned to walk towards the stairs he stopped. "What about Aspen?"
Addison sat up and looked over the back of the couch. "What about it?"
"How about a weekend in Aspen for your birthday with a few of your friends? The remodel is finished."
"Seriously?"
"Yeah… I can send the jet back from New York after I land Friday morning, you guys could fly over to Aspen after school and come back Sunday night… I'll even let Mason fly on the jet unsupervised… though I will have to give Nancy a heads up not to let him have any sugar..."
She jumped off the sofa and ran over to him, throwing her arms around him. "Really?"
"Really… I don't need him swinging from the overhead compartments."
Addison giggled. "Thank you, Daddy!"
Dale hugged her tight. "You're welcome, Sweet-Pea… enjoy your creepy clown movie."
"I will!" She hugged him again and ran back over to the couch.
"So...Aspen?" Zed asked as she curled back into him.
Addison nodded happily. "Think you and Mase can both call off of work all weekend?"
"Shouldn't be an issue. We already took off Sunday for fear of hangovers. Owen and Wes can handle it… Only one problem..."
"What's that?"
"Um… I don't know how to ski."
"Not an issue. There's no snow right now."
"Oh…" Zed sat quietly and ran his fingers through her long blonde hair as she started the movie. As the opening credits started he spoke up again. "If there's no snow why Aspen?"
Addison let out a soft laugh as she sat up and straddled his lap. "Because, snow or no snow, it's still the playground of the rich and famous, and we can do whatever we want without worrying about being caught on camera, or having the police called, or pesky little things like minimum age limits, oh… and pot is legal," she said in between kisses and nips. "And I know it goes against everything I stand for, and I know it sounds elitist or whatever to say 'I'm going to fly my fuck hot boyfriend and two closest friends on my private jet to my house in Aspen for my birthday, but..." she smiled and shrugged. "It's my 18th birthday and both of my parents are working. So I'm going to allow myself to overindulge for one hedonistic weekend that none of us will ever forget," she whispered as she bit his ear. She ran her tongue along the outside of his ear, "You know...with IT playing there's not a chance in hell my Dad is coming back downstairs for at least a couple hours..."
Zed smiled and caught her lips in a kiss as he laid them down onto the couch.
"Seriously though," Bree said as they walked across the tarmac of ASE, "We should go all out and get ridiculously dressed up and go out and dance like idiots somewhere… At least one night…"
"I was kind of hoping I wouldn't have to leave the house," Addison said, trying to keep a straight face.
"Adds, I love you girl, but I don't want to spend the entire weekend covering my eyes as I walk into a room for fear of seeing you and Zed defile every flat surface in the house."
"Who says we need a flat surface?" Zed teased as he draped his arms around them both and smacked a loud kiss on Addison's cheek making her giggle.
"We can drink and smoke and you two can have sex all the rest of the time. But we NEED to go shopping and go out tomorrow night!"
Addison let out an exaggerated sigh. "I guess..." she glanced at Bree and started to laugh. "We already have reservations for dinner tomorrow night, and we're on the VIP list at the club. Did you really think I'd fly us all out just to stay cooped up?"
Mason whistled low as they approached a navy blue car with a driver holding a sign that read "Donnelly". "Daddy Dale came through with the Rolls!" he said dropping his bag and walking around the Rolls Royce. He looked over to the driver. "Is this ours all weekend?"
Addison bit her lip and smiled. "Yeah, Mase… It's ours...Well I mean, technically it was my grandfathers, but..." she shrugged. "Hi Niles, it's good to see you."
"Always a pleasure Ms. Donnelly," the older man said as he took her bags and placed them in the trunk for her.
"Niles?" Zed asked quietly next to her.
Addison shrugged again. "He's been the family driver in Aspen since before I was born...Want to make out in the back of a Rolls Royce?" she whispered with a giggle.
"When do I not want to make out with you?" he smiled down to her as Niles opened the car door for them to enter.
As they drove through the center of Aspen, Zed's eyes grew large as he took in the sleepy town. There were plenty of chalets, fun colored houses, and designer shops all flaunting the affluence of the elite that vacationed there. He quietly started humming a tune.
Addison cracked a smile when she recognized what he had been humming.
"What?" he asked with a large smile.
"Lifestyles of the rich and famous..." she sang before breaking out in a fit of giggles.
Zed shrugged his shoulders. "Seemed fitting."
They drove out of town and up the other side of the valley. The higher they went, the more excited Addison became.
"I hope you like the house," she whispered quietly as they rounded a bend on the mountain road. "We're here!"
Niles slowed and turned down the long stone gateway, heading down the drive before finally pulling up outside an impressive dark wood and stone house.
"Nice digs, Adds," Mason said as he opened the front door to the car and stepped out into the cool evening air.
"Thanks… some of Bamms! best records were recorded here," she said, the reverence clear in her voice as she looked up at the house.
"There's a recording studio here too?" Zed asked as he walked to the trunk to help Niles with the bags.
"All of the Donnelly houses have recording studios," Mason laughed. "Well, except for Missy's… does she even still count as a Donnelly?"
"You have four recording studios?!"
Addison shook her head. "Nine."
He dropped the bag he had just picked up in shock. "Nine?"
"Yeah, Malibu, New York, the Hamptons, Aspen...which are the ones you've been to...or you know, just pulled up in front of... But then we also have one in the Maui house, the Miami house, the New Orleans house, one in Jamaica, and of course the big studio in downtown LA… and those are just my Dad's personal ones. Bamm! has a bunch more available for their other producers."
Mason walked over to Zed and clapped him on the back. "You get used to it eventually."
"No, you don't!" Bree giggled. "But enough about that. I'm freezing! Let's go inside."
Addison unlocked the door and walked in, flipping lights on as she went.
"If you need anything, Ms. Donnelly, I'll be just next door. Enjoy your weekend," Niles stated as he set the bags down in the entrance way.
"Thank you, Niles," she smiled politely.
"You're quite welcome...Oh, and happy birthday," he said as he closed the door behind him.
Addison looked around and smiled. "This is going to be the best weekend ever!"
Bonzo grabbed the bottle of Jack from in between them and poured another shot for himself. "You know I'm kind of hating you right now. If I didn't know that this story doesn't have a happy ending, I'd definitely hate you… Fucking weekend trip to Aspen… Lucky bastard."
"So should I not tell you about Spring Break in Cabo or our Summer trips to Hawaii and Greece?"
"I officially fucking hate you..." he knocked back the shot he had poured and slammed the empty glass down onto the table. "But at this point, I'm pretty invested, so please...continue..." He belched and waved a hand for Zed to proceed with the story.
Zed exhaled loudly. "Trust me, I get it… but like you said, you know it all came crashing down at some point..." He poured himself another shot, starring at the dark amber liquid as it
settled in the small glass.
"Don't get all emo on me now… Her birthday, weekend in Aspen..." Bonzo urged him on.
Zed took the shot in his hand. "We stayed in that first night. Smoked and drank and jam sessioned all night in front of the fireplace, laughing about stupid shit until Bree went to bed and Mason passed out on the couch… Then we went back to the master suite and..." he cracked a sad smile at the memory. "Well, let's just say that fireplaces and bear skin rugs are everything the movies make them out to be and more."
"Fucking. Hate. You."
Zed shrugged his shoulders and pulled out his dog-tags from under his shirt. His fingers grabbed an oval locket hanging on the chain. "I gave her this that weekend."
"The infamous locket… you got in so much trouble for having that picture with you in basic." Bonzo chuckled at the memory of Zed being on mess hall duty for a solid month.
"Yeah… Couldn't part with it then… still can't… As drunk as I was when I gave it to her, I still remember it perfectly." He ran a finger over their engraved initials on the front before opening it, revealing a picture of the two of them, obviously drunk and obviously in love. "Bree snapped this picture that Saturday night while we were at this private club." He shook his head and chuckled at the memory. "Adds and Bree went all fucking out. I'm talking sky high Manolo's, dresses that could pass for risque lingerie… my god did she look fucking hot as hell that night..." he subtly shifted in his seat, readjusting the sudden tightening in his pants. "Fucking tequila..."
"Oh no, you don't!" Addison said as she took his beer from him. "My birthday, I'm picking the drinks!"
"More champagne?" He asked, wrapping his arms around her waist. "I have to say, the crystale at dinner was pretty damn good."
Addison threw her head back and laughed. "It better have been! And no..." she handed him a shot glass, "We will not be drinking champagne."
"Really? We're going to shoot tequila?"
She nodded excitedly and smiled. "Maybe if you're good I'll let you take a body shot..."
Zed laughed and leaned down to steal a kiss. "And what would constitute being good?"
"Kiss me..."
He smiled and pulled her in even closer. "Such a chore," he teased, closing the distance between them and kissing her.
Addison pulled back and grabbed a lime from a plate on the center of the table. She held his gaze as she rubbed the lime across her collarbone and then sprinkled a small amount of salt. "Lick..."
Zed did as he was instructed, flattening his tongue against her collarbone.
"Now drink..." she whispered into his ear. Zed grabbed the glass and drank the light golden liquid, cringing as it passed down his throat. "Oh, that's terrible."
"Kiss me again..." she giggled, popping a small piece of lime into her mouth just before he attacked her lips.
"Mmm...much better..."
"Stop making out for five seconds so I can take your god damn picture!" Bree hollered over the music.
They pulled apart and Addison sat on Zed's lap hugging him tight as they hammed it up for the camera.
"Thank you! Now you can continue," Bree laughed grabbing a shot before dancing off.
"I have no idea how you drink this shit on the regular," Zed laughed as he watched Addison pour another round.
"Think you can keep up?" She asked with a grin playing on her lips.
He smirked and ran his hand up her bare thigh. "Is that a challenge?"
"Maybe… or maybe I'm just trying to get you drunk so that I can have my wicked way with you," she smiled sweetly.
"Gorgeous, you can always have your wicked way with me," he laughed. "Besides, you weigh 1-0-nothing… I don't think it'll be a problem keeping up with you."
"Oh, you young idiot," Bonzo laughed.
"Yeah… I was wasted a few shots in… But, Addie was still going strong. At one point she was even dancing on top of the bar drinking straight out the bottle. It was fucking wild… I swear I thought I was going to end up arrested that night. She always did have quite the habit of attracting attention, but drunk Addison dancing on a bar in a glorified negligee… yeah… Mason kept me from throwing a few punches that night." His fingers rubbed the locket again.
"Zed… you're too heavy for me to carry," Addison laughed as they stumbled out of the car in front of the house. "Mason! A little help?!"
Mason laughed as he stumbled towards them, dragging Bree with him. "Yeah, I got his other arm… I'm so making you drink Vodka on my birthday…Fucking tequila..."
"Um, I don't think so," she giggled. "And I didn't hear you complaining while you were making out with that cougar on the dance floor."
"...Fucking tequila."
"You know I can walk," Zed slurred out.
"Rightttttttt….." Bree giggled next to them. "I said the same thing before I fell down outside in the parking lot!… Fucking tequila."
"That's because you're wrecked, Bree!" Addison laughed. "I told you that the altitude can mess with your tolerance.
"You didn't tell me that!" Zed chuckled as he swayed between her and Mason.
"That's because she loves me more!"
"I love you both," Addison said, trying to root around in her purse for the keys.
"What about me?" Mason pouted as he shifted Zed.
"I love you all."
"Me more though," Zed said holding his head up for a moment before dropping it back down.
"Shhh… need… keys..." Addison smiled victoriously as she found them, fumbling a few times before she finally got the door to unlock. She bent down and undid her sky-high heels tossing them inside before helping Mason with Zed and Bree.
Zed was sitting on the edge of the oversized bed when Addison stumbled in and sat down next to him.
"Baby, drink this...and you may want to take these as well," she whispered handing him a bottle of water and two pain relievers.
"Thank you, Gorgeous… I love you."
"I love you too."
"Forever."
"And after."
He leaned over and ran his nose along her jaw. "I want you..."
"You have me," she whispered.
"I want to be inside of you."
"I think we can arrange that," she smiled. She stood back up, swaying as she did. "Woah… not going to make it to my bag for a condom..." she giggled. "Looks like you're going to have to wait until one of us is a little more soberer… or until the room stops spinning."
"Fucking tequila..." he laughed. "Wait! Jacket pocket!" he pointed to the ground next to the bed.
"I think I can make it that far..." she wobbled a few steps and reached down, picking up his jacket and searching the pockets. "Look at us! Still being all responsible..." she giggled. "Wait...What's this?" she asked pulling out a Tiffany's box.
"Your birthday present...wanted to give it to you tonight."
"Z… I told you not to get me anything."
"I told you the same thing and yet now I own a Les Paul," he chuckled.
"You love that guitar and you know it!"
"I do...but I love you more...now open the damn box."
Cautiously she undid the white satin bow. She slowly opened the lid and pulled out the blue bag inside. She loosened the pouch and turned it over. A beautiful platinum oval locket fell into her palm. "Z..."
"Do you like it?"
Her finger traced the delicate "A+Z" engraving on the front. "It's beautiful..." She launched herself back onto the bed and straddled him, kissing him roughly. "I love it! Thank you, Baby!" She grabbed his shirt and ripped it open, giggling as the buttons popped off.
"You're welcome," he breathed against her skin as he reached the hem of her dress and pulled it up and off of her. "Condom?"
"Shit!" she giggled falling off of his lap onto the mattress. Her head dangled upside down off the bed as she reached up and grabbed his jacket from the floor. A loud moan escaped her mouth as he started to lick up the inside of her leg. She doubled her searching efforts while she still held a feeble shred of sanity. "Yes!" she cried out as she finally pulled out a metallic foil packet from his inside pocket.
"Not the most romantic moment we had, but… it was completely us," he laughed tucking the locket back under his shirt. "I eventually got around to actually putting the necklace on her the next day. She never took it off. Shower, pool, sleep...The necklace stayed on." He grabbed the bottle of Jack and poured another round.
October
Zed popped a piece of juicy fruit into his mouth and smoothed down his hair as he waited for someone to answer the door.
"Zed, good to see you, son!" Dale said as he opened the front door. "Gomez?" He asked, taking in Zed's outfit. "That's an unexpected surprise."
Zed smiled politely. "Yes, Sir. Bree banned us from dressing up as any character from Nightmare Before Christmas for her Halloween party this year."
"Zed, for the hundredth time, call me Dale," he chuckled.
"Sorry, Dale."
Dale waved him off. "Come on in. I haven't seen Addie since breakfast. She's been in the studio all damn day"
"She has?"
"Yeah...I'm not even allowed on the second floor right now… Like I don't have work I need to be doing in my office!" he laughed.
Zed shook his head and smiled. "Is there any chance at all she's dressed and ready?"
"Not even a little," he chuckled.
Zed just smiled more. "Thanks." He quickly climbed the stairs up to the second-floor studio. When he walked in he saw Addison in the sound booth with headphones on playing the violin, still dressed in her black satin boy shorts and tank pajamas. He sat down on one of the plush couches and watched her. She was always gorgeous, but when she lost herself in music she was breathtaking.
A few minutes later she took off the headphones and set the violin down before walking back into the control room. "Z!" she ran over and jumped into his arms, kissing him. "Juicy fruit?"
Zed shrugged. "I told you I'd try
to cut back on the cigarettes."
She smiled and kissed him again. "You taste delicious… but then again, you always do. How long have you been sitting in here?"
"Just a few minutes."
"Do I want to know what time it is?"
He laughed and held up his watch for her to read.
Addison gasped. "Oh my God...I completely lost track of time. I just had this thing I was trying to work on and then it just started to flow and..." she took a deep breath and smiled. "And I'm so close to being finished...Do you think anyone will care if we're a teensy bit late? I really want to wrap this up."
"I'm sure no one will even notice," he said kissing her. "So, what are you working on?"
Her face broke out in a large smile as she hopped off his lap and walked over to the soundboard, sitting down and adjusting a few controls.
"God, do you look sexy behind a deck," Zed whispered as he walked up behind her. He brushed her hair away from her neck and leaned down, placing soft kisses along her jaw.
Addison smiled and rolled her eyes. "Go sit on the couch before I get distracted and end up jumping your bones instead of working."
"I'm fine being even later for the party!"
She laughed and pushed him away playfully. "Don't tempt me, Trouble...Give me ten minutes to layer in the violin track and then you can hear it."
"Oh, alright..." he pretended to pout before picking up her arm and placing kisses down it.
Addison giggled, "I'm serious! Don't go all Gomez Adams on me yet!"
He kissed her cheek loudly and walked back over to the couch to let her work. As she mixed in the violins, Zed texted Mason and Bree letting them know they would be running late.
"And...done!" Addison called out just a couple minutes later.
"Already?"
She nodded and smiled as she pressed the playback button.
"Mmm Mmm Mmm
Don't blame me, love made me crazy
If it doesn't, you ain't doing it right
Lord, save me, my drug is my baby
I'd be usin' for the rest of my life
I've been breakin' hearts a long time, and
Toyin' with them older guys
Just to play things for me to use
Something happened for the first time, in
The darkest little paradise
Shakin, pacin', I just need you
For you, I would cross the line
I would waste my time
I would lose my mind
They say she's gone too far this time
Don't blame me, love made me crazy
If it doesn't, you ain't doing it right
Lord, save me, my drug is my baby
I'd be usin' for the rest of my life
Don't blame me, love made me crazy
If it doesn't, you ain't doing it right
Oh, Lord, save me, my drug is my baby
I'd be usin' for the rest of my life
I get so high, oh
Every time, yeah, every time you're lovin' me
You're lovin' me
Trip of my life, oh
Every time, yeah, every time you're touchin' me
You're touchin' me
Every time, yeah, every time you're lovin' me
Oh Lord, save me, my drug is my baby
I'd be usin' for the rest of my life
Usin' for the rest of my life, oh!"
As the music faded, she looked back over towards Zed to get his reaction.
"Oh my God…." he whispered. "Adds….did you do all of that? Words, music...everything?"
She nodded her head and smiled.
"Holy shit! It's amazing!"
"Really?!"
"Yes! I don't think your dad could have done better! That was..." he was at a loss for words. He pulled her to him and kissed her as hard as he could. "You're incredible."
Addison giggled and kissed him again.
"What's it for?"
"That...is a secret," she whispered as she threw him a wink and stood up. "Come on Gomez, I need to go get Morticiad up."
NOVEMBER
"Will you stop fidgeting!" Addison snapped as Zed climbed the steps behind her. "It's just my dad! You've met him like, a hundred times. You've been on multiple trips with us. You're over here for Thanksgiving dinner for Christ sake!"
Zed ran his hands nervously through his hair. "Yeah, but this is different! I don't want him thinking I'm using you."
Addison spun around and looked down to him from the higher step. "Stop it. My Dad is not my mother or your father. He doesn't think that about you, and more importantly, I know that it's not true," she ran her hand down his face and bent down to kiss him. When she pulled back, she smiled and wiped her lip gloss off of his lips with her thumb. "I love you."
"I love you, too, Baby."
"Now just go in there, and be your typical cocky, charming self. Got it!"
"You make it sound so easy, Gorgeous."
"Because it is, Handsome. Come on," she grabbed his hand and pulled him up the rest of the steps and to her fathers home office.
When they reached the door, Zed stopped her from knocking. "I don't think I can do this."
Addison rolled her eyes in frustration and opened the door. "Hi, Daddy," she smiled sweetly.
"Hey there Sweet-pea. Is dinner ready?"
"Not yet. We're actually up here because Zed needs to ask you something but he's chickening out."
"Thanks, Adds..." Zed mumbled under his breath as he walked in. Dale's office was always awe-inspiring with his numerous Grammy's, Gold and Platinum albums, and various other music awards lining the walls. Zed tried to ignore them today though.
Dale laughed. "Relax, Zed. Unless you're asking for my daughter's hand in marriage, I think you're safe."
"Daddy!"
"I'm just fucking with you," he said with a laugh. "Unless you are..." he said looking over to Zed.
Addison rolled her eyes. "Ugh… Why are the men in my life dead set on driving me crazy today?! Daddy, Zed needs a letter of recommendation to accompany his application to Julliard. Can you help him out?"
"So you're really going to go the Julliard route instead of interning for me."
"Sorry," Zed said politely with a chuckle. "Julliard has always been the dream."
Dale nodded his head. "Well, I think it's a fantastic dream. I also think Julliard would be lucky to have you. I'll type something up."
"Really? I mean, thank you, sir!"
"Zed, for the hundredth time..."
"I know, I know..." he laughed. "Thank you, Dale."
"You're welcome. Let me know if you need any help with your audition piece."
"I will, Thank you!"
"Thanks, Daddy," Addison said as she ran around to the other side of his desk to give him a hug. "Dinner should be ready in about an hour."
"You're welcome, sweet-pea. And make sure Mason doesn't eat all the pumpkin pie before dinner this year!"
"What do you think I've been trying to do all day!"
DECEMBER
"Hey there, Gorgeous," Zed said as Addison walked into the record store. "You are looking especially delicious on this cold afternoon."
"Hi, Handsome," she smiled walking over to the counter and kissing him. "Well...I'm here...is there a reason you asked me to stop in? Not that I mind..."
"I don't know. Is there a reason my mom would have dropped off a piece of mail to me here at work addressed to a Meg Jacobs and asked me to make sure you receive it?"
"OH. MY. GOD! ZED! GIVE IT TO ME!"
"You know, usually you wait until we're naked before you yell that..." he said throwing her a wink. He held up the envelope in question and smiled. "Meg Jacobs?"
"Oh, shut up. I couldn't use Addison or Donnelly or any combination thereof, so I swiped your last name. Get over it, AND GIVE ME THE ENVELOPE!"
He shook his head and held it up higher in the air out of her reach. "Can I get a please?"
She smiled sweetly. "Please give me the envelope or I'm going to low kick you."
He laughed and bent down to kiss her cheek. "You're so hot when you're angry."
"I'm always hot."
"I love you."
"I love you too...Now give me the fucking envelope...please."
He smiled as he handed her the envelope, watching as she tore into it and read it as quickly as possible. She sharply inhaled and dropped down to her knees, tears started to stream from her eyes.
"Addie!" he jumped over the counter and wrapped her up in a hug. "What's wrong?"
She silently handed him the letter.
He looked it over. "It's from Bamm! Records….Dear Miss Jacobs… blah blah blah...HOLY SHIT! You submitted a demo under a fake name?!"
She nodded her head. He continued reading. "OH MY GOD! ADDISON!" he picked her up and swung her around, kissing her deeply. "Congratulations!" He backed her up against the wall and continued to kiss her. "I'm so proud of you, baby!"
"What is all the commotion?" Mason asked coming out of the back room. "God, get a room you two! It's bad enough I can never go back onto the roof after last month..."
Zed pulled away just enough to yell, "Adds just landed a record deal!"
"WOOOOOH! YES!" Mason exclaimed running over and hugging her around Zed. "Oh god is this a weird hug...Zed? Can you put her down so I can actually hug her?"
Zed laughed and set Addison back down on her feet. Mason pulled her into him. "Try not to forget us, little people, when you're a star."
"You know I could never forget you," she said hugging him back.
"What did Daddy Dale say?"
"Nothing yet! I literally just found out!"
"When are you planning on telling him?" Zed asked, draping his arms around them both.
"Christmas Eve, I guess… If I tell my dad before I tell my mom, she'll go nuclear. But, I don't really want to tell my mom at all...So… Christmas Eve dinner makes the most sense. They'll both be there."
"Oh to be a fly on the wall for that one," Mason laughed. "Z, you've got to record Missy's meltdown for me!"
Zed held up the nearly empty bottle of Jack and shrugged, opting to drink straight from the bottle instead of pouring another shot.
"She had a contract?"
"Yeah," Zed replied, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. "And that was before the label executives met with her and realized who she actually was..." he let out a laugh. "Christmas Eve was hilarious…. You have to understand… Christmas Eve dinner was a formal affair, I'm talking black
tie, catered, the whole nine yards. It was long and awkward, and I don't think anyone said more than five words during the entire meal. Addison waited until after dessert was served to tell them..."
Addison pushed herself away from the table and stood up, smoothing her emerald green dress down. "Daddy… Mother… I have some news..."
"Oh dear lord, you're pregnant," Missy said in horror. She turned towards Zed angrily.
"God, no!" Addison exclaimed in shock.
"You're engaged?" Dale asked hopefully.
"Really, Daddy?! First off, I'm eighteen...Secondly, everyone, including Zed, knows my stance on marriage… It's a hard no." She shook her head in frustration, pinching the bridge of her nose. "What is wrong with you two..." she mumbled under her breath.
Zed couldn't help but laugh. She turned and narrowed her eyes at him. "Not. Funny. Z."
"It's a little funny..."
She cracked a small smile and rolled her eyes. "Anyway… No, I am not pregnant, and no, I am not getting married..." she held up the letter. "I wanted to tell you that..." she took a deep breath and smiled. "I submitted a demo under a fake name and… I was offered a deal!"
The table was silent for a beat before both of her parents reacted at the same time.
"YESS!"
"Oh, is that all..."
Dale rushed around the table and hugged her as tight as he could. "Can I?" he asked, motioning to the letter in her hand.
She nodded and smiled.
"Dear Ms. Jacobs...Jacobs?" He asked with an arched brow and a knowing smirk.
"Shut up, Daddy… It'll never be anything but Donnelly...get over it."
He shrugged and kept reading. When he finished, he set it down and hugged her again.
"Addie...I'm so proud of you, Sweet-pea. But you know you didn't have to go through all this," he smirked holding up the letter.
"Daddy, I've told you...I don't want anything handed to me. I want to earn it...Poppa didn't make it easy for you just because he owned the label..."
"No, he didn't...but I also wasn't as good as you," he said with a wink. "Well, you've definitely earned this, all on your own. Your Poppa would be proud of you too. This is...This is just about the best Christmas present ever!"
"Good, because I didn't get you anything else," Addison giggled.
"I'll never understand it," Missy mumbled. "What's the point of being a Donnelly if you can't use it to your advantage?"
"Is that why you've kept the name all this time?" Addison shot back.
"Addison..." Dale warned.
Addison just shrugged and smiled sweetly, ignoring her mother's glare.
"Can I hear your demo?" Dale asked.
"Must we?"
"Melissa, would it kill you to show some support for your daughter."
"I have shown her lots of support. She had the best acting coach, the best vocal coach, the best dance teachers…
"All of which I hated."
"All of which I paid for and you so carelessly threw away!"
As they continued to bicker Zed dug out his phone. He set it on the table and pressed play. The sound of Addison's voice filled the room, making both of her parents stop.
Dale sat back down in his seat, listening carefully.
Zed couldn't be sure due to the recent botox injections, but even Missy seemed to be moved.
Addison watched her parents intently. When the song came to an end everyone was silent.
"Well..." she whispered.
Missy stood up from the table and walked out.
Addison tried to hide how hurt she was, but her voice gave her away. "Daddy?"
Dale looked over to her with tears in his eyes. "Addison… I have never been more proud of you in my entire life."
Zed stood up from the table. "I need some fresh air. Want another bottle?"
Bonzo pulled out his wallet. "Bucky will kill us if we're too smashed to rehearse tomorrow. I'll take care of the tab...you have more than provided entertainment tonight."
"And I'm not even finished," Zed smirked. "I'll meet you outside."
"Sounds good man."
Zed walked out of the bar and into the cool night air. He propped himself against the wall and took his dog tags back out. He flipped the locket open and looked at the picture again. It was something he did way more often than he would ever admit to anyone, himself included. He closed his eyes as a long forgotten melody raced through his mind. He wrote it after another drunken night as he sat staring at the picture. The lyrics quietly fell from his lips.
"I can still shut down a party
I can hang with anybody
I can drink whiskey and red wine
Champagne all night
Little scotch on the rocks and I'm fine, I'm fine
But when I taste tequila, baby I still see ya…
Sky high in Colorado, your lips pressed against the bottle
Swearing on a bible, baby, I'd never leave ya
I remember how bad I need ya when I taste tequila..."
AUTHOR'S NOTE: I'm sorry updates have been so sporadic lately! But, I'm back from vacation and attempting to get back onto a writing schedule. I was originally planning for this chapter to be the last flashback, but it got REALLLLLLY long, so I split it. Second part will be posted next week!