Tangled Mess

Chapter One

Chapter One

Tiffany

“TIFF!” HOLLERED SINCLAIR. “Are you almost ready? We’re going to be late!”

My hands trembled as I stared blindly into the mirror, trying not to throw up. In just a matter of two hours I’d gone from giddy, to being terrified beyond belief. I wasn’t foolish enough to believe that it was going to get any better, either. Not in the next couple of hours, at least.

You can still back out, I thought, tapping my foot on the ground nervously. Save yourself from being humiliated or snickered at.

She knocked on the door. “Sweetie?”

I sighed and stood up straight. Oh, hell, I can’t let Sinclair down.

“I’m ready,” I said, opening the door.

“You look awesome,” she said, taking a step back and nodding.

“Thanks,” I replied, stepping over Felix, who glared up at me with loathing. I narrowed my eyes and scowled back. “You’re cute, but don’t think I’ve forgotten that it’s all a disguise.”

“I guess he has to ‘go’,” said Sinclair, smiling with amusement down at her cat.

Felix.

He was the only cat I knew that used a toilet and had little tolerance for others using his bathroom. Sinclair had somehow trained him to use it when he was a kitten, and I’d made the mistake of walking in on him a few months ago. He’d growled at me and then the little turd had peed on my new designer purse, his message clear. Although I’d wanted nothing more than to drop him off of the balcony, I’d held my cool, which was good because the next day, Sinclair had went and replaced the three-hundred dollar purse I’d saved all spring for.

Felix rubbed up against Sinclair and then strutted like royalty into the bathroom.

I rolled my eyes.

“I like that outfit,” she said, nodding in approval. “You now look like a mixture between a country singer and a rock star.”

“You think so?” I asked, biting my lower lip.

“Hell yes, I think so. You should, too,” she said, adjusting one of my curls. “Take it from me, you already look like a star.”

I thought I looked more like Cowgirl Barbie, but I kept that to myself. Sinclair had spent hours curling my blonde hair and applying my makeup with detailed precision. With my shaky hands, I would have never been able to pull anything off, if it wasn’t for her. “Well, thanks for all of your help,” I answered. “I just wish I wasn’t so damn nervous.”

“Why? Girl, you look beautiful, sexy, and ready to take on the world.”

I chuckled. “Well, looks are deceiving.”

“Yes, but your voice isn’t. Once you open up that mouth of yours and start singing, they’re going to be blown away.”

“And what if I’m too nervous to sing?”

She touched my shoulder. “You won’t be. Just calm down, Tiffany. You look great and your voice is amazing.” She tilted her head and nodded. “In fact, you look like the girl-next-door. The judges will love it.”

After combing through my closet several times on this last minute decision, I’d settled on a short denim skirt, a plain white blouse with a blue camisole, and distressed brown cowgirl boots.

Sinclair straightened the silver locket around my neck. “I’m sure this will give you luck, too.”

I reached up and touched my mother’s locket. She’d given it to me in the hospital three years ago, right before she’d died from a rare type of breast cancer. Inside of it was a picture of my beautiful, golden-haired parents on their wedding day. Unfortunately, five years after that photo, my father had been killed by a drunk driver. From what my mother had explained, he’d been jogging early one Saturday morning around my third birthday, when someone had hit him, leaving my mother a devastated widow at the age of twenty-eight. Fortunately for me, my mother had pulled through a short stint of depression, determined to make sure I grew up in an atmosphere filled with laughter and love.

And she had.

She’d raised me all on her own, while going to college and working on the weekends at a nearby convenience store. Eventually, she’d graduated and started teaching History to high school students, which she’d adored. Then, after I graduated from senior high and started beauty school, she was diagnosed with cancer, and I lost her shortly afterwards. But, she never complained. Not even through all of the chemo treatments. In fact, as far as I could remember, she’d always cherished life, making me the center of hers. I only wished she was here now to help calm my nerves, like she had so many times in the past.

“Are you really that nervous?” asked Sinclair, grabbing a brush from her purse. She ran it through her long, auburn hair and I stared at her, wishing I was as self-confident as she was. Looking like a super-model and having a rich boyfriend, obviously, didn’t hurt.

“Very. I’ll probably make a complete fool out of myself and get thrown out.”

She chuckled. “You’re going to knock them dead, Tiff. They’re going to look into those big, blue eyes, hear that beautiful voice of yours, and be completely blown away. I only wish I could watch it happen.”

I snorted. “Right.”

She turned to me, grabbed my shoulders, and shook me playfully. “Stop thinking that way. You have to go in there, and believe that you and you alone, will be the next ‘American Icon’. I have total faith in you.”

American Icon, a realty-show-s***h-singing-competition that traveled around the U.S. in search of its next big star. The winner would be given a record contract and two-million dollars upfront. It had already launched the careers of six lucky people, who were now so rich and successful, they’d become household names.

I smiled sheepishly. “I wish I had your confidence.”

“Just stop thinking like that. In fact, I know this is a stupid cliché, but if you’re really that freaked out, just try to imagine the judges in their underwear. Seriously.”

I laughed. “Right, with my luck the judges will be hot and I’ll be drooling.”

“Okay, even better. Pretend that they are your lovers as you’re singing and then you can seduce those votes right out of them.”

I opened up a bottle of water and shook my head. “Easy for you to say. I still can’t believe I let you talk me into this.”

“When you’re rich and famous, you’re going to thank the hell out of me. Now, let’s go before we keep Jesse waiting and he throws a hissy fit.”

I raised my eyebrows. “Jesse’s driving?”

“He insisted that he drive when he heard the news. He’s hoping to meet Taylor Blake.”

Taylor Blake, the host for American Icon, was hot. He also had the reputation for being a total scoundrel when it came to women. Rumor had it that he went through more women than hair gel.

“Does Jesse know what he’s getting himself into?” I asked, thinking back to the long lines of contestants they always showed on television.

“Yeah, he said so. He also said that it was better than watching paint dry. Literally. I guess Daniel is painting Jesse’s new house, and he needed an excuse to escape. You know Jesse, he hates any kind of physical labor. He’s afraid of getting dirt under his nails.”

“I’m sure. So, how are those two lovebirds doing?”

“Fine, I guess,” said Sinclair. “Although, Jesse has been complaining about Daniel’s suggestion that they go on an Alaskan cruise.”

“Why would he complain about that?”

“He said something about it being a floating retirement home, and didn’t want any old coots checking him out.”

“Seriously? He said that?”

She nodded. “Jesse is sweet, but he’s also very vain.”

“Well, he’s certainly good-looking, so I can kind of understand it.”

“I know, but I’m sure it isn’t easy to live with, at least not for Daniel. Anyway, you ready to go?” she asked, grabbing her keys from the coffee table.

No...

I swallowed the lump of fear in the back of my throat. “I suppose.”

She grabbed my hand and pulled me towards the door. “Relax. This is going to be fun.”

I stopped abruptly. “Wait.”

Her green eyes narrowed. “What?”

“I... I just don’t think I can really do this,” I squeaked.

“Yes, you can.”

I shook my head vehemently. “No, seriously, I think I’m going to throw up if I try and go through with this.”

She stared at me in alarm. “Don’t you dare, you’ll ruin your makeup.”

I backed away from her. “I... I can’t do this, Sinclair. I’m sorry for wasting your time this morning.”

She raised her finger. “You can do this, and do you know why?”

I opened my mouth to protest but she went on.

“Because God gave you that voice for a reason. As far as I’m concerned, it was a gift, one that was meant to be shared with the world. Now, you’re going to march in front of those judges with your head held high. Then you’re going to open up your mouth and make their jaws drop. I swear to you, this is your destiny, your moment to shine, I can just feel it. Now, buck-up, honey, because I’m not letting you miss this chance. It might not ever come again.”

I blushed. “You really believe that?”

“Of course I do and I don’t know what else I can really say to make you believe it, too.”

“You don’t have to say anything else,” I replied, clutching my purse tighter. “Let’s just go and do this before I change my mind again.”

“Good. Um, by the way,” she smiled sheepishly. “I heard that Ransom is one of the judges, and I want you to try to get his autograph.”

My throat went dry. “Ransom?”

“Yes. I told my friend I’d somehow get it for her daughter. She’s totally in love with that guy.”

“Ransom?” I said, still not quite believing it.

She nodded. “Yeah, isn’t that great? He’s one of the original Icon winners. Plus, he’s from California. One of our own homeboys.”

“No. It’s not that great,” I said, setting my purse down.

“Why?”

“Because,” I replied. “I was really good friends with his sister, and let’s just say that he’s a total jerk. I’ll never win if Ransom is one of the judges.”

Her jaw dropped. “You actually know Ransom?”

“Unfortunately,” I said, remembering the way he used to tease and call me “Tiffy Taffy” or just plain “Taffy” for short. He also used to chase us around with water guns, and terrorize us at night during sleepovers.

“Wow,” she said, shaking her head in disbelief. “You lucky girl.”

I snorted. “Believe me, there was no luck involved. Anyway, I’m sure there must be some kind of rule against knowing one of the judges.”

“When was the last time you saw him?”

I shrugged. “I guess I was about fourteen.”

“Fourteen?” She waved her hand. “Oh hell, he probably won’t even remember you.”

“He’ll remember, believe me,” I said, thinking back to the last time we’d been together. I’d made a fool out of myself, and the thought of facing him was making me more ill than the contest itself.

“You weren’t friends, though, right?”

“Right.”

“So, who cares if you knew him. You weren’t friends, and nobody needs to know that you were friends with his sister. Besides, he has met so many people being famous, he might not recognize you.”

“Let’s hope not.”

“Wow. I still can’t believe you knew Ransom,” said Sinclair, smirking. “What are the odds of that?”

“What about Ransom?” asked Jesse, walking through the door. “And what’s taking you girls so long? I have the top down, and this heat is f*****g up my hair.”

Sinclair walked over to him and began fussing with his drooping hair. “We were just leaving,” she said. “Did you know that Tiffany knew Ransom growing up?”

His eyes widened. “You’re kidding? You knew Ransom?”

I shrugged. “A little.”

He took off his sunglasses and cleaned them with the edge of his shirt. “I’d love to get my hands on that hunk. He is so freaken yummy. I met him at one of my parents’ parties, and let me just say this – he’s even more gorgeous in person.”

“We used to call him ‘Handsome Ransom’, growing up,” I said and then smiled. “He didn’t care for it too much.”

“Seriously? It’s a compliment,” said Sinclair.

“Well, it embarrassed him back then,” I said. “He was pretty modest about his looks back in those days.”

“He obviously grew out of that. The guy is a legend now,” replied Sinclair.

“In more ways than one,” said Jesse.

“What do you mean?” I asked.

He smirked. “Let’s just say he’s pretty rowdy these days. Don’t you read the papers?”

Sinclair pushed her hair behind her ears. “You mean those gossip tabloids?”

“They’re not all gossip,” said Jesse. “I believe the stories about Ransom. I mean, there are just too many of them to all be false.”

“Honestly, it wouldn’t surprise me,” I said. “He was trouble growing up, and I’m sure with all of his money and fame, there’s nothing to stop Ransom from being an all-out hell raiser.”

We walked out of the apartment and Sinclair locked the door.

“I know one thing,” said Jesse with a wicked grin. “That deep, sexy voice of his raises more than just a little hell for me; too bad he’s straight.”

He was definitely straight. In fact, I’d never forget the look in his eyes right before I’d kissed him.

It had been at his graduation party. His sister Remy and I had snuck some beer and gotten pretty tipsy. She’d left at some point, to pass out in her bedroom, while I’d played cards with some of Ransom’s hot friends in the den. When he’d wandered in and noticed what was happening, he’d pulled me away from the table, down through the hallway to the guest bedroom, and proceeded to chew me out. I could still remember the fire in his eyes that night.

“What in the hell were you thinking?” he’d barked, angrier than I’d ever seen him.

I’d raised my chin. “I was just playing cards. What’s the big deal?”

“It wasn’t just cards. Obviously, you’ve been drinking.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I’d lied.

His slate-grey eyes had burned into mine. “Stay away from those guys, Taffy. They don’t care how old you are and I don’t want you getting hurt.”

Not understanding exactly what he was getting at, I’d placed my hands on my hips and looked at him defiantly. “That’s exactly the point,” I said. “They don’t treat me like a child. Not like you do.”

He rolled his eyes. “You are still a child. You’re what... fifteen, sixteen?”

I didn’t tell him I was fourteen. “I’m not a child and... I have a boyfriend who... kisses me. In fact, I’ve done a lot of things.”

A look of surprise and then amusement had spread across his face. “Oh, is that so?”

He had me backed up into a corner and was so close that I’d never noticed how perfectly sculpted his jawline was or how full his lips were. “Yes, so you see, I’m not a little girl anymore.”

He’d stared at my mouth, making my tummy fluttery and warm. “You may not look like it, but you are, Taffy.”

My heart had pounded madly in my chest as I’d imagined what it would feel like if our lips touched. I’d kissed a couple of boys already, but none of them had been as handsome, or as experienced as Ransom. Still pretty tipsy, I’d decided to be daring, like the girls in my teen romance books. Standing on my tiptoes, I’d slid my hands around his neck, and crushed my lips against his.

Groaning, he’d kissed me back for a couple of seconds, until our tongues touched. Then he’d stiffened up, pushing me away. “Whoa, what in the hell are you doing, Taffy?”

Horrified and humiliated that he’d rejected me, I’d taken off before the tears had fallen. We hadn’t seen each other since.