Chapter 32: Chapter 32

: The Pinky Promise

Robin lay in bed looking up at the ceiling. He felt the space where his wife was supposed to be but it was empty. He sighed for a second.

Bree was right, he had been working a lot lately, and he hadn't had enough time for his family.

It was all because of Justin's new album launch coming up in a few days. Then after that there would be more preparing for his world tour.

Justin was a big deal by now and almost all the magazines that were being issued out these days contained a segment in him.

YouTube was filled with videos and paparazzi shots for him and Justin's Instagram had 75 million followers and still coming.

He had broken the record and people in the show business were fighting to have him on there shows.

Chris on the other hand had been offered a role in a new movie called, "Time," which was particularly been awaited for.

So at this point in time the Ryder's were being stalked by paparazzi’s and fans as well as promoters.

They had cash flowing in and out and were even nominated as the eighth richest family in America.

Although their careers were going off, they had less and less time for each other, and truth be told they were all falling apart.

Robin knew that he hadn't spent as much time with his family anymore and Bree was right, he needed to know more about the boys, not be secluded from their lives.

This was his family. He reached out for his phone and made a call,

"Hello, Robin,”

"Zed, I'm surprised you know it's me,”

Zed chuckled from the other end "long time brother,”

Robin smiled, "you know how it is,”

"I was going to ask you how you've been but I think everybody knows you're doing great,”

"Well what can I say? We do the best we can,” Robin replied laughing, "you're not doing too badly yourself, and I heard your business has become quite big."

"You heard? Or you know?" zed asked.

"Okay you got me,” Robin chuckled out

"How's your family, those two gold mines you adopted?" zed asked.

"There not gold mines zed, they're my sons,”

"If you say so..." zed replied shrugging, "so what do I owe this phone call?"

"What? I can't just call to say hi and check up on an old friend?"

Zed laughed, "you've already done that, now tell me,”

"You know me so well,”

"Of course I do, you and I were like brothers, till we took different paths,”

"Were? I thought we are still brothers,”

"You know I consider you a brother. So tell me what's going on,”

"Well brother," robins said sarcastically," actually this is about my family,”

"Oh?  Is there fire in the field?" zed asked with a sadistic chuckle.

"No...It’s not like that, I just want you to dig up everything on the boys, and Bree"

"What do you think there hiding something?"

"No...I just need that information,”

"For what?"

"It’s none of your business, I'm willing to pay, 100 000 bucks,”

"One hundred thousand? Why are you coming to me? What about those fancy private investigators you rich folks hire,”

"You know why, no one’s as diligent as you, you're he best,”

"I'm flattered but I don't think I can help you, see I'm no longer in that business,”

Robin rolled his eyes, "$500 000,"

"I told you bro, I'm not doing it,”

"Fine, a million,”

"Now you’re talking, I'll do the best I can,” Zed hissed.

"You better, I'm paying you damn well,” Robin gritted.

"It’s Zed, you said I'm the best remember?"

"Yeah whatever just do a great job,” Robin bit back.

"You know I will...oh and Robin,”

"Yes, what is it now?"

"Good to hear you again,”

Robin paused, nodding in the darkness "same here,”

A beep was heard as the call cut.

Robin paused for a minute then went to the bathroom. When he came back he crept into bed and closed his eyes ready for a goodnight a rest which he thoroughly deserved.

****

The next morning Bree woke up late. She headed down stairs to get breakfast ready when she found Chris already eating.

"Morning baby," she said giving him a kiss

He swallowed his cornflakes.

"What’s wrong with you today?" he asked, eyebrows launching.

"What do you mean?" Bree responded as she took a bowl from the cabinet and grabbed a spoon then sat down opposite Chris.

"well, for one you're late for breakfast, two you're eating cornflakes which you absolutely hate for breakfast,  you claim it should be an afternoon snack and you have bags under your eyes which indicates that you either didn't sleep at night or slept pretty late, "

Bree yawned,” you’re a smart boy...you know that right?" she asked.

He shrugged,

"Has your father come down yet?" Bree asked dipping into her breakfast.

Chris chuckled.

"What? What’s funny?"

"You said your father, you usually call him Robin, that indicates something,” Chris replied using his spoon to point out that flaw.

"Stop playing smart, it really makes me look dumb," Bree replied taking in another spoon as Chris smiled.

"He already left, he told me to give you this," Chris said reaching under the counter and handing her gift bag.

Bree took it and looked inside there was a card, "oh great, another present," she said pushing it away angrily.

Chris watched her, "is there anything going on between you and dad?" he asked.

"What? No, everything's fine,”

"You know dad loves you right?" Chris asked.

Bree smiled, "I know, but sometimes he just doesn't know how to show it,”

Chris nodded, understanding her fully.

Justin came down the stairs, he was shirtless but wore some pajama bottoms.

"Morning family," he said, as he entered the kitchen.

Bree paused for a minute, her eyes skimming over Justin. From his wet hair, all the way down to his attractive body.

She caught herself and quickly stared down at her bowl shuffling another spoonful of flakes down her throat.

Justin kissed her on the cheek and sat down beside them.

"What’s happening? Corn flakes today?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.

Bree didn't say anything as Chris spoke, "you're always the last person to get out of bed,”

Justin grinned, "What can I say? Sleep is like a hobby to me," he said getting a spoon and joining Chris.

"You know what? You guys all look down cast today," Justin said between mouth full, glancing at the two of them.

"Well maybe I could be happier if you got your own bowl and made your own breakfast instead of eating mine," Chris responded pulling his bowl away.

"Feisty," Justin muttered, standing up and making his own cornflakes,

"Okay so spill, what's on your minds?" Justin asked pouring some milk into the goal.

Bree sighed, "well were family I guess I'll start,” she huffed out, "your father is pissing me off," she said sharply

"Way to start mom!" Chris said clapping.

Bee chuckled, "he isn't spending enough time with me or even you guys, I mean I know he is busy but my rule is family first, careers second, it's the only way to make this work, you know what I mean?"

"Totally get you, family first," Justin echoed "how about you?" he asked Chris

"Well you guys know it, Britney's driving me crazy,”

"Oh what was her explanation for the video?" Bree asked, happy to focus on someone else’s problems for a while.

"She said it was a dare,” Chris scoffed.

"A dare?" Bree replied.

"But that's not all, when I arrived at her house her mother told me she was out with her boyfriend,” Chris continued.

"Didn’t her mother see she was not with you?" Bree asked, pausing as she watched Chris.

"Britney hadn't even told her mother about us, her mother thought Ted was her boyfriend,”

"She thought? Or she knew?" Justin asked.

"I guess Britney told her Ted was her boyfriend,”

"Wait, hold up, who’s this Ted character?" Bree asked, glancing at both of them.

"Oh, he's this guy I saw Britney with the other day, they were all pushy and touchy feely with each other, not sexually though but still, she claimed they were nothing but friends,”

"Just friends? But her mother knew him as her boyfriend and not you?" Bree asked.

Chris nodded.

"Tough break" she replied with a low whistle.

"To make matters worse as I was coming back still shocked from the bomb her mother just dropped on me, I met her and she was with him and I just got so angry!"

"Cool down bro," Justin warned Chris who had been unknowingly squeezing the carton of milk till it was all mashed up.

"Oh sorry," Chris said realizing what he had happened, "anyone want some milk?"

Bree and Justin declined politely.

"So sad, I really liked that girl, some people aren't what they seem.  So what's next for you two?" she asked.

Chris paused for a second, "I think that maybe I'll give it some space because i don't know what I'd do if I saw her now and that Ted fella, shit, I could break his neck," he shook his head for a minute.

"Are you okay dear?" Bree asked.

Chris sighed he looked up at them, "I'm not ready to let her go even if she hurt me so much. I love her, I just can't stop like that, I don't want to," he said as he poured some more milk into his bowl from the mashed up carton.

"It might be just a misunderstanding, Chris if you love her don't let her go. Love is hard to find you remember that," Bree replied.

Chris nodded in reply.

Justin sighed, "Well, I guess it's my turn,"

All their heads turned towards him.

"I'm ending things with Lucy today,”

"Mmm?" Bree asked raising one eyebrow, "am I hearing you right?" she asked.

"Yes, I'm sure she'll agree our relationship has been nothing but miserable. I looked at Chris and Britney, you and Dad and I could see that Lucy and I are missing so much. I wanted it to work, but it just isn't no matter how hard I try, it doesn't want to,”

Bree stretched her hand and patted him slowly, "you're not breaking up with that girl anytime soon," she said softly.

Justin looked at her, shocked as she ate.

"Why would you say that mom?" Chris asked shocked too

"Am I the only one who really knows Justin?" she asked him.

Chris shrugged.

"Justin dear, you're too nice. You pause in the streets for every fan. You wave at everybody who waves at you, you give autographs to almost everybody at your shows, which leaves me wondering how you manage to do that,”

"So... is that bad?" Justin asked.

Bree shook her head, "you have the most beautiful heart I've ever seen Justin, but do you know what people do to nice hearts? They manipulate them. The world hates beauty, they'll turn anything ugly."

"So what you’re saying is what exactly?"

"You’re not breaking up with her, that girl has you wrapped around her pinky finger"

"I am too," Justin replied, feeling got.

"No...No...You’re not, “Bree replied still shaking her head.

"Yes I am,”

"No you’re not”

"Yes. I am,”

"Okay fine let's bet," Bree said taking out her pinky finger.

"That’s for promises," Justin corrected.

"Still the same,”

"Fine, so what's this bet about?"

"Let’s say, if you don't break up with her, you get to join me with my friends for girls day every Friday for the next month,”

"Oh. Don’t do it man!" Chris warned laughing.

"What’s in it for me?" Justin asked, with a sly grin.

"But if you do end things with her I will allow you to go out anytime you want to for a whole month,"

"That’s a good deal," Chris put in nodding.

Justin smiled, "okay," he said locking her pinky.

Bree smiled standing up and taking her bowl with her, "you're going to regret that," she warned.

Chris grinned as she left fighting back a laugh” I can't believe you really did it,”

"What? Did I do something wrong?" Justin asked as Chris kept laughing, "you said it was a good deal man!" Justin said hitting Chris playfully.

"I meant for her, for you, it's going to be hard," Chris said, shaking his head.

"Whatever man, I'm going to call Lucy to come over,”

"Here?"

"Yes, I can't break up with her in public with paparazzi and everything,”

"Oh good idea, that way mom can see your epic fail," Chris said still laughing

"Is it really that funny? You better talk to Britney,”

"No man," Chris said as his smile faded, "I'll just be indoors today,”

"But if she calls you, you better talk to her bro, I also really liked her for you,”

"Whatever man, you just go do your thing," Chris called out as Justin went up the stairs while dialing Lucy's number.