Sully met his eyes and noticed the fire in them. He nodded his head slowly and immediately clued in. “This is about Kit.”
Lew stared at him. “That’s partly true.” He shook his head and then looked deeply into his eyes. “You have got to fix this. She needs you. If you’re going to continue playing your game like you are now, then y’know what, she’s better off without you. Let me ask you this. Since you married her, have you given her your best? Your absolute one hundred percent best self?”
Sully sighed and shifted his glance away, shaking his head. He knew he had to be truthful with Lew. He sighed and met his eyes. “In the beginning I feel like I did. But if you’re talking about the last year or two I’ve been on the road, no, I haven’t.”
Lew surveyed him and could see the shame and guilt encompassing Sully, nearly strangling him. He decided to take a different approach.
He stared at him and steepled his hands. “Let’s talk about you for a minute, just you. Sully Foxx, I know you. I know what you’re made of. You cannot let this shit keep you down. You have to find a way to rise above this. You’re a fucking superstar. Who cares about GT? I know you go way back with those jokers, but I always knew you’d break up. I knew you’d go solo. I swear it’s written in the stars for you.”
He could tell that talking about Sully’s career wasn’t landing with the impact he had hoped. While this surprised him, he realized even more that he had to drive his point home and go straight to Sully’s heart.
He nodded. “Ok, so you say you want your wife back. Well, that’s gonna take a whole new version of you. It’s gonna take your absolute best. A level of best you’ve never reached before. Because y’know what, she’s not gonna take you back in the state you’re in now or even doing what you did in the beginning when you first fell in love.”
He shook his head. “Nope. You need to become someone ten times better than that. You have got to win her, fair and square.”
He pointed at him. “And I swear to you, if you continue to fuck this up, you will have hell to pay. This close knit relationship we have, you and I, you know I’ve always liked you from the start. You’re one of the most talented artists I’ve ever met and one of the nicest guys in this biz. But this camaraderie we’ve got going on, yeah, that will go away. You will not want me as an enemy. Not in this business.”
He shook his head and sighed. “No one ever said marriage was easy, Sully, believe me I know. I’ve been married for forty years. But I can tell ya, it’s definitely a lot easier when you’re not being an asshole.”
He met Sully’s eyes. “I had an indiscretion with another woman a few years into our marriage. Wasn’t worth it. The other woman is never worth it, Sully. Then there were countless times when I put my company ahead of Sherri. I hurt her more times than I’d like to admit and it’s definitely not something I’m proud of. We almost divorced. I was being an asshole. I had to learn how to step up and be a good husband, keep my promises to her and be worthy of her. I did it. I give her my best every single day and I never looked back. She’s my world. She’s my queen and I would not have gotten to where I am today without her. Sound familiar?” He looked at Sully and raised his eyebrows.
He leaned forward and met his eyes. “Listen kid, I know you can too. It’s in your DNA, Sully. Figure it out. Get your shit together. Go to rehab. Get the fucking help you need. Do it now. I get that you’re finishing out a tour. Manage that shit. Once that tour’s over, get it done. You got me?”
Sully was misty eyed as he looked up at Lew and bobbed his head. He sniffled. “I got it.”
Lew stared at him and shook his head. “Get that shit outta your nose and clean up your life. You can do it. And I’m here if you need anything.” He stood up and opened his arms to Sully.
They embraced briefly and Sully pulled back and nodded. “I won’t let you down.”
Lew grinned and extended his hand to shake it. “I know you won’t, kid. Now go get some rest and talk to Kitten. If she’s icing you out, give her time. Keep at it. She’ll come around.” He winked. “I’ll see you soon.”
He walked Sully out and returned to his study, noticing that Jonathan had returned. They exchanged a look and Lew put his hands up. “Alright, alright, I’m going to bed.”
Jonathan shook his head and gave him a look of disapproval. He frowned. “Oh stop looking at me like that Jon. I didn’t meddle just to meddle. I did it in the name of love. Those two, they can figure it out. I had to talk some sense into him, the guy’s about to go off the deep end. You gotta trust me on this one.” He nodded.
Jonathan sighed and then chuckled. “I would have never pinned you as a hopeless romantic, but look at you trying to get them back together and playing marriage counselor. I’ve seen it all!”
Lew chuckled and winked. “Get ready, I may work on you and Beth next!” He laughed and started walking away.
Jonathan shook his head, yelling after him. “That’s not gonna happen!” He then chuckled. “Goodnight, Dad.”
Lew turned to
