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Now fire rages inside me. “How dare you?” I say through clenched teeth. “I am not controlling him, and I am nothing like alcohol. I’m not bad for him. I’m not going to kill him one day. And you are his manager. You should want what is best for him, not to have him be miserable and a joke to make you some money.”
“I am also his band manager. And right now, that’s in jeopardy.” His eyes narrow as he looks at me. “You are putting his job at risk. Because the label is threatening to fire him if he sticks with your silly rules. But maybe that’s what you want, isn’t it? To have him all to yourself. Maybe you don’t really care about the band.”
I gasp. “Silly rules? My requests were in line with his doctor’s orders. How can you even say that? And of course, I care about the band.”
“Lo is the face of our band.”
“So?” I can’t see this conversation going anywhere good and wonder if I should just leave.
“So, he’s got the whole of the band resting squarely on his shoulders. And since coming here, finding you and his kid, he hasn’t been able to be what he needs to be for the band.”
“Ty, there are five people in the band. How is it fair that you are putting everything on his shoulders? No wonder he was drinking himself to death to carry it all on his back.” I shake my head.
I look into his eyes to get my message across loud and clear. “People have lives outside of their job. They deserve a break every once in a while. He hasn’t had a break in four years. He deserves one now. He deserves to get to have a life.”
“The band gets paid very well to make rock and roll their lives. And he’s putting that in danger. He’s putting everyone’s careers in danger. Can you understand that? His actions could end the band.”
“Money shouldn’t be everything, Ty. Besides, I might not be some rock expert, but I have read the reviews of the concerts that the band has been putting on. Five stars, across the board. The fans love them. More than ever, really.”
Nodding, he admits, “They do. But the band’s only maintaining the fanbase in the Los Angeles area. They’re not growing, not gaining more fans. They have to keep growing or they’ll die. Get it?”
“I do. And the band will get to go on the road. Apollo has talked to me about us joining him on the road. And to be honest, I wasn’t really considering it. But after listening to you, I think it might actually be a good idea.”
“Why?” Anger fills his eyes. “So you can make sure he doesn’t do anything you deem unacceptable? So he can’t have any fun? So he can’t do what he has done since we started this thing?”
Astonished with his words, I can barely speak, so I whisper, “So he can be with his daughter. They love each other. It would hurt both of them to have to be apart.”
“Well, it will hurt the band if you come. What we really need is our lead singer back to who he was before he saw you again. Since that night, Lo hasn’t been himself. We need him. Anyone can be your kid’s dad. Not everyone can be the rockstar Lo can be.”
“Are you even listening to yourself?” My heart stops, and I clamp my hand over it. “Aurora is his daughter. She’s only three. She’s a baby. They just found each other, and you would rip them apart? You would take Apollo away from the family he loves? For what? Fame and fortune? Doesn’t the band have that already? Does he need to die for them?”
“So, you think he loves you, Lucy?” Amusement shines in his eyes. Cold eyes that have no sign of kindness in them.
“You know what? He might or he might not. But I do love him. I respect him. I am proud of that man. He came up from the depths of hell. He did that for his child. As far as I’m concerned, he is a fucking hero, you dick.”
Looking around as I feel eyes on me, I see some of the mothers nearest to us scowling.
Watching everyone get up from their chairs, I stand too, fists at my sides as I tremble, ready to blow. But I hold my tongue, not wanting to make a scene in front of all the children.
Ty gets up too. “If you love Apollo, you need to let him go, Lucy. Do what’s best for him. Let him be the star he was meant to be. Don’t waste the talent he was given. Don’t be selfish.” He smiles, acting like he didn’t just say the worst things he’s ever said to me. “And there is no need to tell Apollo about this conversation. For once, do what’s best for him and not yourself.” He turns and leaves me there alone, wondering what the hell just happened.
A couple of minutes later, I’m still standing in the same place, unmoving, when Ares joins me. “Are you okay?”
I look at him and just shake my head. I don’t know if I’m answering him or trying to escape the fog in my brain.
“Look what we made,” Aurora shouts as she and Apollo come to us.
Apollo wears the biggest smile as he points out the red sun he made. “She let me make the sun. Nice, huh?”
Ares whistles softly. “Nice job, bro.”
Apollo looks at me. “Everything okay?”
It’s not okay at all. His manager wants him to walk away from us and never look back.
And deep inside, I’m dreading the choice he’ll be forced to make. Because I know the answer he gave last time, and this time it’s more than just my heart on the line.
13
