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And I feel like a freaking excited teenage girl going on her first date at the thought.
I open the messages, and my excitement instantly deflates when I see he’s canceling. The feelings of disappointment don’t have time to take root before they’re replaced with concern when I read the reason why.
He’s heading to Louisiana for Maddox because something’s wrong.
I fire off a reply, telling him to let everyone know I’m thinking about them and Maddox. He replies seconds later, telling me he’s picking up Henry in a few minutes and they’ll be on their flight out within the hour.
My bottom lip pulls between my teeth. What he said about Maddox being the glue of the band a few weeks ago was true, so I really hope everything is okay. Maddox is important to all of them.
I wonder if Casey knows. She’s always been timid around the guys, but she knows they love her. I think she loves them, too. She’ll want to know regardless.
I climb off the bed, deciding to let her know. When I open my door, I hear voices. In the living room, I see Casey standing at the entry with a familiar blond head I’ve always had to pretend I don’t despise with every fiber of my being.
“Baby, isn’t this so exciting,” Krista, Liam’s ex-wife and Casey’s mom, says in her nasally, high-pitched voice. I swear it’s intentional because she thinks it makes her sound feminine and cute. “Why aren’t you more excited?”
“What are you talking about, Mom? When did this happen?” Casey stands there looking shellshocked, and curiosity digs at my brain.
“A few weeks ago. Isn’t that perfect!” Krista makes eye contact with me, and a strange smile pulls her lips, causing a chill to run down my spine. “Your dad and I get back together and create a new baby on his birthday.”
My heart stops. The gasp slips from me before I can stop it. They both turn and look at me. “Oh, Lily. We didn’t see you there.” She lies through her pointed fangs. “Did you hear the exciting news?”
I don’t even acknowledge them as I return to my room and head straight for the toilet. The contents of my stomach retch into the bowl. Then again.
The night before he came to me, he was with her. He fucked her, then had the nerve to tell me he didn’t care if I went home with that guy. No fucking wonder he didn’t care.
Hot tears spill down my cheeks. My heart feels like it’s been ripped from my chest. The phone in my hand rings. His name pops up on the screen, and I cry harder.
Lancelot: Lily, pick up the phone.
Lancelot: Please, baby, answer. I can explain. I swear I can.
Lancelot: Dammit, Aliana, answer the fucking phone.
Message after message pops up on the screen until I finally shut it off. There is nothing he can say that will make this okay, and I don’t want his flimsy excuses. So I go pack my bags.
I won’t be here when he gets back.
Liam
Eight months later
I sit across from two of five men who’ve employed me for the last few years after they dropped a massive announcement to everyone. They now own their record label and have renamed it Sin Records. I couldn’t be happier for them.
I’ve been their band manager for a few years, and the band isn’t breaking up. Just taking more control. All the control. They’ll still need a manager, but I must admit, there’s a small knot in my chest as I wonder what this new acquisition means for me. Especially given Maddox and I haven’t been in the best place since I was a massive ass a few months ago after Casey called me, tearing me a new one over her mom’s announcement. I took my anger over that and over Lily refusing to talk to me out on his wife.
His searing blue eyes lock onto mine with a stern glare as he drags his hand over his mouth. I keep my expression cool as I wait for the bomb to be dropped. “I know things haven’t been great with us. Believe me when I tell you that I’m trying. If you haven’t figured it out, I have a history of hanging on to the past.”
My hand flies through the air, waving him off before I drag it through my hair. “You have every right to be pissed. If I were in your shoes, I would’ve cut you off. I’m not making excuses, but I let the shit in my personal life influence how I treated Quinn. She didn’t deserve it.”
“Things better now?” Ryder asks, his brows pitched with curiosity.
I gnaw my cheek, deciding how to answer. Things are nowhere near better, and I’m not sure how to fix anything. Nothing I’ve done so far has worked. Lily still won’t talk to me. I tried for months and got nowhere. I’ve been trying to work out a plan, but short of acting like a caveman, nothing that comes to mind would help. “Yeah-uh-actually, not really. It’s not important. Just bs with… Personal stuff.”
“Your ex?” Ryder shoots Maddox a sideways glance, and I get suspicious. They already know everything that went down with Krista, so they have no reason to ask. “Casey? What’s going on?”
“Like I said, not important.”
“Liam, I get secrets, man. We both do. But if you need to talk…”
