“That would be amazing. I hope it works out.”
“Yeah, me too,” I say, more tears rolling down my cheeks. “See you soon, Ash.”
When the call finally ends, I’m too sick with emotion to sleep.
Is that a thing?
Because it feels like it.
I leave my suite and head out to the kitchenette to make myself some tea …where I see Patty, doing the same.
I rush into his arms.
“Ash is engaged.”
He pulls me close. “I’m sorry,” he whispers, understanding perfectly. “I’m sorry you couldn’t be there with Ash.”
“And your dad’s surgery isnext week, and you didn’t tell me,” I say.
His hands tighten, even as his breathing grows more shallow. Then he sighs, his chest deflating, taking me with it. “I need to be honest with you about something.”
He pulls me over to the couch and sets me on his lap, where I hug him loosely around the neck, searching his face.
“When I first came on tour with you, I knew my dad needed surgery. It was already scheduled. My plan was to quit the tour after Memphis?—”
“Patty!”
“I know. But that changed fast. I never told you because I … I started falling for you. And I knew I wouldn’t be able to leave you in a lurch, but if I told you?—”
“I’d have insisted that you take the break and help your dad recuperate,” I say, resignation settling over me like a blanket. “Which I am. I insist. You can’t be on tour when he needs you.”
He pulls his hand away from my waist and rubs his face.
“There’s more.”
I pull his hand down, forcing him to look at me.
“We don’t have the money.”
“I know. I’ll pay for it.”
“Not a chance. Danny O’Shannan would rather refuse the surgery and live in pain than let you pay for him. He’d rather sell the bar. He’s the best dad in the world, but he’s not above his own kind of pride.”
“Then I’ll giveyouthe money, and you can pay for it.”
He shakes his head. “I can’t take your money.”
“Consider it an advance. When we release those songs?—”
“We’re not releasing those songs,” he says gently. “I heard the record exec talking. She doesn’t want them for you. She wants them for …” He clears his throat.
“I said no!” I rush to reassure him. “Those songs are… precious to me. Sacred. I won’t sell them to him.”
Patty looks like his heart is breaking right in front of me, like he’s being torn in two. Painfully.
He groans. “You have to understand, Lou: my whole life, I’ve made the most selfish choice possible. Two roads diverged, and I took the one that benefited me. But it’s all tangled up now. I don’t know which path is selfish and which isn’t anymore. I don’t want to hurt you. But we need money.”
“Then let me pay! I’ll buy the rights to the songs outright from you for a huge amount. I’m rich, Pat. I can do this easily.”
