Page 128 of Lyric & the Heartbeats

Lyric frowned. “I don’t really care if they’re happy or not.”

Andi sighed. “It’ll be fine, Lyric. Thank you for offering. But I think the thing that’s keeping me together right now is knowing you’re out there kicking ass every night, just like we’ve been dreaming about for years.”

Lyric scratched at a mark on her knee, seeing right through Andi’s lie. “I don’t believe you.”

“Please don’t come home. I’m serious. Finish the tour. I’d feel too guilty if you left early, and I can’t deal with that too.”

“Andi, you don’t need to feel guilty. The label will—”

“Lyric, don’t push,” Andi bit out, her voice cracking. “The only thing that’s going right for me right now is you doing what you’re supposed to. I can’t handle the guilt of interrupting tour on top of everything else. I love you, and I know you’re coming from a place of love, but I can only handle what I have right now. When you get home, after tour, you can baby me all you want.”

Lyric was quiet for a few agonizing heartbeats. “Okay. I’ll finish out the tour, and then I’m coming to be there for you, okay?”

“Deal. I love you.”

“I love you too. Let me know if you need anything in the meantime, alright?”

“I will. I’m going to go check on her again. Try not to worry about me too much. This is your dream—enjoy it. Tell the others I said to be on their best behavior.”

At the mention of the band, Lyric glanced out of her nest and toward the doors separating them.

“I will. Bye, babe.”

The call ended with a soft click, and Lyric’s gaze was glued to the door. To the chuckles and muted conversations throughout the bus.

Was I really willing to interrupt tour and leave my band behind to run home?

Yes. With no hesitation. Her best friend needed her, and she wanted to be there.

But what about…

I’m so damned selfish.

What about the others? This wasn’t just her dream anymore. What about Odd, who’s been in this exact same position before? In the hands of an omega who controlled his future? What about Emerson, who hated performing but was pushing past his comfort zones every night to do just that?

She brushed a thumb over her tattoo. And Henry?

And Nohen and Javier, both of whom she hadn’t had enough time to get to know like she wanted?

Lyric froze. If Andi had told her yes, that she needed Lyric by her side, what would she have done?

The answer was easy.

She would have figured out a way to leave the tour, to cancel the dates, to go home and be there for her best friend. No doubt about it.

And what would that have meant for her band?

Lyric would have left Emerson, Adra, Nohen, Henry, and Desi behind.

“I think I’ve fucked up,” Lyric whispered to the floor.

“What’d you do?” Desi asked softly.

Lyric jumped in place and jerked her head up, finding Desi in the bunk room, hesitating beside her bag.

“You scared me!” she breathed, relieved it wasn’t one of the guys.

“Sorry,” Desi replied with a wince. “I didn’t mean to. You okay?”