Page 36 of After Care

Gage’s wide dark eyes pinched his brows. “You didn’t know?” he chuckled. “You had to know.”

“Her musical knowledge is atrocious,” Tommy commented, with no humor in his voice. He stepped closer to me, holding up his hands in surrender as mine flattened against the wall behind me.

“I think she’s star struck,” Gage laughed, and I heard the soft tap of Ivy’s sandals coming toward me down the hall.

“Star struck,” I choked, a tinny sounding screech erupting from my mouth. I paused, trying to catch my breath. “You lied to me.”

“Now, darlin’—”

“Don’t,” I cut him off, raising both hands to hold him back from me. “You…” I paused, looking around his side to see two little girls watching us as harsher words tipped on my tongue. You fucking lied to me, I swallowed, irate.

“I didn’t lie,” Tommy defended.

“You didn’t tell the truth.” My voice rose a little louder. A little too loud, apparently, because Caleb came down the hall.

“Mom, what’s going on?”

“He’s Lawson Colt,” I stammered, waving a hand in the direction of Tommy. “Of Colt45.”

“Well, duh,” Caleb mocked, smiling his damn dimpled smile. Then his face dropped. “What’s wrong?”

My mouth had popped open, but I snapped it shut. “You knew?” I questioned.

“Mom, everyone knows he’s Lawson Colt.”

“Not me!” I shrieked, and then I paused. Everyone knew. My eyes flipped from Gage to Ivy to Tommy. I looked like a fool. My music knowledge was bad, but this…not recognizing one of the greatest guitar players of all time? Slowly things made sense. Kit Carrigan and the band Colt45. A brother and sister duet, who sang heart-wrenching ballads about lost love, missed opportunity, and permanent separation. He wasn’t just some guy in the band—he was her brother, her partner. Hell, if my weak memory was correct, he wrote all their songs. They broke the charts. Prior to that, he mentioned he played in his sister’s band, Chrome Teardrops. They were one of the greatest female lead rock bands of all time. She set record after groundbreaking record for female artists, and he helped her, probably with songs he’d written for her.

I brushed past the small crowd in the hallway.

“Darlin’,” followed after me as walked.

“I told you,” Ivy whispered, but to who I wasn’t sure. Not wishing to make a grand exit, despite my embarrassment, I reached the kitchen and grabbed a dish, pushing Petty out of the way.

“I’ll take over. I need something to do.” Scrubbing dishes and handing them to Petty, we filled the dishwasher in silence. Jared remained present as well, most likely waiting to catch any dish I started throwing, as I was certain I looked like I wanted to break something.

Tommy lied to me.

And truth by omission is the same thing. He hadn’t told me.

I should make you sign a nondisclosure agreement for all I’ve told you. The words rang through my head. Did he still think I’d say something to someone? How little did he think of me? How little did he trust me? How could he give me his room key, unless he believed I’d never find out who he was?

We only have a few days. Let’s live it.

Lies, I fumed, as I slammed the dishwasher shut and then filled the sink with sudsy water to tackle pots and pans.

“Darlin’, let the boys do that,” Tommy said softly from the door.

I don’t want to talk to you, I yelled inside my head, but I’d already been embarrassed enough.

“I’ve got it,” I snapped to the pan I circled with the sponge over and over again.

“Boys. Out,” Tommy barked, but I turned and glared at Jared, willing him not to leave me alone even though I didn’t know him well.

“I don’t think—” Jared began.

“You’re not here to think,” Tommy snapped, and Jared narrowed his eyes at his manager. He didn’t move, though, and two warm hands came to my upper arms.

“Darlin’.” He spoke softly, as if to a spooked child. I was spooked, but I was also pissed off. I rolled my shoulders forward, pulling my arms from his grasp. Refusing to look back at him, I rinsed the pot and started on the large serving bowl.