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I should delete the picture. Get rid of it forever. She’s been gone for eight years. I doubt she wants a picture of her hanging around on my phone.
My thumb hovers over the delete button, but I can’t bring myself to do it.
Sighing, I shove my phone into my back pocket and head over to the dresser. It takes only a few seconds to pull out a pair of black jeans and a light gray shirt. I pull both on and grab a pair of leather boots before heading to the door.
“Where are you going?” one of the women asks, her voice soft as she sits up on the couch near the windows.
“I’m afraid I have other things I need to be doing right now.”
There’s nothing else that Ineedto get done right now, but I want to be as far away from my penthouse apartment as possible. Dealing with women the morning after is not my specialty.
Dealing with women in general is hell.
“You could stay and have a little fun,” the woman says, her voice a purr. She gets off the couch and swipes one of my shirts from the floor, pulling it over the tiny dress she wears. “I could make us breakfast.”
“I have a meeting.”
The lie slips easily from my mouth as I leave the room. I hurry for the front door, barely glancing at the dozen or so peoplesprawled out in my living room. Men and women in various states of disarray spread out across the floor and couches. White dust coats a mirror in the middle of the coffee table.
I leave the apartment, not bothering to lock the door behind me. Security will deal with it once they get the people out of there.
Ben and Matt are waiting for me. I’m already an hour late based on the way my phone keeps buzzing in my pocket. If I’m any later, they’re both going to lose their shit.
After a quick stop at the corner store for a pack of cigarettes and a new lighter, I make my way to Ben’s house.
Kennedy is waiting outside with the baby on her hip when I get out of the car. She glares at me, her eyes narrowed. “One of these days, my husband is going to wake up and see that you’re only dragging him down.”
I scoff and wiggle my fingers in the baby’s direction. “Good to see you too, Kennedy. Are they in the studio?”
“Waiting for you,” she says. She sighs and shifts Annika higher on her hip. “I like you, Tyler, but this is getting old. You’re thirty now. Don’t you think that it’s time to stop the bullshit and get your act together?”
“That might be the life that you and Ben want, but it’s not the life that I want.”
“Of course it isn’t.” Her tone is sympathetic but there is fire blazing in her green eyes. I would be a fool to think that this is the end of the conversation between me and Kennedy. “Butsome day you’re going to change your mind, Tyler, and then who’s going to be left to support you?”
Kennedy’s been riding my ass for the last seven years and I doubt that it’s going to change any time soon. Right after the North American leg of Gilded Cage’s first world tour, Ben met Kennedy. She became a permanent fixture in our little family and the second-biggest thorn in my side.
“I appreciate the concern, but I’m fine.”
I loop an arm around her and pull her in for a hug before continuing up the driveway. Kennedy waves Annika’s hand before taking her inside. I wait until they’re both in the house with the door shut behind them before following the paved path that leads from the driveway to the studio.
Ben sits on the massive front porch of the studio, reclining in one of the loungers. Matt paces back and forth, a cigarette hanging from his lips. Ben looks up as I approach, his gaze becoming guarded.
“You’re late,” Ben says, his tone sharp.
I take a seat on the swinging egg chair and shrug. “Woke up late. It’s fine. I’m here now. We have to get some work done on the new album before Tony starts breathing down our necks.”
“Album’s been delayed.” Matt’s hazel eyes bore into me like I’m personally responsible for the album being pushed again. “For the second time. The label wants us to focus on the hometown show that’s coming up before we kick off another tour.”
I nod and run my hand down my face, my headache still throbbing at my temples. “Makes sense. I really think that weshould try to make time to work on the album too, though. It would be nice to have more songs to add to the set for tour.”
Matt takes his hair down from the bun at the nape of his neck and rakes his fingers through it. “Ben, you fucking tell him. If I have to say it, I’m going to lose my shit. I don’t think Kennedy wants the patio stained with blood if this turns into a fight.”
I look between the two of them, arching an eyebrow. “What’s going on?”
“It’s time to get your shit together,” Ben says. He leans forward and braces his forearms on his thighs. “We don’t have time to keep searching for you in every city we visit. I have a wife and a child I want to call after a show. Matt has a girlfriend.”
“So call them.” I pull out a cigarette and light it, taking a long drag. “Nobody asked you to come out and find me.”
