AllFreeNovel
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We were both at the same place. It could have been her or Ly. So, I’m glad it was me. I took it so they didn’t have to.
So, the next time I see River, I’m suggesting the therapist and a good session with her and Lyric. It’ll all help us fight through this in the end without losing our minds over it.
The four of us converse softly as we eat our breakfast, trying to stay as quiet as possible. Not only has River basically moved in here, but she hasn’t been sleeping. More often than not, she plays bed roulette throughout the night. By morning, she’s slept with all four of us and Ly, who also has her own bed here.
The conversation goes on around us as my thoughts bubble to the surface, nagging me to bring it up. Say it already. Tell them how you feel. Express yourself. They’re your brothers, they’ll understand.
Finally, I set my knife and fork down, staring between the other three stuffing their faces and blowing out a breath.
For the moment, they’re happy, conversing about mundane things. The weather. The beach. Simple things. Until I complicate everything.
“I want to quit,” I blurt, unable to hold it in any longer.
Shit. I curl my fingers into fists, silently wishing I could run away. But a soothing voice reminds me I’m expressing something important, and I’m allowed to say it.
My heart beats like a drum against my ribs when everything ceases around me. The noise halts. Their bodies stiffen when they exchange curious glances.
“Quit what exactly?” Kieran asks, furrowing his brows.
“Oh boy, I think I know where this is going,” Rad murmurs, rubbing at his chin with worry.
“This,” I say, gesturing to the house. “This entire thing… I… I want to quit the band. I want to stay here in East Point and be with River.” I roll my lips together when Kieran sighs, digging his phone out of his pocket.
“Funny you should say that. I wasn’t going to bring this up until later. But you know how Constance was looking into other deals for us when we first saw River? Something that might pay a little more. Well, EJ records sent her an offer this morning for a five-year contract with us. It’s worth a hundred mil.”
Rad whistles under his breath. “A hundred fucking million? That’s like millions more than this contract.” His eyes widen in disbelief.
I take his phone, reading the messages she sent him and the email displaying the offer. It’s real. We could advance further with our career with another record company. We don’t need this gig anymore.
All we have to do is walk away from River again.
I swallow hard, not wanting to hold them back from what they want again.
“What are your thoughts?” I ask, clearing my throat. My eyes fall to my empty plate in shame. I could be dragging them down again instead of lifting them.
“There’s no fucking way,” Kieran whispers, bringing my eyes back to him. He shakes his head, and his lips twist into agony. “Before all this,” he says, waving a hand and gesturing toward the house. “I would have jumped at the opportunity. That’s a lot of fuckin money, but…”
“Lyric and River,” Callum murmurs. “If we go on tour… How much more are we going to miss? We’ll be gone for months at a time, and there’s no stopping. They’d have us on the road in a matter of months.”
“And my Pretty Girl,” Rad says with a sour expression. “I’m never leaving her again. I’ve been thinking about it for a while now. I love music. But I don’t love it more than my girls,” he says, swallowing a large lump in his throat. “They trump everything.”
“She sacrificed a lot for us back in the day. She took time out to build us into what we are now. Even now… She’s still working her ass off to get us back to our glory days…” I trail off with moisture pooling in my eyes. The fear from before evaporates into thin air.
Kieran’s expression softens when he looks me over, giving me a sharp nod of approval.
“I get it,” Callum breathes, setting his fork down. With a long look, he takes in all our faces and nods.
“I think it’s time we sacrifice something for River,” Callum murmurs with the smallest hint of a smile pulling at his lips.
Rad blows out a breath. “You mean, give it all up?” he whispers, blinking rapidly. “Everything?”
Kieran blows out a breath and nods. “Yeah. If we can’t be here for them every day, then I don’t want to continue on a big scale. We can still play around town and live through our music, but every night we’d get to come home to them. They’re our life now.”
“We should treat them like it,” I say, finishing his sentence. “You guys are sure? We’d be…”
“Throwing it all down the drain. But they’re worth it…”
“More than worth it,” Rad says, slamming his fist onto the table. “I’m ready to give myself over to my girl!” He grins now, joy lighting up his face. “Maybe now she’ll marry us.” He waggles his brows playfully, looking around the room.
