“We’re not moving, silly. Just visiting. You’ll love it there.” Mom worked her magic on my brother next. “You probably don’t remember, but when you were a baby you loved the gelato so much, you cried every day for it.”
“What flavor?” he pouted.
“Chocolate.”
“Can I have a new game system there?”
My parents exchanged an eye roll. “That can be arranged.”
“With the newest war game that came out yesterday, plus five more of my choosing?” What a wheeler-dealer this kid was.
“Maybe.”
“Okay, I’m in.”
“Like you’d have a choice.” Forgetting my exasperation for the brat, I refocused my attention on my father. “Of course, this is all dependent on whether the school will let me.”
“For the right donation, they’ll let you,” Dad griped, believing everyone could be bought. “If this is what you want, Livi, then I support your decision.” He sat beside me and took my hand. “But if this is you running away from things, that won’t work, baby girl. Your problems will follow you.”
Was that what this was? Me running?
Maybe in a small way, but it truly felt more like a door opening for me. So many exciting visuals had flooded my mind since Kim had planted the Florence seed. I could study art in one of the best places on earth to do so. I could study to become a curator, open my own gallery one day… the possibilities were endless.
Most important, I could grow into my own person.
I reached over and took his calloused hand between both of mine. “Dad… it’s something I really need to do.”
The familiar sound of my ringtone pulled me out of a very deep sleep. I snatched my phone off the end table and squinted until the time came into focus.
“Hello,” I said, trying to sound more awake than I was.
“Hey, baby. I’m so sorry it’s so late.”
“It’s fine.” Pulling the cell away to muffle my yawn, I sat up and switched on a light. “How are you?”
“Tired… and missing you like fucking crazy.” His admission caused the ever-present emotional lump to resurface in my throat. The same one that had been absent today with all the Florence talk… which spoke volumes.
“I miss you too. Tell me about your day.”
“It was unreal.” He excitedly gave me a play-by-play of the radio interview that had started their day to the live appearance where they’d debuted two songs. “It feels so real now.”
“It is real.”
“Yeah.”
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing,” he was quick to say. “How was your day?”
“I, um… Kim and I spent the day together here. Mom arranged a day of beauty and brunch to come to us. I wasn’t in the mood to deal with going out.” A very long pause came. “Shane?”
“I hate that you have to worry about this now.”
“It’s fine. Is the hotel nice?”
“Yeah… hold on.”
When the video option lit up my screen, I switched over. “Hey.”
“There’s my girl.” His gaze traveled over me. “You look sexy as fuck.”
“I could say the same.” He was propped up against a cream fabric headboard, his torso naked, and the dog tags I’d given him resting between his sculpted pecs. I could see how tired he was, though. “Show me your room.” The shot wobbled a bit before Shane revealed a slow scan of his room. Near the window sat a food cart with leftover scraps from a meal. “You ate alone?”
“We all did tonight. The moment we landed it’s been nonstop. Cannon wanted us all rested for tomorrow.” A loud yawn stretched between us as he scrubbed a hand over his face. “I really wish you were here with me in this big-ass bed.”
“Me too. Why don’t you get some sleep? We’ll talk tomorrow.”
“It may be late again. Is that okay?”
“Of course. Call me whenever you can.”
“Okay, baby. I love you.”
“I love you too.”
We stared at each other for a few long seconds before he touched the screen just as it went dark.
I hated that I couldn’t bring myself to mention Florence. Really, what was the point of upsetting him if it didn’t happen? There was a great chance I wouldn’t be able to transfer until the second semester. That kind of defeated the purpose.
Being away would remove me from any negative aftershocks that came from him being on the road. It would remove the need to constantly be watched over by my parents, our security detail. But most important, it would distract me from missing him.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Shane
It had been a grueling week, constant go-go-go, and smiling so much my face hurt. The attention I received because of my last name had been expected, but the adoration before I even proved myself was phony as shit. Until they actually did hear me play. That was when I saw their feigned praise become real.
Hearing the roar of the crowd and having a spotlight on me were the only things that made the week bearable by supplying a high I’d never experienced in my life. For some reason, it felt different from the times I played publicly. My dad seemed to think it was because I was now a professional musician. Even though the money meant little to me, the fact I received it validated my talent… and that made it fucking amazing.
During the brief moments that I had a chunk of time to myself, I tried to envision how I could be a success when I loathed the press junket part of the music world.
I also realized I wasn’t a fan of playing with guys I didn’t care for. Cannon and I had grown closer, and my opinion of him had changed. But his band… nope. Although great musicians, they were morons. The dynamics I’d grown up with in the Devil’s Lair family had spoiled me.
The problem was that a solo artist without a backup band was rare. Which made me more determined to do my thing—just me, my bass, and a mic. Somehow, I’d need to find a way to walk to the beat of my own drum, pun intended. I wanted my music to rely on my talent. I already had a whole arsenal of songs showcasing my singing and my playing abilities and could make it work.
Of course, Alivia had remained a constant in my thoughts all week. We video chatted every night, most times staying on the phone until one of us couldn’t keep our eyes open any longer. The hotel incident after Chase’s party went unmentioned, as did the desperation that laced our time together.
It felt as though a dark cloud hovered above and would open up and pour down on us at any moment. There was a lot we needed to talk about.
Even after sleeping the entire flight home in my cozy first-class seat, I was still drowsy on the drive to the city.
“Shane, we’re here,” Ryan said, only then making me realize we were sitting in front of her building.
“Thanks, man.”
“No problem. I’ll take your luggage to your place. Call me when you’re ready to be picked up.” It wasn’t worth arguing that I’d be fine on the short walk at this hour of night.
“Okay.”
I barely waved to the night concierge and slumped against the elevator wall while releasing a huge yawn. This traveling shit was exhausting, but the higher the floor numbers climbed, the more alert I became. Tomorrow her classes began, and I felt bad keeping her up so late… but I really needed to see my girl.