The last thing I remember is pain. Excruciating. There was only one sound that pierced through the cacophony of voices and noise and that was Tayla screaming, crying, but I couldn’t get to her. When I move, hands press me down. Holding me in place. My breathing is heavy. My eyes feel as if they’re glued shut. Heat sears in my chest makes it difficult to think straight.

“Callum... Can you hear me?” Petal? Baby? Fuck. Why can’t I open my mouth?

“He’s alert. We need to wait it out. There was a poisonous substance on the blade he was stabbed with, so he will be disorientated. The blade missed any major arteries. He’s lucky. We managed to rid his body of toxins. He may be in and out for a day or so, but he will wake up.”

“Okay, I'll stay.” The room falls silent. Where is she? Tay? This is ridiculous. The pain pulses in my ribs and arm. Burning through my body. In my veins.

“Cal, I’m here. The doctor said I should talk to you. So, well, you scared me shitless. You realize you can't leave me. My heart won't take that. You have to wake up, okay. Do you hear me, Hayes?” Her fingers lightly caress my hand. It soothes the burn. It’s soft and smooth. “Your mother is here. She's gone to grab coffee. Liam and Ryan too. Ki is trying to sort out the press release to cancel the rest of the shows. Your mom is nice, but I didn't tell her about us yet. I mean. I wasn't sure. You know...” Her voice cracks. She is crying. Fuck, I want to hold her. Her hand trembles over mine. The emotion in a simple touch is extraordinary. Willing my eyes to open, it takes every ounce of my concentration. I need to see her. Fucking torture. My Petal.

“You will never leave me. Do you hear me?”

“What are you doing here Arina?” Her eyes are dark, glossy. She’s drunk. Or something. Walking over to the window, I take in the view. We’re not in LA. That much is obvious. I don't remember how I got here.

“We are meant to be together Cal. You know how perfect we are. I am yours. Forever. You promised.” Spinning around, I glare at the woman I once thought I loved. That was unfortunately not love. I know, because I love someone now. And she’s not standing in front of me.

“There isn't an us. I do not want you. I will never be yours. No way in hell. Do you understand me? You are a fucking fame whore. You’ve used me for the last time.” I spit at her. The wince in her expression is evident. It doesn't faze me she’s hurt by my words. She has taken from me. Never again. I am not a charity. My heart is thudding against my chest.

Her face contorts in pain. Pure agonizing torture. I stare into cold calculating eyes. Realizing nothing will make me want her. Or the life we had. “Leave. Now.”

Loud beeps pull me from my fuzzy mind. When my eyes snap open everything is distorted. Blinking hurts. What the fuck? “Petal.” The word is ragged, my throat is parched and scratchy.

“Cal?” Turning my head, I am greeted with glossy chestnut pools filled with love. My vision dims. “Callum. Look at me?” Her hands on my face are tender and compassionate. Soft. Loving. Calming. Our eyes meet. I blink rapidly. She’s here. My beautiful angel. My vision is still blurred, and it's as if I am floating, but I am grounded by her.

“Baby, what happened?” The tubes in my arms hold me in place. My gaze rakes over the room. It's empty except for Tayla, me, and the bed I am in.

“You’re in the hospital. You have been for three days. Arina stabbed you. Before the concert. She hurt you. The security caught and arrested her. I think they said she will be admitted into a psychiatric hospital. I couldn’t focus on the rest.” My body aches, but the searing pain has passed. “Lay back, handsome.” Her voice is a salve to my heart and soul.

“Are you okay?”

“You are in the hospital and you ask me if I’m okay?” Her giggle is music to my ears. Better than any song I have ever written.

“I worry about you. Even in my delirious drugged up state you’re inside me.” It was true, she was woven deep in the intricate fabric of my being. Seeping into the tiny fractures and filled them with joy.

“I’m fine. Seeing you like that. Just… Laying there. Not moving. I didn’t know what to do. If it wasn’t for Liam. There was a moment I thought I lost you. It was scary. What would I have done?”

“I’m here baby. Don’t be scared. I won't leave you. You are stuck with my sorry ass.”

“You mean sexy ass?” She giggles and I can’t help grinning. The perfection of my girl is breathtaking.

“Yes, yours is pretty sexy.” Her cheeks pink and I crave to make her blush forever. The sight is makes my heart fill with emotion. I wish I knew how to ask her. It needs to be perfect. The pressure I used to have with other girls is absent when I am with Tayla. She’s exquisite in a natural way. There’s nothing fake about her, and sometimes I feel as if my world is the fictitious part of us.

“Cal?” Her anxious gaze darts to my face and the machines and I realize that my heart rate has spiked.

“I’m okay. Baby, I want to introduce you to my mother. As my girlfriend. When I get out of here.” Her eyes are wide. She is nervous, it's written all over her face. “She needs to meet the woman I love.” Her face brightens in a smile.

“Okay. We can do that. Do you want some water?” I nod and watch her grab the glass. Pushing the straw towards my mouth, she helps me take a few cooling sips of water. I can’t wait to have her meet my mother.

* * *

We’re walking toward the door of my childhood home. Nerves get the better of me. I haven't in my thirty-five years done this with a girl. The uncertainty has me on edge. If I had the foresight to know what will happen once we step inside, I would be able to calm down. Nothing has prepared me for this. Not standing in front of a few hundred thousand people. Not world fame.

Our hands are linked. I can sense her gaze on me. “Are you okay Cal?” I nod. The tension has to be radiating from me, I realize she must sense it. We have such an innate connection. Her emotions are distinct; I feel them when she does.

“I will be.”

“Is she going to hate me? I mean, I didn't tell her at the hospital. Should I have? I didn't think it was appropriate.” I plant a quick kiss on her lips to quiet her. Turning, I grasp the large antique knocker, it booms on the enormous wooden door. As it slides open, we are greeted with one of the most exquisite women in my life.

“My rock star.” Her voice is calm, but the emotion is thick and washes over me. The wince on my face when she pulls me in for a hug doesn't go unnoticed and her face falls. “You still in pain, darling?”

“A little. It will be okay. There’s someone I need you to meet. Officially.” Her gaze falls behind me, to the blonde beauty standing patiently in my shadow. A place I never want Tayla. She belongs beside me.

“Hello.”

“Tayla, my mom.” My girl steps forward and my mother embraces her in an affectionate hug. The most remarkable women in my world in one place. My heart is overflowing with love and I can’t find words to add more to the introduction.

“It’s lovely to meet you, Mrs Hayes.” A soft blush pinks Tayla’s cheeks. Her nervous demeanor will soon diminish. The concept of me having a girlfriend is very new to my mother that when her grey eyes settle on mine, the surprise is apparent.

“Please, call me Abigail. You make me sound older than I am calling me Mrs Hayes. It's so nice to finally meet the girl who has stolen my baby's heart.” I groan at the term baby. She loves embarrassing me and I realize this is the day she's been waiting for my whole life.

“A pleasure Abigail.”

“And you, darling. I can understand why my Cal is so smitten by you. It’s about time he brought a girl home.” Rolling my eyes, I huff and glare at her. They giggle as if they now share a secret joke.

“Are you two about done? Mother, I didn’t bring her here for you to gang up on me.” I grumble behind them.

“Oh, I realize that Callum, I love making you squirm.” She smiles, hooking her arm through Tay’s and they head off towards the kitchen with me trailing behind. I knew she would love Tayla, as much as I do. “Tay, tell me how my son roped you into dating him? Because he’s a hard nut to crack.” Another groan rumbles through my chest. This will be a long day.

* * *

We’re sitting at the long patio table enjoying a glass of wine and lunch. My mother and Tayla hit it off instantly. They’ve been talking for hours. I am not exaggerating. I am happy to see the two women in my life smile, laugh, and gossip about me. And no, they're not bothered that I am seated a few feet away. I haven’t loved another woman before, other than my mom. To feel the love I do for Tay is overwhelming. There was always an important part of me missing. My heart was incomplete. There were fissures that seemed baron. The loneliness caught me at the most inopportune times.

Sitting in my car, on the sofa watching television, even just sleeping was difficult. Not having someone there when you wake up. Or when you fall asleep. It’s a slow poison that oozes into your veins and grabs hold of you. Since I found Tay, I am complete. I realize I don’t have to be alone. Now all I desired was to make her mine forever. When she heads to the restroom, I glance at my mother. “I am going to ask her next week.”

“I am happy for you, darling. You have no idea how thrilled I am you’ve found love. Be good to each other. I know you will, but always be wary of each other’s feelings. Don’t hurt each other and make her smile every day.”

“I plan to. Her smile is the only thing that gets me through my darkness, mom.” The smile on her face is one of pride. To see her proud of me never fails to make me happy. Both Liam and I aren’t, or haven’t been perfect sons, but we’re trying.

“Good. Now I hope I will be getting some grandbabies real soon.”

“Mother, please. Let’s just take it one day at a time.” She offers me a conspiratorial smile, and sips her wine innocently. The idea of Tayla carrying my child has my cock pulsing behind my zipper. She would look incredible. Her beautiful face glowing. Jesus, I need to calm down. Or I will be sitting here with a fucking hard on.