It’s almost noon when I finally wake up. The French doors leading to the pool are open, letting fresh waves of heat and wind pour into the room. From where I lie, there isn’t a cloud in the sky, but a row of palm trees sways with wild grace, and waves are rushing the shore.
Today is new beginning for everyone. A new day where we don’t have to live in fear or question the motives of those around us. A day when my family is all here under one roof.
Family. My chest warms at the word. The definition of family isn’t what I once thought it was. It’s better.
I slip out of bed, feeling the aches and pains of the night before, heavier on my mind than on my body. With each twist of my head, I remember the car jolting to a stop and the powerful slap across my face. With each roll of my wrists, I remember the ropes. My throat is dry and my jaw aches, which is when I remember the sock gag in my mouth.
It’s safe to say I’m a little banged up, but it was the fear of what could happen to the people I love that hurt me the most.
I slip on a pair of shorts and a tank top, brush my teeth, and step out onto the patio. There’s light chatter coming from the other side of the pool. Everyone appears to be out here. The band and crew, my dad, even Deloris. I’m walking toward them slowly to avoid damaging myself further.
Wolf stands when he sees me approach and pulls out a seat for me between Deloris and Mitch. I smile in thanks, kissing his cheek before sinking in between them.
Deloris has a smile on her face, which brings me the most relief. I hug her, my throat clogged with emotion as I remember all that she went through just to bring me some stupid bag of tapes. “I’m so sorry,” I whisper.
She squeezes me, just as I knew she would. “Nonsense. You have nothing to be sorry about, dear. Those men were monsters, and you saved my life.” She runs a hand over my head and pulls away, wiping the tears now falling from my eyes. “But who taught you how to use a gun?”
Laughter fills the air, and I look around and smile, my eyes catching on Wolf’s. “Tony, actually.”
His eyes widen in surprise and then he smiles. “I guess the guy was good for something.”
Mitch clears his throat, and I turn to hug him. “Hey, pumpkin. Speaking of Tony.”
I frown. Do we really need to talk about Tony this morning? “Yeah?” I ask, cautiously.
“Well, he posted a confession all over social media last night. He admitted to cheating on you, to starting that fight in the club that night, to hurting you, and to giving Wolf a good reason to clock him—he confessed to everything.” He waits for my reaction to continue. My thoughts are too busy trying to remember our conversation when I told him to give me a reason to trust him. He actually went through with it.
“Tony’s five-year contract has been placed on suspension,” Mitch says. “He can’t record any songs, even under new representation. And his current representation thinks he needs a long break.
My jaw drops wide. Holy shit. “Wright will probably lose his shit over that one.” Salvation Road was a huge moneymaker for Perform Live.”
Mitch nods. “I’m pretty sure Wright did lose his shit when Soaring threatened to pull all future contracts with Perform Live.”
“What?” I ask, breathlessly.
“The executives at Soaring are pissed that they had to hear about the truth from Tony after the fact, and not from Perform Live. You could have sued the label, Lyric. Soaring knows how much shit they could have been in for that type of behavior and for not doing anything about it.”
Wow. Just thinking about Perform Live losing a handful of contracts is enough to set my thoughts down a long, windy path. My friends work for that company. I don’t want anyone getting fired. Hopefully Wright will use this as an opportunity to do right from now on, instead of focusing on the bottom line while sacrificing what’s right.
“Hey,” I say, suddenly panicked. “Has anyone found Doug?”
Mitch and Wolf exchange looks as if there’s a piece of the puzzle they haven’t clued me in on. Wolf catches my eye first, so I wait for him to speak.
“He’s okay,” Wolf assures me. “Destiny called Doug to pick her up from some motel in Miami. I guess Crawley went apeshit on her too and dragged her out here. She says she didn’t want any part in his plans to take you, although she also claims she didn’t know what his plans were. After everything Destiny explained to him, Doug didn’t want his phone or anything else to potentially lead Crawley to him, so he left his things on Tony’s bus and picked Destiny up. She was high as a kite, and he took her to a hospital. They’re transporting her to a detox facility today. From there she’ll go to rehab.”
I shake my head, confused. “So, Destiny wasn’t in on Crawley’s plot to take Wolf’s money and leave the country?”
Mitch shrugs. “Apparently not. Who knows what we can believe, though. The point is, Destiny is getting serious help. This time, they’re not letting her leave rehab until the doctors give her the all-clear.”
“And what about my songbook?”
“Doug is bringing it by this afternoon. He wanted to stay with Destiny until she got transferred. I guess to make sure it actually happened.”
I sigh and relax against the back of my chair. “I hope she does get help. Real help.” I look at my dad, hoping that this is the end of all the craziness that’s filled our world in such a short amount of time. Because while the crazy may have brought us all together, I just want to focus on the together part for a change.
I turn to Deloris next. She pats the top of my hand with her free one. “Stop giving me those sorry, puppy eyes.” She nods at the empty plate in front of me. “Fill up and eat. You never know when you’ll need your energy around here.”
Everyone laughs as I do as she says, because as always, Deloris is right.
It’s almost nine p.m. when Doug finally shows up, walking through the foyer and into the living room. He looks about five years older than he did last week, probably from the combined stress of Destiny and Tony.
I want to cry when I see my songbook tucked under the crook of his arm. It looks the same as I remember it, completely unharmed—unlike my poor wrists, which are bruised and raw from trying to free myself from a rope knot like fucking MacGyver. I roll my wrists subconsciously and sit back, allowing my dad to greet Doug first.
There’s a long hug and a lot of back patting, their voices hushed for a few minutes. All the while, my hands are itching to steal my songbook back. Wolf must sense my anxiety because he stands from the couch first and holds out his hand, smiling down at me.
I take it, feeling Wolf’s warmth in the simple touch—one that knows me all too well. I never thought I was the type of person who wanted anyone to know me inside and out. There’s too much to lose when someone holds your heart—truly holds it.
But with Wolf, it’s always been deeper than a simple attraction and great sex. It’s a connection that started at fifteen years old, when each of our worlds were right at the edge of falling apart, yet neither of us knew it. We were kids, too wise for our own good. Kids who grew up way too fast in an industry designed to destroy innocence in one clean sweep. Somehow, we held on … and then we found our way back to each other.
When Doug is done speaking to my father, he pulls me toward him in a strong embrace.
“I have something for you,” he teases, his voice thick with the same compassion a father has for his child.
Doug could never replace my father, but the fact that he’s always embraced me like I’m his means more to me than anyone will ever know. He was there when I needed him … when my flesh and blood wasn’t. Not because my father chose to stay away—that was completely my doing. But still, Doug was there when I needed him, never asking questions, never adding pressure. He’s just another light in the bright, shining chandelier that’s become my family.
“Thank you, Doug,” I say, taking the book from his hands and holding it to my chest. “For everything. Thank you.”
He cups my cheek and holds his forehead to mine. “No, Lyric. Thank you.”
Once upon a time, Doug told me a story about himself that will forever stay close to my heart. The story of a proud gay man who has been with the same partner for twenty-plus years. He’s always wanted kids, but for whatever reason, the man he loves never shared the same dream. Doug, being the selfless man he is, accepted this fate.
Deep down, I know there’s something about our relationship that fulfils that dream for him. And I welcome that. It’s enough, for me. And I know now that it’s enough for him.