That stings. I look away from him. “If you must know, it was Aunt Steph. She was calling to tell me that…Dex has joined a new band. He’s in LA. Moved here a few days back.”
I hear Cale’s sharp intake of breath.
“He’s here? In LA?”
“Yep.” Meeting his eyes, I nod.
His jaw is working angrily. I hate that he’s angry because of this, angry for me.
It’s my turn to take hold of his hand. Squeezing, I say, “Cale, I’m fine.”
“Yeah, sure you are.” He pulls his hand from mine as he leans back in his chair. His face all red with anger, he yells, “Motherfucker! He knows you’re here, Ly. He knows, and he should’ve stayed the hell away, like I warned him to.”
“It’s not a big deal.” It is so a big deal. “And we’re going on tour in a week.” Hopefully. “I probably won’t even see him between now and then.”
“He’d better stay away. I swear to God, if he comes near you, I’ll kick his ass, like I should’ve done the moment he broke your heart.”
Cale is overprotective of me. He’s always had that big-brother syndrome when it came to me. It increased tenfold when Dex betrayed me. And I know Cale is hurting over it, too. Dex was his oldest friend, his best friend. Cale misses him. He’ll never admit it to me, but I know he does.
“Cale…don’t get mad, but I was thinking maybe you should make contact with Dex.”
“What?” He rears back like I just slapped him.
“Just hear me out.”
“Sure, go on.” He gestures an angry hand at me. “Enlighten me with your wisdom.”
“Don’t be a bitch.”
That raises a small smile from him.
“Cale, Dex was your best friend before all of this, and I know you miss him. It wasn’t you he betrayed, and when I made you choose between him and me…with the band…I should have never done that.”
His brown eyes flash with anger. He sits up, leaning forward with his elbows on his knees, his face close to mine. “Let’s get one thing straight. You never made me choose anything. The minute Dex betrayed you, he betrayed me, the band, all of us. He made us choose. And you thinking I should get in touch with him…Jesus Christ.” He shakes his head. “I don’t even know Dex anymore. I’m not sure I ever did, and call me insane, but I could never call a guy who would betray his own sister, the way Dex did to you, a friend. So, are we done here?”
Swallowing past my emotions, I nod.
Cale takes my face in his hands. “Good. I got your back, Ly, always. I won’t let anyone hurt you ever again. And I know you think you don’t have a big brother anymore, but you do, right here.”
I place my hands over his. “Thanks, Cale.”
“Anytime, Ly.” He kisses my forehead and releases me. Getting to his feet, he says, “So, are we going to this bar or what?”
Shaking my head, I laugh at him. “Absolutely. Lead the way, big bro.”
A Few Days Later—Vintage’s Apartment, LA
“Tom Carter?”
“Yes. Tom Carter.”
“You mean, Tom Carter, bass player for The Mighty Storm. That Tom Carter?”
“Yes, Lyla, that Tom Carter.” Dina’s starting to sound a bit frustrated with me.
Which I understand because I sound like a broken record right now. It’s just that my head keeps rejecting what she’s telling me, refusing to stick.
“Tom Carter…but I don’t understand.”
“What’s there to understand? Tom is taking my place as your tour manager.”
It seems Zane decided not to give us the news as I’m hearing it from Dina.
But Tom Carter. Total mut. Hits on me every time I see him.
He is the epitome of mut.
“So, Tom Carter is going to be our manager. He’ll be coming on tour with us?”
Dina laughs, but I hear exasperation in it. “For the last time, Lyla, yes! Tom is now your manager, and he will be touring with you for the next six weeks.”
Crappity crappola.
Tom Carter.
God help me.
I didn’t even know Tom worked for TMS Records. Of course, he’s one-fourth of The Mighty Storm, but I thought that’s where his association ended. TMS Records is Jake’s business. Tom is just the bass-playing mut, who will stick his dick in anything that has a pulse and a vagina. Actually, I don’t think he’d care if it had a pulse.
Meow. Saucer of milk needed at Lyla’s table.
“Call me stupid, but I don’t understand why Tom is going to be our manager. He’s not a manager. He’s a musician.”
Dina lets a breath out on the other side of the line. “And Jake Wethers is a singer in a band. He is also the owner of the kick-ass label I work for, the same one your band is signed to.” She changes the tone in her voice to business. “I know what you’re thinking, Lyla, but this is Jake’s call, and he rarely makes the wrong call. He trusts Tom, so we trust Tom. I won’t question Jake on his decision. He’s got enough to deal with at the moment. And Zane backs him on this.”
She’s right. Now, I feel like a total bitch for whining about this.
Jake’s fiancée, Tru, along with her bodyguard and best friend were in a serious car accident a few weeks ago. Even worse, Tru was pregnant at the time of the accident. Their baby boy was born early by C-section. Thankfully, he was fine. But Tru was in a coma for a week.
She’s okay now and on the mend, and their baby, JJ, is doing really well. But Jake has had a terrible time, and I’m not about to go bother him about my worries over Tom being our manager.
I’ll just have to suck it up.
“I’m sorry,” I utter. “I didn’t mean to sound ungrateful and whiny.”
“You didn’t sound like either, Lyla. I get your concerns. I do. They crossed my mind when Zane told me, but Jake wouldn’t make any decision that could jeopardize this tour for you. He rates you guys really highly. He wants the best for you, like I do.”
That warms me right up. “You’re right. Six weeks with Tom as our manager will be…fine. A piece of cake.” I’m trying to sound confident, but I don’t feel it.
“You’ve got this, Lyla. And I don’t think Tom will be…well, um, Tom. Not while he’s working with you guys. There’s a lot riding on this tour. Tom’s a lot of things, but he wouldn’t let Jake down.”