Chapter Sixteen
CHASE
Goddammit! I never meant to hurt her.
My heart pounds ferociously, my breathing frantic as I watch Lyric fall apart in the cab. I want to go after her so fucking badly. Everything in me is screaming, aching to make this right, but I know right now she doesn’t want to talk to me.
I know her.
She needs time.
I need to respect that she needs her space. But as the cab pulls away with her inside, it breaks something within me. It feels like I’m physically being torn in half. Like a part of me has driven off in that damn car.
My nostrils flare in anger.
I never meant for her to find out like this.
I always knew one day she was going to find out, and I swear I was going to tell her. I know what singing and her family mean to her. I know what she wants from her life.
But for her to find out like this.
No, this wasn’t supposed to fucking happen.
I stare out into the darkened night street. Cars zoom by, and I guess I’m hoping, praying for her to come back.
But I know she won’t.
She’s stubborn, and I love that about her.
I hang my head, shoving my hands into my jeans pockets, and walk back inside.
Dax slaps my back, shaking his head. “I told you this was going to blow up in your face if you didn’t come clean.”
“Not helping, Dax,” I grunt out the words.
My father walks over, reeking of disapproval. “I know it’s rare that you and Dax go off the grid, but I had your phone tracked. That’s how I found you, in case you’re wondering, son.”
I roll my eyes. I should have known, but right now I’m too concerned about Lyric to care about my father’s invasion of my damn privacy.
Lyric was never meant to be approached by my father.
I know she never wants back into the music scene.
It’s why I haven’t pushed her on any level, and why I didn’t tell her who I am.
I knew if I did this exact thing would happen.
She’d think I was only with her to try to sign her to Ego Star Promotions.
Maybe if I’d told her the fucking truth from the get-go, this could have been avoided—with a simple and honest conversation.
Too late now.
The damage is done.
And I have no damn clue how to fix it.
Dad exhales, shaking his head. “I had no idea when I came looking for you tonight, I’d find such talent. Lyric’s unique, CJ. I want you to sign her. Make. It. Happen!” Dad slaps my shoulder, then turns to walk out of the bar, leaving me with Dax.
I run my fingers through my hair as I let out an exaggerated groan. “Jesus Christ.”
“I don’t think he’ll be much help right now,” Dax adds.
I glare at him. “Not. Helping. Dax,” I repeat.
He lifts his hands in mock surrender, but there’s a glint of sympathy in his eyes that only adds to the weight pressing down on my chest. “Sorry. But honestly, how did you think this was gonna end, Chase? You’ve been basically catfishing this girl for months.
Telling her you’re someone you’re not. Have you even told her about the other mega-important thing? ”
The words slam into me, and my jaw clenches as my shoulders tighten like I’m bracing for a punch that’s already landed. I can feel the blood draining from my face. My stomach turns with guilt, thick and sour, and I grimace, because the worst part is—he’s right.
“I lied about that too,” I admit quietly, my voice scraping over the knot in my throat. “Said I met Rip by living with him in a really small house in LA.”
Dax lets out a low, disbelieving laugh, like he can’t help himself.
“Small house? More like a big house, bro. You need to figure out what the hell you want to do, because if you want Lyric, which, judging by those sad-ass puppy dog eyes, you clearly do, then you gotta come clean. About everything. And dude, I can tell you, if you think she’s angry now, wait until you tell her you’re a convicted felon. ”
His words slice through me. My spine bends like I’ve taken a hit, but all the strength I try to summon slips through my fingers.
My heart pounds out of rhythm, like it’s trying to escape my chest, like it knows I’m seconds away from losing her forever.
My breathing picks up, and the heat of panic creeps up my neck, clinging to my skin like sweat.
The walls are closing in, and I feel like I’m trapped.
My thoughts keep repeating.
She trusted me.
She let me in.
And I built the whole damn thing on a foundation of lies.
Every moment we shared, every laugh, every kiss—it’s all tainted now. She’ll look back and wonder what was real and what wasn’t. And the truth is, I don’t even know how to separate the two anymore.
I press the heel of my hand to my forehead, trying to push the pressure away and clear the fog closing in around me, but it doesn’t help. It never does. The guilt is coiled so tightly inside me that I can barely think around it.
“I gotta get out of here,” I whisper, barely hearing my own voice over the roar of dread inside my mind.
Because if I stay, I’ll crack.
“Dax, I have to find her. I need to fix this!” Because if I don’t, I’m going to lose the only thing in my life that has ever felt right.
Dax bends down, swooping up his leather jacket, and hurries after me as I open the door. The summer air smacks me in the face as I step outside and start walking at a fast pace. I don’t know where I’m going. My car’s in the opposite direction, and I should be in it with Lyric, taking her home.
I’m angry.
At myself.
At Dad.
At Lyric, even, for not waiting to hear me out.
I’m mad at this whole fucked-up situation.
I finally found a woman I could see a future with, a woman worth spending my life with, and I went and fucked it up royally.
Dax keeps his stride with mine, even though I know I’m storming the streets like a madman. He says nothing, just walks with me, letting me cool off.
Suddenly, I stop, turning around to face him.
My hand runs through my hair. “Why the fuck would Dad come here?” I yell in frustration.
“I mean… what the hell did he want, anyway? He showed up, saw Lyri singing, then he blasted me about wanting me to sign her.” My hands flail about like a maniac. “It doesn’t make any fucking sense?”
Dax cracks his neck to the side. “He said he tracked your cell.”
“Yeah, but fucking why? He obviously wanted me, or both of us, for something? But it was all forgotten once he arrived.”
Dax shrugs. “Don’t strain your brain trying to think about what that man does. No one can figure out how he ticks, Chase. You of all people should know that.”
I let out a long breath and start walking again, but this time back in the direction of my car.
I have to go to her.
I need to see if I can salvage this.
I need to talk to her.
I need to tell her every damn thing.
My feet move faster than I thought possible.
“Where the fuck are you going?” Dax calls out as I take off running.
I don’t answer as I spin around and make for my car.
I need my girl.
I just need my girl.
***
The entire drive to Lyric’s house, my head is a mess of confusion.
Why the fuck was Dad looking for me? Why did he show up there? Why am I such a monumental fuck up? How the hell am I going to fix this?
Fix us?
Upon arriving at Lyric’s house, heaviness weighs on me.
I know I’m in the wrong. I know I’ve kept things from her.
I’ve been living this double life, this alter ego.
As Dax said, I’ve basically been catfishing Lyric this entire time, just doing it in person, which makes it so much worse.
I don’t even know how to begin making this up to her.
Where do I start to make this right?
Feeling like I’m the biggest asshole in the world, I get out of my car. I told her I love her. And on the same night, I feel like I’ve lost her. I just hope like all hell whatever I do right now equates to me getting her back.
Dragging my feet to her front door, I see straight through her front bay window.
The sight nearly knocks me back on my ass.
Lyric’s curled up on her gray sofa, the one we always cuddle on with Polly sitting on the sofa arm while we binge on Netflix.
But that’s not what breaks me. It’s because her head is in Rory’s lap.
The tears streaming down Lyric’s face make it hard for me to breathe.
I did that to her.
My lies.
My deception.
It makes me hesitate.
Should I go to her?
She’s a mess.
I don’t want to do anything to make her worse. But I don’t want to be that guy who lets this go either. She’s worth fighting for.
I need to sort this shit out.
Drawing in a deep breath, I sturdy my shoulders and move to the front door, gently knocking with my heart beating faster than it did the first time I came here.
My stomach rolls, feeling unsettled, as I hear someone walking toward the door.
I tense, bracing myself to see Lyric’s broken face.
I know it’s going to kill me watching her so hurt, but I ready myself to fight for her.
To fight for us.
The door swings open fast. I brace, heart in my throat, expecting anything.
But it’s not Lyric.
It’s Rory.
Her eyes land on me and immediately go wide, full saucer-mode.
Then they narrow, razor sharp. She doesn’t say a word at first. Just moves.
She ducks low, swift and purposeful, slipping through the door like a soldier breaching enemy lines.
The movement’s almost too smooth, too fast, to be funny—because it isn’t funny at all.
She’s protecting her girl. Shielding Lyric from me.
Her hand stays on the doorknob as she steps out and pulls it mostly closed behind her, locking me out before I can even think about stepping inside.
I’ve never seen Rory like this.
She plants herself between me and the door, shoulders squared, one foot forward like she’s bracing for a brawl. Her whole body vibrates with fury. Her jaw ticks. Her eyes burn.