Chapter 57
fifty-seven
Liam
Five Months Later
Connor looks exhausted when his face appears on screen.
He’s sitting on the couch at Padraig’s townhouse in Seattle.
My twin moved back to our home town after we recorded the album.
It feels like the beginning of the end of Fireball.
My laptop’s balanced on the edge of our home office, sunlight slants across the floor behind me. Connor looks older than he did a week ago. Padraig’s not fully on screen. I hear his voice before I see him, saying something muffled to someone in the background.
He finally drops into the chair beside Connor. Doesn’t look at me.
Linus, Avonna, and I have seen the news. Vague headlines. The “unforeseen circumstances.” No one’s saying what happened, which means it was bad. Linus has heard some things through the grapevine, but I’ve learned to believe nothing unless it comes straight from the source.
Connor wastes no time. “I can’t get into the details, but LTZ is clearin’ up our obligations through the rest of the year.”
He looks between us. I can’t believe what I’m hearing.
“I spoke to management this morning. They’re going to offer Fireball every single one of our festival slots in Europe. All of them. Some of them at prime times.”
My heart punches against my ribs. I lean back like it’s Christmas morning. “Holy fuck. Those are the biggest stages—”
“I know,” Padraig cuts in. His voice is calm, too calm. I know him well enough to hear the catch under it. Something’s already wrong.
Connor studies him. “You’ve earned this. Don’t waste the opportunity.”
I nod automatically, already spinning out logistics in my mind. I cannot wait to tell Avonna and Linus. This is huge. Album rollout, media schedule, visas, promo. Could be our biggest break yet. The Netflix theme song gave us a second wind, the buzz on our new album is fire.
A tour would seal it.
Padraig’s eyes are somewhere else. Not here. Not with us.
Connor and I dive into dates, rough routing, the crew we’d need to bring. I’m talking fast, fueled by adrenaline and possibility. We’ve waited years for this kind of break.
Padraig doesn’t seem to be paying attention. Then he leans forward. “You’re gonna have to find a fill-in drummer.”
“What?” I freeze.
He doesn’t flinch. “I can’t do it. If you want Fireball to take the festivals, get someone else behind the kit. I’m not leavin’ for three months.”
The words hit me like a slap.
“You’d walk away? From everythin’ we’ve been building?” My voice goes sharp. “We have a fuckin’ album coming out.”
“I’m sayin’ figure it out without me.” His tone rises. “I’m tired of puttin’ my personal life last. Why should I?”
I shoot a look at Connor, begging him to jump in.
“Fine,” I grind out. “Bring your family. We can make it work.”
Connor nods. “It could. You’d have your own space on the bus.”
Padraig shuts it down. “No.”
I try to soften. Urgency still bleeding through. “We need you, Padraig.”
He shakes his head. “You don’t. Not for this. The three of you’ve got your groove. A fill-in could handle the festivals.”
Anger flares. “Fuck this.” I direct my attention to Connor. “Talk some sense into our brother before he walks away from the biggest tour we’ve ever been offered. A chance to make stupid money for a change.”
I slam the laptop shut. If I don’t, I’m going to say something I can’t take back. Afterward, I can’t stop pacing. My brother’s voice still rings in my ears. You’re gonna have to find a fill-in drummer. I can’t do it.
I tried to keep my cool. Offered solutions. Compromises. But he shut it all down. Flat. Like none of it mattered.
Fuck.
I toss the laptop on the couch and run a hand through my hair.
The sun’s dipping low behind the hills, painting the edges of our backyard in rose-gold light.
Still, I can’t find peace. Not with this weight in my chest. Stepping onto the balcony of our LA house, I watch the skyline blur beneath me.
For once, the house is quiet. Linus and Avonna took the girls to the park.
I grip the railing and breathe.
This was supposed to be the chapter where we all rise. Everything was finally lining up. The album is strong. The label’s backing us. We’re finally making real money. Enough to have help. Enough to tour smart.
Now Padraig wants to walk.
I should have known. There’s a new light in him I haven’t seen in years. I wonder if he’ll tell me someday. Wouldn’t blame him if he didn’t, after my own failures.
I can’t believe how far apart we are. I miss him.
I stare out at the sunset, a thousand versions of a future spinning through my mind. Every one of them missing the one person I thought would be beside me until the end.
I’m not angry. I’m sad.
There’s no Fireball without him and I’m not ready for it to end.
The front door clicks open, and I hear the thud of small shoes on hardwood.
“Da-da!” Quinn barrels around the corner, curls wild from the car seat. I scoop her up as Sloane rushes in after her.
Linus follows, carrying their bags and looking exhausted but happy. “We’re home.”
“They were angels. Mostly.” Avonna kisses my cheek.
We settle into our evening rhythm. Linus reheats the pasta from the night before. I cut strawberries for dessert. Avonna pours water into their little unicorn cups. It’s chaos. Squeals, spilled sauce, bouncing feet. I love every minute.
While the girls devour their dinner, I recount the call. Every word.
“He said no?” Linus frowns.
“For now.” I lift my gaze. “I don’t think he will forever.”
Avonna’s already nodding. “He’s scared. Maybe he needs to see what’s possible.”
“We could fly up for a McGloughlin dinner,” Linus suggests. “Bring the girls. Make it a weekend.”
“Show him what the tour could look like if he’s ready. Not a pitch. Just…a window,” Avonna adds.
“I want him back,” I admit. “I miss him.”
Avonna reaches for my hand. “Then we go.”
Later, after baths and bedtime stories, the girls are finally down. Sloane’s foot dangles over the side of the toddler bed. Quinn’s already kicked her blanket off. I pull it up gently, smoothing curls from her cheek before slipping out.
Our bedroom glows in the soft light of the moon filtering through gauzy curtains. The windows are cracked open, letting in a whisper of wind. The custom bed, California King dimensions, specially built extra wide, is a cloud of linen and pillows.
Linus is already half-sprawled across the center, shirt off, in his boxer briefs. Avonna’s in nothing but one of my old tees, the hem riding up her thighs, exposing her perfect pink pussy.
I hover at the edge, watching the two of them. My anchors, my chaos, my home. Tonight, I want everything.
“I need you both.” I strip off my clothes as I step closer.
Avonna’s breath catches, eyes going molten. Linus rises to his knees, divesting his briefs with calm precision. His cock bounces against his belly, the visual makes my own twitch with anticipation.
After pulling off her shirt, Avonna plucks her nipple with one hand and spreads her legs. Beckons me. I practically dive on top of her. Her hand slips between us to grip my cock.
Linus moves behind me, lips brushing my shoulder. “You ready?”
“Always,” I whisper, voice already breaking.
Avonna guides me into her, groaning as her heat wraps around me. Linus breaches my ass with his fingers coated with lube. I rock forward into Avonna as he begins to open me, his mouth at my neck, his voice in my ear. “Let us spoil you.”
“Yes,” I breathe. “Do it.”
We fuck with reverence. With need. Knowing whatever waits beyond this room, we’ll face it together.
Avonna’s breath hitches as she calls my name. Linus buries himself deeper, growling low against my neck. We break together, all nerves and want and devotion.
When it’s over, we stay where we are. Skin to skin. Breathing in sync.
Outside, the world demands more than it ever gives back.
The band. The spotlight. The weight of everything we can’t control.
Here, there’s no audience. No agenda.
Only us.
The quiet, burning certainty we’ll always have each other.