Chapter 17
Chapter Seventeen
LIVIANNA/LILY
Then
Cherry Bombs & Poisonous Hands
Some betrayals don’t come with knives…they light the fuse and dare you to burn.
“Livianna, I’m going to take you to the VIP section on the floor. The crew needs the space and you keep getting in the way.” Callum’s uncle takes me by the elbow. “You’ll be able to see them better down there, anyway.”
“I thought I had to stay with you since I’m underage and you’re my chaperone.”
“Technically, you’re still in my sights, so it won’t be a problem.”
“That’s fine, but will Callum know where I am?”
“He connects with the crowd closely, so he’ll find you.”
“I don’t want him to think I’ve left.”
“He won’t.”
I hesitate to move, hoping for Callum to glance my way, but since he started performing, he’s only looked over at me once. It wasn’t a great moment since he was singing a song about a girl breaking his heart.
It’s one of their most popular ballads and hits, but Callum was sending me a message. I’m sure of it.
“Come on, Livianna.” John tugs on my arm.
I turn away from the stage and follow John down to the VIP area. It’s roped off, so I’m away from the shoulder-to-shoulder crowd, but it doesn’t feel the same. I keep trying to get Callum’s attention, but he’s too busy singing his soul out to notice.
Halfway through the concert, the lights dim. A warm spotlight casts a glow over Callum, who’s sitting on a stool with his guitar resting comfortably in his arms.
One of his legs is kicked out in front of him, perching him up, while the other is bent and the heel of his boot hooks to the lower rod of the stool, keeping it in place.
His tousled hair falls just above his twinkling blue eyes. He flashes a rockstar smile as he admires the hushed crowd.
He exudes intensity and commands attention. His deep voice, thicker with his Irish accent, flows in. “This one’s called ‘Perfect Lilies’.”
For me? I almost lose my breath. He’s got the blood racing in my veins just as I know he does with most of the people in the venue.
He strums softly, seemingly getting lost in the notes, with a look of deep sincerity on his face. The atmosphere is weighted with the passion building around his aura. He closes his eyes and breaks into beautiful lyrics I’ve never heard him practice.
It’s not one of the band’s songs. This one is his!
He sings with a raspy edge, thick with heavy emotion. His voice alone is all I need to hear, but when the words spill out, I go weak in the knees.
In my dark, quiet nights, shadows of you dance in soft light.
Our hearts entwined, forever young.
Lily, this is our love song.
Through any storms or any thorns that arise, trust me you’re perfect in my eyes.
My wish is you always smile, but if ever a tear or a fear, I’ll hold you until they disappear.
You’re always mine, no matter what.
Through the highs and the lows, I won’t give up.
In this world, where time can fly, together we’ll soar, you and I.
You’re always mine, forever true.
With every heartbeat, I’ll always choose you.
When the black night creeps along, you my love, inspire my songs.
In the silence of the dawn, your arms are where I belong.
In dreams I keep, our beautiful future they don’t believe in transpires.
So when the sun peeks out, Lily, choose relief and forget those terrible liars.
Through the scary whispers of the night, you’re my star, my guiding light.
You, the comfort in the black. Me, your strength, I have your back.
With every step, hand in hand, together let’s forever make castles in the sand.
You’re always mine, no matter what.
Through the highs and the lows, I won’t give up.
In this world, where time can fly, together we’ll soar, you and I.
You’re always mine, forever true.
With every heartbeat, I’ll always choose you.
Lily, for you, this is our love song.
With every heartbeat, in every breath, never doubt I’ll love you past death.
The song ends and the crowd goes wild. I stand frozen. When did he write that? I sweep my stunned gaze around the venue. The lights go down as cheers and a standing ovation consume the concert hall.
Callum has a mic attached to his shirt. He must think they’ve turned it off, but it’s still live. I can’t see him, but there’s no mistake it’s him when he starts talking to someone on the side of the stage.
“Where’s Lily?” he asks in a hostile tone.
“I don’t know. Haven’t seen her in a while.” The voice isn’t as clear as Callum’s, but I can tell it’s his uncle who answered. “You’ve got a few more sets and then you can find her.”
The stage lights start moving in flashing beams and patterns around the room as Callum makes his way back to the center of the stage. The other four guys dance behind him as Callum dissects the crowd.
The next song begins, but he doesn’t seem into it. He’s just singing words while scanning the audience.
“Hey, Livianna.” Sebastian slides up to me. “Some show.”
“It’s been fantastic. I’m glad I was able to come.”
“Yeah, because you were sick today, right?”
My chest tightens and I peek over at him. “I was, but I’m feeling better.”
“You had a stomach bug all week, but I’ve been kissing you and I haven’t felt ill.” He inches closer to me. “It makes me believe it’s because we’re not doing it right.”
“Could be.” My gut knots.
He steps into my personal space with his eyes dialed in on my lips. “We’re not at work, so why don’t you show me what it’s really like to make out with you?”
I back up against a pillar. “Sebastian—”
He pushes into me, trying to work his tongue into my mouth. My brain scrambles and spins. I do not want this. My palms brace his sternum.
I turn my head. “No, Sebastian!”
“Cut the music!” Callum’s singing stops and the crowd quiets. “Hey, asshole! Get your hands off my girlfriend!”
I try to shove Sebastian off, but he doesn’t seem bothered by it. If anything, he tries harder.
Interference from the microphone screeches through the amplifiers as it hits the ground. Sebastian is ripped off me a few moments later.
“I said, get off her!” Callum’s fist slams into Sebastian’s jaw. Not once or twice.
He hits him repeatedly until the band’s security and the house security appear. The band’s team has Callum restrained with his arms behind his back and holding him in place. His chest heaves as his rage-filled stare burns toward Sebastian.
He wipes blood from his lip. “You’re going to pay for that, Mayze.”
“I guess I didn’t make myself clear.” Callum tries to lunge but is held in place. “Let me fucking go. I need to settle this bullshit.”
He tries to break free as flashes of light snap around us. My body trembles as adrenaline courses through me at warp speed.
What the fuck just happened? One minute, I was floating on a cloud after hearing the most meaningful song I’ve ever heard. The next…this.
“Lily, get the fuck away from him.” Callum yanks his arm out of one of the guys’ grips.
“Cash, cool it. We don’t need a lawsuit.” His uncle runs in front of Callum. “What are you trying to do? Get us blackballed all over the city?”
Callum, still fighting for air, glares at him. “How did she end up down on the floor? You knew I wanted her—”
“I’ll explain later.” John gestures to the security team. “Get him back on stage so he can finish the show.”
Callum hisses through his clenched teeth. “I’m not going back up there. You lost that right the second you inserted yourself between Livianna and me.”
“Think. I’m your manager, trying to keep you from ruining your career.” John steps to Callum and says something in his ear.
He shoves him and with a red face turns to me. “Wait for me backstage.”
With shaky legs, I nod and wobble away. Two Ur Boyz security men join me on either side while another escorts Sebastian down the hall.
I can only assume they’re leading him out or taking him to write an incident report. I just pray he doesn’t sue Callum.
And working with Sebastian after this… Fuck. I don’t even want to think about how Callum’s going to handle that.
My dad tosses three pages of internet links and stories onto the kitchen island counter beside me. “You two couldn’t create just one scandal. You had to go and add ten times the issues on top of it.”
I scan over the papers while eating a bowl of cereal as I fight off my heartbreak. The pictures show Callum being held back by two large men, me standing next to him with a terrified expression, and Sebastian wiping his bloody mouth with the back of his hand.
Each article has a different headline, but the gist is that Ember From Denver is involved in a dramatic love triangle with Cash Mayze and her on-screen love interest, Sebastian Holloway.
My heart drops into my stomach. “Daddy, it wasn’t our fault. Sebastian was the one who tried to kiss me without permission. I swear I was just watching the concert.”
“Livianna, he should’ve never done that, but that’s not the problem.” My dad strides over to the coffee bar and fixes a drink. “Once your mom gets home this afternoon, we’ll come up with a game plan.”
“Why do I need a game plan? I didn’t do anything wrong.”
He turns to me, stirring his coffee. “You skipped work yesterday. They have pictures of you and Cash at the amusement park. Not even eight hours later, he’s fighting your co-star at a concert he almost blew because of you.”
“Why is that my fault?”
“You know how Cash feels about you, but you were hanging out with the guy you make out with on set every day. How can you believe you hold no responsibility in the matter?”
I lower my head. “I didn’t say that. What I was trying to explain is the thing with Sebastian lands on him. He was trying to force me to kiss him.”
“Liv, did you do anything to lead him on?”
My head snaps up. “No! Why would you ask that?”
“Because you like to push Cash’s buttons when you feel insecure.”
“I do not!”
“Let me remind you of the time you told him about your new love interest on the show.” My dad gestures to the garage. “You did that because you were upset about his past with other girls and wanted to get back at him.”