Just Wait

Prologue

Lumen

Ever since I was little, music has been my outlet. Lyrics are a way to express my emotions or say something I would never say myself.

When a musician crafts a melody, they weave an experience the listener can get lost in.

At least, if they do it right.

My dad used to say that music is the universal language. I don?t know how true that is, but I’ve seen videos of bands playing around the world. Even in places where very few of the audience spoke the artist’s native language, they sang along, not missing a verse.

It’s incredible to witness on film, so I can only imagine how the performer feels seeing it happen in person.

I bet it blows their mind.

It would make me emotional.

That still doesn’t mean I have any interest in being a famous musician.

Despite my father’s talent and passion for creating music, he mostly played in clubs and bars. Occasionally, he lucked out with festivals and other small venues, but he was far from a star.

The only thing performing ever brought him was trouble in the form of addiction and an inability to stay faithful to my mom. I saw firsthand how that destroyed our family.

“Come on, Lu,” Theo says, bumping his shoulder against mine as we sit in the living room of our apartment. “You know how much Tangled Desires needs you. We might be opening, but it’s our chance to show the label we can build an audience.”

“I’ll be rooting for you from the comfort of our living room,” I tell him, smiling tightly.

My boyfriend doesn’t seem to get it, but going on tour with him scares the hell out of me.

My mom left when I was twelve.

She couldn’t take my dad’s shit anymore. If she had taken me with her, I wouldn’t have blamed her for needing a break, but she didn’t. Then I was the one left trying to keep it all together.

Much like my father’s musical career was the end of their relationship, I have a bad feeling that Theo going on tour is going to be the end of us.

Signing a contract with one of the biggest record labels in the country is a gift.

It’s going to change his life.

It’ll change the lives of every member in the band.

They’ll be on the road six to nine months out of the year, and even when they’re not touring, they’ll be recording the next album and doing press to make a name for themselves.

The industry kills relationships.

If I were an omega and we had a bond, I’d be slightly more optimistic about our chances of survival, but I’m a beta.

I’m young enough that I figured I’d have fun while it lasted, moving on when the time came, but all those late-night hookups turned into a year-long relationship. Still, one day, he’ll meet an omega, and I’ll be left to pick up the pieces alone.

“Lumen, please,” Theo says, his tone pleading. “We need you. They want us working on songs during the tour. That way, if we take off, they’ll be ready for us to hop in the studio to record.”

There it is.

I try not to let it get to me, but my stomach aches.

If I wasn’t the one who wrote the songs that got them signed, would he care if I came along?

A part of me feels like that’s the only reason he’s stayed with me through their big break.

I could be wrong.

He might still love me.

God.

I’m so confused, and I hate it.

“I can work on stuff here and send it to you,” I offer weakly.

“Lu, please,” he practically begs. “That’s not the same, and you know it.”

It’s not, but the responsible thing is to keep my job. If I quit, I’ll be completely dependent on him to take care of me. That alone is terrifying, when I’ve always financially supported myself.

While going on tour is a literal once-in-a-lifetime experience, staying here and making sure I can take care of myself when the bottom eventually drops out is the smart option.

Could I really pass up the chance to travel the country for free?

Will our relationship even last an entire tour?

I want them to succeed.

I’d be writing music either way.

Hearing a song I wrote playing on the radio is one of my bucket list items.

“Let me think about it,” I say, knowing I need more time to come to a decision.

Theo’s face breaks out into a dazzling smile, and he pulls me onto his lap. My hands fall to rest on his shoulders as I kneel over him. My stomach flip-flops like it always does when he grins at me.

“It’s you and me against the world, Lumen,” he says, pushing his mouth to mine.

His excitement is contagious.

This really could change everything for us.

Maybe I need to put a little trust in him rather than always worrying the worst could happen?

He shoves his tongue into my mouth.

My heart races like it always does when he kisses me.

He smells so damn good, and I’ve always been affected by his scent. It might not hit me as hard as it would an omega, but it makes me floaty and content.

That’s why he’s so dangerous.

He drives me crazy with very little effort.

He pulls back, grinning against my lips. “I want you with me. I don’t want to travel the country without you. We won’t ever need to worry about money again.”

I’m always up for an adventure, but I’m also a realist at heart. I know better than to get wrapped up in the fantasy of it all, but without him, there’s nothing keeping me in Florida.

I give him one last kiss and pull back, doing my best to stay strong. “I said I’d think about it, Theo.”

He chuckles, tickling my sides. “Nah, Lu. You’re definitely coming with me. I’m going to wear your ass down.”

And over the next few weeks, that’s exactly what he does.