Chapter Twenty-Six #2
“I did, yeah. I just didn’t know if I could put someone through all that—the stalkers, the creepy fan mail, and the constant online rumors. But now…” I exhale. “I don’t know. Maybe it can be different.”
I hope to God it’s different.
“It will be,” Hen assures me. “The paps will lose interest eventually. You’re basically Scottish Prince Harry right now, but once you settle in and stop being interesting, you’ll just become that ex-rock star who also happens to be an earl.
They’ll photograph you and Mercury at events but otherwise leave you alone because the trek out to the country just isn’t worth it. ”
“I hope you’re right.”
“I am,” he assures me. “I’m very wise.”
I snort out a laugh, not realizing how much I needed this conversation. It makes me realize just how much I miss the band and my mates. That was never the issue. It was everything that came with it—the fame, the loss of privacy, and the constant pressure to live up to everyone’s expectations.
“Enough about me,” I say, taking a seat on the sofa, my eyes still fixed on my guitar case. “Tell me about you. How are Zara and the guys? How’s the treatment going?”
“I’m doing great. The treatment plan seems to be working. Learning to play with my left hand is wild, though.”
“I can’t imagine,” I tell him, still amazed by how he’s handling it all.
When he first told us he’d been diagnosed with a neurological condition that could eventually steal his ability to play bass, I couldn’t imagine coping with something like that.
But with Zara’s help, he’s been so strong through everything.
I wish I could say the same.
“Zara’s doing well too. She’s considering starting a business for doctors. She did some research during her time off, and there’s actually a huge demand for tour docs. So she’s brainstorming how to recruit them, set up the pay structure, and handle travel logistics.”
“Wow, that’s a huge undertaking.”
“Yeah.” He sounds so proud and so in love. Not so long ago, I would have been envious. Now I feel a close kinship because I, too, know what it’s like to have your heart completely taken by another. “She’s amazing.”
“And the guys?” I ask once more, with a bit of hesitance this time around.
Evans has kept in contact with me since his visit, but the rest of them have maintained their distance since Mercury arrived and confirmed I was alive and well.
I fear they all feel a bit hurt and betrayed by my swift exit. I wouldn’t blame them in the least.
“They’re struggling,” he says honestly. “Darius, probably most of all.”
I wince, hating that I’ve caused this. But it was always going to happen. One way or another, I was always going to end up here. “He’s not close with his family like Evans, and he hasn’t made one of his own like Zander.”
“He’ll figure it out,” Hen assures me. “We all will.”
“I wish things could be different. I wish I didn’t have to—”
“Hey, it’s okay. We all know you’re in a tough position. I doubt it’s been easy. Has anyone bothered asking how you’re doing?”
I smile. “Yeah. Mercury.”
“Man, you really do have it bad.”
“You would know.” I chuckle. “I’ll never forget how you looked after that concert in Nashville when Darius said he wanted to ask Zara out. I thought we were going to have a fight on our hands.”
“Nah, we worked it out. I’m obviously the lover in the group. Zander’s the fighter. You remember that guy he punched for talking shit about Elena?”
“I seem to recall you nearly doing the same to Zara’s ex.”
“That fucker would have deserved it too,” he growls.
“Christ. Remind me not to get on your bad side again.”
He sighs. “Yeah, okay. I may get a little overzealous when it comes to the women in my life.” A little?
Merc told me Presley was so scared to tell him about her marriage to his former-best friend that she delayed it for weeks and hid in a storage closet to avoid him.
“It’s just hard, you know? I love them so much, and sometimes I overcompensate on the big brother gig because Cash sort of checked out of their lives when he found out he was going to be a dad.
I don’t want them to ever feel that way with me—no matter what’s going on in my life. ”
I think Cash is more involved in his sisters’ lives than Hen realizes—Mercury’s, at least. Even if it’s just a quick text, he checks in with her often. In the brief conversations I’ve overheard, he seems a little softer with her. Like some of those hard-earned walls lower just a little.
But then again, Mercury seems to have that effect on people.
Or maybe it’s just us, the lucky few.
“I know it comes from a good place,” I tell him.
“But chill the fuck out?”
I chuckle. “Hey, I didn’t say it. You did.”
“Yeah, all right. And listen, I’m sorry if I made you feel like you couldn’t tell me…about you and Mercury.” I swallow nervously. “And if I made it sound like I didn’t think you were good enough.”
“You didn’t—”
“No, I kind of did,” he argues. “Just more of that big brother persona I can’t seem to shake. But there’s no one I’d rather have at my sister’s side than you. I know you’ll take care of her.”
“I’ll protect her with my life.”
“I know you will. But it’s your life that I’m a little more concerned about at the moment.”
“Why?”
He snorts. “I’m assuming you haven’t told my parents about your change in relationship status?”
I scrub a hand down the front of my face. “No. We haven’t exactly told anyone.” Not that there were many people to tell. Most everyone in the world already thought we were madly in love with each other.
But Mercury’s family and the band know this started as a PR stunt, and it’s important that the truth about how things have changed comes from us.
“My dad loves you, but he loves his baby girl more. He’s gonna have a hard time dealing with the fact that she’s not coming back.”
I silently nod. “Right. Shit.”
“They’ll get used to it, but it’s going to take some time. Thankfully, they’ve always wanted an excuse to visit Scotland, so hopefully you have an empty room or two in that castle of yours.”
“You know damn well it’s not a castle.”
He snickers. “Whatever, your lordship.”
I roll my eyes. “Arsehole.”
The reality of our situation is starting to sink in. How will we spend the holidays? How many birthdays and Sunday dinners will she miss? Will she come to resent me for this decision?
“This is so complicated.” The guilt I’ve been shoving down over Merc choosing me over her family is creeping back up, but Hen quickly puts me in my place.
“It always is,” he says confidently. “I know it’s not the same, but even I struggle with the fact that Zara and I live so close to my family rather than hers.
We could have settled in San Francisco near her parents.
There’s no reason we have to be here in LA when I can fly down easily for studio sessions and meetings.
But we can’t base all our choices on other people.
It’s you and her now. Focus on that first, and everything else will work itself out. ”
“Wow, you are surprisingly wise.”
“These roots run deep. What can I say?”
My eyes latch onto the guitar case in the corner once more. “Can I ask you to keep this to yourself for the time being? I haven’t had a chance to discuss it with Merc, but I imagine she wants to tell your parents herself.”
“No chance in hell I’m dropping that bomb.” He snorts. “But a word of advice…don’t wait too long. If they’re like the million other people around the world who’ve seen these pics, they’ll definitely know something’s up and want to hear it from you two.”
“Noted.”
We say our goodbyes, and just as I’m about to shove my phone back into my pocket, it vibrates again.
This time, it isn’t Hen.
It’s another text from an unknown number.
Unknown number
I’ve been waiting a long time for you to finally have something in your life worth destroying. Enjoy it while it lasts.
The blood in my veins turns to ice as three pictures follow those chilling words.
Three photos of Mercury and me at the cottage, walking hand in hand around the lake during our morning walk. They’re not zoomed in. No telephoto lens like a paparazzo would use, which means whoever took them was close enough to use their fucking phone.
Enjoy it while it lasts…
My eyes dart around the small cottage, guitar forgotten once more as I dial the only number I can think of.
“Mac, I need you now…”