Chapter 15
Chapter Fifteen
CALLUM/CASH
Now
Golden Afternoons & Hollow Seconds
Nothing feels wrong until I realize pieces of the day no longer belong to me.
Livianna peeks her head inside the door of my place in Laurel Canyon. “Hi there. Is anyone here?”
My conversation with Jaxon comes to mind. “She’s using again.”
I’ll talk to her about that later. She’s been on edge since her conflict with Jaxon, so I’ll avoid the topic for now.
I strut over to her. “Hey, you made it.”
“Yep. I figured I’d steal you away for lunch.” She kisses me when I reach her. “It takes forever to get here.”
“Only when the traffic is bad.” I show her in. “We’re still trying to get it in shape for it to run like a studio, but it’s coming along.”
She takes a look around. “The living room is the same.”
“This is where we’ll write. The other spaces we need are being built on the lower level.” I point to the stairs. “But I’m keeping my home gym set up down there.”
“That seems smart. Then you can get a quick workout in when you need a break.”
“My thoughts exactly.” I weave my fingers with hers. “Wanna just eat here? We’ll have more face-to-face time if we do.”
“It sounds like you’ve already decided.”
I lean closer to her, whispering in her ear, “My main bedroom is staying, too. Maybe we should skip food altogether.”
“Aren’t the guys here?”
“Yeah, somewhere, but when has that ever stopped us?”
She squeezes my hand. “I would, but I need to get to work soon.”
I take her into the kitchen and pull out a stool for her to sit on. “You rest while I make you some grub.”
“Do you have food here?” She slides up onto the stool and places her purse on the counter.
“We just got the whole thing stocked.” I open the refrigerator door and pull out a drink. “Our assistant even put my cherry soda in here.”
“Well, isn’t she a gem?”
I hold in a smile. “Why do you have that tone, Lily?”
“What tone?” She feigns innocence. “I was just saying she’s kind for knowing you have a new favorite drink.”
“Um hmm.” I scan the contents of the fridge. “We have lemonade in a can or caffeinated drinks. You know my thoughts on it.”
“I’ll have a lemonade.”
“That’s my good girl.” I take one out and lift it to her. “Can or glass?”
“Can is fine.”
I wipe the top off with my T-shirt, then slide it to her. “Did you come here from work?”
“No.” She opens her drink. “I organized one of the bedrooms upstairs.”
“Why?”
“Because the one that I think we should convert into a nursery has a closet full of junk.”
My insides grow warm, my heart bursting with my love for her. “The nursery. That has a nice ring to it.”
Her gaze sparkles my way. “It does, but I gave up on it.”
“Why is that?” I return to the refrigerator and pull out a fruit salad and some items for cold-cut sandwiches.
She gets up and helps me. “I need to plan the wedding before I get ready for the baby.”
“Baby?” Bren comes into view in nothing but his boxer shorts and wet hair. He flicks my arm as he passes me. “You already knocked her up? My mom’s gonna have a fit.”
“Hold up, Guns.” I gesture for Livianna to sit so I can make our lunch. “She’s not pregnant…that we know of.”
Her face turns a dark crimson. “Callum.”
“What?” I find her gaze. “He’s my best mate.”
“Yeah, but why don’t we keep it to ourselves for a little while?” She gets comfortable on her stool.
Bren slides up next to her. “Make me one, bro.”
“No problem. Do you think the other guys will want some?” I peek out the back window. “Are they in the pool?”
“Yeah.” Bren points to the pantry. “Grab me some chips, too.”
“Needy motherfucker.” I turn and get him some tortilla chips. “I’m not making cheese dip. If you want it, do it yourself. And the cherry soda is mine. You all need to keep your hands off it.”
We continue our small talk while I make something to eat for all of us.
Livianna questions him about being in his underwear.
He explains that the temperature is in the hundreds today, and Hawke, Cooper, and he decided to take a dip in the pool to cool off.
That’s when he makes a note to bring swimming suits to store here.
I open the sliding glass door and step out onto the balcony. “Hawke, Coop, your food is ready.”
They holler back that they’ll be up in a minute. Livianna and I settle in to eat.
Hawke steps through the sliding door first, his hair still wet, clothes already on. Cooper comes in right behind him, tugging the hem of his T-shirt straight before reaching for a sandwich off the counter.
“Guns.” Cooper stops and levels a slow, deliberate scan over Bren that lands on the boxers and stays there. “We dried off, got dressed, and climbed back up the stairs. The whole process took four minutes.”
“Good for you.” Bren continues to snack on his chips.
“Four minutes.” Cooper holds up four fingers.
“It’s hotter up here than it is outside.” Bren waves up at the ceiling. “The air isn’t working right.”
“The air is fine.” Hawke drops onto a stool and reaches for a sandwich. “I’m in jeans and a T-shirt, and I have no complaints.”
“Then you’re built differently.” Bren slides the bag down the counter, away from Hawke’s reach. “Not everyone runs cold.”
Hawke reaches past the gap and takes a handful anyway. “Dick.”
Bren just laughs under his breath.
“Hey, gorgeous.” Cooper gestures toward Livianna.
“That’s enough, Coop.” I glare before she can respond, but there’s no heat in it. “Guns, you can see we have a guest.”
“She’s not a guest.” Bren takes a drink. “She’s my sister.”
Cooper swallows a bite of his sandwich. “The boxers don’t care about that distinction, but the rest of us do.”
“It’s okay, guys. I’m used to it.” Livianna tucks her hair behind her ear and reaches for her lemonade. The smile she’s been fighting breaks through despite her best efforts. “But I’m game if you want to keep giving him shit.”
“Go put some clothes on, Guns.” Cooper takes his plate away. “You’re embarrassing yourself, and Missy will be here soon.”
“I’m perfectly comfortable with where I’m at.” Bren yanks the bag away from Hawke. “Nobody here is traumatized.”
“Speak for yourself.” Hawke leans back on his stool.
“Other than Cash, you two are the most dramatic people I’ve ever met in my life.” Bren turns to Livianna. “Back me up. You don’t care, right?”
“I already said I’m used to it.” She sets her can down. “But Missy might be bothered by it.”
“See.” Bren points at her. “I suspected once you got back together with Cash, you would start taking on his thoughts.”
“Hey!” She pushes on Bren’s shoulder. “I have my own mind. Callum doesn’t control what I think.”
“Maybe not, but…” Bren whispers to her, “Sorry if I upset you.”
“I know you’re just joking around.” Livianna shoves her food around her plate. “But who’s Missy?”
I nudge Livianna’s lunch closer toward her. “You need the nutrients.”
Hawke swallows. “To answer your question, Livianna, Missy is our content coordinator. We hired her about two months ago.”
Livianna’s checkmate expression grows. “Bren, Missy is an employee. Do you want to be slapped with a sexual harassment suit?”
“No.” Bren braces both palms on the counter, knowing he’s lost the argument. “Looks like I’m outnumbered.”
“Nice one, Livianna.” Hawke gives her an air high-five while Cooper laughs.
Bren pushes off the counter and strides for the stairs, muttering something under his breath.
Cooper studies Livianna. “Why does Cash think you need to eat more?”
“You know how he is.” She bites down on her lip.
Hawke and Cooper’s suspicious gazes come to me.
A smile breaks free from my face. “Don’t worry, mates. I’m not spiraling. I’m just looking out for my future.”
Livianna’s eyes grow wide. “Callum.”
I raise my shoulders. “What? I didn’t say?—”
“You’ve said enough.” She stands and begins to clean the kitchen. Once she’s got everything put away except the plates and glasses we’re using, she starts to leave the room. “Excuse me for a minute.”
She disappears down the hallway. I rest against the back counter with my chest full of warmth. This is what I’ve been searching for all along. Laughter and joy with Livianna and my mates.
The way I’m flying on cloud nine makes me believe, for the first time in a long time, that this is exactly how it was meant to be.
And just as that thought forms, a heaviness in my gut whispers to prepare myself for the fall because a cold front always moves quietly before the storm arrives.
The guys gather their belongings and get ready to leave after a productive session. We’re three-quarters of the way done with the songs we wanna use for the new album.
Cooper opens the front door. “Anyone up for a night out?”
“Count me in.” Bren gives me the side-eye. “Let me guess. You already have plans.”
“Yeah.” I glance around the place. “I still need to get some of my stuff out of here.”
“And you can let Missy in when she gets here.” Hawke passes me on his way out. “But Livianna seemed down when she left. Maybe it’s time to show her a night out.”
“She was upset?” I think back. I can’t pinpoint anything other than her being quiet. “Why do you think Livianna wasn’t happy?”
“I didn’t say that. I said she was a little off.” Hawke steps onto the porch. “Just meet up with us tonight. We miss you, brother.”
“Yeah, sure. Let me finish up here, meet up with her, and we’ll catch you guys later.” I check my phone for any missed messages.
“Nice job, Hawke.” Bren waves and gets into his car.
Cooper follows right behind. I scan over the front yard. The maintenance crew has done a great job of keeping up the place.
“Cash, don’t leave without letting Missy in.” Hawke throws his bag into the back seat of his truck.
“What if she’s not here before I need to leave?”
“Then don’t lock the door.”
“Yeah, that will work.” I turn and go back inside, unlocking the door on my way.
The afternoon sun is setting, casting an orangish shade across the sky. I go out onto the balcony and take it in. My life is on the right track, and I wanna savor the moment. Lyrics for a new song start to fall into place.