Chapter 54
chapter
fifty-four
“Fame gave me everything I thought I wanted, and almost nothing I actually needed.” – Cyrus
CYRUS
The wait is agonizing. I have to do something, anything. The cottage feels homey and comfortable when I walk back inside. I can see Haven’s personal touches in every corner, adding to the serene atmosphere.
My phone has been off since we left the hospital. This is as good a time as any to check in with the rest of the world. I grab it from the counter where Haven left it and power it on. I can’t even remember the last time I went this long without my phone.
Regret slaps me in the face when it vibrates ferociously enough that any girl could drop it in her pants and get off.
“Fuck.”
Message after message. Missed calls by the dozens. Social media notifications in the thousands.
Text messages first, I guess. Vex’s name is at the top, so I take a seat and start there.
Vex: I know you two are away bonding or some fucking nonsense. But call me. Shit is going down.
Vex: Stop ignoring me, you prick.
Vex: Fuck you, fucker. Answer me.
I smirk at the dozen other messages from him calling me names, telling me I’m a dick, and threatening to kill me when he sees me. Very Vex.
Cyrus: Such a dirty mouth on you. You’re kinda turning me on.
Vex: Fucking finally.
Cyrus: Relax, my phone was dead and then off. I forgot to turn it on. What’s so important?
Vex: Have you seen the latest BS posts?
Cyrus: No.
Vex: Your mother is completely off the rails. I mean, she has always been off, but man…she’s fucking nuts.
Cyrus: Thanks.
Vex: I’m fucking serious. She called the cops on Haven. Anita is claiming that Haven abducted you. She is all over every app, crying that Haven is a psycho and a threat to you.
The anger is quick to rise.
Cyrus: Are you fucking kidding me? Who the hell will believe that shit? We have a jail sex tape all over the place. If anyone abducted anyone, it was me. What the hell is my mother thinking?
Vex: No idea, man. You need to stop her before someone takes her seriously.
“Jesus-fucking-Christ.”
Leave it to my mother to do something insane.
This is exactly why I fired her as my manager three years ago.
All she does is lie to get her way. The final straw was when she tried to get the band to split so I’d go solo without them.
Now, here she is again, interfering in shit that doesn’t concern her.
Cyrus: Auguste is letting her get away with this?
Vex: They aren’t speaking at the moment. You’ve missed a lot since the crazy bitch locked you up. We got Declan fired. He’s been banging your mother and feeding her information.
What?
My phone vibrates with another message, and I’m almost afraid to look.
Vex: The asshole is pitching a tell-all about the band, your addiction, and his affair with your mother.
Auguste has already filed for divorce and is suing Declan for violating his NDA.
All concerts for the next two weeks have been rescheduled.
Dude, a bomb has gone off. On top of all that, Auguste is desperate to reach Haven.
She’s not responding, so he’s on the warpath.
Cyrus: Can you stall everyone for a day or two?
Vex: Done. We don’t know where you are. Haven wanted to get you away for a few days. That’s all she told us before she picked you up.
I chuckle at that.
Cyrus: Good, keep it that way and keep the fucking cops out of it. Show them this text. I’m fucking fine. Leave me alone to fuck my fiancée.
Vex: LOL! Well, that will certainly be fun. I’m sure the police will appreciate the confirmation of you and your cock’s well-being.
Cyrus: I’m turning off my phone again.
Vex: Later.
I don’t bother to look at anything else before I shut it off.
“Fuck,” I growl, running my hand through my hair.
“What?”
Whipping around, I see Haven standing just inside the sliding glass door. She looks concerned, and I debate telling her to give us one more day without all the other drama.
Haven points at me.
“Don’t”
“Don’t what?”
“I see you scheming and thinking up a lie. Don’t lie to me.”
Fuck she knows me too well. I tell her part of it for now.
“My mother has gone to the police. She is claiming you kidnapped me.”
I smile, trying to make light of it.
Haven rolls her eyes.
“What do you expect, Cy? You’ve let her make up ridiculous lies for years.”
She stomps away, and I follow her down the hall and up the stairs.
“Haven…”
She ignores me as she pulls out her bag, opens a drawer, and starts tossing in clothes. I grab her and tug her away.
“Stop. We’re not leaving.”
“I’m not letting her get away with this shit anymore.”
“I know, and we’ll get it cleared up. She wants us to leave and come running. She’s trying to scare us out of hiding.”
“We’re not hiding.”
“Aren’t we?” She lifts a brow. “You know what I mean. We don’t have to go back yet. Let’s take one or two more days before we’re drawn back into the chaos. Isn’t that why you brought me here?”
Haven sighs.
“Fine, but you really can’t be shocked by this. Your mother lies like it’s her full-time job, and most of them are about me. How many times has she gotten me in trouble with my father for something you did?”
“You’re right.”
Haven’s eyes narrow into a suspicious glare.
“You’re right…that’s it?”
“What else do you want me to say?”
“I just expected an excuse to follow it.”
Sitting on the bed, I pull her down beside me.
“No excuse. I’m to blame for why my mother thinks she can get away with whatever she wants, especially with you.”
Haven covers her face, and I watch her closely. Finally, she removes her hands and looks at me.
“There’s something that I need to tell you,” she says, and looks worried.
“That doesn’t sound good.”
“Your mother is sleeping with Declan.”
“You knew?”
“You know?”
“When did you find out?”
“The day you were admitted to the hospital. The only person who knew where you were was Declan. He had to be getting something on the side to sell you out. I guessed sex.”
“Son of a bitch.”
“So how did you find out?”
“Same way I found out about the kidnapping thing…Vex. I dared to turn on my phone.”
“Ah. A mistake?”
“A big one.”
We sit there in silence for a beat.
“I should’ve told you about Declan earlier. I just figured that I didn’t have proof, and we had a lot of other things to discuss.”
“It’s fine, I get it.”
Moving a few loose strands of hair away from Haven’s cheek, I graze my fingers along her soft skin.
“You know…I kind of love the idea of being kidnapped by you.”
“We’re missing rope,” she says with a smile.
“Oh, you want to tie me up?”
“I’ve fantasized about that and a whole lot more,” Haven says, but the dark glint in her eye gives me pause.
“You’re not stabbing me in these fantasies, are you?”
“Wouldn’t you like to know,” Haven teases.
Laughing, I grab her. She squeals as I roll on top of her, and I fucking love that sound. I pin her wrists and stare down at the woman I nearly ruined and somehow still get to love. It seems impossible.
“Can you ever forgive me? For all I’ve done and caused?”
I watch her eyes closely. Haven’s never been good at lying, but she doesn’t look away.
“I forgive you,” she whispers. “Maybe I shouldn’t, but life is too short. I haven’t forgotten, but I’m willing to move on and give us a chance at a fresh start.”
My throat tightens.
“I’m still learning how to forgive myself.”
Haven cups my jaw.
“Then let me love you while you do.”
For a long time, I believed that love kept score, counted wounds, and remembered every betrayal. But holding Haven, I understand the truth.
The holiest thing love does is forgive.