Page 130 of Pretty Obsessed

He nodded, chewing over my words. "Maybe not."

"It's going to cause a lot of discontent. And you'd have to fight Iris on it. There is no way he'd go willingly."

"Which is why we need a consensus."

A chill ran down my spine. He needed me to bring Alister over. He could get Lowe. Then what? Commit him against his will?

It would kill him. Iris wouldn't come back the same. Forcing someone into treatment when they didn't want it would only end in making them worse. Let alone the isolation he feared and the loss of his music. Iris needed help, but this was entirely the wrong way of doing it.

"I guess we need to see how he is."

"Sure, sure. We can see how the tour dates go, and if he's getting worse and continues this quitting line of thought." I couldn’t let them think delaying the tour would fly.

I seethed under the surface. "Right. I need to grab a drink and make a call before we get back into it."

"Sure thing, and please keep this between us."

I nodded as I grabbed my bag and got out of there. I couldn't tell Iris, not yet—it would ruin the day for him. I needed someone to talk to. Even if Emory wasn't happy with me, I hoped he'd answer and let me vent.

There was a text there waiting from him.

Emory: Thank you for coming back to bed last night.

Emory: I was really worried you wouldn't come back at all. My last boyfriend did that and I'd have to go to him every time.

Emory: This all has a point I promise.

I laughed. Emory always was wordy.

Emory: I'm telling you all this so you know I appreciate it and the gesture.

Emory: I'm messaging you because I don't know when you'll be done but I'd like to not leave it like that.

Emory: If you even want to talk about it again but I'd like to not have this hanging between us.

His words warmed me through.

River: I'll always come to bed.

Emory: Promise?

River: I hadn't expected you to reply so fast.

River: Are you writing?

Emory: About that…

River: Are you done?

I hoped he was.

Emory: My publisher called me to tell me they had a spot at a huge con open up. They want me there tonight.

No.

River: You're at the airport, aren't you?

My phone rang with a video call. I glanced at the studio, not wanting any of this recorded even by accident so I walked out to find a quiet place to talk.

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