Page 99 of Living on the Edge

He sighs. “I miss you too. But I can’t rush the things I’m feeling. I can’t tell you that I don’t feel betrayed—when I do. I just don’t know how to fake it.”

“I don’t want you to fake it. I just want to work through it. Would it help if I told you a little about my family? The things I dealt with growing up?”

He hesitates but then nods. “Maybe. Yeah. I mean, not tonight, but one of these days.”

“All right. Is there anything else I can do to make it up to you?”

“I don’t know.”

We stare at each other.

Out of the corner of my eye, I see movement in the shadows over his shoulder and I frown.

“I think we have company,” I murmur.

He glances over his shoulder. “Ben, why are you lurking back there?” he calls out.

“Sorry.” Our bus driver comes out of the shadows with an embarrassed smile. “I didn’t want to interrupt.”

“Nah, we’re done here.” Jonny claps me on the shoulder just as my phone rings.

Christ.

It’s my father.

Just what I need on top of everything else.

“You gonna answer that?” Jonny asks me, arching a brow.

“Must be important if he’s calling this late,” Ben says in a fatherly tone.

They have a point. It’s one in the morning, and my father isn’t the type to call this late unless he has something specific to talk about.

Or if something bad happened.

Worry hits me, and I reluctantly push the button to accept the call.

“Dad?” I put the phone to my ear and turn away from Jonny and Ben. “What’s going on?”

“Son.” He sounds serious as fuck. “Something’s happened.”

Oh, shit.

“What is it?” I ask quietly.

“Your grandfather… he had a stroke this morning and died a little while ago. Can you come home?”

Chapter30

Ryleigh

Everything happens quicklyafter Angus tells me that his grandfather passed away. One minute we’re having a great time at the party, and the next we’re back in our room. I’m packing while he calls the airline to get us on a flight first thing in the morning. There’s one leaving at seven, and we’re two hours from the airport, so he hires a car service to drive us there.

We shower, pack, say goodbye to the band and Kirsten, and then we’re on our way to the airport. It’s three in the morning at this point, and I’m tired, but I want to be there for him.

He hasn’t said much since we got on the road and I’m not sure if I should try to say something soothing or just leave him to his thoughts. I lean against his shoulder and close my eyes.

“Thanks for coming with me,” he whispers.

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