Page 4 of Last Chorus

By the time my leaden feet reach the foyer, their car is headed down the driveway.

I drop my forehead to the door and breathe.

Just breathe.

CHAPTER TWO

wilder

Late afternoon, my doorbell rings again. This time I rush toward it and throw it open. “About fucking time.”

“Language,” chirps Lily.

Rolling my eyes, I step back. “Give me a break, she’s not even two.”

Lily strolls past me, Rye following with my goddaughter. After closing the door behind them, I hold out my arms. Rye acquiesces to my silent demand and hands me Emma, who’s already reaching for me.

Her tiny fingers immediately start tugging my hair as she chants, “Why-Why, Why-Why.”

The first time Emma called me the nickname Evangeline used when she was a toddler, it felt like a knife in my gut. But exposure therapy is a thing for a reason.After hearing it innumerable times, it’s now one of my favorite sounds.

“Fair warning, she’s cutting molars,” Rye says as he pulls off his coat. “Prepare for drool.”

“Oh yeah? Show me the goods, Ems.” I tickle her belly and she giggles, mouth dropping open and showcasing her collection of tiny teeth and red gums. “Ouch. That looks like hard work.”

Saliva dribbles from the corners of her mouth, a thick stream dripping off her chin to my bicep. “You’re so gross,” I coo at her, “but I still love you.”

A silicone toy shaped like a giraffe appears between us. Emma grabs it and starts gnawing on the head like a rabid animal.

“You know, if you wanted to see the baby, you could have just said so. No vague, alarmist demands necessary.” Lily’s light tone is at odds with the frown on her delicate features.

I look from her to Rye, whose concerned expression finally registers. “Shit. Sorry. I didn’t mean to worry you guys.” I adjust my grip on Emma. “Matt and Sophie came to see me today.”

Comprehension sweeps across their faces. They exchange a look before Rye sighs. “We were kind of afraid they would but didn’t want to say anything in case nothing came of it.”

“They were talking about Evangeline like she needs either an intervention or an exorcism. What the hell is going on?”

Another loaded glance passes between them.

“Can we at least sit down before hashing this out?” asks Lily. Without waiting for an answer, she sweeps past me toward the kitchen. “You’re making us dinner, by the way. One of your fancy recipes, please and thank you.”

Before Rye can walk away, I grab his arm. “Just give me a scale or something. How worried should I be?”

He grimaces. “Man, I wish it were that easy. A big part of the problem is we can’t get close enough to her to find out. I have better odds surviving Lily’s cooking than I do getting a call back from Eva.”

“I heard that!” Lily hollers from the kitchen.

Rye and I share a smirk. As we walk down the hallway, he continues in a low voice, “Do I think she’s in an intervention-level crisis? No. Unless bad taste in men qualifies.”

I open my mouth, then close it. Is that what Matt and Sophie were indirectly asking me to do? Break up Evangeline and her boyfriend? The idea is as wild as their assumption that I still have any effect on their daughter whatsoever.

On the other hand, the Sullivans aren’t stupid. Mattespecially has been in the music industry for a long time, and he’s definitely heard the rumors about his daughter’s boyfriend.

ClayfuckingEaton.

Entertainment lawyer, media golden boy, and unequivocal dirtbag who groomed and seduced his sixteen-year-old stepsister when he was twenty-three. The latter isn’t conjecture, either. His stepsister, Kendra, is my ex-girlfriend, and she told me everything.

I can’t even think Clay’s name without wanting to break his face. Even harder to accept? That I told Evangeline he was morally bankrupt and not only did she fall for his fake charm, she’s been with him fortwo years. The reason I didn’t tell her about his fucked-up relationship with Kendra was because at the time, I hadn’t wanted to give her nightmares. Now I wish I had.

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