Page 19 of Love Me Steadfast
Dad wouldn’t sell tohim, would he?
“Who?” I ask, my voice breaking. Because of course Dad would sell to a famous musician. One he helped get discovered.
My dad’s gaze lifts to the doorway, making me turn, my heart lodged in my throat.
Standing there, with a look of intense apprehension on his face, is William.
It’s too much at once—the relief I’m not facing off with Nic Salazar is as sharp as the surprise of seeing William here instead.
He’s wearing the same faded Levi’s and dark blue T-shirt from this morning, with scuffed work boots on his feet.
William Hayes should not look this good. But he’s always looked like a dream to me. Even now in this moment when everything feels wrong.
Or is it just that he looks so capable and fit compared to Dad, who looks wrung out, exhausted?
“What are you doing here?” I stammer.
William’s lips twitch with the hint of a smile. “Ray,” he says with a nod to my dad.
I glance from Dad to Will, unease churning in my gut. Wait…what?
No.
No way.
Dad steps forward, and he and Will shake hands. And then Dad slips into the hallway, the tap of his boots on the hard flooring fading quickly.
I rub my face with both of my hands, but itdoesn’t lead my thoughts to an alternate conclusion. “You bought The Limelight? Why? You don’t know anything about running a bar or a music venue.”
He crosses his arms and his eyes warm just enough to make the empty place inside me hum with life. “No, but you do.”
Chapter Seven
WILLIAM (NOW)
“What’s that supposed to mean?”Charlotte asks, her hazel eyes blazing.
Not exactly the reaction I was hoping for, but hey, we gotta start somewhere. “It means I’m going to need your help.”
She scoffs. “Why would I do that?”
“Because you care.” I’m counting on it.
Pain tightens the corners of her eyes. “No.”
I clamp down on my molars.
“You shouldn’t have bought it,” she says. “Not without talking to me.”
“Kinda hard to do when you never answer my calls.” It was a miracle she answered the call three nights ago, but it was the middle of the night.
I bite the rest of my retort back. It won’t do us any good to fight right now.
Charlotte rubs her forehead, looking tired. She’s dealing with so much. I want to take her in my arms and hold her. That I can’t is making it hard to breathe. I pinch the pressure point between my thumb and index finger to distract me from the buildingtension at the base of my skull while silently praying that the headache doesn’t progress. That’s the last thing I need today.
“Why?” she asks. Her voice has softened a little, but she’s still angry. I don’t blame her.
I keep the truth to myself, for now. She’s got enough on her plate. “Someone needed to. I’ve got the time.”
