Page 10 of The Final Deal

I turn to leave, but she calls out, “Stephani?”

“Ma’am?”

Her russet brown eyes gleam with a peculiar look that makes my stomach churn. “Are you dating Adrian?”

My mouth dries. “Um… yeah.”

The Tia Rosa I’m all too familiar with returns, her lips puckering with angry lines around the corners to match. “Don’t you think that looks bad, jumping from one brother to another?”

The smile that smarts my lips is devious, daring her to say something to my face. “Who said anything about jumping?”

Her jaw drops, and I quickly push the door open with a loud jangle of bells to escape.

Robbie’s fingers fly in a complicated pattern across four strings and a long fretboard. Adrian matches the level of technicality, bare and tattooed arms waving over cymbals and zooming over toms, legs pounding out a Mezhuggah-style kick pattern.

Shannon rolls his eyes and focuses on his phone, grumbling something that perhaps only he can hear, but I’m familiar with the shape and movement of his lips. “Goddamn circlejerk.”

I half-grin at the sentiment. While Shannon gets exasperated with Adrian and Robbie’s Dream Theater-length jams during practice, they really are the foundation of Timeless. Adrian and Robbie jam, Zak jumps in at times, Shannon talks shit and barks orders to get back on track, and I jot down notes for songwriting and production later on down the line. Somehow, it’s worked out all these years.

Zak jumps in more than normal this session. With the glances he thinks he’s stealing, it’s apparent he’s trying to distract himself from my watchful stare. Him turning the full list of tour dates on the back of his shirt to face me instead of a band logo confirms the suspicion.

My phone lights up on the coffee table, and the name on the screen jolts my lazy ass wide awake.

Dave, the owner of Dirty Peach Studios in Atlanta that I sometimes daydream about returning to… and father of my long-time childhood friend and misguided booty call, who I might straight-up murder if I ever see him again.

What thefuckis he doing calling me?

When I shoot up from the couch, Shannon’s brows knit together and he juts his chin my direction. “What’s up?”

I hold up a finger before stepping outside and closing the door behind me. Taking a deep breath, I swipe the answer button and hold the phone to my ear. “Hey.”

“Hey, how’s my favorite member of Timeless?” he answers cheerfully.

“Fine, but don’t let Robbie hear you say that—he thinks he’s your favorite.”

Dave chuckles. “What he don’t know won’t hurt him. Anyway, just wanted to drop you a line. Hated losing you here at the studio, but I’m glad you and Ty found a way to work together still.”

My eyes shatter wide open.

“Can’t tell you how excited I am about the venue. Genius move on your part, really, keepin’ NYB goin’ past New Year’s?—”

“Are you as delusional as your son?” I interject in disbelief. “I never agreed to anything like that.”

“Ah, w-well,” Dave stutters, fumbling over words as he makes uncomfortable noises. “I’m pretty sure it’s happening since Ty’s moving to San Antonio.”

My teeth sink into my bottom lip, biting hard from the intense fury drenching my body with heated anger that demands action—punching a wall, drop-kicking somebody in the face,something.

Maybe I should have looked the other night and kicked his ass within an inch of his life like I wanted to. Buried him deep in the woods, so he’s no longer my problem or anyone else’s.

“And you’re letting him leave the studio, no questions asked?” I question through clenched teeth.

He sighs exasperatedly. “Of course, I had questions. But Ty’s got a thing for you, sweetheart, and he always has. There was no changing his mind about making the move, so I thought y’all had, I dunno, worked things out.” Something taps erratically at his end. “So you’re not opening up a venue?”

“No,” I state angrily, “so tell your son he needs to stay in Atlanta.”

I pull the phone away and tap theEndbutton repeatedly, as if I were jabbing Ty in his stupid chest and telling him how much of a fucking dumbass he is thinking he could get away with this bullshit.

If he thinks he can force himself into my life after all the bullshit he’s pulled, then I’ve got a few bones to pick with himandthe devil.

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