Page 55 of Maggie

“Okay. So your home is just a building, your shop can run itself, and your dog can go with you. The routine, family, and roots thing is a little more challenging, but you’d be building a new family and making a new routine, roots, with Maggie. Your family will understand. You’ll adjust to a new routine. And you can come back here after she stops touring.”

“That’s the thing, though. Lovely Oblivion is great. They could tour forever. They could be like some of those bands that tour into their 70s.”

Zeke smiled. “I doubt it. Bex already has a kid and I hear that the other band members want to settle down, too. I think they’ll stop touring in a few years when it’s time for Bex’s kid to start school.”

“Maggie’s never going to take me back. She’s already going out with other people.”

Zeke grinned. “Get out your phone.” He drank some of his water and waited for Wylder’s phone to load. “I want you to search for ‘Aiden Whittaker.’”

“Who?”

“Aiden Whittaker. Trust me.”

Wylder’s online search pulled up a bunch of pictures of the man with brown hair, including the pictures he’d already seen with Maggie but also some with Bex and her daughter.

“What the hell?” Wylder asked.

Zeke said, “Aiden Whittaker is Bex’s husband. Father of Bex’s kid. He tours with them and lives in New York City with Bex. All reports say he and Bex are madly in love. Fuck like rabbits, if the rumors are true. The pictures you saw of him and Maggie aren’t what you thought.” Zeke laid his hand over Wylder’s phone.

“How do you know so much about the band?”

Zeke quirked an eyebrow at Wylder. “My best friend is in love with their keyboardist. I did some reading.”

Wylder’s heart thudded harder in his chest when he heard the words and a realization hit him. “Fuck. I am in love with her.” He pressed a hand over his eyes.

“I know you are. Now, we need to get Maggie to take you back.”

---