Page 113 of 4-Ever

Only, we were disembarking our flight and there was no time to join the mile high club.

Maybe on the way back home.

Rae and Ciara were here for the California shows, then Rae was heading back to Rhode Island and my sister, to Nashville. She decided she wanted to stay near me, and Hardwick had offered her a temporary job working social media write ups for another band. She still had big city dreams, but she was now thinking international. Maybe London or Paris. If I knew my sister, it was going to happen. She’d been keeping up with her virtual therapy sessions and I could see her coming back to life, each day better than the last.

Rae was doing well too. He and Faise had regular talks with their sponsors, staying aware of any stressors that might trigger their addictions. And Faise finally opening to me, and to his brother, it made their relationship, and ours, closer than ever.

“Averell’s going to meet us at the hotel for dinner,” Jesse announced as he glanced at his phone. “Then he’s got a full schedule for the night. Press ops, private parties, you name it. The tour and your next album is all the entertainment news can talk about.”

But I didn’t think about that. I was worried about spending a whole night with a man who wants my man.

A hand on my back had me turning around.

“You ready for tonight?” Faise asked me.

This was a big one. Not just for our careers, but for us as a couple. We were going public with our relationship.

“Yes.” I leaned down and kissed him. “So ready. You?”

He smiled against my lips. “I’m so fucking excited. I hope the press are positive.”

“I’m sure Jesse’s got it under control.”

We walked out of the plane, and our security team got us inside the SUVs in record time.

When we traveled to LA, we always stayed at the same hotel. It was renowned for hosting musicians, actors, and other celebrities. Impromptu performances by some of the most legendary talents in show biz were not uncommon. And the staff at the hotel were discreet. A rarity in our world.

With just enough time for a nap, a shower, and a change of clothes, we found ourselves in the lobby of the hotel at just after nine, starving. The food here was also a high point, with great seafood and a wine list that was bigger than any book I’d ever read.

Lennie and Regan escorted us to a private room, where Averell was seated at a long table. He was busy typing away on his phone. He stood up when he spotted us. Dressed in another sharp suit, a practiced smile in place, he nodded and shook our hands in turn.

Until, suddenly, the smile on his face vanished. He was probably surprised that my sister and Faise’s brother were joining us. Then again, Wayward Lane was a family, and including our relatives in events was nothing new to us. And if Averell didn’t like it, too bad.

Rae sat between Averell and Jesse and started asking all kinds of questions about Hardwick’s marketing plans and what kind of stats we were driving. That was all white noise to me. If the fans loved us, the albums were selling, the concerts were sold out, I was happy. The business side, I left to the professionals.

Averell seemed surprised at Rae’s level of interest and his knowledge of business, but none too pleased when Rae began to ask more detailed questions. But at least Averell’s attention was not on Faise. In fact, he’d hardly made eye contact with my boyfriend since we’d arrived at the table.

Thank you, Rae.

A waiter offered us water and menus. We ordered champagne to start, and a non-alcoholic version for those that didn’t drink. Then we ordered dinner, and with drinks in hand, Jesse tapped on his glass and stood up.

“A toast. To a great band, a successful tour, and many more years to come!”

“I second that,” Averell stated.

Dinner was a three-course meal, and by the time we were done, it was time to hit the media circuit. Just before we got up to leave the restaurant, Jesse leaned forward.

“You guys ready to launch?”

“No question,” I answered, lifting Faise’s hand, kissing his knuckles.

“What he said,” Faise replied, staring back at me.

It was only me and him.

A throat cleared and we turned to look at Averell.

“Are you sure? Because once the news is out, there’s no going back. The press will be relentless. Forget any kind of privacy.”

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