Page 78 of The First Chord

It made him pause, but only for a second because he was soon inches away from me and practically snarling.

“What the fuck did you do?” he hissed, getting right up in my face.

I knew. “What I told you I was going to do.”

“Amber?” Ronnie put a hand on my shoulder and looked at me quizzically.

Turning back to Jimmy I pulled my shoulders back and lifted my chin. “I’ve asked my solicitor to start divorce proceedings,” I announced.

I heard an intake of breath beside me and a chuckle before Ronnie said, ‘fuck.’. It wasn’t a, fuck what has she done, kind of fuck, it was more like a, fuck she’s done it, kind of fuck. When I looked at him, he was staring at me with what looked like a sense of awe.

“You were told to make it look like we were together,” Jimmy hissed. “The record company warned you.”

“And I’ll continue doing that, but that doesn’t mean I can’t divorce you.”

“What if someone finds out?”

“Jimmy, just go and sit back down,” Joey said in his usual laid-back drawl.

“When did you do that?” Ronnie whispered in my ear.

Still watching Jimmy, I whispered back, “This morning. That’s why I’m a little late for breakfast.”

My sleep had been filled with dreams about Jimmy and Ronnie as had the hours in between when I’d lain awake. Thoughts and ideas had run through my head, each one with the same conclusion. I needed to start divorce proceedings before anything more than a kiss happened between Ronnie and me. No, Jimmy and I weren’t together, we were separated, but divorce lessened my guilt at what I knew was inevitable. Maybe I was wrong in thinking that way. There would be people who would accuse me of being a cheat, some, specifically Jimmy, would say a whore. Others would be on my side and tell me I did the right thing, after all, I’d been cheated on and insulted. Two wrongs didn’t make a right, but I was finished with living a half-life because it was what I was supposed to do. Jimmy wasn’t a good man, he’d lied, and cheated for most of our marriage. He was a bad drunk and an even worse drug taker, and he’d punched me. I wanted to have sex with Ronnie Dwyer, I wanted to kiss him, and I wanted to enjoy the feeling of falling in love without the ties of guilt.

“If we lose money, or Concepta drop us because of your fucking selfishness, I will damn well—”

“Hey,” Ronnie snapped, moving me behind him. “You say one more word and I’ll punch you again.”

“Jimmy!” Hugo, appearing from nowhere, grabbed at his arm and tried to pull him away from me. “Get back to the table.”

Jimmy shook him off and pointed a finger in my direction. “Cancel it.”

I shook my head. “No.”

As he moved a step closer, Ronnie, Beau, and Joey each took a step, a move which looked synchronised.

“Back the fuck off, Fox,” Joey growled, no longer sounding relaxed.

Ronnie’s hand reached behind him, and he took hold of my wrist. He slid his hand down until his fingers found mine and laced them together. The feeling of safety blanketed me despite the expression of hatred on Jimmy’s face.

Hugo looked over at the Blind Devil table and shrugged as Brandon shook his head. Turning back to Jimmy, he sighed. “Jim, just calm the fuck down. You knew this was coming.”

Jimmy swung around. “Not now, though. She’s supposed to wait until the tour is finished.” He turned back to me. “You were supposed to fucking wait.”

I gave a one shouldered shrug. “Well, I don’t want to. I want to get on with my life.”

“You think you’ll gethimto want you?” He stabbed a finger at Ronnie. “He just feels sorry for you.”

His sneer told me that he didn’t think for one moment that I would be moving on with someone like another rock star. Especially not Ronnie.

“It’s not about moving onwithsomeone.” I squeezed Ronnie’s fingers. “It’s about moving on fromyou.”

Brandon got up from his chair, with Amelie following, leaving Chris at the table; not that he’d have any input anyway.

“Jimmy, just get the fuck back to the table.” Brandon grabbed his shirt. “Now.”

“You okay?” Amelie asked, looking at me, her brow furrowed with concern.

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