Page 95 of Trouble Walked In

She closed her eyes and tried to make the memories go away. They revolved through her mind again, slower and with more detail.

Her phone buzzed. She rubbed her face, then pulled the phone out of her pocket and accepted the video call.

Della beamed at her. Her hair was in a high ponytail, and she wore a remarkably plain black robe. “Lizzie!”

“Hey, Della.” Her voice sounded hollow, even to her own ears. She cleared her throat.

Her sister’s face fell. “What’s wrong?”

Lizzie made a conscious effort to unwrinkle her foreheadand put on a smile. “Nothing. Literally nothing. What are you up to?”

Della narrowed her eyes with suspicion. “That’s not your nothing face. That’s definitely your something face.”

A spark of irritation flared. “What do you want, Della?”

“I wanted to ask you something, but maybe it’s not a good time.” Della bit her lip.

“What’s that?”

“I know you hate the city and all, and it might be a little awkward, but I was hoping you’d come to the tour kickoff. It’s at Madison Square Garden, and there’s a little get-together after. It’s a big deal to do the Garden, and I wanted to share it with you. Say yes. Please?” Della nodded encouragingly, but the look in her eyes said a lot more than her words. She didn’t want to face another once-in-a-lifetime experience alone.

Lizzie resisted the urge to wrinkle her nose at the idea. Della was right, she didn’t want to go to the city, and she definitely didn’t want to attend a kickoff party. She’d been to plenty of those, and it was always exhausting.

She also didn’t want her sister spiraling back into the same funk that made her run before.

Lizzie’s attention caught on something Della had said. “Awkward? Why would it be awkward?”

Della laid the phone down, leaving Lizzie with a view of the teardrop chandelier that graced the living room of her New York City apartment. There was the sound of rustling fabric, as if her sister were changing clothes. “Well, Renic will be there, of course, and Morgan. Plus the new studs in the stable, Jacob, Tyrone, Keith—you know, the Big Three. All the staff and a few from Omega. The party isn’t just a kickoff. It’s to celebrate the deal.”

There was so much to unpack in her sister’s statement thatshe wasn’t sure where to start. She focused on the last part first. “What deal?”

“You haven’t heard? Self Evident merged with Omega Music Group. Well, not fully. It’s a fantastic deal, actually. Renic made sure we keep the masters, and he has controlling interest still. Omega is providing PR and some other stuff, which gives Renic a lot more free time to spend onotherthings.” Della’s face swam back into view. She wore a red T-shirt now, and her hair spilled down around her shoulders. Her eyes were a little too wide to be legitimately innocent.

“What other things?” Lizzie could barely keep track of what her sister was saying. She was stunned that Renic had sold any part of his company, let alone to Omega. He hated the way behemoth companies did business. It was why he’d formed Self Evident to begin with—so he could keep control. It didn’t make sense that he would relinquish even the slightest bit of that when the company was doing so well.

“Scouting talent. I guess he got the bug again after finding Jacob with you.” Della took on a crafty tone that broadcast her intentions far more than her actual words.

Lizzie narrowed her eyes at her sister. “Did Renic ask you to invite me?”

“Nope. It’s all me.” Della held the phone closer to her face, which had the effect of making her eyes look enormous. “I want my big sister with me on one of the biggest nights of my life. You’ll come, right?”

Her gut clenched and screamed, “No,” but a voice in her heart whispered,“Renic”over and over. “The show’s three weeks from now, isn’t it? That’s really close to the Sasher wedding.”

Della rolled her eyes. “Come on. It’s only one night. You can stay with me and go home the next day, if you want. Orcome a few days early and we can shop for the tour. I need bus clothes.”

Lizzie huffed out a laugh. “I can’t believe you need any clothes at all.”

“A girl can always use new clothes.” Della’s gaze turned downcast. “You’ll come, right? Piper won’t, and Mattie can’t. You’re the only one. Please?”

It was the vulnerability in Della’s voice that ripped the words out of Lizzie’s mouth before she could stop them. “Okay, fine. I’ll be there.”

“Yay!” Della bounced up and paced the room. “I have a new song I want you to hear.” Something buzzed in the background. “Oh, that’s the studio. Gotta go. Love you, see you soon!”

“Love you too.” Lizzie waved at the blank screen.

Della made a kiss face at the phone, then ended the call.

She had so many questions. Why had Renic paid for her repairs without telling her? Why had he made that deal with Omega?

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