Page 42 of Lucas

“Now jealousy is a whole different ball game,” Arisha says. Nervous laughter ensues until she reaches out before I can leave. “When the festivities are over, I’d really love to talk to you. Alone.”

Okay, I didn’t see that one coming. She’s a beautiful woman but I hope to god she doesn’t proposition me. It might be a bit presumptuous of me, but I could tell you some crazy stories you wouldn’t believe. “Abby and I will come find you when we get ready to leave.” I don’t wait for her response, I walk away. It might be rude, but now I’m going to wonder what the fuck she needs to speak to me about.

The whole celebration is something right out of a movie. Almost like an Oscar party, but without all the fancy tuxes and dresses. It’s something I’ll remember for the rest of my life. Everyone’s on cloud nine and we couldn’t be happier with the way the album turned out.Distractionis something we’re all very proud of.

When the guests begin leaving, we make sure to thank them for coming to celebrate with us. I can’t help tensing when I see Arisha approach in my peripheral vision. I never mentioned anything to Abby about it, in case she’d change her mind. But it’s clear she has her sights set on me and she’s determined to have that talk.

“Lucas, I realize it’s late, so we can always schedule our talk for another time,” she says. “I don’t want to take you away from your guests.” Oh hell no, I just want to get it over and done with.

“Unnecessary. Why don’t we go into the kitchen where we can have some privacy? Let me go grab Abby.” Once again, she squeezes my arm. Stopping me.

“With all due respect, Lucas, it’s best if we do this alone.” With sexual harassment being as rampant as it is, the last thing I want is to be alone with her. Especially since she’s being so cryptic and not giving me any pertinent information.

“Can I ask you a question?” When she nods, I continue. “Whatever you need to talk to me about, would you feel comfortable speaking to me in this crowded room?” When she turns a ghostly white, I have my answer. “I didn’t think so. Let me grab Abby.” This time she doesn’t try stopping me. Didn’t think so.

I stalk toward Abby and when she notices me, she excuses herself and meets me halfway. “What’s wrong?” My baby knows me better than she realizes.

“Arisha wants to talk to me, and it’s freaking me the fuck out. I have no idea what she wants, but I need you by my side.”

“You look worried. Should I get Quinn or the guys to come with us?” Why did I wait so long to make this girl mine? ‘Cause I’m an idiot, that’s why.

“No. She specifically asked to speak to me alone.” My gut tells me to run the other way, but curiosity has me moving in her direction. And if I can read her body language, she’s dreading this talk as much as I am.

***

Abby

The wayher eyes dart back and forth between Lucas and me is a telltale sign that she’s nervous. Without a doubt, Arisha doesn’t want me in here. I’ve no idea why she insisted on talking to him alone, but we’ll soon find out.

“First, I’d like to start off by saying that your father and I go way back,” Arisha says. “In fact, we met when I was very young, singing in some seedy dives. He promised to make me a star…” The tormented look on Lucas’s face stops her mid-sentence. He looks devastated, but why?

I don’t understand what’s happening, but when Lucas holds up his hands in surrender, my heart bleeds. “Just stop! If this conversation is heading where I think it is, then I don’t want to hear another word. I’m fucking sick and tired of all the lies and deceit. You don’t need to continue, since I can read between the lines. Now it’s clear why you wanted to talk to me alone. Come on Abby, let’s get the fuck out of here.”

Everything happens so fast that I’m taken aback when he grabs my hand, rushing me out the door. But I freeze in my tracks when Arisha pleads, “I’m your mother, Lucas. I’ve waited so long for this moment and I know you’re upset, but please listen to me.”

Mother?

Goosebumps dot my flesh when he spins around and stalks over to her. He’s furious, and his wrath is frightening. Lucas hangs his head, and without realizing it I wrap my arms around him. He’s shaking so badly that I desperately try to hold him together. Did he know? One minute he’s insecure in my arms and the next he rips free. I watch in horror as he gets in her face.

“Are you the reason we won this record deal? Tell me or I swear I’ll…”

“Absolutely not. It was a unanimous decision. I had no idea when Caleb reached out, asking if I wanted to be a judge. I swear to you, I didn’t know the bands who were auditioning until the day I stepped foot into the building. I’ll admit, I was so damn proud when I realized you were one of them. You deserved a fair chance just like any other band. Whether I was on the panel or not. Caleb has no idea I’m your birth mother.The Sinful Sevenis going to be well-known without any help from your father and me. This is all you.”

I’m still in shock…. I can’t believe any of this is happening. Arisha, the queen of pop, is Lucas Knight’s mother? What about Mrs. Knight? Where does she fit in?

“I was hoping you’d come find me when you turned eighteen, but I didn’t realize you didn’t know until I confronted your dad. I’m so sorry you had to find out the way you did.”

“Bullshit! If you loved me half as much as you claim, why did you leave me in that house filled with hate? Didn’t you stop to think for one minute that it would be a toxic environment for a child to grow up in? I grew up thinking my mother detested me because she hated the fact that I wanted to be a musician. Only after learning the truth did I realize she hated me. Every time she looked at me she saw YOU! The bastard child that no one wanted. I’m so done. We had the talk, so my answer to you is leave me the fuck alone. I don’t want to ever see you again!” Storming off, he grabs my hand and pulls me along with him.

Sobs fill the room as she breaks down, and a part of me wants to console her. But the other part of me holds back because the man I love is hurting and he needs me more than Arisha does.

Silence greets us when we round the corner. Everyone’s staring at us as Arisha’s sobs fill the quiet space. Caleb rushes past, he doesn’t speak, but his glare is enough to kill Lucas dead in his tracks. Lucas twirls his index finger in the air, gesturing for the party to continue, but I think the joyous occasion is over. All three of his band members join us.

“We heard every damn word. What the hell’s going on?” Jet’s fuming, but there’s also compassion in his eyes.

“Good, now it’s out in the open and everyone knows how I feel,” he says. “Don’t let me spoil your good time. I’ll call an Uber.” I give them an apologetic look as I walk past, but I’m not surprised when all of them follow. We proved that we’re a united front, and by doing so they just solidified that they all have his back.

We barely make it outside before Lucas punches the brick wall of the building. Jet stops him from doing it again. “Are you fucking crazy? If you bust your hand, there goes the concerts and everything we worked toward for so long. Talk to us, Lucas.”

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