Page 142 of Ever With Me

She set her hands on the counter, her shoulders sagging as the water swirled around the drain, emptying slowly.

“It’s not impossible, just difficult. Not a lot of privacy, for one. Just think about how easy it is to be found here. He’d be recognized constantly, unable to blend in when tourists are around. And remember how half the town started hating me because of the Depot? People would do the same to him eventually. Complain about the circus he brings into their lives. Not a lot of opportunities for rock stars in a small town like this, either. He’d have to travel constantly, and we don’t even have a good airport nearby.”

“Why are you telling me all this?” she whispered. She’d asked the damn question, but the answers weren’t what she wanted to hear. She turned to face him, her heart breaking.

The person she loved the most in the world—her pops—was giving her an impossible choice to make.

“You have to consider all of this, Maddie. It’s all got to factor into your decisions with Brooksandwith my offer. Your family, too. You’re a smart girl, and I know you’ll make the right decision.”

“You think I should break up with Brooks? Is that what you’re saying?” She studied the wall of devices and plugs behind him, unable to look him in the eye.

“Gosh, no. I see how happy he makes you. You know me, I’m a romantic.”

“Then why offer your role to me at all? Why make this so much harder on me?” She didn’t want to be mad at her grandfather, especially while he was in the hospital recovering from a heart attack and bypass surgery—from protecting her...because of Brooks.

His face filled with regret. “I was hoping I might have a few more years in me before I had to hand the reins over. But I don’t. This heart attack proved that time is something I’m running out of. Besides, if things don’t work out with Brooks, and you found out I didn’t offer you the job because of that, you probably wouldn’t like me very much. If it’s something you wanted, of course.”

His logic was sound, but still . . .

. . . what am I supposed to do now?

38

BROOKS

“Charges are dropped. Case dismissed.”

Brooks’s lawyer, Christine Lewis, looked pleased. An immaculately dressed, elegant Black woman, she was one of the top lawyers in the country—and she was a killer in the courtroom.

“You’re the best. As always,” Brooks said with the hint of a smile. He didn’t bother looking at Mike, who groused loudly at his lawyer. “What now?”

Christine’s dark eyes lit with pleasure at his compliment. “Well, he can still try to sue you civilly, but I don’t think that will happen, considering the judge wouldn’t entertain the charges. But it’s Mike. He’s unpredictable.”

That’s putting it mildly.But today, at least, he’d been neutralized.

“You’re not kidding. What about the contract with the label?”

“I’ll call you when I get back to my office, and we can talk about the next steps. In the meantime, I think we’ve made some good progress on your contract with the label. And Ava is more open to negotiations now that she’s cooled down a bit. We’ll have you releasing music soon, I’m sure.”

Mike, slimy prick that he was, continued to complain as his lawyer led him out of the room. Brooks’s eyes darted back to Christine. “Sounds good. Look over the international label contract, too. I might be ready to enter my indie era.”

“Anything you want.”

Brooks shook her hand, loosened his tie, then headed out of the courtroom with his bodyguard in tow.

Well, this was a complete fucking waste of my time.But at least he’d gotten to see the judge wipe the smug smile off that asshole’s face. And he’d see it again if Mike kept up with his plans to sue Kayla.

He started down the hall, then headed to the restroom before the long drive back to Brandywood. All he wanted was to get back to the lake house and pull Maddie into his arms.

He walked over to the urinal and had just started to piss when the toilet in the stall flushed.

Mike came out of the stall. He stopped with a scowl, then his face darkened. “Think you’re a pretty tough piece of shit, do ya, Brooks?”

If he hadn’t been in the middle of going to the bathroom, he would have walked out. Brooks clenched his jaw.

Mike, taking advantage of the situation, came closer. “Want to see something interesting that came my way recently?” He pulled out his cell phone, scrolling through it.

“I have no interest in the dick pics that get you off, Valders.” He flushed and started toward the sink.

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