Page 112 of Living on the Edge

Everything in my head is kind of fuzzy as I try to come to terms with this new reality.

I’m a Hollingsworth, but not a first-born.

Not even a second son.

I’m the first son of thesecondson.

Basically, I’m a nobody.

And that makes me laugh.

“Angus?” Ryleigh looks at me like I’m crazy.

“Sorry.” I shake my head. “I went to so much trouble to change my name, to become someone else, when all along, Ialreadywas someone else.”

She chuckles too. “Fate has her own ideas for us, you know?”

“I do now.”

Chapter34

Ryleigh

The band hasSunday and Monday off, so Angus leaves early Sunday morning, heading back to Minneapolis to see his uncle. Well, his father. Maybe both of them. I don’t know exactly what his plans are because he doesn’t know either. He’s planning to show up at his uncle’s house unannounced and go from there.

The timing sucks because theRock Harderissue with my article in it comes out on Monday, so we won’t be together, and I’m anxious to get a few hard copies as soon as possible. We’re traveling from Portland, Oregon, to Seattle today so I should be able to find a bookstore in Seattle tomorrow that has a few copies.

It’s weird that Rich hasn’t said much lately. I asked him if he was upset about the article, and he never responded. Then a day later he sent me an album to review, which is fine, I’m just a little confused.

I’m also worried.

He’s usually up my ass about everything so for him to go quiet means either he’s up to something or he’s done with me. I don’t know which of those things scares me more but I’ve been so happy with Angus it’s hard to think about Rich.

We had a conversation about me renting out my condo and going to live with him, in his house in Minneapolis so I think that’s what I’m going to do. The tour doesn’t end until Halloween, and it’s late August, so there’s still time.

Sasha is working on finding dates to fill in between when the tour ends on Halloween and the two nights at Madison Square Garden, but the tentative plan right now is for Lexi to leave the tour as scheduled—she’ll be seven months along at that point—and for Kirsten to take over for two weeks, ending with the New York dates since she goes to school in New York anyway. Lexi might fly to New York for those two nights if she’s up to it, but we won’t know until we get to that point.

Nobody’s Fool only wants to continue if Kirsten can pick up the slack, and Sasha thinks she can do two weeks of performances that are Friday, Saturday, and Sunday only, so Kirsten can get back to class on Mondays. It’s a lot of travel for her, but she’s willing to do it, and Sasha promises she’ll only book in the northeast. It leaves everyone in a bit of a holding pattern for now, but Lexi is trying so hard to get to Halloween without letting anyone down.

I can work from anywhere, so it doesn’t matter to me whether we’re on the road or not.

I’ve just turned on a movie when my phone buzzes and I see a text from Taryn.

TARYN: Just want to give you a head’s up—I think Callum talked to your boss. I overheard him on the phone asking about the article and saying he’s going to buy a copy first thing in the morning. Then he said something like, “this will teach those dicks in Crimson Edge not to mess with me.” I think they went behind your back, Ry.

My stomach knots with worry.

That would be a nightmare.

And suddenly it makes sense.

No wonder he’s been quiet, avoiding my emails and placating me with stupid review jobs.

Shit.

RYLEIGH: Are you sure?

TARYN: No, but I was in L.A. for a couple of weeks while all of that was going on so I wouldn’t have known if I hadn’t heard him this morning.

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