Page 17 of Chronicles of a Rockin' Mess

I smile against his chest because it actually is damned good to see him, too.

“Well, where is my ‘charge’?” I ask, looking around.

“He’ll be here—” Kade starts but is cut off by Lincoln who is standing in the doorway of the office.

“What the…” Lincoln trails off and stares at me. I don’t mean staring like “wow, great to see you,” I mean staring like “get the fuck out of my house now or else.”

“Hi, Lincoln,” I say softly.

Lincoln looks over at Kade, and for three seconds, I think I’m gonna have to call the cops when he pummels his ass. But then Lincoln steps back into the hallway.

“You can both leave,” he says as he walks toward the kitchen.

Kade looks at me. “Wait here,” he says as he follows Lincoln. He shuts the glass French doors. I don’t bother telling him that they will not block any of the yelling that I’m anticipating is about to take place.

“What the fuck, Kade?!” Lincoln’s voice booms through the house. I cringe.

“You need help! You haven’t been able to keep a single PA long enough to see if it can work. We need the contract, and if you can’t get your shit together…” Kade trails off and lowers his voice. “Listen, I’ve hired her to help us. She can stay here. Use her however you see fit. She knows you.”

I hear a thump, and for a second, I think maybe Lincoln punched Kade. “Fine, but only because I don’t need you guys getting all pissy with me right before we tour,” Lincoln snarls.

“Well, please don’t feel you need to bend over backward on my account,” Kade clips as I hear him walk back toward the office. I quickly sit down and look around to see if there is anything I could be looking at.

I hear the door open, and I look up at Kade.

“I’ll put your bags in your old room. Call me if you need anything. I wrote the new passwords for stuff in a notebook on the desk for you. You can start by touching base with Gwen’s new assistant, Bailey, to confirm the press tour deets,” Kade says.

I salute him with my middle finger and walk off toward my room with my bags.

“Lark, come on, I’ll help you,” Kade says following me.

“Kade…just, go, OK? I’ll figure it out,” I say to him.

“Lark—” I hold up a hand, and he stops speaking.

“I. Will. Figure. It. Out,” I say through gritted teeth.

“OK, then. I’ll let you get settled in. I’m in the guest suite at the far end of the hall upstairs, if you need me,” he says.

I want to ask about Savannah, but I just turn and walk away.

Lincoln

My brain tries to comprehend that Lark is back in my home. I locked down all hope of seeing her again eighteen months ago. I pace in my room. She looked pissed, like really fucking pissed.

I’m not mad at her though, I’m furious at Kade and Harry. They had no right to hire her.

I sink onto my bed and put my head in my hands. I sigh and curse at myself because I know why she’s here. I’m a fucking mess, and they don’t know what to do with me.

They’re right. I built a wall around my heart when she left. I never let anyone get close to me, ever. Even Kade and Harry, who are like my brothers don’t know everything. The only one I’ve ever really talked about Carrie with is Lark. Lark reminds me of Carrie in some ways. The way she cares about everyone around her more than herself. The way she’d do anything for a loved one.

I’m fucked, and I know it. I can feel it in my chest as it constricts. I still love her. I never stopped loving her. Sending her away didn’t change a fucking thing. And now, I have to figure out how to win her back.

Lark

My room looks exactly the same. Not one thing has been changed. I frown. It’s like no one has even stayed here, which makes zero sense. I start unpacking. It doesn’t take me long. And when I finish, I put my hands on my hips and survey the room.

“It’ll do,” I mutter.

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