Page 53 of A Billionaire Rebel

“They’re putting out a press release at the end of the week,” he said. “I think they’re still holding out hope that we might change our minds.”

He’d saidweandour, but I knew this hadn’t been his preference. Even understanding where the others were coming from wasn’t the same as being the driving force behind it.

“Otis agreed with the others?” I asked.

“With the recovery he has ahead of him, I think it was the only thing he could do.” Damon sighed. “The label’s lawyer was a real jerk, talking about breach of contract and all that sort of shit.”

“With Otis right there in a hospital bed? What a bastard!” I put a lot of heat and venom into my words.

“I might’ve threatened to completely destroy the label and him personally if he didn’t back off.”

“Good.”

“I don’t think Z or Haje would’ve gone through with it anyway, but I was tired of listening to his threats.”

“I don’t blame you.” A few seconds of silence passed before I asked, “How are you doing?”

“Honestly, I don’t think it’s really sunk in yet.” He sounded so tired, it made my heart squeeze for him. “I guess Z and Haje aren’t the only ones hoping for a change of heart before the press release goes out.”

I wanted to ask him if he’d thought any more about a solo career, but I didn’t want him to think I was pushing him. Whatever he decided, he had to do it on his own terms and for his own reasons. It wasn’t my place to nudge him in any one direction. I wouldn’t take those sorts of liberties.

“I think the worst part is, I can’t really even be angry at anyone,” he continued. “It seems like a stupid thing to be frustrated about, but it makes me feel like an ass, being mad about the band breaking up when Bair’s dead and Otis is in the hospital. Hawk’s still getting his strength back, and Kalini’s having flashbacks of watching the accident.”

“You can be angry at the circumstances without being angry at the people,” I said. “The situation sucks. Just because you weren’t put in the hospital doesn’t mean this hasn’t completely turned your life upside-down too.”

“Yeah, the guilt isn’t helping,” he admitted. “I’m hoping it’ll be easier once the press release is out. Like maybe I’ll feel like I’m at less of a stand-still and more like I can move forward without people thinking I’m being disrespectful to Bair’s memory or to my friends’ recoveries.”

“Is there anything I can do to help?”

“I know we’ve spent a lot of time together this past week, but would you want to come over to my place for dinner? I’ll cook, and you can tell me about your pizza and movie night with Jamie and Kevin.”

I was tempted to say no, worried about us spending too much time together, but he was still hurting. And I wanted to see him. I had to stop lying to myself – at the very least I was lying by omission – and admit that I’d want to be with him no matter what was going on in his life.

When he didn’t need me anymore, I’d still want to be in his life. I could only hope that he would want to continue a friendship with me after this ended.

But it wasn’t that time yet.

“That sounds great.”

“Did you drive today?” I could hear him smiling.

“No, Jamie took the car. I can take the bus.”

“I’ll pick you up then,” he said.

“Thank you,” I said, meaning it. “Starla will let me borrow her car to do a quick run to the store. What should I bring?”

“You wouldn’t happen to have those handcuffs in your purse, would you?”

I smiled. “Maybe…”

Thirty

Damon

Jae was goingto get sick of me if I didn’t quit asking to spend time with her, but I couldn’t seem to stop. I’d always been a ‘take it or leave it’ kind of guy with everything but music. Beer. Sex. And even music had been a drive and not an addiction.

Jae wasn’t like that. She was all-consuming. Haunting my dreams and my thoughts. I could hear her laughter. Smell her shampoo. Taste her skin. I didn’t simplywanther. Icravedher.

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