Page 43 of Cadence
They just don’t get it. They never have. Mom and Dad have always beenThe Deverauxs; marrying young, establishing themselves as equals, a package deal. They worked their asses off building their empire so their kids wouldn’t have to. And I’m grateful, really, but I need to prove I can do this without their safety net.
“I want everyone to know I can do this on my own, and I think with Sip Station, that might actually happen.”
Dad nods, coming over to me and placing a kiss on the side of my head. “I just want you to be happy.”
My fingers slide over the base of the glass in front of me, nervous, restless energy bleeding out. “I know, and I am.”
“And if that changes, you’ll let us know,” Mom says warmly and reaches over to squeeze my hand. “One word fromKit Deverauxis enough to make that boy fall in line.”
“Mom,” I groan. “Stop acting like Dad’s some mob-boss.”
He smirks, straightening his shirt. “I mean, Iama big deal.”
I tilt my head and give him a pointed look. “I can handle Maddox.”
Dad goes about setting the table while Mom brings the food over, moving around each other like they’ve choreographed the whole thing. It’s seamless and intimidating and sothem. I take a seat, waiting as Dad piles noodles onto plates before Mom hands me the sauce.
“Speaking of Maddox,” Mom says, tone coy as she passes me a fork. “What’s going on there, anyway?”
“Nothing,” I say way too fast, too defensive as heat crawls up my neck.
“Nothing?” she echoes.
“Are you sure?” Dad adds, his tone all-too-knowing.
Of course they’ve discussed this too. Why wouldn’t they when my mom can read me like sheet music.
“What are you talking about?”
Dad eyes Mom, his beard twitching as he tries to hide a smile. “Your mom might have mentioned that he was sort of cute.”
“Dad!”
I wouldn’t need to look at myself to know my face is on fire as I glare at my mom. She laughs, throwing her head back before slapping my dad’s arm affectionately. “Kit, stop, we’re embarrassing the poor girl. All I said was, they would look cute together.”
“That’s not any better,” I grumble, stabbing my fork into my food. The memory of Maddox’s hand on my hip flashes again, uninvited, and I want to sink through the floor. “Can we please change the subject to one that’s not about me?”
“No can do, kiddo.” Dad shakes his head as he swallows around a bite of pasta. “We want to know all about the tour. You excited? You leave soon, right?”
The truth bubbles out before I can filter through it, my smile so wide it hurts my cheeks. “More than anything. My first live show was like a taste of something I didn’t know I’d been missing my whole life, and now…I want to be up there, performing in front of thousands all the time.” I pause, glancing at my plate. “I loved writing, you know I did, but this… It feels right. With them.”
Mom watches me quietly, her expression unreadable for a second, before she reaches over, taking my hand in hers. “We’re so proud of you, honey.”
“Thanks,” I whisper, a little breathless with it all. “It’s like I’m stepping into who I was always meant to be.”
“Well,” Dad says with a grin, lifting his glass in a toast. “Then I guess the world better get ready.”
Smiling, I clink my glass against theirs, taking a sip as I lean back in my seat, listening to their idle chatter as we finish dinner.
One week until tour.
One week until I find out who I really am when the lights go up.
Chapter Nineteen
Paige
“Thea’shere,”Eliwhisper-yellsas he skids into the room, tossing his bag to the side with a bang and throwing himself on top of the couch, practically squashing Beau. “I’ve been here the whole ti—Heeeey.”
