Page 86 of To Bring You Back
But Matt’s suggestion did reveal an option. Gannon could stop protecting him if he went back to using. He could even take it a step further, do what his mom had suggested all those weeks ago and fire Matt. But given everything Gannon had been forgiven for, wasn’t he obligated to show mercy?
“Won’t matter, anyway. I’m done. Cold turkey. Alcohol too.”
The near miss with the police officer last night wouldn’t have been enough to inspire a sincere change, and maybe this wasn’t sincere. But on the chance Matt would surprise him, Gannon didn’t want him failing. “Stay close to me or John, so you’ve got backup when it gets bad.”
“Or Tim. Or just here.”
“No. With me or John.” Not that Gannon wanted to be saddled with Matt right now, but the cravings would be intense, and as Tim had pointed out, Matt had a golden ticket—he could get whatever he wanted, wherever he wanted. Tim might even arrange the delivery for him if it meant keeping the performances and the recording schedule on track.
“What’s up with John, anyway? The way he was acting, you’re lucky you don’t have a drumstick through your eye.”
Gannon opened the studio door and motioned Matt through. “Let’s hope he feels more charitable toward you.”
On the way through the great room, Gannon scanned the couches. Tegan was there, but no Adeline.
She rose. “I need a minute with you.” Her chunky necklace and black short-sleeve sweater reminded him she’d gone to work today. Teaching. She hadn’t looked this tense when she’d left.
On the other side of the patio doors, John was doing something on his phone as the trio of dogs trotted off onto the grass. Tegan’s and Bruce’s presence suggested Adeline hadn’t left permanently, unless Tegan’s tight expression meant she was about to break bad news on Adeline’s behalf.
He pointed Matt toward John. “Go tell him what you told me. I’ll be out soon.”
Tegan lowered herself to her seat and folded her hands. How long had she been sitting here, waiting for him?
He sat across the coffee table from her and laced his hands together. “What can I do for you?”
“I need to thank you for letting us stay here.” Her tone was formal with undertones of disapproval, maybe even aggression. The treatment he’d expect from an interviewer bent on blowing apart everything he stood for. She kept her gaze level, no gratitude cracking her serious expression.
“It’s the least I could do.”
“I agree.” She kept her voice as even as her eye contact.
He waited. No sense guessing what had angered her and speaking to the concern preemptively. If he guessed wrong, he’d give her more ammo.
“The fire inspector told Adeline today that the ladder was pushed through the window. The fire could’ve been accidentally caused by the cigarettes, but the man you sent with Adeline told her something about carelessness being as dangerous as someone who’s out to get her, so she feels like she has no option but to stay here.”
Gannon would have to make sure that guard got a raise. “I’m happy to put you up in a hotel, but I’d rather know you have good security, and this is the only place I can guarantee it. You’re both welcome here. If this is about the damage—”
“It is about damage. To Adeline. She called and begged me to stay here with her because she doesn’t want to face this place alone.”
So she was upset. He’d rather talk this through with Adeline than with her proxy. His bet? Adeline had no idea what Tegan was up to and might even be angry her roommate had stepped in. But if Tegan would confront him, she’d also speak against him to Adeline, straining things even more. “I’m telling Harper to leave as soon as I find her.”
“That doesn’t solve the problem. Every time I see Adeline, she’s reeling from some monumental change between you and her. And that’s sad because I see her a lot, and this isn’t who she is. One minute she breaks out the bass for the first time since I’ve known her, the next she’s crushed and begging me to stay here as if her life depends on it, all because you’re toying with her.”
“She played her bass?”
“Is that the only thing you heard?”
“If you don’t realize how good a sign it is that she played again, you don’t know her or our relationship well enough to judge. You might know Adeline as someone who works in a stuffy office and serves hotdogs, but she’s been burying her talents, pulling into herself instead of thriving.”
“And you think the way you’re treating her will somehow help her realize that?”
So Tegan wanted more for Adeline too. At least they had that in common.
“Harper shouldn’t be here, but if Adeline played again, my showing up in her life hasn’t been a complete waste, and if you think I would willfully hurt her …” He wanted to tell her to find another place to stay, but that would only work against him. “It’s a good thing you’re here, so you’ll have a front-row seat to see how much that isn’t the case.”
“Maybe you wouldn’t willfully hurt her. But it’s like that bodyguard said. Carelessness can be equally dangerous.”
Anger stretched tight in his chest, about to snap. “How long have you been her friend?”
