Page 101 of To Believe In You
“The role of father is already filled. Don’t take that away from him.”
Shouldn’t coming forward only ensure that the role of father was even more meaningfully fulfilled? Where Axel had only had one father figure before, now he had another person he could count on.
But who did Matt think he was, dreaming of becoming a father figure? He was in his thirties, and what could he say for himself? That he played in a band?
What a joke.
“Could you introduce me to him? Say I’m an old friend if you have to, but let me meet him.”
Her eyes didn’t soften.
“At least that. Please.”
“I don’t trust you. You’d say something to upset him. And how would I explain when he happens to see you on the news? I saw it already myself. You’re back in Awestruck. He’s a bright kid, and you’re recognizable.”
“I’ll wear long sleeves. Gloves. Whatever it takes.”
“No good would come of your meeting. You don’t understand.”
“Explain, then.”
She shook her head, a tiny movement as if chiding herself. “If you waited to look us up until you felt like you had something to show for yourself, getting clean? Great idea. But rejoining the band? You want me to believe you’re going to stay sober when you’re invited back into that lifestyle?”
“It’s been a year. I found God. I have accountability. Awestruck is a good job—”
“Good? Fame and money have never beengoodfor you.” Nadia slid to the end of the booth, pulling her purse behind her. She rose, paused to study him with worried eyes. “Axel has been loved every day of his life. He’s never missed out on a single thing.”
Except Matt. But maybe that hadn’t been missing out at all.
“I’m not going to upset his whole life just so he can watch you crash and burn.” Nadia studied him, daring him to disagree with her prediction.
Could he? He’d failed so many times.
With a nod, Nadia turned and left.
28
Lina felt like a bobblehead doll teetering on the edge of a cliff as she nodded at her boss’s instructions on Monday morning. She’d accessed Awestruck’s brand management team meeting from the quiet of Key of Hope, where the first lesson wouldn’t occur until after school. Normally, she enjoyed the interaction with the far-flung Awestruck team, but this time, conversation had centered around Matt.
He’d said they didn’t have a future, and her already-off-kilter heart would fall—and not in a good, lovesick way—if she had to listen to him repeat the rejection. She’d hoped to avoid him.
“We need to get posts up as soon as possible.” Though it was impossible to tell which person Kim looked at as she spoke, social media posts were Lina’s responsibility.
She nodded again. Because the press release and photos of the guys’ celebratory dinner were circulating, the band’s accounts needed to reflect the new addition as well.
“The photographer will shadow them next week, so we’ll have a nice library to pull from after that. In the meantime, Lina, can you stop by the studio and take a few to start with?”
Her neck ached as she nodded again. Hanging out in the studio and writing posts to celebrate his return to the band sounded about as safe for her emotional wellbeing as swimming in Lake Superior during a windstorm, when twenty-five-foot waves could crash down on her.
But it had to be done.
Stuck at Gannon and Adeline’s until the special-order cameras and sensors could be installed at her house—tomorrow, thank goodness—Lina couldn’t very well object to a detour down the hall to get the photos.
Kim tapped a pen to her lips as she looked down, presumably reading notes. “While you’re at it, his personal account could use your help.”
A fake smile stretched Lina’s lips. She helped Gannon and John, so it was only fair she’d assist Matt. Hopefully, no one would mention to him that she basically maintained John’s online presence for him.
When the meeting wound down, she signed off and scrolled through the list of to-do’s relating to Matt. Topics for him to post about shouldn’t be hard to brainstorm. Sobriety, music, and … tractor stunts?
