Page 84 of Chasing Lyric
“I lied about that too,” I admit quietly, my voice scraping over the knot in my throat. “Said I met Rip by living with him in a really small house in LA.”
Dax lets out a low, disbelieving laugh, like he can’t help himself. “Small house? More like a big house, bro. You need to figure out what the hell you want to do, because if you want Lyric, which, judging by those sad-ass puppy dog eyes, you clearly do, then you gotta come clean. About everything. And dude, I can tell you, if you think she’s angry now, wait until you tell her you’re a convicted felon.”
His words slice through me. My spine bends like I’ve taken a hit, but all the strength I try to summon slips through my fingers. My heart pounds out of rhythm, like it’s trying to escape my chest, like it knows I’m seconds away from losing her forever. My breathing picks up, and the heat of panic creeps up my neck, clinging to my skin like sweat.
The walls are closing in, and I feel like I’m trapped.
My thoughts keep repeating.
She trusted me.
She let me in.
And I built the whole damn thing on a foundation of lies.
Every moment we shared, every laugh, every kiss—it’s all tainted now. She’ll look back and wonder what was real and what wasn’t. And the truth is, I don’t even know how to separate the two anymore.
I press the heel of my hand to my forehead, trying to push the pressure away and clear the fog closing in around me, but it doesn’t help. It never does. The guilt is coiled so tightly inside me that I can barely think around it.
“I gotta get out of here,” I whisper, barely hearing my own voice over the roar of dread inside my mind.
Because if I stay, I’ll crack.
“Dax, I have to find her. I need to fix this!” Because if I don’t, I’m going to lose the only thing in my life that has ever feltright.
Dax bends down, swooping up his leather jacket, and hurries after me as I open the door. The summer air smacks me in the face as I step outside and start walking at a fast pace. I don’t know where I’m going. My car’s in the opposite direction, and I should be in it with Lyric, taking her home.
I’m angry.
At myself.
At Dad.
At Lyric, even, for not waiting to hear me out.
I’m mad at this whole fucked-up situation.
I finally found a woman I could see a future with, a woman worth spending my life with, and I went and fucked it up royally.
Dax keeps his stride with mine, even though I know I’m storming the streets like a madman. He says nothing, just walks with me, letting me cool off.
Suddenly, I stop, turning around to face him. My hand runs through my hair. “Why the fuck would Dad come here?”I yell in frustration. “I mean… what the hell did he want, anyway? He showed up, saw Lyri singing, then he blasted me about wanting me to sign her.” My hands flail about like a maniac. “It doesn’t make any fucking sense?”
Dax cracks his neck to the side. “He said he tracked your cell.”
“Yeah, but fucking why? He obviously wanted me, or both of us, for something? But it was all forgotten once he arrived.”
Dax shrugs. “Don’t strain your brain trying to think about what that man does. No one can figure out how he ticks, Chase.Youof all people should know that.”
I let out a long breath and start walking again, but this time back in the direction of my car.
I have to go to her.
I need to see if I can salvage this.
I need to talk to her.
I need to tell herevery damn thing.
