Page 138 of Chasing Lyric
I exhale, finish up, then move over to the sink to wash my hands. I stare into the massive mirror and murmur, “She doesn’t want this life, Chase. You have to remember that. You can give her what she wants, what she needs, without all…this.”I wave my hands around the room like an idiot.
Then I find my calm and straighten out my shirt.
I’ve got this.
I turn, walking for the exit, but when I open it, Annie’s standing there, her arm up against the doorframe, blocking my exit. I come to an abrupt halt as I take her in.
Her eyes run over me as she grins a little too salaciously. “Giving yourself a pep talk in there, Chase? Think you’re not good enough for my baby girl?” she asks, stepping inside the bathroom and forcing me to take a step back.
I stand taller. “I think I’mexactlyright for Lyri,” I tell her honestly.
She steps closer to me again, but I don’t want to give off any chicken-shit vibes, so I stand my ground. The woman inches right up in front of me, staring into my eyes. “You think she gets her good looks from her mother?”
There’s no right answer to that question.
“I think Lyri’s stunning. She has a great gene pool frombothher parents.”
Her hand comes up, trailing down my chest. “Are you saying I have good genes, Chase?”
I fix my gaze on her. “I’m saying your entire family is blessed by their appearance. But Lyri is theonlyone I have my eyes firmly set on.”
She leans in closer, and this time I take a step back. The awkwardness between us becomes a little unbearable. “What if another has their eyes on you?”
I jerk my head back, widening my eyes. “Well, it wouldn’t be an issue because, as I said, my eyes are firmly set on Lyri. Just like I assume yours are firmly on Stylo…your husband?”
She edges closer again. Inwardly, I groan as her eyes focus on my crotch.Fuck me,she’s not even trying to hide it now.“Stylo and I have an…arrangement.”
I let out a loud laugh, more from shock than anything. “Well, I’m sorry, Annie, but your arrangement doesnotinvolve me. I love Lyri, and this shit… this isfucking inappropriate!” I push past her, and she doesn’t stop me as I make my way back down to the dining room.
What in the fucking fuck was that?
Lyric’s mother just tried to seduce me! That’s what that was.
What in the hell am I going to do about it?
I knew from the moment we arrived that there was something off about her. The way she treated Lyric, but still, there’s no way she could ever think I’d cheat. I don’t know what kind of arrangement she and Stylo have, but it’snotthe kind of relationship I want to have with their daughter.
Their life is rock and roll and all the crap that goes with it.
Ours isn’t.
It’s as simple as that.
I storm back into the room, feeling like my footsteps are heavier than they should be for someone trying to be inconspicuous. Lyric’s concern crosses her features as I take a seat, folding my arms over my chest in annoyance.
“You okay?” Lyric asks, her brows furrowing as she looks me over.
I grunt in response before Annie saunters back into the room as if nothing untoward has just happened. “Who’s ready for dessert?” she calls out.
“Is it the family favorite?” Aria asks.
“Of course,” Annie replies as she heads off to the kitchen.
I need to calm myself down and act like nothing’s happened until I can figure out a way to tell Lyric what did happen in private. “Family favorite?” I ask quietly.
“Banana caramel pie. My gran used to make it for us all,” Lyric answers, hesitation in her tone.
She knows something is off.
