Page 125 of How Good It Was (Excess All Areas 3)

“What do you mean when you say I can’t go?” Luke said, as Parker Moseley stood in his path to the hotel doors and a taxi.

“It’s a contractual obligation. There’s a financial penalty clause if you don’t go to the event.”

“Well, you can shove your penalty clause up your arse. You might have noticed I’m in the middle of a personal situation right now.”

Matt put a hand on Luke’s shoulder. “Moseley, we get it, we’ll be back. We’ll play again.”

“That won’t sit well with the people who have already made arrangements to be here today.”

Jase scoffed. “Here’s the part you are missing. Will needs Luke, and Luke needs us. It’s pretty fucking simple.”

“But surely this is a media problem. It’s not like this is a medical emergency. Couldn’t it wait another ten hours?”

“How much is the clause?” Alex asked.

“Fifty grand.”

Alex looked to Matt. “Done. Tell me where to send the check.”

Luke shook his head. “Guys, I can pay this.” He’d have to use the money from Willow, but something told him she wouldn’t care.

“Pretty sure we just made the decision as a band,” Ben said, picking up his bag and putting it over his shoulder.

Moseley held his hands out. “Look. Guys. You need to be there. You can’t be a no-show. Doesn’t she have any family of her own she could turn to until this afternoon?”

Ben stepped up to Moseley, a good foot taller than the guy. “With respect, you need to fuck off. She’s pregnant. She’s already had one scare. This whole fucking media circus is creating interest in who the fuck we are and the album. All publicity is good publicity, yeah? And as for family—family isn’t lines on a flow chart. You think we give a shit about whose mum or dad is or isn’t their own. If one of our own needs us, we’re there.”

“Fine. I’ll reschedule. But you are paying for any cancellation fees.”

“I don’t fucking care,” Luke said, heading for the cab.

Two more hours until he was on the plane.

Once in the cab, he looked at his phone. Then, his camera roll. All the times he’d caught Willow off guard. While she had all the perfect shots with perfect framing, he had ones that caught the real Willow. Makeup-less. Gazing out of the window. Smiling at something in that never-ending pile of female empowerment books. And all the outtakes of the ones she’d taken as a couple. When they were laughing, when he forgot they were filming and kissed her.

There was something he could do.

And he had two hours to figure out how to do it.

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