Page 98 of A Love Song for Dreamers

Annie and her dad are back on solid ground, and it seems I’m in his good graces,too.

I think he has finally appreciated what I learned a long time ago—Annie’s going to do whatever she wants, and she’ll probably crush it, too. I don’t need to protect her from theindustry.

If anything, we should protect the industry from her, as evidenced by the fact that she’s dragged a show from practically conception to previews—with her and me in the leading roles—in less than threeyears.

“Is everyone here?” she asks me. “What about your friend fromLondon?”

I invited a couple of guys I met on tour and stayed in touch with off and on. Annie’s been excited to meetthem.

There’s a knock at the door. “That must be him,” I tell her. “Apparently they don’t have clocks in theUK.”

I go to open it, expecting to see Harry’s tall, broadframe.

But instead of Harry, it’s a giant ice sculpture on a dolly with a uniformed deliveryman.

“Mr. Adams? Mr. King sends hisregards.”

The delivery guy wheels the sculpture in, and Annie has him put it in the center of our marble kitchenisland.

“What kind of a man sends an ice sculpture?” Rae muses,fascinated.

“Let me call him.” I go to our balcony, stepping out onto the long patio and hitting hisnumber.

He answers on the fourth ring. “Yeah.”

“It’s Tyler. What the hell happened? Are you coming to theparty?”

In truth, I don’t care so much about the party, but it’s odd of him to not do what he says hewill.

There’s a groan and some cursing, as if he bumped into something. “You haven’theard.”

His voice is so dead I’m worried. I google his name. “Jesus. Are youalright?”

I see page after page of articles on my real estate and entertainment mogul friend, and his girlfriend—now ex-girlfriend—going off the deep end after they brokeup.

“Swearing off women for life,” hevows.

“Hang in there. I’ll call youtomorrow.”

I click off, trying not to let worry set in. Harry wouldn’t have been at the helm of a massive empire without having his shit together. Hell, he’s one of the people who’s advice helped me get through life ontour.

I owe himone.

But for now, I push it from my mind and head back to the livingroom.

“Everything okay?” Annie asks when I rejoinher.

“Yeah, nothing to worry about.” I brush my lips across hercheek.

Glasses clink, and we all look up from where we’re standing to see Jax holding up his champagne and looking slightlyuncomfortable.

“This is a strange day. It would be normal to feel as if I have two children starting their lives.” We all look at the baby and Sophie, who’s swinging her legs on the couch. “But it feels as if four of my childrenare.”

Annie’s hand squeezes mine hard, and Iswallow.

“I’m blessed to have the people I have, and I don’t know what I’ve done to deserve it. But I know Tyler and Annie deserve eachother.”

By the end of the toast, Annie’s in tears and Haley’s smiling so broadly it looks as if it might crack herface.

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