Page 58 of Pretty Black

The whole room turned towards Lowe.

“Which one?” Aspen asked.

“I Wish You The Best,” Lowe replied, smug as fuck.

“Is he going to care you told us?” I asked as Aspen flipped to their song, playing it for all of us.

“You didn’t ask me that about Iris?” I laughed, picking up things in Saint’s voice I hadn’t before. I wouldn’t be able to unhear this one either.

“He’s your band member. If he doesn’t want all of you knowing, he shouldn’t have put it on the record,” Aspen laughed.

The guys agreed with him, and I rolled my eyes.

“I’m going to tell Iris you said that about his music.”

That brought on more laughing.

“But you better never fucking do that to my music.” Aspen pointed at his brother.

“I’m not the singer, big bro. It would be you doing it.” Kingsley stared at him, and then they both devolved into laughter.

“Fair,” Aspen said at length. “I’m not sure I could get anyone to go for it.”

My phone rang on the coffee table, and I held up my hand to silence the room. “Wait, this might be the lawyer.” I picked my phone up, and seeing that it was, I answered, “Hello?”

“Mr. Locke?”

“Yes?”

“Good evening. I’m an associate at St. Clair, Goldman, and Ackley. I’m calling about the update you’ve been waiting for.”

“Yes, thank you.” I held my breath and squeezed my phone tighter.

“Mr. St. Clair was able to secure the change in proxy to himself and you. You should be allowed to visit Mr. Black beginning tomorrow. Do you have any other questions?”

“No. Thank you so much.”

The entire room stared at me as I set the phone back down.

“We got his proxy changed.”

They erupted in cheers and happiness, and I smiled as I sunk into the sofa.

Relief and sadness flooded through me. I wanted to see Iris more than anything, but I was scared to face the reality of what this might do to him again.

* * *

I didn’t sleep, and I doubt Iris did, either.

Why did I feel like I had butterflies in my stomach?

What if he didn’t want to see me?

I felt like I’d slipped back in time as I approached the visitor’s desk for a second day in a row, expecting to be turned down.

“To see Mr. Black?” the girl at the desk asked.

“Yes.” I guess we were subtle. I made a mental note to check the gossip sites later to see if there was chatter about it or us. I could only imagine Iris was trending everywhere.

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