After a brief second, Willow nods and lists off Emily’s cell number. I type it into my phone and rise to my feet. “I’ll be quick. Are you hungry?”
She shakes her head, but I silently question how much she’s been eating just to save money. I motion to a young employee at a table.
“Can you get her a muffin from the front?”
He sets down his sandwich. “Sure thing.” And then he exits. I disappear into the employee bathroom, locking the door behind me. It’s a single stall, so it’s not like I’m taking away five toilets from the staff.
My hands shake, and I don’t end up calling Emily first. I dial another number instead.
{ 59 }
LOREN HALE
Still in the employee bathroom, Lily’s eyes widen the longer I rehash everything that’s happened. She hangs onto my belt loops and stares up at me like I’m sharing the plot to a new Marvel movie.
“No way,” she says when I finish.
“Yes way.” I rest my elbow on the sink. “Now I have to call her mom—my mom.” It’s weird to say, especially since Emily doesn’t really consider me her son.
I called Lily to the bathroom because I want to do this with her. I feel stronger when she’s around. Maybe it’s her expression, the way she stares at me, like I can do anything without falter.
“I want to do this fast,” I tell her, the phone heavy in my hand. Ryke has Moffy in the break room, and while I love my brother, he’s never been alone with my kid without Daisy present.
Lily peers at the phone. “Are you going to press the button?”
My finger hovers over the green call sign, and I hesitate to make this real. “You do it.”
Like she’s touching fire, she quickly taps the screen and scuttles closer to me. I put it on speaker so she can listen too.
The phone rings four times; I think she’s not going to answer. On the fifth one, it clicks. And my pulse races, my forehead beading with sweat.
“Hello?” she says.
“Hi…” I clear my sandpapered throat. “This is Loren Hale. Before you hang up, I need to seriously talk to you. Willow is here…” I blank on what else to say. I look to Lily, and she flashes me an encouraging smile.
“Is she okay?” Emily asks, her tone high-pitched with worry.
“She’s angry and broke, but besides that, she’s doing great.” I can’t restrain the edge in my voice, and I just pray she stays on the line with me.
Emily speaks frantically, “I just called her yesterday, and she said that she had enough money. I’ve been trying to convince her to come back. But I can’t leave work, and I didn’t want the police involved.”
“You should’ve called me and said that she was here,” I retort. “I would’ve seen her the minute she drove out to Philly.”
Emily goes quiet, her voice no louder than a whisper as she says, “That wasn’t an option for me. I don’t want the media to know about my attachment to the Hales.”
I realize that she didn’t want to call me. Never wanted to speak to me again. Not even for this. I cringe and grip the sink with white knuckles.
Lily wraps her arms around my waist, and her warmth eases the tension in my chest.
“I can fly you out this weekend,” I tell her. “You should talk to Willow, face-to-face, and then maybe she’ll return home with you.”
“She’s not going to want to come back,” Emily whispers. “She just learned that her half-brother is famous.”
I glare at the ceiling. “It’s not about that.” If she saw the pain in Willow’s features, she’d understand that it’s deeper. It’s about struggling to face a person who’s caused you agony. Hating that parts of your life were shadowed with uncertainty and doubt.
If this was about celebrity and fame, she wouldn’t have cried about her mom.
“And if she doesn’t come home, I’ll be right.”
“You won’t,” I snap back. “If she doesn’t want to come home, it’s because she still can’t stomach living with you.” I realize how harsh that sounds and so I add, “I’m sorry, but it’s the truth.”
“You don’t even know her,” Emily retorts defensively.
“You’re right, but I’ve been in her situation before.” I spent ninety days in rehab away from my father. When I returned, I began thinking about restarting a relationship with him. But I needed that space. What’s different here—Willow is in high school. She’s not a legal adult yet. “Let me fly you out,” I try again. “You can talk to her and go from there.”
After a long pause, she says, “I can only take off one day from work, if that.”
“You’ll be in and out of Philly within the day then,” I tell her.
She contemplates this option for another second. “Okay. I’ll text you my email.” And then she hangs up on me.
I pocket my phone.
“Lo,” Lily breathes, her fingers hooking on my belt loops again. “I want to apologize for her meanness to you, but I don’t know how.”
“You just did, love,” I whisper, kissing her temple. And then I take a deeper breath and kiss her outside the lips. It feels good, having Lily this close. I press her small body up against my hard chest. Her ribcage rises and falls in a sporadic, aroused motion. I’m careful not to build her up too much, but I just really want to kiss her here…
My lips meet hers, connecting our bodies on another level entirely. My hand disappears in her hair, and my tongue slides against hers. She moans and trembles, and I restrain myself from pushing harder—lifting her around my waist. I can’t right now.
My lips break from hers and then brush her ear. “Later.”
She nods in acceptance, and I scan her body for signs that she can handle not going further. She’s flushed, but she’s not crossing her ankles.
“I’m okay,” she tells me.
“Do I need to check?” I ask seriously, my eyes traveling to her zipper.
“I’m already wet, but not soaked.” She nods again, this time adamantly. Though she reddens even more.
I smile. “I love you, Lil.” I wrap my arm around her shoulder.
“I love you too, Loren Hale.”
I feign surprise. “You love me? Holy shit.”
She punches my arm playfully, and I hug her close as we leave the bathroom. The minute we exit, we both halt in place at the same time.
In front of the couch on the carpet, Ryke sits beside Maximoff who rattles a comic book like it’s a damn maraca. While my brother plays with him, my son chews on the corner of Young Avengers. I notice Willow picking at a muffin on the couch, hugging the armrest.
“Close your eyes,” Lily whisper-hisses and practically catapults her body at me to shield my sight from our son desecrating a comic book.
“It’s too late, Lil. I’ve seen it.”
But she climbs up my back, and I hold her by the legs. Her fingers barely cover my eyes. “You didn’t see anything,” she repeats like she can hypnotize me.
And then I hear the sound of paper tearing from the spine. “Ryke,” I groan. “I blame you for this.”
“He’s not even crying right now. I’m doing a fantastic fucking job.” The fuck-and-punch tactic to eliminate cursing barely lasted. Ryke just grew more pissy, and I hated punching him every two seconds. At first, it was fun. Then it just became exhausting.
But if Janie or Moffy’s first word is “fuck”—he owes Connor and me, big time.
“You gave him a comic book, and he can’t even read yet.”
“He’s starting early then,” Ryke says. “Maybe you should’ve given me his diaper bag or something.”
Lily drops her hand. “We’re in a store with tons of toys on the walls. You could’ve taken a Green Goblin action figure.”
I add, “Or Wolverine, Black Widow, Hulk, Spider-Man—”
“For fuck’s sake, okay. I got it.” He pries the defiled comic book out of Moffy’s clutch and then lifts the baby in his arms. Moffy laughs, like a giggle. My lips rise. My brother’s not too bad wi
th my kid.
“You should babysit more often.”
“Fucking hilarious,” he curses, passing me Maximoff while Lily slides off my back, her feet thudding to the floor.
That’s when I reroute my mind to the serious topic. Willow has already finished eating, and she straightens up as soon as I focus on her.
“Your mom is going to fly out this weekend to talk with you. Until then, you can either stay with us in a guest room or at a hotel. I’ll pay for the expense, no problem.”
“A hotel works,” she says. “I don’t want to…impose any more than I already have.”
Moffy squirms and kicks out, and Lily thankfully takes him from me so I can concentrate. “If you change your mind, the invite is always open.” Before she interjects, I ask, “How old are you, by the way?”
“Seventeen.”
“That’s what I thought.” I think about this for a second. “You know, Daisy is pretty close to your age.”
Ryke shoots me a look like that better not be a slight at me. It wasn’t one.
I continue, “She’d probably love showing you around Philly. Is this your first time here?”
“Yeah, but…” Willow nervously rises to her feet since we’re all standing. She holds the strap of her backpack like it’s her lifeline. “I’m not sure she’d like me. I mean, I don’t like motorcycles and…other stuff like that.” She avoids Ryke’s gaze. We all have reputations that circulate in the media, and so I’m guessing that’s all she knows about us.
“Neither do I,” Lily says. “They’re terrifying.”
“You haven’t even ridden one,” Ryke retorts.
“Because they’re terrifying,” Lily notes.
Willow’s shoulders slacken. “Yeah, same. I’ve never been on one, but I’m scared too.”
Lily brightens when Willow agrees with her, and she points a finger at Ryke. “Ha!” Moffy gurgles like he’s trying to mimic that sound, but it’s incoherent baby talk.
Ryke says to Willow, “Daisy won’t care if you’re not into bikes. She’d honestly do anything you want.”
“I’ll take off work some days this week too,” I tell Willow. It’s the one good thing about being the CEO of a company. I have the luxury to make my own hours, but even if I neglect Halway Comics some, I can’t ditch Hale Co. meetings. I’m still competing for the title against my brother.
After the charity event, only three board members thought Daisy would be a good fit for the job. Irene has more sway and convinced everyone that Daisy was too young.
“Okay then,” Willow says. “…where do we start?”
“How about lunch?” I ask.
Everyone voices their approval like they’re starving, and I wait for Willow to say something. Her glasses mist with tears again.
“Thank you,” she says beneath her breath.
Ryke has been a great big brother to me. And if I can pay it forward and do the same for her, I’ll try my hardest. I may not be the best at anything, but I can be better than mediocre.
{ 60 }
LILY CALLOWAY
Lo stays inside of me for an extended minute or two, and I didn’t even have to ask. Sweat gleams on my skin as I lie beneath the weight of his toned body. Even as I come down from an epic climax, I ache for one more. Per the usual.
But I’ve learned to wait until tomorrow or the morning. Compulsive, needy Lily is put to rest, somewhere far, far away. In a dystopian land before this peaceful place.
I stare at Lo’s beautiful pink lips. Mine still sting, and it’s like I can feel him on me, even though we’re a breath apart.
Kiss me. I realize that I actually say it aloud when his lips touch mine in a gentle, tender kiss. When he pulls out, he props his body next to mine and combs my damp hair off my forehead.
“October tenth,” he says the date with a growing smile.
I’ve yet to fully believe that we’re going to be married sometime soon. Less than a month away. “Are you sure you don’t want to postpone?”
His smile vanishes instantly, and I regret even asking.
I sit up and clutch the red sheet to my chest. “It’s just that the board members are choosing a CEO on October first, and…” I trail off at the sight of his sharp jawline.
“If you want to pick another date, that’s fine, Lil, but I don’t want your reasoning to be about my emotional stability. I’ve been ready to marry you since I was seven years old, in case you forgot.” He flashes that half-smile that somehow draws me closer to him, not further away.
I easily straddle his waist while he sits up and rests against the headboard. Without saying anything, I plant both of my palms on his defined abs, watching them rise and fall with his body. “I love October tenth,” I whisper. We chose the date spontaneously, while we were cooking tacos for the house. It felt right. It still does, but doubt likes to creep in and destroy all good things.
He holds my face in a comforting hand. “That day isn’t going to be tainted by anything, love. I know you can’t believe that yet, but you’re going to see it.”
It seems like a dream. I kiss his sharp jaw quickly, and he kisses back even faster on the lips. I smile, my body heating all over again. I grind against him, and a deep noise escapes his throat.
He pulls back once and says, “Are you sure on lavender and cranberry?”
Those are the colors we chose for our fall wedding. I nod wildly, my eyes only on his lips. He tilts my chin up with two fingers, and I melt into his intense amber irises.
“Because I sent the maid of honor all the details, and she freaked when I changed the dinner menu yesterday.”
Rose doesn’t like messing with the set plan, but she’s been really relaxed as far as offering her opinion. She just suggests certain things. Like lisianthus as the flowers, a deep purple bouquet. I didn’t even know what that flower was, let alone how to pronounce it. She handed me a bundle of them a week ago, and I knew. It was perfect.
“No more changes,” I tell him. “I like everything we picked.” At first, we went formal with the reception menu: bite-sized entrees of lamb and scallops. Then we realized that we’re only inviting family, and we’d rather eat what we like. So everyone will be served five-star chicken, shrimp, and fish tacos, margaritas, and taquitos.
It’s like it was always meant to be this way, but it just took some time to reach this place.
Lo’s smile returns. “So do I.” He leans in to kiss me again, but his phone buzzes on the mattress. He frowns at the caller ID, lines creasing his forehead.
“Who is it?” I try to crane my neck and catch a peek.
“The hospital.” Oh. They must have his test results back. It’s only eight p.m., so it’s not too late for them to call. Lo licks his lips and then presses the cell to his ear. “Hello?”
His reaction is like an incoming wave. I know it’ll crash against me. I just wait and wait for it, wondering how strong the impact will be or if the tide will sweep us both. His lips downturn, and his chest stops falling as he holds his breath.
One of his hands stays on the small of my back, even as he says, “I understand. Thanks.” And then he clicks off the phone.
“And?” I ask. But I read his eyes as they rise to me, the sadness behind them. “You can’t donate.”
“My liver isn’t healthy enough. My dad was right.” He rests his head back and lets out a pained laugh. “My dad is going to die, and there’s nothing I can do.” I hug him and he hugs me just as tightly. I wish I could donate. I would, but I had my blood type tested. I’m not even close to being a match.
“I have to text Ryke,” Lo breathes.
“What are you going to say?” Clung together, I watch him use one hand to type a message.
It’s sweet, and tears begin to build with each word that he texts his brother.
Just got the news. I can’t donate. Please don’t feel obligated to do it. I love you no matter what.
He presses send. “There,” he whispers. “It’s over.” He holds me. “You
and me and Maximoff, we’re going to make new beginnings.”
I add, “With no sad endings.”
His smile lights up his face. I love that it returned one more time. “No sad endings, love. Those aren’t meant for us.”
Good. I’m ready for a happy one.
{ 61 }
LILY CALLOWAY
“Someone needs to spank him twenty-six times—not me,” I clarify quickly. “I’m not touching Ryke’s butt.” September 19th marks his birthday. We’re all on the back patio, grilling barbecue, while Ryke grumpily slouches in an iron chair next to me.
He’s said four words all day. Two of them were “fuck” and the other two were “off.” He’s been sullen since Lo received the news from the hospital. A lot weighs on his mind.
“I’ll do it,” Lo offers. He threateningly waves a greasy spatula back and forth. “Turn around, bro.”
Ryke shoots him the middle finger, unamused. Lo scowls at his brother and shakes his head. They’re both frustrated for different reasons.
The cool evening air chills my cheeks, the sun disappeared for the night. I adjust my white fuzzy Wampa cap on my head, and then I tug the flaps of a mini-Wampa cap over Maximoff’s ears. Rose sewed the Star Wars one for Moffy, and his cuteness has now broken all cute scales. He sleeps on my thighs, all bundled in a red Marvel blanket.
Rose has Jane snuggled against her chest, beneath a black fur coat, asleep too. Beside the grill, Connor sips wine, and I sometimes catch him observing his wife and daughter with this reverent smile, like he treasures this moment and them.
Daisy wags her brows. “I can spank Ryke later.” In one swift sentence, she deflects the attention off of Ryke’s moodiness. Since they’ve been together for a little under a year, the comment is not as awkward as it otherwise could be. She sits behind Ryke, on the table, running her fingers through his thick hair. He has one hand on her leg that drapes over his chest.
The only time he looks like he’s semi-enjoying himself is when Daisy distracts him. I’ve seen her lean over and he’ll grip the back of her neck for an upside-down kiss. Five minutes ago, I even tweeted a picture of that kiss (with Daisy’s approval) with the caption: #Raisy is alive!
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