Total pages in book: 103
Estimated words: 103008 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 515(@200wpm)___ 412(@250wpm)___ 343(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 103008 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 515(@200wpm)___ 412(@250wpm)___ 343(@300wpm)
He chews his bottom lip. “Good or bad.”
“Just know, no matter what, I’ve got it, okay? I can handle anything this guy throws our way.”
Harley gives a small nod.
I hit Trav’s number on my phone, and it connects to the Bluetooth.
“His bank transactions show he’s still in the LA area, but we still haven’t found him,” he answers.
Harley’s eyes widen. Fucking great. Yeah, maybe this is a reason I shouldn’t have let him listen.
“Harley’s here with me,” I say.
Harley glares at me in warning.
“What?” I play innocent. “It’s rude to have people on speaker without letting them know who’s in the room.”
“Uh … Right,” Trav says cautiously. “Was that all?”
“No.” I update him on the hotel situation and about being overly cautious.
“Go to the ranch. It’s far, but no one can follow you out there. Unless you’ve got a tail. Do you have a tail?”
“Not that I can tell, but I’ll keep an eye out.”
“We’ll keep looking for Webber. Did you check out at the hotel?”
“Not yet. I was going to call Gideon to handle it.”
“I’ll go. I want to look at their security footage and see who delivered the food.”
Harley looks sick again, his skin paling.
“Thanks,” I mutter.
“Hang in there, Harley.” Trav ends the call.
I shift lanes and head for the desert.
Harley looks out the window and remains quiet for a long time. Soft music plays on the radio, but it’s not until one of Harley’s songs comes on that he speaks.
“How did this become my life? Here I am, on the radio, singing this misguided song about happiness when in reality, I’m running and hiding from a potential crazy person who wants to hurt me because … why? Because I embarrassed him? Rejected him? Because he was convicted? What does Billy Webber want from me?”
I wish I had a better answer for him. “There are a lot of psychos out there. It’s surprising this is the first time something like this has happened considering how famous you are.”
“I’m beginning to wonder if it’s worth it.”
“Fame?”
“I love performing, and I love music, but all this”—he waves his hand around—“destroys the love I once had for the job. When I’m not fighting with the label, I’m hiding from fans. I can’t remember the last time it fulfilled me. Probably back in the early Eleven days before fame got to our heads.”
“Maybe when all this dies down, you should call the guys and get together.”
Harley huffs. “Yeah, like that’s ever going to happen. I’ve barely heard from them since we split. Especially Blake and Mason.”
“Maybe you should make the effort. You’re arguably the most successful.”
“Except, is that true? I have the Grammys they don’t, I have the successful album, but what do I have to show for it? I’m fighting with the label, my next album might not even happen with how long they’re taking to make a decision after my ultimatum, and I’m …” He looks over at me. “I’ll be alone. Eventually.”
“Is that what you really think? Even after the last few days?”
Harley turns and stares out the window. “I don’t know what to think anymore. I don’t expect you to lay your whole life out for me right away, but …”
As if being given a sign by a deity I’ve never believed in, the literal sign for the San Bernardino exit appears, and my fingers itch to take it.
I promised Harley I’d give him more of me. Yet, here he is still doubting my commitment to him.
This might not be the most ideal time to do it, but I also can’t think of a better way to show Harley how serious I am and to distract him from this mess for a while.
“Detour.”
When I pull off the freeway, Harley turns around in his seat to stare out the rear window. “Are we being followed?”
“No.”
“Then where are we going?”
I glance at him out of the corner of my eye. “Somewhere I should’ve told you about a long time ago.”
I just wish I could’ve given warning.
The care facility isn’t far from the exit, and it only takes those few minutes for panic to set in.
I don’t know how he’ll react when I introduce him to Harley. I don’t know if he’ll immediately know how head over heels I am for my pop star boyfriend.
I don’t know if this will be the final nail in his coffin.
The last time I tried to come out to him, this happened.
“Nevaeh Care Facility,” Harley says. “Wait, is this …” His gaze flies to mine.
I turn into a parking space and grip the steering wheel hard. “Harley, I want you to meet my dad.”
I hold my breath.
“D-dad?” Harley asks.
I can tell he’s confused. It’s habit to talk about my dad in the past tense, as if he’s dead instead of the truth which is he’s trapped inside a body that doesn’t work.