bathroom.
“Why do you need Chloe Adams phone number, Michael?”
“That’s not really any of your concern. I just need it.”
Lila lifted a brow. “I’m sorry, but I’m not the phone book. Next time, try information.” She glanced around the table. “I’ll see all of you on Wednesday before rehearsal for Friday’s show. I hope to have information on Malachi by then.”
“Good fucking luck,” Michael muttered, circling his temple.
“Excuse me?”
“You heard me. For years, you’ve had no interest in Mal’s whereabouts, now he’s just supposed to tapdance to your tune? Not going to happen. And you know what? I don’t blame him.”
Lila’s mouth pinched tight and she averted her gaze. Hurting her was the last thing he wanted to do, yet he kept doing it.
When all this insanity was over, he’d have one hell of a long list of things to apologize for. He just hoped she understood.
What, that you’re being an insensitive jerk because you’re dealing with problems of your own making? Good luck with that mansplaining, son.
What had transpired between them so far wasn’t even the worst of it. He had to tell her he was married, before the press found out. He didn’t even know how they figured out some of the crap they did, but the increased attention on him lately because of Tabitha and Senator Dickless—err, Dinkles—had put him in the spotlight. Who knows when they’d grab hold of the story?
Lila deserved to know first. And of course, some PR fielding would be much appreciated.
So yeah, he was a dick. Being rude to the woman who’d been nothing but wonderful to him for half his life—along with often being overbearing and too overprotective, but hey, that’s what parents did—was no bueno. Then he thought he had a right to ask her for help with spin?
Yes, he was an ass. A supreme, desperate ass.
“Can you guys leave us alone, please?” he asked his bandmates.
They’d all been in the process of rising and moving away from the table anyway, but Michael’s sharp retort had rooted them in place like witnesses to a horrific accident. No way were they voluntarily looking away anytime soon.
Everyone looked at Lila. She was the one who dismissed the meetings, not Michael.
Her thin smile made another reappearance. “Go ahead. Thanks, everyone. Great job last night. See you all next week.”
One by one, they all filed out of the booth. Ryan clapped his hand on Michael’s shoulder as he went, as did West. At least his boys were supporting him.
Whatever good that would do in his cyclone of shit, he didn’t know.
Once they’d all taken off, Lila stared him dead in the eye. “Let’s get something straight, shall we?”
He nodded miserably. Sure. Whatever. He obviously had no clue how to run his own life, so why not let her give him a colossal smackdown? Clearly, he deserved it.
“You’re my son. You may not believe that, or see things the same way, but in here, you’re mine.” She rubbed her chest and he averted his gaze.
If she’d punched him in his sore head, he wouldn’t have ached half as much.
“You know I do. I feel the same. It’s just I can’t deal with the guilt and the lectures and everything lately. It’s all too much.”
“You didn’t let me finish.”
Stiffly, he nodded.
“But when we’re on the job, as we were two minutes ago, you will respect me. What I said to Ricki—Elle applies to you too. Personal business has no room to interfere here.”
“I get that. But you hate Chloe. If I’d asked for anyone else’s number, you wouldn’t have blinked. So you can’t really talk about not bringing personal stuff up while we’re at work.”
She pursed her lips. “I don’t hate her. I have no reason to. She just makes me wary, and whatever your reasons for contacting her, I’d advise you to tread carefully. The man she nearly married tried to bring down Oblivion, Michael. He made all kinds of wild claims that they’d stolen his songs and bilked him out of money he was rightfully entitled to. She had a past with Nick too and she—”
“What kind of past?” he asked sharply. “I mean, I know they were hugging in those stupid pictures the PI took, but I thought they were just old friends.”
“Old friends, yes.” The careful tone of her voice let him know she wasn’t telling him everything. As always.
“Old friends who once were involved?” he pressed.
“It doesn’t matter. It was a long time ago, and she ended up with Snake. Nick feels