Melody & Styx - Anne Mercier Page 0,9

we do anything like that."

She perks up. "So there's hope?"

I shake my head. "Nope. No kids. Maybe marriage. We'll discuss it someday."

"What happens if you run out of 'somedays'?" Stephanie asks.

I shrug. "If Trace passes before me, he'll never doubt my love for him. Marriage isn't really needed."

"Same," Trace agrees.

"But—" Stephanie begins.

"Stephanie," Tim chides gently, resting his hand on top of hers. "They're adults. Let them make their own choices. I have no complaints about how Trace has lived his life so far."

I smile, nearly preening under Tim's praise.

"Thanks, Dad."

Tim smiles at Trace in that manly sort of way that makes me happy to be part of this family.

"Well," Stephanie begins looking at me with a small smile, "You can still call me Mom."

I smile back. "I'd be happy to. Mom."

And just that easy, we came out of the marriage and kids debate unscathed. God bless Governor Stanton and his diplomacy.

6

Trace

As we get ready to fly back to the States, we finally turn on our phones. Both our voicemails are full. We have a million and one texts and missed phone calls, the majority of them from La Famiglia.

I send my dad a text telling him we need to talk when Meg and I get there. He and Mom already called after what Meg and I have deemed "The Incident," and I eased their worries, but I didn't tell them the whole story. Mom would lose it, but I know I can talk to Dad about it.

I know what I want to do. I know what Meg wants to do. Are we being hasty in making this decision? I honestly don't think we are. We want more from the band than what's going down, and we don't want the violence.

Meg and I are chill, and that's the kind of life we're looking for.

"Meg," I interrupt her daydreaming.

"Hmm?" She turns to meet my gaze.

"You ready for the one-day pitstop in L.A. before we head to my parents'?"

She sighs. "Yeah. They agree to the time and place?"

I nod.

"Good. This won't be easy."

"No, it won't. But it's necessary," I remind her.

"I know. I just hate change. I am not a fan at all of quitting. I worry I might regret it," she looks at me again. "We don't have anything planned, you know?"

"I get it. But we're set with money, and we can take our time figuring out who we want to make some music with." I wrap an arm around her. "I want you to be happy again, Meg. I miss your bounces."

She rests her head on my shoulder. "I'm just sad. Disappointed. Resigned to what has to be done. If I'm honest, I'm more than a little angry still."

"Hopefully we can resolve all of that with this meeting." I really fucking hope so, because I need to get rid of all the fucked-up feelings and so does Meg. The only way we can do that is to purge—and that's what the meeting is for.

7

Meggie

Two Days Later

We walk into Nichols Records a good twenty minutes early and are immediately taken to one of the conference rooms by Cage's ever-efficient assistant, Marta. Her expression gives nothing away about how "The Incident" has affected things around here.

"Coffee? Water?" Marta offers.

I hold up my Starbucks cup. "I'm good, thanks. Trace?"

Trace taps his Starbucks cup. "I'm fine, thanks. Dad?"

The Governor holds up his Starbucks cup, "All good, thank you."

Marta nods. "Of course. If you need anything, just press the button."

When she leaves the room I snicker. "I don't think she was expecting to see you, Governor."

"Meg, I thought I asked you to call me Dad," he replies. I flush.

"Dad."

Now Trace's dad grins. "I do like the sound of that."

Trace frowns. "Don't start."

Tim holds up his hands. "Not me. That's your mom's thing."

"What does she think about all of this?" I ask.

The Gov—Dad, frowns. "She's not happy at all. Neither am I, as you know. She was worried sick."

"We called as soon as we could, Dad," I offer. It's not weird at all calling him Dad. I've been around them enough that they actually feel like in-laws.

"I know, I know. It's not your fault."

He pauses when we hear voices in the hall.

"This will be interesting," Trace mutters.

"I've got more than a few things to say," I announce.

"As do I," Dad adds. Governor Stanton in da house, y'all.

First one into the room is Lucy, followed by Jesse. Then there's Xander, Tera, Jace, Summer, Ben, Nicole, Ethan, Linc, and Kennedy. There are stiff smiles, but no hugs or warm