“You know it’s not that,” he says, ushering us to the door. “We need this, Bria. We’re so close to greatness. Can’t you taste it?”
Crew whips out his notebook. “Sweet, I like it.” He scribbles down some words, mumbling, “We’re so close to greatness, we can taste it.”
Liam laughs. “See? You’re inspired already. Now go and do what you do.”
Crew steps through the door, still jotting notes.
“Bria, hold up a sec,” Liam asks, holding me back. “Are you guys really okay?”
“I’m not sure what we are, Liam. But we’re good.”
“If you ever need to talk.”
I glance at Crew, standing next to my car. “You’ve known him a long time, haven’t you?”
“Since we were kids.”
“He says he’s fucked up.”
“I know.”
“Do you know why?”
Liam shuffles his feet. “Yeah.”
I lean against the wall. “But you’re not going to tell me.”
“Sorry. Bro code and all.”
“Was it bad?”
“Bria,” he warns.
“I like him. And I guess I’m asking if he’s—”
“Worth it?”
“I was going to say damaged. But yeah, that too.”
“I think he’s both. He’s damaged and worth it. If you’re asking for my advice, I’d say give him time. He’ll come around.”
“He won’t let me look in his notebook. I’ve shared some of my stuff with him, but he’s guarded about his.”
“You know better than anyone that songwriters bleed in their songs. There’s a lot of fucking blood on his pages, Bria.”
“That’s what I thought. Thanks, Liam.”
“There she is,” a large man says approaching the barn.
“Great,” Liam says, obviously less than pleased to see the man.
“Bria Cash, I presume,” he says, holding out a hand. “I’ve been wanting to meet you. Jeremy says you’re a real spitfire.”
Crew comes over and stands next to me. “This is Dirk, Liam’s uncle.”
“Oh. Nice to meet you, Mr—”
“Just Dirk. How are things going? I trust these boys are treating you right.”
Crew inches closer.
“Things are great,” I say. “I’m having the most fun.”
“Good.” He looks at my car. “Is this your ride?” He hands me his card. “Come by and see me, and we’ll see what we can do about getting you an upgrade. Unless you’re like our boy, Chris, and insist on driving an old piece of shit.”
“Her car runs fine, Dirk,” Liam says.
How would he know? He’s never been inside it. Why is he being so short with his uncle?
“Okay, then. But the offer stands. Liam, I know your aunt would love it if you brought your friends to dinner once in a while.”
“Sure thing,” he snarls.
“I’m sure your mom would like it, too.”
I think I see Liam cringe.
“Bye, Dirk,” he says and retreats into the barn.
Crew and I get in the car. “What’s with Liam? Seems as if he doesn’t like his uncle much.”
“He hates him.”
“But Dirk has pretty much funded the band.”
“You mean he’s controlled it. Kind of like he’s controlled Liam.”
“Controlled him? What does that mean?”
“Nothing.”
Crew scribbles in his notebook, ending our conversation.
I’m beginning to think there are a lot of secrets in this band.
Chapter Twenty
Crew
Seven years ago
The baby squirms beneath my hand.
“She likes it when you sing to her,” Abby says.
“I know he does.”
Abby thinks it’s a girl, while I’m convinced it’s a boy. We didn’t find out. We want to be surprised. The truth is I’d be happy with a daughter, especially if she gets all of Abby’s good qualities. Like her beautiful eyes, her sense of style, and her voice. I pray the baby inherits her amazing voice.
I sink back into the couch, and she lies on her back and puts her head in my lap. I continue to run my hand across her protruding belly.
She puts her hand on top of mine. “One more week ‘till I’m eighteen.”
“I know it’s been hard for you. Even more so lately.”
She laces our fingers together. “Sometimes I can’t believe we made it this long without anyone finding out. I have to stop myself from touching my stomach when she kicks. Do you know how hard that is? Don’t even get me started on the clothes. I haven’t been able to button my jeans for over two months. Even my yoga pants are getting too tight. It will be a relief when we don’t have to hide it anymore.”
I trace the outline of her jaw with my finger. “What do you think your parents will say?”
“It doesn’t matter. We have our plan, and there is nothing they can do about it after next Thursday.”
“Do you know how much I love you?”
Her eyes get misty. “If it’s half as much as I love you, I’m a lucky