Her cheeks pinked. I would do anything for my sister. She never needed to ask. I was proud to step up for her and my mother.
“There isn’t anything I wouldn’t do for you. You know that. And the best way to thank me is to be happy.”
“I am happy. I promise. And I’m really happy you agreed to lunch with Dad. He’s nervous to see you. Did you know he went to one of your shows in New York a few months ago? He just admitted it to me. He wanted to see you perform.”
I pushed to my feet and walked over to the window. A few cars had parked out front, and I saw a few guys with cameras moving in front of my sister’s house.
Motherfuckers.
They never left me alone. But I didn’t expect them to travel here to this small town. Rumors were swirling because I hadn’t scheduled any tours since the last one ended last month, and Lucy wanted me to wait to commit until after this trip. After I’d caught my breath a little. That didn’t stop the gossip. I’d heard it all.
I was having a nervous breakdown. I’d joined a cult. I was leaving my band. I’d gotten some actress that I’d never met pregnant.
It was endless. A few of the fans had started rumors that there was something going on between me and Jo, the only female member of the band. We were friends, nothing more, but that didn’t stop the gossip. I had intentionally never been photographed with a woman, which had labeled me a playboy. I was fine with it. All I’d wanted was a few weeks back home to celebrate with my sister in peace. Zane probably tipped them off because the asshole needed me in the limelight as much as possible. I’d learned a few months ago that my manager was the one leaking my whereabouts because I couldn’t seem to escape the press no matter where I went. We’d had it out, and he’d admitted that he’d had a contact that he was tipping off. He thought he was doing me a favor.
I’d discussed it in therapy and Lucy and I both thought it was bullshit. The dude was looking out for himself. I’d put a little too much trust in him. Had he played a big role in my success? Absolutely. But had he sucked me dry in the process? One hundred percent. He liked to tell me that he’d made me a very rich man, but he’d also made himself a rich man in the process.
“Did he use our college funds to buy his ticket to fly there?” Yeah, I was still bitter. My father had drained his and my mother’s bank accounts as well as using mine and Talia’s college funds to buy his mistress her own home. We’d literally moved to Nashville with our belongings in our suitcase and had to start over with barely any money. Eventually Dad sold the big home we’d grown up in and sent Mom half the money from that sale, but that was only after her lawyer had forced his hand.
What kind of man treats his family that way?
“He feels really bad about all that, Ty. He was trying to cover up a mistake that he’d made,” she said, shrugging her shoulders. I moved back to sit beside her.
“He married his mistake, T. He didn’t try to fix things. He didn’t fly out to Nashville to check on Mom. He didn’t sell the house on his own to help us out. He wrote us off. And I think it’s really big of you to forgive him, I do. And I’ll have lunch and dinner with the asshole because it makes you happy. But I don’t forgive him for what he did to Mom. To us.”
To me.
I’d recently uncovered in therapy that I resented my father because he robbed me of my youth. He forced me to step up and be the man of the family… when all of my friends were heading to college, I was worrying about making sure my mom and my sister were okay. I wouldn’t tell her that because it would only hurt her.
“I get that. I’m just so happy that you’re here.”
“Did Ivy agree to meet this afternoon to go over the budget?” I asked, trying to keep my tone even so she didn’t hear my desperation. I didn’t give a shit about the budget. I had more money than I knew what to do with. I just wanted a reason to see her. Sooner rather than later.
“Yes. We’ll meet her right after lunch. Are you nervous to see her?”
“No. I’m looking forward to it,” I said, and I reached for my tea again to keep my hands busy.
“Well, she looks great. Her business is booming, and I swear that girl is the hottest ticket in town.” She laughed and I raised a brow because I didn’t know what the fuck that meant, but I didn’t like the sound of it. “She’s on those dating apps and let me tell you what. Everyone wants to go out with Ivy. Wait till you see her.”
A growl escaped before I could stop it. Was she fucking with me? Why in the hell would she tell me that? I pushed to my feet and paced the room.
“I figured she had a boyfriend by now.”
“Did you seriously just growl? You better control yourself, brother. She’s my wedding planner and my friend. You left her, remember?”
“Don’t fucking remind me. I hate being here.” I scrubbed a hand down my face.
“Just be nice, please. She will be very professional, I promise. You need to do the same.”
I didn’t have a professional fucking bone in my body. I was a goddamn country singer.
“Fine. Let’s get this lunch over with,” I grumped before slamming the rest of my tea.
Talia gave me a quick tour of her house before we made our way outside.
“Do you guys seriously not have anything better to do than follow me here of all places? There’s no story here,” I hissed at the dudes with their cameras standing on the sidewalk outside my sister’s house. There were only four or five of them, so not nearly as bad as it was back home, but didn’t I deserve a little peace?
“Sorry, dude. It’s our job.”
“You guys are fine. Would you like some sweet tea? It’s pretty warm out here,” Talia said, and I whipped around and threw my hands in the air.
The guys chuckled and told her they were okay for now, and we made our way to my car waiting at the curb.
Dickheads.
“Why would you possibly offer them a drink?” I asked as Gerard pulled away from the curb.
“Ty, anger doesn’t serve anyone.”
“Thank you, Mother Teresa. But you aren’t living with these assholes. And now they’re going to follow me to meet with the biggest asshole around.” We pulled in the parking lot of the Rusty Pelican and I turned to see my sister with her eyes all glossy looking like she was about to burst out in tears. Damn it. “I’m sorry, T. I’ll try. They just get under my skin.”
“I don’t care about those guys,” she said, glancing over her shoulder to see them pulling in the parking lot beside us and hustling out of their cars. “I care about my family. About you and Dad mending things. About you getting to know our little brother. He’s a big fan of your music, you know.”