My eyes flared with a dangerous, violent gleam. “I will inform youse right now, if ye call the lady I love something like that again, I will break both your legs whether the cameras are watching or not. Our sexual or non-sexual relationship is, as the lady says, nothing to do with you, them or anyone other than us. Nor is our financial status. If ye want to worry about cash, worry about your own Mr Last Album Debuted at Almost Nowhere and Crashed Out Just as Quickly!” I pulled Lily away from the man before he could answer and into the middle of the dance floor where hopefully there would be less glances of the asshole causing a scene.
“I am so sorry,” she muttered into my shoulder as she hid her face, embarrassed, “I shouldn’t have come here, I am just going to ruin your career. It was a mistake to go public.”
I poked her in the ribs as we danced. “What that monster says or does has nothing to do with youse or us. I love ye. He is just a sad loser too high on the flumes to know what he is saying.”
She sighed, cuddling closer. “I just wish he would stop all of this drama.”
“You miss him, don’t you?”
“He was my best friend, my lover, my confidant, my anchor and so much more for over seven years. Of course I miss him! I wish things could go back to before when the world still made sense.”
I stroked her hair and wished that I could make it all better for her. In fact, maybe he could pull the guy to one side at the end of the night and talk it out. Even punch it out where there were no cameras. Whatever it took to make her happy.
“Adrian Sparks will now present the award for best new upcoming artist,” an announcement proclaimed.
“Excuse me,” I said softly, kissing her as I went to present the darned thing.
The second Lily was alone, that dreadful man started on her yet again. The band were all around her, trying to put distance between them as the shouting started again. I tried to make my way through, but I wasn’t fast enough this time. I heard her shouting for him to let go, as he called her a prostitute again. I didn’t even think, I punched the guy right in his ‘pretty’ little face.
“Leave my fucking girlfriend alone, you stalking asshole. She is not with you anymore, understand that? You had your shot and ye blew it. She isn’t coming back to you!”
“Oh, she will once she has bled your money dry. Then she will be back after mine just like she was before,” he crowed.
“You liar, you never so much as bought me a coffee!” Lily snapped. “The only time I asked you for money was when I was homeless and what did you do? Left me! Fucked off for eight months before you actually sobered up enough to text me and ask if I needed any help or money still. Eight months! I could have been dead by then!”
“You were lying about being homeless for attention.”
“My landlord kicked me out and changed the locks because I wouldn’t have sex with the pervert. I have the police records!” she retorted.
“Records can be faked.”
“Youse are one sick little freak. Thinking anyone would face such things,” I said quietly. “Prepare to hear from my legal team in the morning. This will be resolved in court.”
“You can’t sue me when I am saying the truth, she is a hooker.”
Harry had to hold me back before I hit the jerk a second time, giving the press even more to buzz over. “Dude, he isn’t worth it, and we have to get on stage,” he warned.
“Oh, it would be worth it,” I muttered under my breath, but I let Harry pull us both away. Thank God that Shelly wasn’t here tonight, too busy sorting out the tour. Or she would have killed the guy.
As we left, security stepped in to speak to her ex. I was still spitting angry, storming up and down the shared dressing room, sucking on a bottle of whisky as I shouted down the phone to my legal team to deal with it all, as Brad made his own calls. This would end and soon. That man would not be allowed to keep harassing her.
Lily sat quietly in the corner of the dressing room sipping at her own extraordinarily strong drink looking a tad shell shocked from everything. “I can’t believe he would say all of that in public,” she muttered to Rose as she was hugging her.
“Well, you wait until Shelly hears. She will deal with it if I don’t slap him first,” Rose promised.
“I know this is not a great moment, but two-minute call people,” Brad shouted over the noise in the room.
I disconnected the call knowing exactly what we needed to do now. I held my hand out to Lily. “Come on, English, let’s go blow his socks off. About time he saw what he was giving up.”
“Huh?”
“Darling, we are gonna tear up that stage together. Screw our plans, let’s debut your song here tonight. Me and you, just like in rehearsals.”
“It would piss that dude off,” Harry commented.
“We aren’t ready, you said that,” Lily objected.
“I changed my mind.”
“Adrian, there isn’t time to talk about this,” she tried.
I rolled my eyes. “Band, are we in or out on this?”
Everyone responded with “in.”
“So, are we doing this, Lil?” I asked.
Lily took the bottle of whisky off him, taking a long drink to steady her nerves. “Okay, let’s go.”
“Welcome to the band,” I smiled, kissing her cheek.
“Move it people. I don’t
