I nodded slowly. “Yeah, I guess. Always here to kick my ass for me.”
Shelly smiled. “That is what I am here for. If you want to be on the tour, and you damn well should be, I can book you both hotels in separate areas and on separate floors. Sort the dining so you two eat at different times. Relocate dressing rooms. Whatever you need to keep you up and running. You would only have to see him at rehearsal, soundcheck, and on stage. I promise that, no tricks, no trying to force you two together to talk it out.”
“Thanks, hun.”
“I am here for you, day or night,” Shelly promised, ending the call.
I swilled my leftover wine around in my glass. Could I really face him again? Could I ever forgive him? Only time would tell.
Chapter 26
Adrian’s POV
I stood at soundcheck staring out into an empty stadium. I looked beautiful, the set, the stage. It was a perfect opening night for a tour, and in my own country as well, Belfast today and tomorrow and then back to Dublin for the St Patrick’s Day celebrations the next day. We had been asked to play during the festival. I still wasn’t quite sure how Shelly had convinced me to even get to soundcheck today. I would much rather be nursing a bottle of whisky or six in my hotel room.
The band around me chattering away starting to edge into my hangover, making my head pound even more. They were all excited, but my heart was heavy as a stone. I still couldn’t reach Lily. Messages were all unread, emails not returned, it was starting to feel helpless. The extra mic stand had been set for my leading lady, but it seemed like it may just be wasted. I sighed, opening night just didn’t feel that same without her being there. The whole band was waiting to see if Lily came, holding soundcheck back to the last possible second. They all knew what they were doing, but no one commented. Just tried to keep the conversation light. She was family to them; it wouldn’t be the same without her.
Eventually, they had to give in, there were no more excuses. Although something inside of each of them died a little in that moment as they moved into position to start sound checking. Guitars were plugged in, mics tests, picks dug out of jeans pockets, the lighting rig tested so many times it was a joke. As the first tune came over the speakers, I closed my eyes. Damn them for deciding to open with Lily’s song.
She wrote it about her ex, but now it felt just as much about me. It was still clinging the charts faster than any song the band ever released. Of course, it had to be played, just did it have to be now? The mic felt loose in my hand as I tried to collect my thoughts. Think of that opening line, if I could just get over the opening line, I would be okay. Hopefully.
And then, I heard it, ringing out, strong and true over the stadium. In a familiar female voice.
Lily?
My eyes flew open, there she was a vision of beauty and power standing there in a skin-tight skull vest top, skinny jeans and knee-high lace up black boots covered in skulls. Her hair freshly cut and dyed into a sleek layered look around her face. It was not just the new look that had my attention, it was her whole-body language. Power, confidence, vibe, she had it all as she strode to the stage, singing every line as she came forward. She was perfect, the star I had always seen laying under her broken heart. My face wet as she matched his every vocal and motion running through the soundcheck until they could finally hang up their mic.
“Lily, I am so glad to see youse again. I was so worried.” I reached out to grab her arm, but she pulled away, a disgusted look on her face.
“I am here for the music and for the tour, not for you. Let me make it perfectly clear that this is purely a professional business relationship. I will sing, smile for the cameras and do my job. Other than that, you leave me the hell alone. And touch me again, I will break your pretty face,” she said coldly.
I didn’t know what to answer to that, she was already gone before I could even think of a first word.
“At least she is here,” Harry commented as we disbanded to get ready for the show and eat.
“Here, but cold as ice. I am not sure which is worse,” I commented.
Lily’s POV
I managed to get back into my dressing room before the tears started falling, ruining the makeup that I spent hours doing on the train here. An armour of sorts to protect me from seeing just another man who hurt me. I slunk down the door frame, as sobs wracked my body. “I can’t do this.”
A bang on the door. “Are you okay?” Harry shouted.
“No.”
“Let me in.”
I edged the door open slightly, just enough he could squeeze by but not enough anyone else could
