Total pages in book: 91
Estimated words: 88225 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 441(@200wpm)___ 353(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88225 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 441(@200wpm)___ 353(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
“It’s okay. I want you to talk to me. I love you. It’s going to be okay.”
“Okay. I have a headache. Can we talk later?”
“Yeah, sure. If you need me, call.”
“Okay. I love you.”
“I love you too. Sleep tight, gorgeous.”
I hang up, feeling lost and sick. I stare at my bag, contemplating leaving anyway. It’s only one show. We haven’t canceled a concert in years.
“Fuck,” I mumble.
If I do cancel, it’s not going to go over well as this news of my marriage gets out. Fans will feel some way about it. That can go bad in so many ways.
I’m going to have to force myself to stay. I rub at my chest, trying to relieve the ache. I groan and sit up, pulling up the number I need to call to work through my thoughts.
“Hello,” my mother answers, sleep clinging to her voice.
“Hey, Mom, it’s Bishop.”
“Hey, honey. Congratulations. I wanted to call you earlier, but your father said you were probably busy with the tour or stealing time to spend with your new bride.”
“Thanks. That’s sort of what I want to talk to you about.”
“Ut-oh. What’s going on?”
I blow out a breath and think of how to start. “I fucked up. Saga and I wanted to tell our families first. Then we were going to announce it to the world.
“It’s just… when that reporter started talking shit, I lost it. All I could see…,” I trail off and close my eyes.
“Bishop, honey. I know how bad things got with Bev, but we all saw that coming from a mile away. You loved her, so you thought she was someone she wasn’t.
“I’ve kept my mouth shut because I know how much you were hurting. I didn’t want to add to that. But let me tell you something. Bev wasn’t a nice girl.
“I hate to speak ill of the dead, but she was conniving and had a wandering eye. Jag had come to me and your father a few times for advice on what to do about her. He saw she was going to break your heart.”
“Really?” I raise my brows in shock.
“Yes, dear. He has always wanted to protect you as a friend as well as your manager.”
I work my jaw as I take her words in. I’ve been so angry with Jag for butting in where Saga is concerned. I still don’t think it’s his business, but hearing he saw Bev for who she was and tried to shield me from that chaos causes me to pause.
I shake my head. I have enough on my plate. For now, I need to deal with this situation with Saga.
“Saga is different. I feel it in my bones. She’s right for me. She’s the one.
“I’d never forgive myself if the media placed a wedge between us, but that’s the problem. I think that fear is only in my head. She took finding out about Bev and what happened so well. I’m the one who flew off the handle and put my foot in my mouth.”
“It sounds like you need to finally give yourself grace. Saga wasn’t a part of your past. You were.
“You’re the one who needs to heal from all of that to move forward. If not, you will only see her as Bev when she sounds like anything but,” Mom says gently.
I pull a hand down my face. “I know you’re right. I have been healing. Because of Saga, I’ve been healing piece by piece. She smiles and the entire room lights up. When I look at her, music just flows through me, begging me to get it down.
“Since she walked into my life, each note has become a love note. She’s everything to me. So much so that I know I can let go of the past. I’d choose her over it all any day,” I breathe.
“Oh wow. Okay, so why do I hear a but?”
My mother knows me so well. I know how much I want Saga, but I’m not going to fool myself into thinking we’ll get to move forward without a fight.
“You were right. Her parents aren’t happy about us. She’s so fucking upset. It’s gutting me.” Mom sighs heavily. “What? What aren’t you saying?”
“Your father called Andre to ask him over for drinks to celebrate. He immediately realized Saga’s parents have no idea you’re our son. Andre vented to him as a friend and your father thought it best to stay quiet for now. I had a feeling this was the real reason for your call, but I didn’t want to say anything if it wasn’t,” she says.
“Go on, say I told you so,” I mumble.
“Why would I ever say that? You’re my son. I love you and I want to see you happy.
“Saga must really love you; she has never gone against her father’s wishes from what I know. I’ve told you how much he dotes on her and how highly he speaks of her.