Saxon(26)

“We’ll make it work,” I tell her in a strong tone.

There is no alternative.

*****

I jot down the lyrics as they come to me. Every song I write these days is about her—it’s like she’s taken over my mind. Ryder walks into the studio and flashes me a grin. He stands behind me and reads over my shoulder.

“Oh come on man,” he growls. “I don’t want to read this shit about my cousin.”

I don’t bother to hide my smirk. “I have to read your shit about my ex-girlfriend.”

Ryder thinks this over. “I think my situation is worse.”

I laugh and agree, “You bet your ass it is.”

“So things are going well then?” he asks. “I heard some of the family came over for lunch. I was invited but Lexi and I were out of town.”

“Yeah Layla, Chase, Cole, and Tee’s parents came over,” I tell him. “Then Sasha, James, and their kid dropped by, followed by Jet and his dad, Finn.”

Ryder laughs gleefully. “Full house then huh, and that wasn’t even a quarter of the family.”

“Everyone was nice,” I tell him, annoyed by the look in his eye. “It wasn’t bad at all.”

“I heard Tee took the spare key off her mum and gave it to her dad to hide,” he adds, shaking his head.

“You’re such a gossip, you know that?”

Jet and Kidd walk in together causing Ryder and me to look up.

“Hey Saxon!” Jet calls out the same time Kidd says, “Hey bro.”

I lift my chin in greeting.

“So how was meeting the family?” Jet asks. “You didn’t look scared one bit.”

“I wasn’t,” I reply. “Tee loves her family, they are important to her, so they’re important to me too.”

Someone makes a whipping noise.

I choose to ignore it.

“Let’s get some work done,” I suggest. “I have a new song I wrote that I want to run by you all, see what you think.”

“Is Tee your muse?” my brother asks, smirking.

“You shouldn’t be complaining. We need to get this new album finished instead of spending all day looking at fan mail,” I tell him, giving him a pointed look.

He grins back at me then grabs his guitar.

We get to work.





Chapter Seventeen

Tenielle

As another photo of Saxon and I surfaces, I sigh and tell myself there is no point stressing over it. I can’t control the media.

Yet—an evil voice in my mind says.

I grin and look back down at my to-do list for the day.

1. Do more research on the Grafter case.

2. Buy jam donuts.

3. Decide the fate of my relationship with Saxon.

4. Find a solution to world hunger.

Looks like I have a busy day ahead of me.

I didn’t know what to do about Saxon. He is leaving for six months and many things can happen in that time. It’s not like I could ask if we could put our relationship on hold—we were either all in or all out. Breaking up seems to be the easiest option, but it’s not the one I want. Though doing long distance while my man is overseas surrounded by beautiful willing women doesn’t sound all that appealing either.

What the hell was I going to do?

I don’t want to be apart for six months, but I can’t just up and leave my job. I worked my ass off to get where I am today and I won’t consider throwing that away over a man.

Even though he might be the man.

Fuck how I’ll miss him when he goes. Great. I’m turning into one of those women who’s obsessed with their man and can’t live without them.

How the mighty have fallen.

Taryn walks in and says something but I don’t pay attention, too lost in my thoughts.

Could I go on tour?

It’s not really like me to lose my job over a man. Then why am I tempted to do it?

Damn Saxon and his panty-melting grin and huge cock.

He wormed his way into my life and now I find myself actually… loving him?

Love.

Is that what this was?

I cover my face with my hands but all I see is his face.

It’s official—the bastard has ruined me. I look back down at my list and decide to get number one done right now. The rest can wait.

I’m halfway done when my phone rings. From the Sam Smith ringtone I know that it’s Lexi, because ‘Stay With Me’ is her favourite song right now.

“Hello friend,” I answer.

“Are you coming on the tour?” she asks, excitement filling her tone.

“Me on the bus with my boyfriend, his ex-girlfriend, and two of my cousins. It sounds like the start of a bad joke,” I tell her.

She giggles. “Oh come on, it will be fun. An adventure. And you can keep me company.”

I sigh heavily. “I don’t know yet Lex. But I’m thinking about it. I need to talk to my boss first.”

“I really hope you can come. It will be like old times, you and me traveling the world together.”

I grin at that. “Except now you’re tied down and I’m…”

What the hell was I?

“And you’re in love,” she whispers dreamily. “It’s like old times but with a twist. A happy ending twist.”