Mended (Connections, #3)(69)

“Really? Then why have you held on to it for all these years?”

“Because Grandpa bought it and he helped me get it running again after it sat in his garage for so long.”

“Xander, come on, I know as well as you do that you loved it that Dad gave that car to you. Do you know how pissed I was when I was finally able to drive and I begged Dad to make you share it with me and he said no. He actually said it was yours and yours only. Then when you wouldn’t even let me drive it—that pissed me off more than anything.”

“I forgot about that.”

We’re both quiet for the longest time, and I try to remember the last time I even set eyes on that car.

River sits up and breaks the silence. “Xander, I’ve got something to tell you.”

“Please, no more feelings. I can’t take any more of it.”

“Fuck off! I’m being serious.”

“Okay, what?”

“Damon shut the tour down. Everyone arrived home this morning.”

“What an *.” That’s all I can come up with because I can’t even think about work or the band.

After a few more minutes of silence, I’m tossing a basketball above my head. “Can I ask you something?”

“Sure.”

“Do you know anything about Dylan Wolf? What kind of person he was?”

“No,” he answers softly. “Can I ask you something?” he counters.

“Maybe,” I answer.

“Why do you think Damon made the announcement?”

My heart starts pounding and I bolt upright, tossing the ball aside. River’s eyes flare to mine. “I don’t know. But I’d wager it has something to do with money,” I say with a lump in my throat that I can’t swallow.

River frowns and crosses a leg over his knee. “Go on.”

“With everything that’s been going on with Ivy and the tour, he still kept it going. It had to be for the money. He could have given a shit about the band. Then his old man dies and he cancels the remaining shows even after I left. When I confronted him, he kept throwing things out there about me being like my father. I assumed he meant Nick, but he must have meant his brother.”

The doorbell rings. Blood rushes to my face and my shoulders stiffen. “Don’t answer it,” I bark.

River shrugs. “Don’t be a dick. You can’t stay locked up all day. People are looking to talk to you.”

“By people, you mean Mom?”

“Yeah, Mom, Jack, Bell, the band. Everyone that cares about you.”

“I’m not ready to talk to Mom.”

“It’s not her anyway. I told her I’d call when you were ready. I made her promise to give me the time I needed to talk to you. But, Xander, she’s a wreck. Don’t make her wait too much longer.”

I stand up and stare at him. “When did you become so mature?”

He shakes his head at me.

Walking over to the door, I look through the peephole to see who it is. It’s Aerie.

As soon as I open the door she rushes in. She’s dressed more casually than I’ve seen her before. She’s wearing some kind of track suit. Her blond hair is pulled back and the sneakers on her feet make her seem really short. She’s almost a whole head shorter than me.

“Xander,” she greets me in total business mode.

“Aerie, what are you doing here?” Then I remember she asked for an interview. “Now is not the best time for that interview.”

“That’s not why I’m here.”

“What’s going on?” I ask her as I close the door.

“Can we sit down and talk?”

“Sure. Come in.” I move past her, escorting her toward the living room.

River’s still sitting on the couch and stands up the minute he sees her.

“River,” she says softly and crosses the room to hug him. She holds on to him tightly. “I’m so sorry I had to run out on Dahlia. As soon as I explain everything to the both of you I’m heading back over to see her. Jagger’s meeting me there with lunch from her favorite place.”

“She understands. I’m sure she’d love to see you,” River responds.

She pulls away. “Mind?” she asks, looking at me and pointing to the large graphite-colored chair that used to be my grandfather’s favorite.

“No. Have a seat.” I wonder what could be so urgent that she would come over here to talk when I know she’s obviously seen the headlines. “You want a cup of coffee?”

“No, thank you, I don’t drink coffee. I’m fine really.”

Aerie takes a deep breath, pulls some papers out of her bag, and sets them on the large glass coffee table. “Well,” she says, “I have something I want to show you.”

“Okay. Shoot.” I’m a little agitated that she’s not just getting to the point, but I think I get it. “Fuck, did Damon send you over? What does he want now? For me to sign some kind of huge-ass contract?” I say, pointing to the stack of papers on the table.

“Xander, relax, man. Let her finish.”

“Didn’t you hear?” she asks.

I shake my head. “Hear what?”

“Damon no longer owns Sound Music Magazine. If it hasn’t been announced yet, it will be later today.”