Shattered Dreams (Boys of Bellerose, #3)(58)

I recognized that look on Angelo’s face, and it was lucky that I’d figured out a way to be cool with our arrangement because he was a man who clearly knew what other things she’d been into back then. But their history together was the only factor that made me jealous. Not that nineteen-year-old me would have been any fucking good for the sweet-faced sixteen-year-old Billie. I’d been a messed-up kid then, and I would have brought that into her life. Now, I’d learned to keep the past locked down hard so it didn’t destroy my future.

But if I truly wanted a good future, I needed to deal with the past in a constructive way. Not destructive.

Hence my text about Dr. Candace.

Brenda replied as we reached the set of rooms reserved for us.

Momager: Got it all set up, Silver. You will have the appointment after Billie. Proud of you.

That proud of you hit fucking harder than it should. My trauma needed Candace, that was for shit’s sure.

Silver: Thanks, mom!

She hated it when I called her mom, so of course, I had to do it at least every second time we communicated via text.

Momager: Fuck you, brat.

She was totally a mom to more than just her new little crotch fruit. Even if she was only a couple of years older than Gray.

“Everything okay?” Billie asked, glancing down at the phone in my hand.

I gave a reassuring smile and smacked a kiss on her lips. “Absolutely. Brenda was confirming your appointment with Dr. Candace over videocall for this afternoon.”

Her brows rose. “Again? Yeah, I guess I need it, huh?”

Squeezing her fingers, I sighed. “It seems to be really helping you, Thorn. You haven’t gone all homicidal on Gray like I would have, and to be honest I’m really impressed with how you’re working through your feelings.” I hesitated, then remembered who I was talking to. If I couldn’t tell Thorn, I definitely couldn’t handle talking to a random therapist. “I asked Brenda to make me an appointment, too.”

Her lips parted in surprise, then she wrapped her arms around me and hugged tight. That said everything I needed, that she was also proud of me for taking this step toward improved mental health. And that meant the fucking world to me.

Our security and the new temporary Brenda had so far been running things like a well-oiled machine, so there were no major delays in getting to our hotel rooms. The penthouse suite was booked for us, but as it only had three bedrooms, Grayson and Vee both opted for rooms on the floor below.

Angelo panicked at the idea of having Vee out of sight—there was a price on her head right now—but after a private chat with Grayson, he let the subject drop.

“Where’s Billie going to sleep?” Jace asked, dropping down onto the huge sofa like he was some kind of ancient deity.

“None of your fucking business, Adams,” Billie snapped back. “Don’t worry; your bed will be free and clear for whatever fresh groupies you want to fuck tonight.”

Jace’s expression clouded with anger, his cheeks heating, and Angelo cast a curious glance between the two of them. Billie wasn’t hanging around for a stinging comeback, though; she just flipped Jace her middle finger and retreated into the bedroom that one of the hotel staff had just delivered our bags to.

“Bro,” I said with a sigh, shaking my head. “Why do you need to do that?”

Jace’s eyes narrowed. “Do what?”

I rolled my eyes and headed into the bedroom, closing the door behind me. Angelo could deal with Jace’s idiotic bullshit. In reality, it was in my best interest if he fucked things up with Billie because it meant I could keep her all to myself. For now.

It just sucked seeing her hurt and knowing it was my best friend causing that pain.

Jace was such a moron.

“Do you think we have time to go for a walk before my session with Dr. Candace?” Billie asked with a hopeful look on her face. “I feel like you can’t connect with a city from a car, not like when you walk the streets.”

I smiled, flopping onto the bed. “You have no idea how bad I want to say yes, babe. But it’s not safe without a half-dozen security guards, and that in itself brings more attention. And… I just really don’t want to risk your safety.”

Her face fell with disappointment, and the urge to make her smile again nearly had me changing my mind. But after that article in Dirty Truths about her kissing Angelo… it was too risky. Brenda had blasted the whole band with a warning that Billie was taking some serious heat from the Bellerose superfans and not in a good way.

“I’m sorry,” I said with sincerity, reaching out a hand to pull her closer. “Fame really does have its drawbacks. Maybe when this tour is over, I can bring you back here for a vacation. We can wear disguises and pretend to be normal people without the hype of Bellerose overshadowing every step.”

Her smile warmed. “That sounds perfect.”

For a couple of hours, we just chilled out in our room together, watching pay-per-view movies and ordering snacks from room service. Then I got her all set up with a laptop and webcam for her session with Dr. Candace.

“Did you want to stay?” she asked in a quiet voice as I pulled my shoes on to leave her in peace. My brows hitched in surprise, and she wrinkled her nose. “You don’t have to leave, I mean. I don’t talk about anything I wouldn’t be comfortable telling you anyway.”