Axel hesitates, wringing his hands.
“Come here, son,” Randall says.
Axel goes over to stand beside Cassie. “Hey, Dad.” His voice is strained like he’s choking back emotion. “I love you.”
“I love you too.” Randall reaches for Axel’s hand. “I’m so sorry,” he croaks and then coughs.
“It’s okay, Dad,” Axel says quickly. “We don’t have to talk about this right now.”
“Yes, we do.” He gulps. “I shouldn’t have blamed you for Dex’s mistakes. I should’ve been supportive of your music.” He works his jaw. “I’m proud of you, son. Can you ever forgive me?”
“Of course,” Axel says automatically. “I’m sorry for all of those things I said.” Tears stream down his face.
I’m also crying. Happy tears. It’s wonderful to see Axel’s reconciliation with his dad.
After Axel collects himself, he wipes his eyes as Cassie and Fran do the same. “Dad,” Axel says with a proud smile as he turns to me, “there’s someone I want you to meet.”
When I leave the guest room the next morning, I find Axel and Cassie in an uproar.
Ice slides down my throat. “What’s going on?” Before I went to bed last night, I combed the internet to see if any photos of Cassie, Axel, or me at the hospital had been posted. Thankfully, I didn’t see anything. I checked again before I jumped into the shower and got ready.
Nothing. So far, so good.
Cassie holds up her phone. “Jovie Chord’s at it again.” Her face is contorted with rage. “This time she’s gone too far!”
The air leaves my lungs. “What do you mean?”
“This was just released. Jovie’s claiming that her source revealed the reason Axel split from the band.”
“What?” I gasp. “That can’t be right. What does the article say?” My mind whirls. Did Harmony write something pretending to be me? A scalding fury hollows my insides.
Cassie’s chest heaves up and down as she hurls out the words. “That Seth sold the music and lyrics to a song the band was working on to Rebel Deeds.” She barks out a laugh as she turns to Axel. “I told you it was a mistake to stand by and hope that Max would do the right thing. He sold you out,” she screeches, “blamed you for his mistake.”
Realization dawns. “Max is the one who sold the song.”
“You bet it was him,” Cassie growls. “The coward has a gambling problem. He got in over his head—owed money to the wrong people—so he sold the song. Now he’s letting Seth take the fall for his mistake.”
“I knew it wasn’t Axel,” I blurt.
Cassie blinks. “What do you mean—you knew it wasn’t Axel?”
I could probably make up some excuse to get myself off the hook right now, but I don’t want to. The time for lies is over. I square my shoulders and speak to Axel. “I’m not who you think I am.”
His features tighten. “What do you mean?”
Cassie makes a face. “Do you really think now is the best time to do this?”
“I have to. Axel deserves to know the truth.”
He makes a face. “What truth?”
“When we first met, I should’ve told you—” The words die in my throat.
“What should you have told me?” Axel studies me with wary eyes.
“I’m not really from Nashville,” I squeak.
“O—kay,” he says, “where are you from?”
