“No.” He huffs out a half-hearted laugh. “Nothing like that. It’s about Chelsea.”
“What about her?” My blood runs cold at the mention of her name.
He sighs. “Remember you told me and Ash that she didn’t come home for a couple of nights? Well, it wasn’t a complete surprise.”
“Look, Max, I know there’s someone else if that’s what you’re trying to tell me.”
“She told you?”
“No, but this is Chelsea we’re talking about. She wouldn’t leave unless she had another meal ticket.”
Max raises an eyebrow. “And here was I, worried about your reaction, but you already knew.”
“I wasn’t sure, but I had a feeling.” I chew my bottom lip but my body feels numb. Having my suspicions confirmed is not a shock. “Are you trying to tell me you know who it is?”
Max rubs a hand down his face. “I know there was someone. Whether it’s a real relationship or not, I’m not sure. Either way, you’re not going to like it.”
“I’m not gonna like any man that sleeps with my wife, am I?”
“Sorry, that was a stupid thing to say, but this one will hit hard. I know how close you are?—”
“It’s not Brett, is it?” A shiver runs down my spine at the thought.
“Jesus, no.” He takes a second, then replies. “Sorry, man. It’s Dylan Jennings.”
Initially, I don’t register his name. I close my eyes and continue to bite my lip, letting this news sink in.
“I don’t know how long it’s been going on.”
I hold my hand up to stop him going further. “Start from the top. How do you know this?”
He sighs. “After the last tour party, I went back to Dylan’s to party some more. I didn’t know Chelsea was there, but I walked in on them. She was in his bed.”
There’s a rush of blood to my brain and every muscle inmy body tenses. I stare ahead, my eyes losing focus. This is affecting me more than I thought possible. I thought Dylan was a good friend.
He looks at his hands. “I’m sorry, bro. I was torn between keeping my mouth shut and doing the right thing. I didn’t want to hurt you, but the guilt was eating me up.”
My head swims with images, but none of them make sense. “I can’t believe this.”
Dylan is part of my family, a brother. He stays at my place whenever he’s in town. His band joined our tour. He’d never do this to me. Would he?
My hand clenches to form a fist, and my blood is on fire as it surges through my veins. I glance over at Max, and it’s taking everything I have not to punch my hand through the window of this limo.
With Chelsea leaving me so fast and out of the blue, his words now make sense and it all falls into place. How long has it been going on behind my back? Did they plan this whole thing out?
“Who else knows?” I growl towards Max.
“I have no idea. Obviously, Dylan begged me not to say anything, but I told him I couldn’t betray you. That was the last time we spoke. Believe me, Tommy, this has been weighing me down more than you know.”
“What about Chelsea? Did she beg you to keep quiet too?”
He sighs. “She didn’t seem bothered at all.”
I nod slowly. The tic in my jaw is out of control, and I can’t get enough air in my lungs to breathe evenly.
Max scratches his chin and his knee bounces as he stares ahead. “What are you gonna do now? Nothing stupid. He’s not worth it.”
I glance his way while in thought and shake my head alittle at his words. “I won’t, and I’ll try to keep my cool with Chelsea in front of Oz, but if I see that wanker in person or he goes anywhere near my kid, I will rip his fucking head off.”
