“Could be a coincidence,” I offer.
Liam laughs under his breath. “You scheduled a tour of a house? Devious bastard.”
“Aye.” I shrug and open the door. “We’re here, aren’t we?”
Avonna unbuckles her seatbelt, scoops Quinn out of her car seat and kisses the top of her head. “If we’re moving to LA, I swear to God, you’re cooking every meal for a month.”
“We’ll DoorDash.” I raise an eyebrow. “Unless you want to be poisoned.”
“True,” she replies, sweetly.
Liam climbs out with Sloane, who immediately starts wiggling toward the grass like her tiny sneakers have minds of their own.
The gate slides open and the realtor steps forward, all smiles. “Hi, Mr. O’Donnell. Welcome. You must be Avonna and Liam. So glad to meet you.”
Avonna gives me a look over Quinn’s shoulder. “So thiswasscheduled.”
“You caught me.” I hold up my hands.
The property rises behind her. A terraced, sun-soaked mid-century with glass walls and a wide wraparound deck. Olive trees flank the sides. There’s a peek of a pool behind a safety fence. And below, in the distance, the city sprawls like a painting.
“This is 3132 Oriole.” The realtor guides us toward the house. “Completely remodeled last year. Five beds, four baths, recording studio space, nanny quarters with a separate entrance. Fully gated, quiet street.”
Avonna walks beside me, Quinn perched on her hip. “Not very subtle.”
“I wasn’t aimin’ for subtle.” I wrap my arm around her. “I was aimin’for home.”
Inside, the open layout is filled with warm wood and natural light. Utterly gorgeous, even more so in real life than the website pictures. I feel calm the second we step in. The kitchen is cozy but modern, already stocked with toddler-proof drawers and a breakfast nook perfect for finger paints and plastic bowls of yogurt.
Liam trails behind, Sloane balanced across his shoulder, her face sticky with fruit leather. He stops at the sliding doors leading to the deck. “Jesus. The yard’s massive.”
There’s a play area already set up. Mulch. A small slide. Room to run.
Quinn points. “Mine.”
“Yours, huh?” Liam grins, setting Sloane down so she can toddle after her sister. “A bold stance for a two-year-old.”
Avonna drifts toward the open living room, soaking it all in. She runs her hand along a sun-warmed beam and closes her eyes.
“I want to say I’m surprised,” she comments without turning. “I’m not. You’ve been talking around this for months.”
“We need a base in LA.” I don’t contradict her. “You both know it.”
Liam leans against the frame of the doorway. “We have one in Seattle, all bought and paid for.”
“A townhouse we’ve outgrown,” I counter. “We’ve been on tour more than not for the past several months. The opportunity for Fireball is here in LA. The producers ofThe Kerry Linewant you to be part of the PR push for the show.From the Ashesas the official theme for what might be the most anticipated Netflix release in years isn’t something we can miss.”
I let it hang.
“Fireball is chartin’ across platforms we’ve never touched. There are interviews lined up. Endorsement deals for Avonna, you and Padraig are already rollin’ in. We’re goingto be recordin’ at Ty’s in a few months. Do you really want to drag the girls back and forth every week?”
Liam stares out toward the yard. Doesn’t answer.
“The Kerry Line is going to change everything,” I add. “You saw the numbers.From the Ashesis still climbin’. It’s Fireball’s biggest hit by a mile.”
“I know.” He glances back at me.
“This place, or one like it if you don’t like this one,” I gesture around us, “allows us say yes to what’s next without blowin’ up the girls’ routine once they’re in school.”
