Page 12 of The Bitter Words

“What else can I believe?”

“You understand how the tabloids work.” He leans close to my ear and whispers, “The pictures were staged. I’m trying to sabotage Ur Boyz so the label drops us.”

He settles back in his chair and slides his sunglasses back on. The server returns with our receipt and thanks us for coming in.

He stands and motions for my hand. “Will you please take a walk with me down the beach? We can talk and not worry about who can hear us.”

I slide my palm into his and stand. Tingles zip through me. I can’t help but want his arms around me.

My heart pounds. “I need something first.”

“Anything.”

“Give me the same kind of hug Gia got. Make me feel like I’m giving you the best gift you’ve ever received.”

He sweeps me off my feet and hugs me so tight I can’t breathe.

“Lily, you are the best thing that’s ever happened to me.” He kisses my cheek over and over.

I turn my face and press my lips to his. We make out as if no one is around. If we weren’t in public, I’m sure we’d be on the table having sex.

He pulls away and slides me down the front of his body. “Let’s take that stroll. You need to hear everything.”

I already know he’s telling me the truth. It’s his absolute law he lives by. He won’t lie to anyone.

We get to a wooden pathway and mosey along the beach. He steers us off and into the sand.

He points to a dry area away from everyone. “Let’s go talk over there.”

“I’d like that.” I lean into him, holding his hand. “Your uncle let you come and chase me down?”

“Yep, and without any grief.” Callum laughs under his breath. “He was the one who fucked that chick. Not me.”

My eyes go wide and I peek up at him. “Really? Was Bren in the room with him?”

“Yeah.” Callum gazes down at me with his face scrunched up. “What made you come to that conclusion?”

My cheeks heat. “I remember what you guys did before. I saw the pictures and know tour buses are small. There aren’t too many places to go.”

“Good point.” Callum’s quiet until we get settled on our butts in the sand.

He takes my hand and kisses the top of it. “You’re all that matters to me, Lily. I wish you trusted me enough to know I’d never do anything to hurt you, especially that.”

“I know, but how do you explain having your arm around her?” I pull my hand away, remembering the awful feeling that rolled through me when I saw him with another girl. “Just tell me everything so I understand.”

“You know I’m trying to ruin the tour. Our sales are up, so I asked my uncle to help me out because it’s time to pull the trigger on the destruction of Ur Boyz. The chicks were willing participants as soon as Guns told them a good fuck and some great blow were part of the payoff.”

“You guys paid them?”

He shrugs. “Yeah. In more ways than one, but they had their fun.”

“Why would you let a story like that run when you know what it looks like to the public?”

“Think about it, Lily. What parent is gonna let their twelve-year-old kid come to one of our shows when we’re known for doing wild women and drugs? That’s the average age demographic. I don’t want that fanbase. I wanna be a legend, not a flash in the pan.”

My thoughts race with his explanation. He’s not wrong. If he wants to be a rockstar, the audience he has now won’t be the crowd he attracts in the future.

“Callum, why would you do coke when you’re on probation? You could go back to jail.”