Page 122 of The Bitter Words

“About?”

“You’re the one who told me I needed to have more fun in my life.”

“Meaning?”

“Maybe there were more than two people involved during some of these escapades.” I’m being spiteful and I don’t care. “Come on,Cash. You’ve done it a time or two yourself, so don’t look so shocked.”

His eyes fill with rage, his hands curl into fists, and my instincts scream,Run, Livianna. Run!

Chapter Twenty-Six

LIVIANNA/LILY

Then

Eight Months Later

Glittery Backdrops & Torturous Links

Something shifts the second the countdown starts, but no one else seems to hear it crack.

“You’re gonna watch us tonight, right?” Bren and I are FaceTiming.

He’s in the performers’ holding area in New York because Mayhem was asked to sing for the New Year’s Eve bash in Times Square. This appearance kicks off their worldwide tour.

I’m in a suite in Vegas with Gia, attending an industry party that’s being held at Efron Lux Casino.

I pretend to be fixing my makeup in the mirror. “I don’t know, Bren. We’re going to be out. I’m not sure the venue will have that broadcast playing.”

“Come on, Livianna. You could find a place to watch if you wanted to.”

“I’ll leave it up to Gia. This is her big event. I’m just atagalong.” I step back so he can see all of me on his screen. “What do you think?”

He gives me an honest once-over. “Your designs are fucking awesome. It’s great you did so well after you hit all the fashion shows last fall.”

“You helped.”

“What did I do?”

“You’ve worn something I created for you to every one of your press conferences. Mayhem is the hottest band right now. By showcasing my high-end fashion line, you took me to a level of success I never dreamed possible. At least not this fast.”

He flashes me a lopsided grin. “I had to accept your clothes. It was the only way I got you to come back home and visit after you moved out.”

My insides tighten. “I couldn’t live there anymore when I knew Callum would be practicing with the band a couple of floors away from me every day. We couldn’t be in the same room together without one of us getting so angry we wanted to tear the other apart.”

“Yeah, I know.” Bren sighs. “Once you told him about your sex life, he got stuck in his pain. That’s why he stormed out of the bar that night and almost died by running in front of a moving car.”

“His pain? Yeah, whatever.” I shake my head and ignore the part where Callum almost got hit by a vehicle. “He makes no sense. It’s not like he’s never done the same kinds of things. And I wasn’t with him, so I wasn’t cheating.”

Bren’s jaw muscles twitch as he stares at me through the screen. He slides his palm across his lips.

Anytime I bring up Callum cheating on me, Bren shuts his mouth. I thought he’d agree with me, but he must think he needs to remain neutral.

“Bren, I’m not asking you to side with me, but we bothknow what he did.” I pick up my phone that’s been propped up on the bathroom sink.

“Livianna, it isn’t that simple.”

“It is, but I don’t want to put you in this position. I love you and want you to be the best rock band ever. Let’s agree to let the topic of Callum go for good as a New Year’s resolution.”