Page 73 of The Jaded Notes

Fuck if he isn’t going to lecture me. And it’s worse knowing it’s going to happen in front of Jax. He’ll just see me as a girl who still has to answer to her nosy family.

I start to leave the room, but Jax’s commanding tone stopsme in my tracks. “Make your call in here. You don’t need to hide anything from me.”

“I wasn’t trying to,” I lie. I sit down where I was and press the connect button.

Bren answers on the first ring. “You said you’d let me know you were alive.”

“That’s what I’m doing right now.”

Bren growls. “I’m due to be at soundcheck in ten minutes, Livianna. You knew we were playing a festival this weekend, so our show is during the day.”

“What’s that got to do with anything?”

“You think I could play when I’m worried sick about you?”

“Okay, now you’re overreacting.” I glance at Jax and build a fake smile. “Bren, I’m fine, but I can’t talk right now.”

There’s a conversation happening in the background. Male voices carry through the line, and one distinct one stands out.

Callum.

I can’t break free from him even when I’m trying with all my might. He’s always in the shadows, lingering like a song playing on repeat that I can’t get out of my head.

Bren brings me back to our discussion. “Fuck, Livianna. Are you still with that dude from last night?”

“Yes. Can I call you later?”

“You’re gonna have to. I wanna make sure he treated you well.”

“Bren, everything went great. Now focus on your concert, and we’ll catch up later.”

“Damn… I can hear it in your voice.”

“What?”

“Not only do you like this guy, but you’re falling for him. And that makes it my business.”

I laugh at his gall. “And just why is that?”

He sighs heavily. “You’re my baby sister, and I know whatyou’ve been through. I know nothing about this guy, and I don’t want you to get hurt again.”

I lower my head and suck in a breath. “Thanks, but I’ll be okay. I promise.”

“Yeah. Famous last words.” He starts to say something, but he’s interrupted.

There’s a scuffle of some sort.

“Lily?” Callum’s voice cuts in without warning, like a knife across my throat. “I’ve tried to reach you, but your phone’s never on. Please take my call. I have a lot I need to say.”

Adrenaline shoots through me, and my hands shake. He’s never done anything like this. It’s so unexpected, I’m at a loss for words. I forget where I am.

“You don’t have the right to demand things from me. When are you going to?—”

Jaxon sits up with his concerned stare dialed in on me.

My stomach tightens. “I need to let you go. Have a great performance.”

I hang up and try to steady my trembling. I turn off my phone so Callum can’t get ahold of me.