AUGUST
Stuffinga slice of toast into my mouth in two bites, I grabbed my bag, already heading for the door when Dad stepped in my path.
“Hold up.”
“Dad!”I groaned, chewing my breakfast quickly and swallowing.“I’m running behind.If I don’t hurry, I’m going to be late for school.”
“Are we going to talk about why you aren’t riding with Evan?”he asked, crossing his arms over his chest.
For the most part, my parents hadn’t noticed the new dynamic of my relationship with Evan.That was mainly due to us being on the opposite side of the globe for the majority of the summer.Once we’d returned from Australia, I’d been busy with cheerleading camp and getting the squad ready for the upcoming school year and football season.I was co-captain now, and it was a lot of work.
We’d had a few family dinners since our return, which included Hayat and her three boyfriends, whom she was apparently living with now.Hayat hadn’t been herself during those dinners.My pseudo-sister was always full of energy, the very definition of “full of life.”Seeing her sad, especially when she should be on top of the world, broke my heart.Not only was Hayat in a stable, albeit unconventional, relationship for the first time ever, all her dreams for her career were becoming reality.
Like Evan and I had, though, Hayat had ended her years-long friendship with someone important to her.I was aware that something major had happened between her and Maddie, and there was a new tension in the Cutter family because of it, although no one was giving me many details.Evan and I hadn’t talked since my sister’s wedding.
With Charlotte as his primary source for intel, Bentley gave me as much information as he could about what had led up to the fallout between Hayat, Maddie, and her grandparents—Pop-Pop and Nana, not Poppy and Gammy.But I didn’t have the full story.Without a doubt, I was sure Mom and Dad were aware of everything, but it wasn’t my business to pry.
What I did know was that Devlin Cutter was no longer a member of OtherWorld.He’d been replaced by Mom’s drummer, Hector, who was a great fit.Autumn’s Slumber was already signed to open during the world tour for Demon’s Wings and OtherWorld, which Tainted Knights would be joining.Roanna and the other Blondes were also going to be part of the tour, although not available for every show since they were already under contract for other obligations throughout the next year.
Tickets had gone on sale the week we returned from Australia, and they were already sold out in every city.Rumor was that someone had actually mortgaged their home just so they could get tickets to every stop, in each country.Which was insane to me and a little creepy.
Whether it was true or not, Mom mentioned that Emmie would be tripling security for this tour.Hayat had once mentioned that many of her closest family members had PTSD when it came to touring, which was why Demon’s Wings and OtherWorld hadn’t participated in a tour of this caliber in decades.Hence why fans were so eager to attend this one now.
Having spent my entire life considering Devlin as much my grandfather as he was Hayat and Evan’s, I had a hard time reconciling that he was no longer in our lives.Everyone told me it was my choice, that if I decided to stay close to Dev and Nat, they would respect my decision.Even with what limited knowledge I had of the situation, though, I couldn’t look at them the same way.
It was a blow to my heart, yet like my feelings with Evan, I found it fairly easy to move on.
Only, with Evan, I couldn’t just brush it all off and go about my life without giving my parents an explanation as to why we were no longer friends.
“Dad,” I said gently, searching for the right words.“Sometimes friends grow apart.Evan and I… We…”
Face going tight, Dad surprised me when he cupped my cheeks in his hands.“Did he do something to hurt you?You can tell me, Ali-Cat.I’ll deal with him if he’s?—”
“No, of course not!”I rushed to assure him.“Evan isn’t like that.”
“Thank Christ.I didn’t want to have to kill the boy I’ve considered my son for the last seventeen-plus years.”He tucked my hair back from my face before dropping his hands.“But something did happen.Otherwise, you would still be friends.”
“It’s complicated,” I hedged.
“Dumb it down for me,” he insisted.
“Dad, please.I don’t want to drag you into this.It’s between Evan and me.There’s no reason for you to take sides.”I double-checked that my phone was in my bag to have something to do.“Please respect the boundaries I’m setting here.No one is asking you to choose or play referee or anything else.Words were said.Mistakes were made.No one is faultless in what happened, and we both own that.But any chance of a continued relationship between him and me is not up for discussion.”
“Relationship?”Dad wheezed.“What the fuck is that supposed to mean?You’re in love with Sixx.Were you and Evan considering a…a…relationship?”
Looking green, he shook his head adamantly.“Ali, Evan is basically your brother.If there was even a moment when you thought about pursuing something other than friendship with him, you should have had a conversation with me.Or your mom.We both would have told you what a stupid decision that is.As much as I love Evan—he’s my godson after all—he’s a player.And I’m not talking about a basketball player, sweetheart.I mean… Christ on a cracker.I mean he’s simply not boyfriend material.”
Before I could respond, Dad raked a hand through his hair, getting more upset by the second.“I don’t like the thought of you with Evan, Ali.No, you belong with Sixx.That’s who I’ve been preparing myself for you to end up with.Even before Abi dropped the whole Vaughn bomb on us, I was working myself up to the inevitable.Sixx is good for you.He takes care of you the way you deserve.I’m not saying Evan wouldn’t be a good match for some lucky girl later down the road, but that girl isn’t you.”
“Whoa, whoa, whoa,” I laughed, holding up my hands in hopes of stopping him from upsetting himself more than he already was.“Dad, you’re spiraling.”
“I was prepared for Sixx.I…” He combed his fingers through his hair again, giving it a wild, unkempt look.“It has to be Sixx.”
“ItisSixx.We’re together.I was just waiting to tell you officially.”
He blew out a heavy breath, his entire body seeming to melt with relief.“Good.That’s great.I’m glad.Um, congrats?”
Throwing my arms around his neck, I gave him a tight hug.“I’m not going to drop any surprises on you like Abi did, Daddy.I promise.It will always be Sixx for me.One day, I’m going to marry him, maybe give him a few babies.But that’s a big maybe—way, way, way down the road.Like, maybe when I’m thirty.Or never.We have time to decide that.”
