“Just so you know,” Braxton says when her doe eyes land on my trembling smile. “If you cry, these guys will cry, and then I’ll have to spend the rest of the night reinflating their manly egos.”
I start crying, and the broad-shouldered man next to her with brown hair and green eyes that reminds me of a certain horde shifts uncomfortably like he wants to comfort me but doesn’t know how. “Welcome home,” Houston greets.
“We’re so happy you’re alive,” Rich says as he shoves a set of drumsticks in his front pocket.
“For the record,” Loren says. “I never doubtedfor a secondthat she was still alive.”
Rich rolls his eyes. “You literally cried for a week when we all got the news, plastered her pictures all over your Insta, called her the second baddest bitch to ever live, and ranted at anyone online who talked shit about her.”
“I wasgrieving,” Loren defends through gritted teeth.
“We had to call in a PR crisis team after you told a fan he should walk off a cliff for calling her overrated,” Houston reminds him.
Loren cringes at the reminder, and then his cheeks warm when he catches me gaping. I have a feeling I wasn’t supposed to hear all of that. “Don’t look so surprised, Relly. I told you the day we met that I’m a huge fan.”
“But are you sure you want me staying here? If it gets out that I’m here I don’t want to bring that kind of heat on you.”
“Da!”
It’s only then that I notice the infant in Braxton’s arms, who is currently staring at me and trying to eat a fistful of her hair. He has the same red hair, though his is a more muted shade than his mother’s fiery red.
“Oh my God. Is that…?”
All three of Braxton’s husbands slash bandmates start beaming with pride. “Yup,” Loren answers. “This is Coda, our son and prince of the castle. And he says it’s okay, so get your ass inside.”
Loren drops an arm around my shoulders and steers me into the house when the rest of them back away. The moment we’re inside, I crane my neck to gape at the rib vault ceiling that looks like it belongs inside of a church.
“Oh, I almost forgot,” Oni announces as she finally looks up from her phone to address the rest of us. She digs inside her green Hermès bag and pulls out a new iPhone still in the box. “I got you a phone. It’s already activated, with my number and a few others saved to your contacts.”
“Wow,” I say as I stare at the device like it’s foreign. I haven’t held a cell phone in nearly a year, and I’m only now realizing how easily I acclimated to life without one when I used to consider it a lifeline. “Thanks.”
“Don’t mention it. I should warn you though. It’s a real shit show out there, Aurelia, and it’s only going to get worse. I’m sure you’re curious, but I would caution against making any statements for now. Of course, you’re a grown woman, so that’s just my advice. I’ve already started setting up interviews for your new team. If there’s anyone you trust enough and would like to retain from your old one, let me know. When you’re ready, I’d like to talk logistics and start prepping you for your return. I should be back in a few days. And don’t worry, Aurelia.” She sheds the efficient exec role long enough to smile warmly and squeeze my arm. “You’re in safe hands.”
“Thebesthands,” Loren garbles around the mouthful of the burger he’s now clutching. When the hell did he leave?
“Dude,” Rich says like he’s disgusted. “Can you not talk with your mouth full?”
“That’s not what you said last night.” Loren winks.
Um…what? Rich and Lo? I glance at Braxton and then Houston for confirmation, but she’s too busy clutching the baby’s ears dramatically like he can understand, and Houston is pinching the bridge of his nose.
“And on that note.” Oni chucks a deuce and turns on her heels to strut to the door.
She leaves, and the six of us travel away from the front door and down the long hall. I catch Rich and Loren flirting with their eyes, but all it does is make my own longing worse, so I look down to admire the distressed black and gray harlequin floor tile. It’s still gleaming from a recent wax and partially covered by a narrow blue rug that looks worn but still plush.
There are even thick stone pillars creating an internal arcade with light from the windows streaming through the natural arches. The walls are all dark, and so is the decor, which fits my current mood and state of mind perfectly. Everything is in tones of black, silver, and dark blues.
When we reach the wide spiral staircase to the second floor, I smile at seeing that it’s barred by a baby gate that looks out of place with the rest of the interior.
Houston unlatches the gate and I follow them upstairs, but at the landing, they all start to go their separate ways. Braxton and Rich disappear down the hall with the baby while Houston swears viciously as he struggles to re-latch the baby gate.
“Good. It’s just us now. Let me show you to your room, and then I want to hear everything, because I will say it again,what the fuck, Relly? I’m glad you’re alive, but like,howare you alive, you know?”
“Leave her alone, Lo,” Houston orders in a tone that makes it clear he’s the boss. “Don’t make her relive that shit if she doesn’t want to. That’s not why she’s here.”
Loren pouts but doesn’t argue or push once he gets me alone inside one of the rooms and out of earshot of Houston. I’mgrateful for it. I’m not ready to tell my story, and I’m not sure that I’ll ever be. I want to keep the cabin and my mountain men and my memories of them for myself just a little while longer.
“So this is you,” he announces once we step inside a room with periwinkle and gold wallpaper. There are more arched windows and dark purple drapes and a chandelier to die for made of crystal and faux wax candles hanging from the room’s black lacquer ceiling. The four-poster bed is made of black iron and reminds me of another beautiful bed that’s no more. “It used to be Braxton’s, but she never uses it anymore and the others are still being renovated.”
