“Fading…” I raised my eyebrows, my cheeks warming as I tried to recall the name.
“Atlas,” he finished for me, his cocky smile returning.
“Atlas,” I repeated before realization of what he was asking suddenly dawned on me. Sure, I could be a librarian because I loved books and reading, but I didn’t know the first thing about being an assistant to a rock star.
“You’ll be just fine,” Liam said as if he read my mind. “Keep me on schedule and get me to events on time. Be the organized brain to my chaos.” He shrugged. “Think you can do that?”
I didn’t want to disappoint him, but I also didn’t want to have to go back to Abigail. I needed time to breathe and decide what I really wanted for myself. So if that meant learning how to organize a rock star’s schedule, I would give it my best shot.
“Okay,” I finally whispered.
Liam quirked an eyebrow. “Okay?”
“Okay,” I said, more resolute this time. “I’ll try my best.” Then I slipped back into my room.
After I showered and dressed, I got Samuel up and changed. He sat propped up on his blanket on the floor, playing with one of his toys as I packed up our few belongings. With everything taken care of, I texted Liam that we were ready to head out, and he showed up a minute later.
Shelby kept our conversation light as we ate breakfast. She kept peering curiously over at Liam, who, if he noticed, didn’t move to address it. It added credibility to his claim of being a celebrity. He was obviously used to being on display.
After breakfast, he followed me in his rental car as I drove back to Abigail’s apartment. I needed to pack a few suitcases since we were headed out to join Liam’s band on tour. Thankfully, Bash was the one who answered the door. Abigail wasn’t home.
Bash stayed in the living room, and Liam lingered near the front door next to a sleeping Samuel while I hurriedly threw our clothes into our luggage. I was pretty certain I was going to forget something, but that’s what stores were for.
I was in the process of wheeling the last suitcase from my room when Bash took a few steps toward me. I could tell that he had something he wanted to say, but he was battling with himself over whether or not he should speak.
There had always been this unspoken understanding between the two of us. Where Abigail would make her opinion known, Bash kept his thoughts quiet. So the fact that he was approaching me caused me to pause.
“You going to be okay?” he asked.
I shifted my weight and nodded. “I think so.”
Bash raised an eyebrow as he flicked his gaze to Liam and then back to me. “You can call me any time, and I’ll come get you—no questions asked.”
I smiled. “I appreciate that.” He wasn’t married to my sister yet, but it seemed as if he’d already taken on the role of big brother.
He hesitated like he was shuffling through his thoughts, so I just reached out and patted his arm. “We’re going to be fine.” I paused. “And I’ll call Abigail eventually.”
His expression softened as my words sunk in. “Good.” He paused. “Just, be safe.”
“I will.”
I carried Samuel while Liam dragged the three suitcases through the apartment complex and out to his rental. We were leaving my car in Harmony since we were headed to the airport to get on the band’s private jet. When Liam told me the plan, I’d nearly swallowed my tongue. What was I getting myself and Samuel into?
Luckily, Isabelle had a better reaction to Liam than Abigail did. Maybe that had something to do with the fact that Isabelle recognized him. We had stopped by the library so I could tell my boss about my sudden career change. I was in the middle of explaining what was going on when Liam approached. Suddenly, her entire demeanor changed as she grabbed ahold of my arm and began to shake it.
Her laugh was a little high pitched and her cheeks were flushed as Liam reached out to introduce himself. Isabelle was all stutters and starry eyes as she gushed over Fading Atlas’s most recent album. When Samuel started to whine in his car seat and Liam headed over to soothe him, Isabelle leaned closer and whispered that she couldn’t believe that I’d kept him a secret.
We left with Isabelle promising that if I ever needed a job at the library in the future, I was always welcome back. I gave her a thankful smile, but she was busy watching Liam swing Samuel gently back and forth in his seat like the pendulum of a grandfather clock. I told her that I’d keep her updated on our whereabouts, but I doubted that she was even listening to me.
As I climbed into the front seat of Liam’s car, realization dawned on me. I had just wrapped up my life here in Harmony. Two conversations, and there were no more loose ends. I could successfully walk away. That was how insignificant my time here had been.
Liam placed Samuel in his car seat base and then opened the driver’s door. Once he was buckled and the engine was started, he glanced over at me.
Not sure what to do, I met his gaze with a weak smile.
“Ready?” he asked.
I took in a deep breath before I nodded. “As ready as I’ll ever be.”
