"Why don't you let him tell the story?" Ben suggested.
"Sorry," Lexie said.
"Please don't be sorry. It's a long story. Wren made some serious mistakes while dealing with substance abuse. I took the blame for what she did, and now she's coming clean. She's sober and healthy, and she wants to start over with a clean slate. Apparently, she just did an interview about it, which is why the reporters are here. I'm sure you can read her statement online. I came here to escape the kind of madness that is out in the parking lot. I used a different name, hoping no one would recognize me. I thought it was possible to stay hidden, because Wren was the star of our group, and unless you were a super fan, you wouldn't know the faces of the people singing and playing behind her."
"You wrote some of her songs," Emmalyn said, drawing his gaze to hers. "I love her music…your music."
"Thank you." He turned to Josie, who gave him a sympathetic smile. "And I'm grateful to Josie, for giving me this safe haven for the last few months."
"I know what it feels like when the sharks come after you," Josie said. Her gaze turned to the group. "I think it's important that you all remember that Jax didn't lie to me. I always knew who he was, and I was happy to help him protect his privacy. I wanted him to have a chance to heal, and I think most of you have gotten to know him now. I hope you'll make your judgments based on this man, not the one the press is trying to define."
He had even more gratitude for her words. He gave her a thankful smile, then turned back to the group. "You all made me feel like the world was a safer, friendlier place, and I'm sorry I took so long to get to know you. You're an impressive group, and even with my secrets, you still welcomed me." He felt a knot in his throat. "I appreciate that more than I can say, and I'm sorry for the disruption."
"Don't worry about that," Josie interrupted with a dismissive wave of her hand. "And don't think you need to leave because the press is out there. This will all blow over, and they'll move on to the next story."
"Maybe not that quickly."
"None of us care about the reporters," Lexie added. "They're not going to bother us. Just you…and probably Kaia. I'm going to check on her."
As Lexie left, the group dispersed, but Ben lingered behind.
Seeing the concern on Kaia's brother's face made him square his shoulders. "You don't have to worry, Ben. I'm not going to push Kaia into anything."
"It wouldn't work if you tried. I've never known my sister to let anyone decide anything for her. She learned how to stand on her own two feet a long time ago."
"That's something I really like about her."
Ben gave him an assessing look. "I told you before I would stay out of your business, not because I trust you, but because I trust Kaia. That still stands. If you need my professional help with that group out there or anything else, let me know."
"That's generous."
"Well, you did bring Kaia all the way to the desert to see our father."
"Kaia said he's doing better."
"Yes. He just needs to stay on his medication. He also needs to find activities to help his mood. I spent some time with his neighbor before I left. He had some ideas for how to get my father into more activities where he's living. But he's so stubborn, I don't know if he'll do anything I suggest. Hopefully, his neighbor can make something happen. It's frustrating."
"It's difficult to watch people you care about disintegrating in front of you without trying to fix them."
"Is that what happened with you and your partner?"
"Yes. It took me a long time to learn that protecting her wasn't helping her." He paused, glancing across the courtyard at Kaia's closed door.
Ben followed his gaze. "Kaia is tough. Those people aren't going to run her off, unless she wants to back away. My advice, which is probably worth nothing," he added with a smile. "Give her some time. Let her come to you."
"That's the problem. I don't think she will."
"Well, then you'll have your answer."
Chapter Twenty-Two
"I'm fine. You didn't have to come over," Kaia told Lexie as she pulled two sparkling waters out of her fridge and handed her one.
"You didn't look fine when you came in from the parking lot."
"I was rattled," she admitted as they sat down on her couch together. "They were shouting so many questions at a time. And each one seemed worse and more personal than the last." She took a swig of water, feeling the cool slide down her parched throat. “I’ve never been through anything like that before."
"Did Jax say anything to the press?"
