Page 214 of My Three Billionaire Rockstars

“Morning is a mindset.”

He hands me one of the coffees before dropping onto the couch beside me dramatically.

“Thank you. Where are the other two?”

“Gabe’s threatening publicists over the phone.” Julian stretches out comfortably beside me. “And Xander has been in Studio A for a while.”

As if summoned by our conversation, Xander walks through the far side of the room toward the staircase, black T-shirt clinging to his shoulders, tattoos disappearing beneath rolled sleeves.

He looks tired. Like he’s been pulled open and hasn’t figured out how to close again.

His eyes land on me, and everything in me stills.

It should be illegal for someone to look at people like that.

“You hiding from work?” Julian calls casually.

Xander’s gaze never leaves mine. “Trying to.”

Julian grins. “Well, unfortunately, Willow’s having an identity crisis.”

“I’m not.”

“You were staring into the middle distance at nothing.”

Xander’s mouth twitches. That tiny almost smile does genuinely embarrassing things to my nervous system.

He walks closer, attention fixed entirely on me now. “What’s wrong?”

Straight to it.

Always.

I shrug lightly even though the answer feels bigger than I know how to explain. “I just…” I exhale. “Everything feels weird.”

Julian snorts. “Strong understatement.”

“I know.” I rub the back of my neck tiredly. “I just feel kinda useless lately.”

Both men look at me like I’ve grown two heads.

“You’re not useless,” Xander says flatly.

“I know that logically,” I mutter. “But everyone else is doing things. Important things. And I’m just kind of… existing in the background while my entire life gets turned upside down.”

Silence settles briefly. Then Xander says, “Come with me.”

I blink. “What?”

“Studio A.”

Julian grins. “Oh, this is gonna devastate her.”

I narrow my eyes. “What is going on here?”

Xander waits near the stairs, patient but clearly expecting me to follow. Which, I do.

The walk through the compound is quieter than usual.