Page 63 of All Tied Down

“It’s not. But you have a team, Garrett. Use them, and remember the vision you had for Descending North. Change is inevitable but it should never be at the expense of the things you hold most dear. You had a dream, Garrett, but more importantly, you’re allowed to determine whether that dream still reflects what you want today. If it does then chase it, and if it doesn’t, figure out what you need to do to reignite that flame.”

“You’re incredible; do you know that?”

“I do,”—she smirks—“and while flattery will get you most places, it won’t get you out of doing hard things today.”

“It was worth a try.”

“Take care of the band now, Mr. North, and later,” she purrs in a way that has my blood racing to my cock, “I’ll be sure to take care of you.”

“Where’s my phone?” I jerk out of her grasp as she snickers, her smile warming me from the inside out.

And maybe the best thing to happen to me wasn’t the band.

Maybe the best thing to ever happen to me is the woman that married me in Vegas.

And just maybe, I’ll figure out a way to keep her.

25

GARRETT

The room is tense as Maverick and Lachlan look from me to Roan who is propped against the windowsill. Dressed in business casual even on a Sunday, he looks imposing—the seriousness of this meeting unavoidable and overdue.

And now I have to take the lead.

“I know everyone got at least one message from Darren last night,” I start, sliding printed screenshots of the ones I’d been sent to each of them. “It’s impossible to be in this situation and know what the right decision is, but I can’t let this continue.”

“Fucking finally,” Maverick heaves, dragging his hands down his face, his light hair disheveled and eyes tired as Lachlan nods.

“Seriously, man.”

My eyes widen as I stare at them, Lachlan specifically, as I try to wrap my head around the last thirty seconds. “What?”

“Dude. Darren is a mess,” Maverick says. “I know we were all there at the beginning, but Descending North is yours, Garrett. Lach and I have just been waiting for you to be ready to take out the trash.”

Eyebrows in my hairline, I gape at them as Lachlan elbows Mav. “Tone it down.”

“What? I’m tired and my filter is gone,” Maverick laments.

“What’s going on?” I ask, taking in the dark circles under his eyes and the stubble covering his jaw.

“Olive is going through one of those growing phases. Did you know that was a thing? Like a growth spurt but for their mind and body. They grow when they sleep but it’s all just this wild hell period of tantrums and restlessness, and as soon as you get close to recovering, another one hits.”

Lachlan pulls out his phone and pretends to type. “Garrett, I’m going to need next week off while I get a vasectomy.”

I snort but Mav shakes his head. “She’s awesome. Best thing in my life, but holy shit, I’m exhausted.”

“I’ll get it reversed if I need to someday. In the future. A long time from now.” Lach grins as he pats Mav on the back. “More importantly, what are our options for Darren?” A little more subdued, he adds, “And the band?”

Looking to Roan, I wait for him to nod before I take a deep breath. “If we’re in agreement then he’s out. Roan has paperwork and contracts and all the shit I never would have considered doing back then. It’ll be messy and he’s gonna cause a scene online, but hopefully we’ll be able to get ahead of it.”

“I’ll reach out to some people after we finish here,” Roan states, “and make sure whatever damage Darren tries to cause is minimal.”

“And the band?” Mav asks, looking between us.

“We have a couple of options,” I tell him, tapping my fingers on the table absentmindedly as Maverick’s lips twitch.

Because he knows what it means.