by K E Osborn
The music starts, and I reach out for the microphone. My heart thumps as the bright lights make me swelter. The moment’s bittersweet. I know in my heart this will be the very last time I perform on a stage. This is my big finale.
My man told me he loves me.
I know my life is with Eddie now.
I’m a florist.
A girlfriend.
I have no need even to think about the performing kind of life anymore. Time to say goodbye.
Just like in the song, I’m walking away from the past and into my new life. Singing, performing—it’s all in the background, and as I open my mouth, the words come out with so much passion, so much meaning and emotion. I know I’m doing the right thing, so I sing my little heart out. I glance to the back of the room, seeing the pride on Eddie’s face. It fills me with warmth that I can make him look at me this way. I’m singing the best I can for him because I know this will be the only time he sees me on stage.
The lights are glary, the smoke machine blasts candy-smelling smoke out into the crowd who are swaying to and fro with the music. I’m giving it my all. The entire bar is watching me. I don’t like the attention—I’m only singing this for Eddie. But the way he’s looking at me right now makes me feel like a fucking queen.
I sing the notes with ease and the words like I’ve written them. The song’s perfect for me, for this moment, for my life at this point in time. I take it up a notch, putting everything I have into it while the crowd starts to cheer and react.
I notice a man storm into the bar like he’s on a mission. He’s pushing through everyone, making some people fall forward, spilling their drinks. I can’t see who he is, only that he’s definitely heading toward Eddie, Jase, and Paisley. I tense but continue as I stand taller, watching while Eddie tries to pull the man to the back of the room, but it doesn’t work, and the mystery man turns to face me.
It’s dark. I can’t make out his face while I am singing the final verse of the song. His arms are crossed. His posture relaxes slightly, but mine tenses completely. I finish the song as the bar erupts in applause, including the man I can’t make out.
But I don’t hear the clapping, only the ringing in my ears.
Who the hell is he?
I rush from the stage, and suddenly, Paisley’s at my side. “C’mon, sweets, we gotta go.” She tries to drag me away in a hurry, but I see Eddie, Jase, and the stranger I can’t make out arguing. My anxiety rushes through the roof, so I shake Paisley off and storm toward the back of the room.
“Lyric, please, don’t go over there,” Paisley begs while pulling on my arm.
Panic washes over me as I stop, staring at her concerned face. She’s truly frightened about whatever’s going on back there.
Now I’m really concerned.
Patrons congratulate me as I hurry past them, but I don’t say anything as I rush toward the arguing men. Eddie’s eyes widen so large when he spots me. It almost looks like he’s about to run, but he stays put as the shadowed man turns to face me.
My heart leaps into my throat as I gasp.
I know him.
“Lyric,” he announces, holding his hand out to shake. “I’m Edward Covington Senior, President of Ego Star Productions record company. You have quite the voice.”
My eyes drop to his hand, then I shake my head, my stomach twisting in on itself. “No,” I blurt out as I glance at Eddie, my body shaking with fear.
“No? I haven’t even said anything yet,” he says in a smarmy way like he thinks I’m going to change my mind.
I won’t.
“I’m not signing with you. I am not a singer. It’s not who I a—”
“I disagree. I think my executive vice president would agree with me, too.”
I snort out a laugh. “Fuck your EVP. I mean no offense, sir, but I’m simply not interested.”
Covington Senior’s eyes shift to Eddie. “You think you can change her mind… son?”
My heart’s thumping rapidly, then stops as it all clicks into place.
Eddie’s eyes fall to the floor.
My stomach churns.
Eddie’s played me this whole time.
My body trembles as I glare at Eddie. Suddenly, rage ignites inside me so fucking hot I can’t keep it in, so I move forward, shoving Eddie in the chest. “You! You’re Edward Covington Junior? You’re his EVP? You lied to me? Flat-out lied. That whole story about working for a detective agency? About that Soren guy being a manager? I mean, Jesus, is he even real or did you pull that name out of your ass? But that’s beside the point, Eddie… you lied… about it all!”
His eyes are desperate as he steps forward, but I step back. “I lied about my job, it’s true, but only so this wouldn’t happen, Lyri. Soren’s real, though he isn’t a manager. He owns Soren’s Divorce Assistance Private Investigation Services. He’s opened a new branch here in LA, but he’s not part of the family business. He did a job for someone we know, and just like I used Jase’s surname as my own to cover up who I am, I used Soren’s business name to hide my career from you, too.” Eddie swipes his hand through his hair and sighs. “I lied… too much. But Lyri, I did it for—”
“You’re nothing but a fucking asshole!” I shove Eddie again as anger swarms through me so violently I want to do more than shove him. He takes a step back as I grunt out my frustration, balling my hands into fists as people turn and start to watch the scene unfold.
But I don’t care.
Eddie tries to reach out for me, but I smack his hand away.
“You wanted me to sing tonight just so your father could hear me. So he could convince me to sign with your damn company. You’ve been using me this entire time.” I exhale loudly then mutter to myself, “I’m so fucking stupid.”
He steps closer. “Lyri, it’s not like that. I swea—”
“Fuck you! Fuck all of you. I know your kind try hard to source new talent. But a lie this outrageous… to date someone for four months just to get her to sign? Yeah, that’s something else, Eddie. I don’t even know who you are. You can take your production company and shove it right up your hotshot ass.” I reach out, grabbing Paisley’s hand. “C’mon, Paisley… we’re leaving.”
I turn toward the door as Eddie grabs my elbow to stop me, but I bring my hand up, slapping his face as hard as I can. “Don’t you ever come near me again, you lying sack of shit.”
His face falls, and it almost seems sincere, but I’ve fallen for his lies once. I won’t do it again.
“Lyri, I wasn’t lying when I told you I love you.”
I tense all over as I stare into his eyes. “Beetlejuice.” It comes out more like a breathy whisper.
His face falls soberly like he knows I mean business.
I need to leave.
I grip hold of Paisley, and we storm out of the bar.
And he lets me.
My palm aches like high hell, but it’s nothing compared to the earth-shattering pain in my chest. I’m trying my hardest to keep my shit together as I hail a cab. Paisley doesn’t say anything as a car screeches to a halt at the curb, and we fall inside. My heart hammers in my chest while my breathing comes so damn fast and furious I can hardly think.
From the cab window, I glimpse Eddie staring at me from the doorway.
Those eyes.
Ba-dum.
Ba-dum.
Damn my stupid heart.
Damn it straight to hell.
“I’m so sorry, Lyri,” Paisley murmurs as she wraps her arm around my shoulders.
I can’t hold it in anymore as I lean into her, the dam wall breaking, and I fall apart, the tears cascading down my face in a river.
“He s-said he l-loved me,” I mumble out through wracking sobs as the cab pulls out into the Saturday night traffic.
Away from the bar. Away from Eddie.
I feel like my soul’s leaving its other half behind.
I feel like a part of me has died in that bar.
I don’t know if I can ever recove
r from his deception.
I can’t trust men.
Ever.
Goodbye, hotshot.
More like hotshot deceiver.
Chapter Fourteen
EDDIE
Goddammit! I never meant to hurt her.
My heart pounds ferociously, my breathing frantic as I watch her fall apart in the cab. I want to go after her so fucking badly. Everything in me is screaming, aching to make this right, but I know right now she doesn’t want to talk to me. I know her. She needs time. She called Beetlejuice. I need to respect that she needs her space. But as the cab pulls away with her inside, it breaks something within me. It feels like I’m physically being torn in half. Like a part of me has driven off in that damn car.
My nostrils flare in anger.
I never meant for her to find out like this.
I always knew one day she was going to find out. I was going to tell her. I know what singing and her family mean to her. I know what she wants from life.
But for her to find out like this.
No, this wasn’t supposed to fucking happen.
I stare out into the darkened night street. Cars zoom by, and I guess I’m hoping, praying for her to come back, but I know she won’t. She’s stubborn, and I love that about her.
I hang my head, shoving my hands into my jeans pockets and walk back inside.
Jase slaps my back, shaking his head. “I told you this was going to blow up in your face if you didn’t come clean.”
I grunt. “Not helping, Jase.”
My father walks over. He wreaks of disapproval. “I know it’s rare you and Jase go off the grid. I had your phone tracked. That’s how I found you… in case you’re wondering, son.”
I roll my eyes. I should have known, but right now I’m too concerned about Lyri to care about my father’s invasion of my damn privacy. Lyri was never meant to be approached by my father. I know she never wants back into the music scene. It’s why I haven’t pushed her on any level, and why I didn’t tell her who I am. If I did, I knew this exact thing would happen.
She’d think I was only with her to try to sign her to Ego Star.
Maybe if I’d told her the fucking truth from the get-go, this could have been avoided—with a simple and honest conversation.
Too fucking late now. The damage is done.
I have no damn clue how to fix it.
Dad exhales, shaking his head. “I had no idea when I came looking for you tonight I’d find such talent. Lyric’s unique, EJ. I want you to sign her. Make it happen!” Dad slaps my shoulder. He turns to walk out of the bar leaving me with Jase.
I run my fingers through my hair as I let out an exaggerated groan. “Jesus Christ.”
“I don’t think he’ll be much help right now,” Jase adds.
I glare at him. “Not. Helping. Jase.”
He raises his hands in surrender. “Sorry. But honestly, how did you think this was going to end, Eddie? You’ve been basically catfishing this girl for months. Telling her you’re someone you’re not. Have you even told her about the other mega-important thing?”
I grimace, my chest squeezing at the thought. “I lied about that, too. Said I met Chance by living with him in a really small house.”
Jase lets out a loud laugh. “Small house is right. Bro, you need to figure out what the hell you want to do because if you want Lyri, which I see by those puppy-dog eyes you do, you gotta come clean. About everything. And dude, I can tell you now, if you think she’s angry at the moment, wait until you tell her you’re a convicted felon.”
I roll my shoulders. My stomach churns—I feel sick.
“I gotta get out of here,” I murmur.
Jase bends down, swooping up his leather jacket and hurries after me as I open the door. The summer air smacks me in the face as I step outside and start walking at a fast pace. I don’t know where I’m going. My car’s in the opposite direction. I should be in it with Lyri, taking her home.
I’m angry.
At myself.
At Dad.
At Lyri even, for not waiting to hear me out.
I’m just mad at this whole fucked-up situation.
I finally found a woman I could see a future with, a woman worth spending my life with, and I went and fucked it up royally.
Jase keeps his stride with mine even though I know I’m storming the streets like a maniac. He says nothing, just walks with me, letting me cool off.
Suddenly, I stop, turning around to face him. My hand runs through my hair. “Why the fuck would Dad come here?” I yell in frustration. “I mean… what the hell did he want, anyway? He showed up, saw Lyri singing, then he blasted me about wanting me to sign her…” My hands flail about like a madman. “It doesn’t make any fucking sense?”
Jase cracks his neck to the side. “He said he tracked your cell.”
“Yeah, but fucking why? He obviously wanted me or both of us for something? But it was all forgotten once he got here.”
Jase shrugs. “Don’t strain your brain trying to think about what that man does. No one can figure out how he ticks, Eddie. You of all people should know that.”
I let out a long breath and start walking again, but this time back in the direction of my car.
I have to go to her.
I need to see if I can salvage this.
I need to talk to her.
I need to tell her every damn thing.
My feet move faster than I thought possible.
“Where the fuck are you going?” Jase calls out as I take off running.
I don’t answer as I make for my car.
I need my girl.
I just need my girl.
***
Upon arriving at Lyri’s house, heaviness weighs on me. I know I’m in the wrong. I know I’ve kept things from her. I’ve been living this double life, this alter ego. As Jase said, I’ve basically been catfishing Lyri this entire time, just doing it in person which makes it so much worse. I don’t even know how to begin making this up to her. Where do I start to make this right?
Feeling like I’m the biggest fucking asshole in the world, I get out of my car. I told her I love her. And in the same night, I feel like I’ve lost her. I just hope like all hell whatever I do right now equates to me getting her back.
Dragging my feet to her front door, I can see straight through her front bay window. The sight nearly knocks me back on my ass. Lyri’s curled up on her gray sofa, the one we always cuddle on with Polly sitting on the sofa arm while we binge on Netflix. But that’s not what breaks me. It’s that her head is in Paisley’s lap. The tears streaming down Lyri’s face make it hard for me to breathe.
I did that to her.
My lies.
My deception.
I hesitate.
Should I go to her? She’s a mess.
I don’t want to do anything to make her worse. But I don’t want to be that guy who lets this go either. She’s worth fighting for.
I need to sort this shit out.
I move to the front door and gently knock with my heart beating faster than it did the first time I came here. My stomach rolls, feeling unsettled, as I hear someone walking toward the door. I tense, bracing myself to see Lyri’s broken face. I know it’s going to kill me watching her so hurt, but I ready myself to fight for her.
The door opens. I still, ready for whatever might come flying my way, but Paisley’s answered the door instead of Lyri. Her eyes widen as she takes me in. She ducks like she’s avoiding something as she moves forward, taking a step out of the door and closes it slightly behind her.
“What the fucking hell, in the name of all things holy, do you think you’re doing here?” she spits through her gritted teeth.
I’ve never seen this fiery side of Paisley. She’s fighting for her friend. I get it. I totally do, and I’m going to take whatever she wants to dish out at me because I deserve it.
“Paisley, I—”
“Don’t you ‘Paisley’ me. My girl’s a mess in
there. You threw a wrecking ball of epic proportions right through her fragile heart tonight. She doesn’t deserve whatever sick game you were trying to pull her into—”
“It wasn’t a game, Paisley,” I try to defend myself.
Her eyes widen. “Oh, it wasn’t, was it? Then what’s your real name, Eddie? You think you can just tell your girlfriend of four months your name is something entirely different than what it actually is… Edward Covington Junior?” She says my name with pure and utter contempt. “You think she’s just going to accept it and be like… oh, yeah, that’s fine, just lie to me. And okay, sure… I’ll put my beliefs and needs aside so I can sign with your motherfucking record label, you son of a bitch!” Her tone goes from angry to mocking back to angry. Paisley is furious.
I don’t blame her.
She finally stops her verbal assault, and I take a breath, steadying my thoughts. I could try to defend myself, but there’s only one woman I want to talk to right now. Paisley is not her.
“I need to see Lyric.”
Paisley gawks as if I’ve just spoken another language. “Have you heard nothing I’ve just said?”
Starting to become impatient, I use a little more force. “This isn’t a request. Paisley. I. Need. To. See. Her. I have to make this right.”
She folds her arms over her chest. “No! You’re not coming in.”
“I don’t want anything to do with you,” Lyri yells out.
Oh, fuck! My stomach tightens as I duck my head around the door, making Paisley swat at my head. But I don’t care as she continues to slap at me. “I’m sorry, Lyri. You were never meant to find out that way.”
Her eyes catch mine as she sits up on the sofa, glaring at me. “I should never have found out at all. You should have been honest with me from the start.” She turns her head away, breaking our eye contact while Paisley continues to try and push me out the door, but I don’t budge. “I don’t trust you, Eddie. Our relationship was nothing but lies. Built on the foundations of a fabrication you continued to seed. You need to leave before I call the cops.”
My body freezes. With my felony charge, anything to do with the cops is a bad idea. I don’t need her finding that shit out as well at this moment on top of everything else. I need to admit defeat right now and leave. “I’m not giving up on us, Lyri. But I am going to give you time… I’ll call you tomorrow.”
