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I lifted a shoulder.

“So there’s one other thing,” she said in a hesitant tone, and my eyes dashed to hers, which gleamed with nervousness.

“What other thing?”

A swallow worked down the delicate length of her throat. She looked so beautiful that it almost took my breath away. She didn’t have an inch of makeup on her face except for her matte red-painted lips. Her blond hair fell in air-dried waves, and she looked so innocent and vulnerable that it tugged my heart.

“I called the boys in; they should be here any moment.”

I flicked a brow. “What for?”

“Because I think it’s time,” she muttered, averting her gaze.

I waited, not saying a word as I watched her inhale a deep breath before slowly bringing those eyes back to me.

“Time for me to quit being the band manager,” she said, her tone laced with sadness. “I never liked it. I only did it because I thought I had something to prove. I don’t want to do it anymore.”

My gaze softened. “You don’t have to do anything you don’t like, angel. I’m sure the boys will understand.”

She flashed me a grateful smile.

A beat of silence passed, but she still kept her eyes on me. I couldn’t help but keep looking at those green-blue eyes that were drenched like sunlight glittering on a tropical ocean.

“Lan?” she said, her lips tugging into a wistful smile.

“Hmm?”

She inched closer, so close that her thighs brushed mine.

“I want to tell you something.”

“What?” I asked, my eyes roaming over her beautiful face.

“I want to say thank you,” she murmured softly. “I know I haven’t been the best girlfriend to you in the past years, and I know I neglected you. To be honest, I’m truly sorry and ashamed of everything I did back then. I just want to say thank you that you’re still here even when you don’t have to be. For giving me a second chance at everything I’ve ever wanted, and I couldn’t be more happier.”

I had to fight to keep my grin at bay. Fuck, she was too adorable. I had no idea how long I could play this game with her because I was on my last resort. Ever since I moved in a couple a days ago, every night has been a fucking pain. All I wanted was to break down the wall my room shared with hers and fuck her like she needed to be fucked and hold her in my arms and tell her how much I fucking loved her.

Just then, the doorbell went off in rapid motion.

I cursed, knowing it was that impatient ass, Mikey.

“That must be the boys. I’ll go get it.” Katy darted off before I could say anything.

She was trying.

Trying to be here in the present with me.

More than trying and I couldn’t be more proud.

CHAPTER 22

KATY

“K, are you going to speak because I’d rather be between my Liliana’s thighs than stare at all these ugly faces,” Mikey quipped seriously, which earned him a hard smack on the back of the head from Emmie.

“Don’t fucking talk about my sister that way,” Emmie spat, pinning him with a glare to which Mikey grinned.

Emmie, Matty, Mikey, and Lan were all gathered in my living room, and for the past five minutes, I’d been pacing the floor, thinking of how to blurt out that I was quitting.