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“It’s not our style. Our songs aren’t wedding appropriate and you know I hate covers. I–”

She waved her hands, her face a mask of irritation. “Stow it. You might be the leader, but this is a decision we make together. And I know the guys will be on board with that kind of money.” She turned to Maya. “We’ll do it. Give us a time and place. We’ll be there.”

Maya beamed, elated, while I sank in on myself. This was why I didn't bring it up to them. I knew they’d want to do it. It just felt like another gigantic step down from where we’d come from in the Other Realm.

Maya patted my shoulder, doing her best to hide the joy on her face. “Cheer up. This isn’t one of those fancy weddings withcheesy music. You know Isla and I aren’t those kinds of people. We want to have fun. And I’m sure Isla will have more than one of your songs on request. She loves you guys.”

It settled me a little and I let out a slow breath. “Yeah, alright. Just keep the torment to a minimum. They only have to play the music. I’m the one who has to say the stupid words.”

That made her cackle, but I found less joy in it. Oh, how the mighty have fallen. I needed to do everything in my power to make sure my dad and my uncle never found out. I’d never hear the end of it.

CHAPTER TWO

ARTHUR

Swallowing hard,I tried to sink a little farther into the shadows. This was the third Children of Myth show I’d come to see and I was worried I was starting to look like a stalker. I couldn’t help myself. Listening to them got me out of my head for a while. The lead singer especially had that kind of soulful, alluring voice that kept me coming back time and time again. I felt like I was way too old to follow a band around the city, but here I was. Again.

While I hadn’t intended on eavesdropping, the bar was small enough that I could overhear them talking to each other. I secretly agreed with Hendrix. His band didn’t scream wedding to me. Then again, my own wedding had a string quartet and every cheesy love song my ex-wife could think of. It wasn’t exactly the wedding I wanted, but everyone said the wedding was more about the bride, so I let Val make all the decisions.

Like she was summoned by my thoughts, my phone buzzed with that special tempo I set to let me know my ex was calling me. I fumbled with my phone, almost running out the door soshe wouldn’t hear the noise of the club in the background. I wasn’t fast enough and missed the call by the time I got outside, but I was quick to call her back. Her tone still held a level of annoyance to it when she answered.

“Why didn’t you answer the first time?”

“Sorry…” I knew better by now than to throw out excuses. She’d yell at me either way. “What did you need?”

“You are picking up Sofía tomorrow, right?”

I frowned. “Yes. I have her every weekend. Why?”

She clicked her tongue, but I couldn’t figure out if she was irritated with me or something else. I usually assumed it was me. It had been since the day we got married.

“She’s been asking. She doesn’t believe me when I say you will. And she won’t go to bed until she is sure.”

My heart ached a little at the thought. The divorce was a little over a year ago, and Sophie was still struggling to cope. If I could’ve, I would’ve convinced Val to stick it out until Sophie was in college, but Val got tired of me and wouldn’t even discuss other options. She wanted a divorce, and I didn’t fight her on it.

“Can I talk to her?”

Val didn’t like to let me talk to Sophie when it was her night, but if she was fed up enough to call me, I figured she’d take the offer. It was beyond late and Sophie had school in the morning. Val wasn’t happy about it, I could hear her muttering under her breath, but she handed Sophie the phone anyway.

“Sophie?”

“Daddy? When are you coming to get me?”

“After school, baby. Why are you still up?”

My little girl was my life. I’d go through the whole awful marriage again and the years of verbal abuse just to have that little girl. She was so smart and thoughtful and she was my light in the darkness when things were at their worst.

“I couldn’t sleep.” Her voice dropped to a whisper. “I like your house better.”

A part of me wanted to be smug about that, but I also wanted my daughter to have a good relationship with her mother. I put my own feelings aside, keeping my voice gentle for Sophie.

“There’s something to love at both houses, sweet pea. Your mom’s house has that beautiful garden and all those books. You’re allowed to love both, Sophie. We just want you to be happy.”

I could hear the frown in her voice and I could practically see the look on her face. When Sophie didn’t agree with me, she looked so much like her mother. Her brows drew together tightly, her lips pressed into a thin line. But unlike Val, Sophie was a lot more diplomatic when she disagreed with me.

“But your house has my purple room and all my stuffies. It's fun there.”

“And you’ll be there tomorrow. But you’ve got school in the morning and you can’t learn well if you’re tired. So go to bed and get a good sleep. I promise, I’ll pick you up right on time tomorrow.”