Page 45 of Everything After (Everything Trilogy)

LILY

“It was more luck than anything when I saw the audition for XrAid, and I really fell on my feet,” I admitted to Delilah. “I mean, what girl gets chosen to be in a rock band at their very first audition?”

“Insanely talented ones,” Lennie stated before he took a huge bite of his pizza.

Shawn did a drumroll with his fingers on the table, making the silverware jump. “Exactly,” he stated.

I chuckled, knowing they all had bias now. “Thanks for believing in me,” I said, touched by their appreciation of me.

“I get it,” Alfie stated, smiling warmly toward me. “After her first audition with me, I knew I had to have her.”

My jaw dropped and I felt my face redden. “Alfie!”

“What?” He chuckled. “I meant when I saw you up there on that stage by the beach. You looked good enough to lick all over, sitting there in your sexy, fuck me heels, compensating for that dick on the saxophone. What was his name?” he asked playfully, when what he was really referring to was the first night we’d slept together.

“His name is Will, and he isn’t a dick,” I protested, defending the guy I collaborated with in college.

“And anyway, that was a long time ago,” I said, brushing past his pleasing description of me, and steering the conversation back to Delilah.

“What direction would you like to go in, once you finish college?”

“It would be a dream to find a band that needed a singer and pianist.”

“Or you could go out on your own. You’ve got an amazing vocal range. Guys you need to hear this girl, I’m predicting huge things for her,” Alfie suggested.

My husband’s endorsement of Delilah clued me in to how special he thought she was, and for a moment I felt jealous of her. However, from the heated gaze he afforded me when his eyes met mine, I believed his praise was only related to her talent.

There had only been four other artists or bands that Alfie had made that statement about over the years, and each time he’d been right. Those being, Rick Fars, Screaming Shadows, Billie Eilish, and Ariana Grande.

“Maybe you could come and play for us?” I suggested. “I was thinking of having some people over to the house next month to hang out. Both Alfie and I tinker on the grand piano in our morning room, but neither of us play all that well.”

“M-Me, play for you guys?” she repeated, a little shook at my offer.

“Why not? In fact, we’ll hire you. My old roommate is getting married soon and she’s flying in from Texas. It’s been years since we hosted a party, right, Alfie?”

“Great idea,” Alfie mumbled around a forkful of food.

“Now you’re putting me on the spot,” Delilah said, sounding less confident than I’d heard before.

“Take every opportunity to get your music out there,” I advised. “You’ll do it?”

“Of-of course I’ll do it,” Delilah blurted with her palms on her cheeks, looking like she couldn’t believe her luck.

“That’s settled then. Alfie can sort out the details with you once your final assessment is done. We’d love to have you over. You never know, one of our friend’s bands might even ask you to open for them down the road.”

“Damn… oh, sorry,” Delilah muttered, looking embarrassed.

“Baby, your kindness and the way you want others to succeed is one of the reasons that you’re my everything,” Alfie murmured into my ear, then pressed a kiss to my temple.

“You have no idea how it feels to be a woman on the cusp of something you know you would be great at, and wonder if you’ll ever get that chance,” I remarked, frowning at Alfie.

“I get it,” Digs stated. “It’s not only women that are overlooked, Lily. If you’re not perceived to be hot, the music and acting industry tend to overlook you. XrAid was my seventeenth audition.”

A pang of shock coursed through me and my gaze swung to Digs. “Seventeen! Really? Were the other bands deaf? You’re an amazing bass player. Apart from that, there are plenty of women stalking you. How can you believe you’re not hot?”

“Look at me, I’m not hot,” Digs insisted. “I’m a better fit for a motor cycle charter than being a rock idol.”

“But you are a rock idol. And I’ve seen women drape themselves all over you… and anyway, I think your hot.”

Digs shrugged. “Wow thanks, and yeah, now women do, but to them I’m the ‘bit of rough’ in the band. Women want a one and done with a guy like me. It’s Lennie and Cody that get all the attention.”

“I think you’re under-selling yourself,” I argued again.

“May I just say, I was mesmerized when I saw you play bass at the last concert I went to. It was one of the biggest turn-ons. And Lily’s right, you have no idea how women see you,” Delilah added.

“Is that right?” Alfie asked Delilah, grinning.

Delilah nodded. “Yeah, and I should add that I’ve been sitting here quietly fangirling over you, Digs.”

“But you didn’t mention what I looked like, you referenced my skill.”

“Bet you have plenty of other skills,” Delilah muttered brazenly under her breath but loud enough for us all to hear. “Being attractive isn’t only about looks, it’s about a person’s confidence, how they carry themselves in conversation, smiles, tone of voice… all sorts of things, really.”

I laughed. “There you go, Digs. See what I mean?”

“Want to get a room?” Digs asked Delilah, grinning.

“I’d expect dinner first,” Delilah flirted back.

“Oh, the confidence,” I said, laughing.

“Mine or hers?” Digs asked, laughing too.

“Alright, back to this gig,” Delilah said with a coy smile. But she stole another glance at Digs through her lashes.

“When is your exam?” I asked, allowing the conversation to get back on track.

“In a couple of weeks,” she informed me.

“Alright, I’ll gather the troops and see who is available to come to a party at the house,” I promised.

Through the whole exchange between Digs and Delilah, I’d noticed Cody texting. Suddenly he stood. “I’ll cover the check, but I need to head out.”

“I hope it’s to meet a female that’ll take your mind off my wife,” Alfie muttered.

I glared at Alfie. “Stop it. You’re not helping,” I admonished.

“Yeah, you’ll be pleased to hear it is. She’s one of my regular hook ups.”

“Maybe hooking up is where you’ve been going wrong all these years. You should try dating,” Alfie continued.

“Enough, Alfie,” I scolded, embarrassed to have my other bandmates and a girl I didn’t know witness Alfie’s remarks.

“Yeah… actually, I have had enough. That’s why I called him out earlier.”

“Noted,” Lennie mumbled, glaring at Alfie. “I’ll call you tomorrow, Cody,” he added to our bandmate.

I’d thought we’d gotten past the earlier exchange between Alfie and Cody, but realized Alfie had kept his temper because of me. However, something told me the altercation he’d had back in the studio with my bandmate was only the beginning of his retribution.

“I’m glad you and Delilah hit it off. She’s awesome, right?” Alfie said as we drove back to the island after dinner.

“She appears so,” I agreed, yawning.

“Do you think it wise to throw a party in the middle of recording and getting ready for the baby?”

“It’s one evening, and I had my reasons other than giving Delilah an opportunity.”

“Yeah?” he asked, glancing from the road to meet my gaze. “What reasons?”

I shrugged, and his eyes focused back on the road. “Thought we might tell everyone at once that we’re expecting a baby.”

“You want a grand announcement?” Alfie asked, his now twinkling, excited gaze trained on me again, before switching back to the road.

“Not for that reason. I figured it would be easier to tell everyone at once instead of over and over, and maybe getting calls from people congratulating me. I feel that would be more of a distraction than one party.”

“True. Plus, seeing everyone’s reactions instead of guessing how they took the news would be fun.”

“You’re thinking of Cody again, aren’t you.”

“I wasn’t, but now I am,” Alfie admitted.

“Please stop, it’s bad enough there’s that strain ever present on his side, you getting all up in it is making me feel worse,” I pleaded. “I’ve dealt with Cody’s ways for years. I really don’t need you to fight my battles.”

“I’m your husband, Lily. That little fucker should be feeling like he won the lotto tonight since I didn’t lay him out on the floor earlier.”

“That’s what I’m scared of. Why are we talking about him again? We argued for weeks until recently, and we’re only just getting close again. Please, don’t allow something I can’t control to come between us. You must trust me—I can handle Cody.”

“My point is you shouldn’t need to handle any man pawing you.

Bandmate or no bandmate. No one has the right to invade your personal space.

Working with the guy is one thing, but it still happened today, and I was the only audience.

I can only imagine how he is when there is no one around to witness his behavior. ”

“Right, I’m drawing a line under this. He doesn’t touch me when no one’s around. If he did, I’d call him out. The minute we step out of this car there’s no more talking about Cody. He’s wasting the time we have together.”

Alfie stared ahead for a long, silent pause, then grabbed my hand and nodded. “I won’t mention it again while we’re home.”

What I took from that was that his beef with Cody was far from over, but for the time being he’d play nice… for now anyway.