Page 133 of Everything After

“Do you really?” I challenged, my tone asking her to think again.

“Yes, I really want to… no I need to do this… for us… for me.”

“Well, if that’s how you want to proceed, I’ll craft a draft for you to look over,” Joanne suggested.

“No. I can write my own statement, thank you. Can you video it for me, please? I want to put it on my social media.”

“Baby, wait,” I muttered, taking her hand and clasping my fingers around hers.

“No, please, Alfie… let me fix this myself.”

I shrugged. “Do what the lady asks, take out your phone and video her,” I agreed.

“Hi,” Lily said, lifting a hand in a half-hearted manner toward the screen. “It’s come to my attention that someone has started a vile rumor about me. It was made public on the social media platforms and has spread to the press. It is for this reason that I’m making this video today.”

Lily waved me over and I sat down next to her. “Hey,” I remarked, and pressed a kiss to her head.

“We had something wonderful to share with the world. But we wanted to do it in our own time. However, as is often the case with being famous, we don’t always get to do that.”

Lily glanced toward me and smiled. “Doing good, baby,” I said in support.

“A rumor on social media is suggesting that I’ve been unfaithful with my bandmate. Now such a rumor brings into question who my baby’s father is. I only have a couple of things to say about this. I am not, nor have I ever had sex with my bandmate, Cody. Nor indeed have I ever been unfaithful to my husband.”

Lily squeezed my hand and I gave her a small smile.

“My legal team will be taking robust legal action against the influencer that chose to share this ridiculous, malicious falsehood regarding me. And we will find out who the supposed source from our party was.”

“Make no mistake, we will get to the bottom of this,” I interjected.

“As for my bandmate Cody’s ‘no comment’ statement, this is a standard response, which is required by our record label when asked any potentially controversial or inflammatory personal questions. Unfortunately, in my circumstance and current pregnant condition, this response has sparked extra interest from the press. Make of this what you will, but I have already discussed with my band that the scheduling of events will be put on hold for the present.”

“Her decision, not mine,” I added.

Lily smiled at my clarification that this is her decision. “As Alfie’s band, Crakt Soundzz, are entering into an extended sabbatical after many years of touring, I too will be taking a step back from XrAid for the present to concentrate on my pregnancy and parenthood.”

Lily glanced toward me, and I leaned forward and kissed her temple again. “Love you,” I murmured.

“My husband didn’t want me to make this statement because he felt there was no need. However, I am not doing this for me, or to excuse my bandmate and myself from any wrongdoing or infidelity, Iamdoing this for my husband… and for future reference for our, as yet unborn baby.”

“I’ve always trusted you, baby,” I said.

“This man here is the love of my life, and besides being besotted by him, I’d never do anything to hurt him. Now, this is the last time I’ll be willing to comment on this matter. Please leave us alone to enjoy our joyful news.”

CHAPTER 70

LILY

To Alfie’s credit, he tried hard to hide how delighted he was about my decision to step back for now. It made me realize how often he’d likely had to suppress his feelings, wants and desires to support mine. Most of all, it made me recognize that for the first time in our married life, I wanted what he wanted too.

Why had I felt it a struggle to be taken seriously by my band? Perhaps it was because I hadn’t been part of their original line-up and had gained the opportunity because the previous female co-lead singer had left.

Then I told myself that XrAid hadn’t found fame back then, so maybe my contribution by joining the band had helped to make a difference.

“I’m going to call Shawn and Digs. They deserve a heads up before my statement is made public,” I explained as I scrolled for Digs’ number on my cell phone screen.

“Sup, darlin’,” Digs quipped the moment he answered the phone. I explained my position and he was horrified at what Cody had done. “Jesus, I’m sorry. I had no idea you were goingthrough this. I haven’t been on my socials, and no one has hit me up about anything. I bet Shawn doesn’t know what’s gone down either. He’d have been first to call me.”

“I’m sorry to let you down with the album and everything?—”