Page 2 of Everything After

“Seriously,” she mumbled as her gaze turned awkward, then darted toward Cody, who looked rooted to the spot. “Alfie surprised me,” she mumbled in Cody’s direction, like it was any of his fucking business.

Cody gave me a half-hearted wave, but not before I saw how pissed he was that I’d turned up. Lily appeared not to notice his downturned features and focused back on my face.

“How did you wrangle this?” She looked cute with a puzzled crease in her brow.

“Can’t a man surprise his wife without answering questions?”

“Of course, but you said—” I pressed my fingertips over her soft lips to silence her.

“I’m here. Be happy… be grateful. The long ride to get here was a pain in my ass, but I’d do anything to spend some time with you.”

Cody brushed past me, then back stepped and placed a hand on Lily’s shoulder. “You’re still eating with the band tonight?” he asked, casting a wary glance in my direction.

“Nope, this girl’s all mine,” I stated, sounding light-hearted, but warning him off at the same time.

His eyes narrowed, then they darted from me to Lily. She flashed him an apologetic smile and mouthed, “Sorry.”

Seeing her response pissed me off a whole lot more than him seeking to clarify their previous arrangements. I slung a possessive arm around Lily’s neck and led her away from him.

Lily gave him a wave, and I grabbed her wrist and pulled it to my chest before she could lower her arm. “Come on, I’m going to make you forget all about work tonight. I’ve booked us a suite at the Corinthia hotel. I’ve also arranged a couples’ massage. We have forty-eight hours together, and I intend on making the most of it.”

“I’ll call you in the morning, Cody,” Lily mumbled as I began to lead her away.

“No, you won’t. Tomorrow’s a rest day. Cody and your other bandmates can amuse themselves,” I bit back. I knew their schedule and lately, the way that guy fawned over my wife had really gotten to me.

CHAPTER 1

LILY

Playing The 02 in London for the first time as headliners was an enormous privilege for me and our band, XrAid.

We were walking in the footsteps of giants such as Rick Fars’ band, Cobham Street, Gibson Barclay’s band, M3rCy, and my husband’s world-famous band, Crakt Soundzz.

As I glanced out toward the corporate boxes in the first tiered seating, a recollection suddenly hit me, stopping me in my tracks. An instant shockwave coursed through my body that left a tingling sensation present in its wake.

I almost forgot the words of the song I’d been singing when the flashback from many years before came to mind. The venue brought back fond memories of the night when Alfie’s band, Crakt Soundzz, had been discovered by Sly Records’ executives.

It was also the night I believed that no one else would make my heart pound in the same way as being in the presence of my husband did.

Not that our journey had been an easy ride for us before we’d finally gotten together. Due to Alfie’s reluctance to commit inthe beginning, our lack of communication and his secrets, it had taken years before we had arrived on the same page.

Yet, the heartache of those times had been worth it because with luck, dedication and Alfie’s determination, we’d realized our dreams as musicians and as a couple had learned that it was possible to have it all.

Movement to the side of the stage caught my eye, and I almost collapsed to the floor from the sudden shockwave that coursed through me when I saw my beautiful husband grinning toward me. Confused and elated, my lips formed a wide grin while my voice faltered. Fortunately, Cody followed my gaze, caught the line I was supposed to sing, then scowled and leaned in to talk to me.

“Did you know he was coming?” he questioned before singing his part of the bridge without missing a beat. I shook my head, my gaze wandering back to my gorgeous man who’d flown in from California to surprise me.

Fortunately, Alfie’s appearance coincided with the end of the gig, and I didn’t have long to wait before I was in his arms.

Swooping in like my knight in shining armor, Alfie whisked me off to a luxurious night of pampering at a hotel that had a note of sophistication rather than the usual hotel XrAid frequented during our visits to London.

There had barely been time for my post-gig shower when two massage therapists, Alfie had previously arranged for us, showed up at the door.

“What are we celebrating?” I asked as I relaxed into the feel of expensive oil being lavished over the top half of my body, my lower half covered by a soft warm towel.

“Oh, God, right there,” Alfie muttered, distracted from my question by the pressure the male masseur exerted on Alfie’s left shoulder. Seeing Alfie’s face contorted into a mixture of ecstasy and pain with his eyes still closed made me chuckle.

“Hm, where have I heard that before?” I asked in a teasing tone. The poor therapist massaging me coughed like she was choking. Alfie opened his eyes and gave me a lopsided grin.