Page 85 of Everything After

“Tell me anyway,” he insisted.

“It’s Lennie. I don’t think he’s happy about my condition,” I said quietly into his shirt.

“Fuck Lennie. Those bandmates of yours don’t fucking own you. Lennie’s got his life how he wants it. He should be happy for us.”

“That’s what I thought too, but I don’t think he is. I think he shut me down just now when I tried to speak to him about it.”

“Aw, baby, I’m sure you’re reading too much into this. Lennie’s always been supportive of you, protective even. Cody on the other hand…”

“Can we just not do the Cody thing today?” I pleaded, stiffening and leaning back from his arms.

“Too late, I already did it,” Alfie muttered, placing my head back on his chest and resting his chin on it.

“You what?” I asked, pulling away more abruptly and stepping back from him. I let out a heavy sigh. “Alfie!”

Alfie reached out and caught my waist again. “Don’t get your panties in a wad. I just reminded him that now you’re carrying my baby it isn’t appropriate for him to lay his hands all over you, whether on stage performing, or anywhere else.”

“Are you trying to drive a wedge between me and my bandmates?” I muttered, hurt that he’d chosen today to get into it again with Cody.

“Fuck, Lily. Wake up. Your bandmates need to realize you’re not just Lily Parnell, XrAid’s co-lead singer. You’re Mrs. fucking Black too. What I’m doing is making your position with Lennie, Cody, Shawn and Digs crystal clear. You’re a member of the band because you’re a talented artist, not because you’re a piece of ditsy eye-candy to enhance the band’s image or fan demographics. No one paws Lennie, Digs or Shawn… and you certainly don’t feel up Cody,” he said, hugging me close again.

“I know, but I went into that band?—”

“Because their female co-lead singer left. Not because of how you looked or what you could do for their image. You’re there because you are a kick-ass musician. Not all guys are misogynists, Lily, and I certainly didn’t think that of your bandmates before. You’ve earned your spot in the band, and you also deserve the same respect and personal space as the rest of them, especially from Cody,” he stated, squeezing me possessively.

“Why are we focusing on Cody again? It was Lennie who upset me,” I reminded him, while I soothed my cheek against his bare chest again.

“Give Lennie time. He hasn’t spoken to you at all yet, right? I was watching,” Alfie replied.

I huffed. “Please…”

“Alright. What did Lennie say or do that upset you?”

“That’s just it, he said nothing,” I muttered, feeling calmer again as I stood with his strong arms around me, my cheek skin-to-skin with his warm body, and listened to his slow, steady heartbeat.

“Am I missing something here? He said nothing and that’s upset you?” he asked puzzled.

I inhaled deeply to breathe him in. My eyes fluttered closed while I took a long moment to enjoy his scent all around me.

“Lily?” he prompted.

“Hm,” I muttered, distracted then remembered his question. “I asked to speak to him when he didn’t come to congratulate me properly. He snubbed me while he listened to one of Rick’s bandmate’s stories. Even Rick noticed it was rude and tried to console me by including me in their circle, but the longer I stood there, the more upset I became.”

Alfie’s breathing turned ragged when the adrenaline I imagined flowed through him stiffened his body. “What a prick,” he ground out as he stepped away from me. “Come on, let’s sort this out,” he muttered, grabbed my hand and led me back toward our guests.

As he tugged me along, fear coursed through my veins as to what the outcome might be. The last thing I needed was another confrontation between Alfie and one of my bandmates in front of our friends. And as we entered the room, Rick immediately broke away from his group, strode over toward Alfie and placed a palm on Alfie’s chest.

“Whoa there,” Rick ordered, in a low, no-nonsense tone.

“Whoa? What the fuck do you think I am, a cart horse?” Alfie argued, his tone menacing. Alfie shifted his head and glanced past Rick to the group that included Lennie. All conversation had stopped, and everyone’s focus was on Rick, Alfie and me.

“No, but I need you to chill,” Rick reasoned, his tone stern as he nodded in my direction.

Alfie glanced at me and released a huffed breath, but he kept his temper in check. “My beef isn’t with you, Rick. It’s him that I’m after,” Alfie muttered, nodding at Lennie.

Lennie had glanced over his shoulder, then he turned and sauntered over toward us.

Alfie’s gaze bored holes into Lennie. “Did you ignore my wife a few minutes ago?”