Page 101 of Goode to Be Bad

“Yeah, but that was different. She’s going to take it personally, and I…shit, I can’t think about it right now or I’ll fall apart. Let’s just focus on the good news—we’re engaged and I’m in the band.”

I hugged her one-armed as I guided us over to Lucas’s truck. “It’s good news all around, babe.”

Lucas and Liv met us on the sidewalk, and I tossed Lexie’s and my bags into the truck bed, shaking Lucas’s hand while Lexie hugged her mom, and then we traded.

Lexie was keeping her left hand down, hiding it.

Liv didn’t want to let go of Lexie. “I’m so glad to see you,” she said. “I didn’t think we’d see you again for a long time. And then the tour got canceled and no one knew what was going on, and I was so worried.”

Lexie brushed her mom’s cheeks. “We just needed time away from everything to work things out. I had some things to deal with so we could figure out our relationship.”

Liv searched her daughter’s face, eyes sharp, insightful. “So, you’re…you’re okay? You guys figured it out?”

Lexie let a grin break over her face as she held up her hand to show her mother. “I’d say so, yes.”

Liv gasped, hand over her mouth. “No!” She took Lexie’s hand and examined the diamond, eyes wide. “Really?”

“Just happened on the ferry here, actually,” Lexie said. “It was so sweet. I’ll tell you all about it later.”

Liv hugged Lexie again, crying. “I’m so happy for you. You don’t know how happy. I wanted this for you so bad.”

“We’re getting married while we’re here,” Lexie said. “Like, in the next few days. Just a little family thing.”

“Ya’ll ain’t messin’ around, are you?” Lucas rumbled. “Congrats, you two. Happy for ya.”

Liv’s eyes were searching Lexie. “There’s something else, isn’t there?”

Lexie shielded her emotions—I watched her do it. “There are two things. One I can say now, the other is for later. Myles and his band have officially invited me to join them, so now we’re The North Band.”

Liv looked even more thrilled. “Oh my god, that’s amazing!” She looked at me. “Thank you, Myles. More than I can say, thank you.”

I shook my head. “That part was the guys. I wanted Lex to have her own thing, but the guys overruled me. They want her with us. And honestly, it’s the most logical evolution of our band and our sound. She’s joined us on tour, we’ve sampled our sound a few times, and this is the right thing. It’s gonna be amazing. And it’s all her. I just helped her see that it was what she needed to do.”

“What’s the other thing?” Liv asked.

Lexie shook her head. “That’s a conversation for another time. Soon, but in private.”

Liv looked worried. “I don’t like the sound of that.”

Lexie shrugged, holding back nerves and tears. “Later, Mom, okay? Please?”

Liv nodded. “Okay, whatever you want.”

The next daywe spent the time making the rounds with the ring and the news of the band, meeting up with everyone. Liv had a client to meet with early and Lucas had a local hike he was guiding, so we slept in and had a leisurely breakfast.

Lexie was quiet as we ate.

“What’s on your mind? I asked.

“A lot.” She shrugged. “Talking to mom when she gets back.”

“What else? I can see you’re chewing on somethin’.”

She nodded. “I was thinking. I know you’ve got the buildings you own in Dallas, but…” She sighed, tried again. “It’s hard for me to do this—to ask you for something.”

“Anything. You know that.”

“I know, but I’ve never asked anyone for anything in my life. So this is just…hard.” She swirled coffee in her mug. “Can we, or I, or something…get a little apartment here in Ketchikan? Just so I can visit my family?”