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I was on my way back to David

My husband

CHAPTER FOUR

I slept on the short flight to LA, curled up in a super comfortable chair in a corner of the private jet It was a level of luxury above anything I’d ever iht as well enjoy the opulence while you were at it Sane and I’d politely declined The idea of alcohol still turned ain

My career path had been temporarily shot to hell, but never ly simple I loved it I was back in control of ot as It would not be a terribleAnother sleek sedan stood waiting I’d never been to LA It looked every bit as wide awake as Vegas, though less glam Plenty of people were still out and about despite the hour of night

I had to brave turning on my phone sometime Lauren would be worried I pushed the little black button and the screen flashed bright lights at es and ninety-seven missed calls I blinked stupidly at the screen but the nue Holy hell Apparently everyone I knew had heard the news along with quite a few people I did not

My phone pinged

Lauren: You okay? Where r u???

Me: LA Going to hiht?

Lauren: I’ Though his fans are crazy

Lauren: Your brother is crazy

Me: Sorry about that

Lauren: I can handle him Whatever happens, do not break up the band!!!

Me: Got it

Lauren: But break his heart He wrote San Pedro after what’s-her-face cheated on him That albu mess

Lauren: That’s the spirit

Me: xx

It was after three in theby the time we reached the massive 1920s-era Spanish-style h Dad would not have been impressed--he preferred clean, contemporary lines with minimal fuss Four-bedroom, two-bathroom houses for Portland’s well-to-do But I don’t know, there was soance The decorative black wrought iron against the bare white walls

A gaggle of girls and the obligatory pack of press e had apparently stirred things up Orslowly open at our approach Pal in the wind as we drove by The place looked like so business, I knew that s Lauren had driven all over the countryside last su three of their shows in the space of a week All of the house

Nerves wound ht I wore the sa for the occasion wasn’t an option The best I could do was finger-brush ht be lacking in glaht in the house blazed bright and rockdouble doors stood open and people spilled out of the house and onto the steps It see place

Sam opened the car door for me and I hesitantly climbed out

"I’ll walk you in, Ms Thomas"

"Thank you," I said

I didn’t ed ahead and I followed A couple of girls wereout just inside the door, mouths all over each other They were both slender and beyond gorgeous, dressed in tiny, sparkly dresses that barely hit their thighs More peopleoverhead and a grand staircase wound around an interior wall The place was a Hollywood palace