“She was freaking out, man. She wanted to go somewhere off the grid. It was the first place I thought of.”
I wondered if that was guilt I heard in his voice. “I want to talk to her.”
“She doesn’t want to talk, Dalt. I’m sorry.”
“What the hell, Levi?”
“Dude, what do you want me to do? She’s having a rough time.”
“That’s why I need to talk to her. Fuck it. I’m coming up there.”
“Daltrey, your father will kill you. You can’t leave again. It’s not fair.”
I felt so torn. I knew there were people counting on me, lots of people: the venues we were booked in, our crew, family and friends, fans, even some important, very rich executives who had just spent a considerable amount of money to get me out of jail. I wanted more than anything just to go get Daisy, but Levi was right. It wouldn’t be fair.
“Why the hell did you have to take her so far away?” I muttered. “Couldn’t you have just found a hotel to hide out in?”
“Yeah, that would have been brilliant. We definitely should have stayed in the New York area, the media capital of the world.”
I realized that I must have imagined the guilt in his tone. If anything, he sounded pissed now.
“Do you have something you need to say to me, man?” I asked.
“I just think it’s ridiculous that you’re criticizing how I handled things when you were the one who got her into this mess. And you were gone. I was the one who was there to clean up your mistake, Daltrey.”
I gaped at the phone. Levi had always been one of my closest allies. I had never heard him so angry. “Levi—”
He interrupted. “I’ll call you in a few days. She’s safe, okay? She sits on the beach all day, and she reads or watches movies. This is good for her, Daltrey. I wouldn’t have brought her here if it wasn’t.”
“Well, thank you for that,” I said, feeling chastised.
He hung up without saying goodbye. Since then, he had texted a few times to give me updates. She was still okay. She wasn’t ready to talk or leave.
“Daltrey!” My dad’s voice is sharp, and my head snaps up in surprise. I had totally gotten lost in my thoughts, not paying attention at all. “Unbelievable,” he says, narrowing his eyes. “Did you hear a word I said?”
“I have some things on my mind,” I snap, tired of the way he’s been talking to me.
“You would think that you would care a little more about this stuff, considering the situation.”
“You mean considering it’s all my fault? I get it, Dad. I messed up. You’re all pissed. Fine. I’ve been doing everything you asked me to since I got out, even though this isn’t where I want to be. I’m still showing up every day.”
“You could at least listen—”
“What’s the point? Do I have any say in the schedule? Of course I don’t. So I will be at every one of the stupid interviews and appearances you schedule. Forgive me if my mind wanders while you go over the orders.”
My dad stands, anger radiating off him. Not for the first time in the last few days, I think he might actually punch me.
But Dan gets up and puts a hand on Dad’s shoulder. “Actually, I think we’re done here, Will. Let’s step out so the boys can start their practice.”
I almost wish Dan hadn’t stepped in. Dad should just take a swing at me and get it over with. But he allows Dan to lead him out of the rehearsal space, and my brothers start setting up their instruments.
“Hey,” Lennon says, coming over to me. “Just give him time. He’ll get over it.”
“Yeah. Like you guys are getting over it.”
“No one’s kicked your ass yet, have they? I think we’re all being pretty understanding, considering.”
I deflate, the anger replaced by worry for Daisy.
Lennon reads my expression. “Still haven’t heard from her?”
I shake my head.
“She’s okay, man. She just needed to get away from all this for a while. And judging by the fucking paparazzi I had to fight my way through to get in here, she was probably right.”
“I’m not saying she should be here. I just feel like I should be with her. It shouldn’t be Levi keeping her safe right now. It should be me.”
“But aren’t you glad she has Levi? Wouldn’t it be worse if she was alone?”
I haven’t really thought of it like that. Instead, I’ve been pretty busy resenting Levi for being with her while I can’t be. But then… “He sounded weird, Lennon. The last time I talked to him. I can’t… I can’t put my finger on it.”