Something In Between: Sequel to On The Edge of Tomorrow

Chapter 58

"No." Tim was like Billy; I didn't need to be careful. At least, I hadn't thought I needed to be cautious around Billy. "How's Billy?"

"A mess." Tim's voice was low with sincerity. "Can I ask you..." his voice dropped.

"Yeah," I knew what was coming.

"What are you upset about? You knew, right?"

"Yeah, I knew, but that's different from hearing it and..."

"The timing. The bastard can over share. I'd have kept that in the pocket." Tim was in his thoughts.

"I asked him when he wrote it. It was my fault. I didn't realize how much I didn't want to know." I sighed and lifted my face to Tim. "Was it like that? Was he that..."

"Yeah," Tim shrugged. "Every time, it was that bad. First, it was anger, then disbelief, then anger, then sadness, then anger, and then you'd show up again."

"That's a lot of anger."

"Yeah, he's a pretty even dude. His music is usually the only way he lets his temper out. Well, and a few unlucky inanimate objects that get tossed around from time to time." Tim let out a snort. "He destroyed an entire living room set when you got married. That ugly couch in the studio is the only thing that survived, and even that has some scars."

"But he was married already."

"Mmhmm, we just called it demo to get it out of the basement, but Sarah knew. She always knew."

"Knew what?" I needed to hear it.

"That she was never gonna be tops."

"Because of me," I finished.

"At the time, yeah. But it's different now, with you not being tops. I mean, you can still make the man bleed with a look, but I don't think you'll gut him; only Viv and Jackson can do that now."

"How can you love someone that you also hate so much?"

"That's not a question for me, Lil." Tim looked down at me with apologetic eyes.

"Are they all like that?"

"No, he has a couple of songs about cars."

"Great." I sighed.

"Look, they aren't all bitter. If you listened to the entire catalog, there are just as many love songs and songs where he shoulders his share of the blame. And look, they aren't all about you. He's had other girls."

"That's right." I nodded to myself.

"But, yeah, most are about you." He recognized my wince and added a "sorry."

I let my eyes fall back to the jukebox. "Where's Sarah?" I said as my fingers floated over the keys.

"She never picked any songs. I asked her a couple of times, but she didn't have anything come to mind." He shrugged. "That should've been a sign."

"He's a mess?" I asked.

"Lil, he hurt you; he knows it." He slung an arm around me. "Tess is with him."

"Is he still in the studio?"

"Mmhmm, you sure you want to do this right now? Things are kinda raw still."

"No, they aren't. I knew all this. I just needed a minute to swallow it. And he needs me."

I had known he had written about me. I knew he wrote when he was angry and sad and happy. I knew they were all out there, and the raw emotion made people gravitate to his work.

Billy's back was to the door while he swept up the record when I entered.

"Billy," I barely got his name out before he was crashing into me, the dustpan and brush clattering behind me. "I love you," I managed from his clutches.

"Lil," my name came breathy and urgent as he pulled away to clutch my face in his hands. "What can I do?"

"You don't need to do anything." It was hard to speak with his hands holding my face. "I love you. I just needed to digest."

He pulled me to his chest again. "I love you, Lil. Every song, every lyric, every chord, I love you."

"I know, Billy."

"Do you?" He pulled away and clutched my face again. "Do you understand?"

"I think so."

His urgent eyes were bowling over me. "What can I do?" He offered again as his shoulders released a small amount of tension.

"Come to bed. I know it's early, but I'm tired and want to fall asleep in your arms."

Without another word, he lifted me into the cradle of his arms and carried me to bed.