Page 58 of Holding On

She shakes her head, her eyebrows scrunched together.

“I call you Red because you shine as bright as a flame in the darkest night. Hell, when you were just a kid, you would go on stage and just shine so bright, it was impossible for anyone to look away.”

Then it dawns on me … she still doesn’t know. “Red, did Wells ever tell you why we named our company Lux?”

She scrunches her face in confusion. “No, I don’t think so? I just assumed you guys thought it sounded cool and sexy.”

A bark of laughter escapes me. “Well, we were college students and that didn’t hurt. When Rick screwed you over after he signed that five-year deal and gave away your own rights to the music you would record, it was the match that lit the fire for Wells and me. We were trying to create something that would give you and other artists more options, and in the process, rights and control.”

“I don’t understand.”

“Baby, we started Lux because of Rick screwing you over. It inspired us to act, and in the end, create all of it.”

“I did?” Why has she never heard this story? I bet Wells assumes she knew all along, but I also suspect Rick made sure to tell her a very different narrative.

“Yeah, and when Wells took me to see your show when you were, what, eight or nine years old? You started singing and it was like a bright light illuminated the entire room. Everyone was in awe because of your talent and your light. Wells said you always lit up the stage like that because your light was so big.”

“My … my light?”

I nod. “Yeah, and do you know what the Latin word is for light?”

Her eyes widen in shock as it finally clicks. “It’s lux,” she whispers and I nod. “It was for me?”

“Yeah, Red, it was all for you.”

Her eyes brighten with unshed tears as I lean down and kiss her, attempting to express the words that are too soon to say out loud even though they vibrate through my entire being.

Tinsley is not darkness, or a momentary distraction. What we have doesn’t have anything to do with the accident, or a trauma response, or whatever bullshit I’m sure the press will accuse us of—no, it’s so much more than that. She is my present and future, and the greatest honor of my life will be to love and take care of her for the rest of my days. Being with her is not a temporary thing—it’s everything.

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

Me

Hi, checking in. How are you feeling? How’s our girl? Any updates?

Dahlia

Thanks for reaching out, I’m sorry I didn’t text sooner. Fiona’s been unresponsive for eight days but sometimes it feels like eight months.

Me

Daphne told me she’s stopping by today. If there’s anything else we can do to support either of you, you better tell me Dahlia. Or I’ll come back there myself.

Dahlia

You need to heal too, and there’s enough press here without another superstar roaming the halls.

Dahlia

But… you need to know that today has been a bad day.

Me

What happened??

Dahlia

We already knew the TBI put her at risk for complications, and she was already on blood thinners, but this morning she had a big drop in oxygen saturation and her heart rate went nuts, even though nothing was changed in her ventilator settings.