Page 126 of The Twisted Beats

I give him atry to understand look, turn to Callum, and take his hand. “Can you please relax? You’ve stayed at nice places before. This is no different.”

His gaze burns into mine. “Because my label was covering those rooms. Not only that, I share them with other people. It’s crazy to have a presidential suite for the two of us. And I’m not even paying for it. It isn’t right.”

I roll my lips between my teeth and take a deep breath. Something I’m not understanding is going on. I run through the possibilities.

His mom’s a model and makes as much money as my mom. From what my mom has told me, she actually makes more through that alone, so it can’t be that.

Ur Boyz isn’t hitting it huge, but they’ve brought in enough to pay back some of their advances. Once they tour, they’ll have a surplus.

Plus, I’m pretty sure Callum has an inheritance. His dad was a successful songwriter and performer. I know this because I hear my mom and dad talk about it.

“Callum, I don’t know what’s going on, but I’d like to check in and we can talk about this upstairs.” I squeeze his hand.

He breathes rapidly. His expression is full of creases and wrinkles of distress. “I think we should go somewhere else, Lily.”

“And where would that be?” I tilt my head and shrug.

The concierge interjects. “Sorry to step in, but the area hotels are sold out due to the sudden storm and the road closure. You won’t likely find a place at this time of day given the situation.”

Callum turns in slow motion to the hotel clerk with the tendons in his neck bulging from beneath the skin. “Fine, but is there a way you can send me a receipt or something to show how much this is costing?”

“The email I have on file is for a Mr. Greg Hemings.” The guy swallows hard. “But I can also have one printed out. If you would like, I can give you that.”

“Thank you. I would appreciate it.” Callum squares his shoulders and waits by my side as we finish getting checked in.

I’m not sure if he’s still on edge from the people taking pictures of us at the diner or if this resort is pulling him into some warped sense of owing me or my family something.

My mind spins. What the hell? He’s never acted like this.

We get on the elevator and I swipe the key. The top floor button lights up and gives us access. I punch it, wondering if Callum would’ve if I didn’t.

It takes us up and opens directly into our room. The expansive living area features floor-to-ceiling windows that provide breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains and a private lake.

Even I gasp. “Callum, this is stunning.”

“Fucking hell, I’ll never be able to pay for this.” He steps out and scans the area. “Livianna, this place is nicer than your fucking mansion that your pops had specially built.”

I turn to Callum. “Okay, enough. What is going on with you? You’re acting like you’ve never seen or been in a nice place.”

He trudges to a plush sectional sofa and slams himself against it. “You don’t get it, Lily. Your pops is gonna think I planned this. He’s putting us up in this place. How is he not thinking I did this to take advantage of him and you? I feel like a big-ass shithole.”

“Whoa, back up.” I crawl into Callum’s lap, straddling him. “How did you get all that from a snowstorm we got caught in by accident?”

He averts his deep frown by checking out the elegant chairs and a grand piano, all arranged around a striking fireplace framed by stone accents.

I take his chin in my hand and bring his face to mine. “Talk to me because you’re confusing the fuck out of me.”

He studies my face and takes a resigned breath. “The tabloids… They made it look like I’m playing you. There’s no way your pops isn’t wondering if that’s true deep down. Fuck, Lily. He’s backing my band and what am I giving him?”

“Callum… He doesn’t see it like that.”

“No, Livianna. All I’m giving him is taking you from him. And worse, I’m doing it on his dime. It doesn’t feel right.”

I climb off him and march to the phone. I do something that could blow up in my face, but Callum is stuck in his head and my dad doesn’t feel that way about him.

There’s a speaker button on the phone console, so I hit it and dial my dad’s number.

He answers on the first ring. “Darling, is everything okay?”