“Shit, really?”
“Yeah, it was never really my thing back in the day, and I’m remembering why. It’s nice to feel present.”
Garrett claps a hand on my shoulder. “Good for you, man.”
“Not the only thing that’s back to the way it used to be,” Jared singsongs, brows raised suggestively.
“Yeah, the concert wasn’t a disaster,” Garrett adds.
“Thanks for the vote of confidence,” I grumble, even as my lips twitch.
“Is the long game with Avery finally paying off? Or do we need to wait another decade before you two come to your senses?” Jared nudges my ribs with an elbow. I hate to admit that I’ve missed his teasing, but I do.
I swat him away as my cheeks flame. “It’s good. We’re something.”
“Something, notoriously known for being better than nothing. Care to share with the class what that something is?” This time Jared holds out his hand toward my face, pretending to hold a mic.
“Friends,” I say with some level of confidence. Really, I wish I had a better word for it. She’s been the reason I’ve had somewhere to be every morning for weeks now. At night, hers is the last voice I hear. Performing alongside her felt like running across hot coals, unable to stop for a moment or risk burning myself. She makes me feel alive and for the first time in so long, I have a life I’m excited about living. “Who kissed last night.”And made each other come and slept in the same bed, but those feel safer to leave out.
“Fuck, way to burry the lead!” Jared grabs me again to shake me by the shoulders.
I let him as a laugh tumbles out of me. “I still can’t believe it myself.”
Garrett cocks his head, brows dipped inward with obvious concern. “You think it’s the real deal?”
“Fuck. I hope so,” I say.
The only moment I had to talk to her was before we went on stage. After we were done, we had to rush to undress before meeting up with everyone.
I need to pull her away the moment I have a chance to. I’m not going to let her think that kiss means nothing and won’t happen again. And if what she said last night is true, she has to feel at least a fraction of what I do.
I take a moment to look at each of them. “It was only possible because you both gave me the push I needed. But even after that, I was working to get better for Avery, to be the best I could for her on this tour, but I’ve learned to do it for myself too.”
I like myself again, something I didn’t know was possible.
“I get that. Sometimes it’s easier to care about others more than ourselves.” Jared nods. “I started therapy when Alyssa got pregnant. I wanted to be a good father but didn’t know how. For so long, my identity was wrapped up in music and things were about to change. I wanted to be there for them.”
“You’re a good dad,” I say, a pang of jealousy lancing through my side. I try not to think about it, how I’ll never really be free from my past. But all the same, it’s good to hear about this new stage of his life. This is how I thought it would be. Growing older together instead of growing apart. It makes me brave enough to say, “I would love to meet the kids. I’ve seen pictures. But I get if that would be too much.”
“I think they’ll love you.” The creases around his mouth deepen into a smile.
“Yeah, because he has the heart of a kid himself. They’ll get along great,” Garrett remarks.
“Oh, fuck off.” I roll my eyes but still smile.
“That’s not a bad thing, you know, to be able to have fun the way you do,” Garrett says.
Jared takes one of the shots from the table, his mouth puckering as he does. “Shit. That’s bad.”
“There you are!” Evelyn yells as she slides in next to Garrett, who pulls her up onto his lap. It’s good to see them finally together after years of him pretending he doesn’t care forher. Garrett needs someone like Evelyn to push him towards happiness.
My brows pinch as I survey the club. Alyssa is standing and talking to Mom, but there’s no hint of red hair to be seen anywhere. “Where’s Avery?”
Evelyn plucks a shot glass from the table. “We dropped her off at home, that’s why it took us so long to get here.”
“Is she okay?”
I was so sure she’d make it. She was hesitant earlier today when I was talking about Mom, but they both seemed all right after the show.
