Braden said, “Mick’s talking with the label. You might not have a choice.”
“That’s fucking bullshit,” Zack said. “It’s my life. It’s my decision. And we’ve already got all those dates lined up.”
“Your health is more important.”
“I want to talk to Mick right this fucking second.” Oh, God…Zack’s face had grown more pale since we’d arrived and we were zapping what little strength he had, thanks to all the emotional crap we should have avoided talking about until later. He looked like he was going to pass out from the exertion.
A nurse pushed the door open, making a beeline for Zack so that Braden and I had to take several steps back. “I think you both need to leave,” she said, glaring at us before turningback to her patient. “I don’t like how your blood pressure and heart rate have gone up.”
Jesus…thatwasbecause of us.
“Okay,” Braden said. “We’ll see you later.”
All I could do was shoot Zack a glance, hoping he could read my mind…that I loved him and wanted him to fully recover—not just physically, but mentally and emotionally so he wouldn’t feel the need to bury and mask his pain anymore.
“Don’t call my mom,” Zack said again as we walked out.
“I won’t.”
When we got back to the waiting room down the hall, Mick and Cy were talking. Braden told Mick how Zack had vehemently insisted that he not call his mother. Mick snorted. “Okay, thenI’llcall her so you don’t have to lie about it.”
“I think you need to talk to Zack,” I said to Mick. “He’s worried about the label canceling the tour—and maybe you need to hear his arguments about not telling his mom. He wants to be the one to do it.”
“Well, theyareready to cancel—and I asked ‘em to hold off. I need to talk to Zack before I give the label my opinion.”
“Good luck. The nurse kicked us out,” Braden said.
“I’ll go work my charms,” Mick said lightly, but there was no smile on his face. “Cy, did you want to see him?”
“No.”
Oh.I hadn’t sensed that before, but the energy coming from Cy felt angry. And I could understand why—it was probably because of the news that our tour might get cut short thanks to Zack’s rock star antics. It was all the more frustrating because we’d tried to convince him to get help before. I couldn’t blame Cy for feeling that way, but I hoped he could also make room in his heart for a little compassion and forgiveness.
Mick turned to Braden and me. “Either of you want to come with?”
Braden said, “I better not. I’m the reason why we got kicked out.”
“Dani?”
I wasn’t about to turn down another opportunity to be with Zack—not when we’d come so close to losing him.
Before Mick could head toward the nurses’ station, the nurse who’d kicked us out approached us. “I need just a minute with you. You can go back in—but I need to ask you to not say anything that will get him riled up. He needs rest, and if you can’t stop yourself from making him upset, I won’t hesitate to ban you from seeing him until this afternoon.”
“We’ll respect your wishes,” Mick said, using a tone of voice I’d never heard before—suave, professional, and smooth. “But we do have some business to discuss.”
“Okay—but I’m keeping an eye on his vitals, and I’ll kick you out if anything goes amiss.”
Mick nodded and then walked down the hall—and I followed him, a few steps behind. As we entered Zack’s room again, I prayed that Braden and I hadn’t slowed Zack’s recovery—and that he wouldn’t get upset simply at seeing Mick and me entering his peaceful space. Based on what he’d said last time, I knew he was hungry for company. He just wanted us to respect his wishes, and I understood that…even while agreeing with Braden that Zack’s mother should be notified.
Zack’s eyes were closed again but when he heard Mick’s boots on the floor as we got closer, he opened them. I couldn’t quite read Zack’s expression, but I thought maybe he felt some contrition for his habit getting out of control. I’d expected Mick to lay into him, even though he’d told the nurse he’d “behave,” but he didn’t.
Softie Mick made an appearance…and the way he spoke to Zack made me wonder if he had kids, because Mick would have made a hell of a dad. “How you feelin’, kid?”
“I’ve had better days.”
“I’m sure you have.” Mick pulled over a chair and sat beside Zack’s bed next to the monitors. I stood behind him, not wanting to interfere in their conversation but so grateful to see Zack talking.
Zack propped himself up on his elbows so he could sit up a bit. “The label wants to cancel the tour? Why’d you even tell ‘em what happened?”
