“And you shouldn’t have.”
She shrugs. “Too late.”
I huff out something between a laugh and a choke. “You’re a pain in my ass.”
“I hear that a lot.” She shrugs.
For a second, just a second, the edge between us softens. Then I harden it right back. “Don’t read into this.”
“Trust me.” She folds her arms. “There’s nothing to read.”
I almost smile. Almost.
“You alright?” It’s Luc, his strong arm slinging a jacket over my shoulders as he leans down to look me in the eye.
I nod, blinking to keep the tears pooling at bay. I notice Sadie walk back onto the bus, giving me the privacy I need, knowing I’m in good hands now.
“I’m fine.” My voice warbles, betraying me.
“Why don’t you come back with me?” Luc motions to his bus, right behind ours. “Just me back there. Plenty of room for you to just be.”
“I’m alright, man.” I release the bus to stand straight, sliding both my arms into the jacket he brought me.
“I know,” he assures me, shoving both his hands into the front pocket of his jeans, just letting himself be, while standing strong next to me.
And Luc does know. Better than anyone. Cause he was in that car with me, feeling just as helpless as me to stop what happened right in front of us. Only the girl he loved wasn’t in the car in front of ours. Mine was.
I lift my face up to the rain and let it wash over me. It feels good. Cathartic in a way I can’t describe. Cold, fresh, alive. I heave out another long breath, then look over to meet Luc’s gaze.
“I’m okay,” I assure him.
“Come hang out with me.” He makes the request again. “I’m bored as hell without Lily and Larkin.”
“Is there baby shit everywhere?” I crinkle my nose. “Don’t want baby food getting on my guitar.”
“There’s no fucking baby food sloshing around the bus, asshole.” He chuckles, the mood growing lighter by the minute.
“Come on.” He slides his hands out of his pockets and grips one of my shoulders in a light squeeze before releasing it. “Grab a guitar and let’s jam a little.”
“Okay,” I relent. I haven’t spent much time with him the last few weeks, and it actually sounds good. He’s been busy trying to figure out the Lily thing, and I’ve been giving him the space to do it. Until this minute, I didn’t realize I’d been missing my best friend.
“I’ll grab my shit and be back in a sec,” I advise, starting to walk, but then stop, turning to him. “Thanks, Luc.”
“Didn’t do anything,” he grunts, scraping a hand through his now soaked locks, his eyes shifting to the accident over my shoulder and then back to me.
“You’re here,” I state, making it clear that’s all that matters.
“Always, Dean. Always.” He doesn’t say anything else. Doesn’t give me a chance to before he turns and strides back to his bus, banging on the side so the driver will open the door.
Some things bond two people in a way that can’t be explained, and what happened over ten years ago did that to us. And that was the thing with us, we didn’t need words.
I climb back on our bus, three sets of eyes looking anywhere but at me when I reach the top of the stairs. Mikey and Hayden know my past, so I don’t expect them to say anything, but her, her I’m not so sure about. She’s here for a scoop after all.
Bearing witness to this will surely provide her guts to a story readers would love to know about us, know about me. I stride by everyone without a word, stopping when I reach my cabinet at the back of the bus. I grab a pair of dry sweats and a T-shirt, then go back to the front, snagging my guitar off the couch where I left it.
“Gonna go ride with Luc for a stretch,” I explain, not waiting for anyone to respond as I promptly walk back off the bus.
I didn’t want to see what might be behind those blue eyes of hers. The questions, or the concern that she might have for me. Not tonight away. I was too raw for that right now.
