“Yeah, but tonight it will. So… enjoy it.” I clapped him on the shoulder, and he gave me a big-ass hug. I couldn’t even imagine what it would’ve been like if I’d told himIwasn’t coming on the tour. Jesse had never toured withoutme.
Even if I’d ever told him I wasconsideringnot coming on the tour, he’d probably have thrown a world class hissy and trashed theplace.
I went to check on Dylan and Seth and Elle. Dylan was kicked back in his kilt, one foot up on his other knee, drumming on his boot. His usual pose before a show. Seth and Elle were standing next to him, his arm around herwaist.
“You good?” I asked Elle. Not like I’d know what to do if she wasn’t; the baby in her belly was more of a lady issue than I was accustomed to handling. But I’d get Maggie on it quick, if she neededanything.
“I’m good. I’m sad,” she said, right through her soft smile. I could see it in her eyes. She was torn. We were all torn about her leaving thetour.
“Well, we’ll take care of you on the road, you know that. Whatever you need, you’ll have it. Keep you comfortable while your man does histhing.”
“I know that,” she said, and gave me a hug and a kiss on the cheek. “Thanks,Jude.”
Then I shook Seth’s hand. “It’s gonna be a good year, brother,” I told him, looking him steady in the eyes. Of all the men in our little family, I was pretty sure I was happier than anyone, save maybe Zane, that Seth was back with theband.
“Yeah,” he said, “it is.” Then he pulled me in for ahug.
“You gonna play ‘Blackout’ for me tonight?” It was my favorite song from the new album; the heaviestsong.
“Yup,” he said, and I patted him on theback.
Then I dropped down into a squat next to Dylan. “Yougood?”
“Yeah, man. How’s it look outthere?”
“Looks like a bunch of horny kids lookin’ to party. Few MILFs, few hipsters, few bikers, theusual.”
Hegrinned.
“Saw Ash out there with some piece,” I told him, and I watched his smile kinda fade. “Lookin’ prettyrough.”
“Yeah. I sawhim.”
“That kid gonna beokay?”
“He’sfine.”
“You know,” I said, “you ever want him to stop comin’ to Dirty shows, you just gotta say the word.” I felt like it needed to be said. I had no problem with Ash. But if he was causing problems for Dylan, for his performance, or just fucking with his head, that wasn’t gonnastand.
And definitely, something had been fucked up since whatever went down between them. According to Con’s intel, they’d both been fucking Amber, then only Dylan was fucking Amber and Ash had turned into a one-man gong show overnight, drinking and fucking his way through the LowerMainland.
I’d been meaning to check in with Dylan on this for a while now. But ever since a certain sexy-as-fuck woman had pretty much hijacked my attention, there’d been a few conversations I’d been meaning to have that had fallen by thewayside.
“No,” Dylan said. “It’s not like that. If Ash wants back later, just let himin.”
“Alright, brother. Felt like I had to mentionit.”
“Appreciateit.”
I wasn’t sure he did. He might actually be a little pissed at me for even suggesting Ash might be unwelcome, but oh-the-fuck-well. It fell under my job description to make sure no one unwelcome was welcomed. But I was only gonna mention itonce.
This moment on, I’d happily keep my nose the fuck out of Dylan and Ash’s bromance unless Dylan ever brought itup.
I clapped him on the shoulder as I stood up and headed over to check onZane.
He was standing just off to the side, behind a wall of amps, smoking weed—alone.
I happened to know that no one in the band mind-fucked themselves before a show like Zane did. It was why he pretty much always smoked up right before he went onstage. I wouldn’t call it stage fright, exactly. More like he psyched himself out somehow, tore himself down, right before he built himself back up. Nerves, maybe. Some kind of self-doubt.
