“Jesus, Zane. Snap out of it.” Carter clicks his fingers in front of my face. “I asked you a question ten times, what’s going on with you?”
Despite my best efforts, my mind is a jumbled mess. That’s what’s going on. So many things are changing drastically. At light-fucking-speed. My bandmates, Ty, Jace, and Connor are burned out. After nearly a decade of nonstop recording and touring, they’ve tired of living in a fishbowl. Ready to begin new chapters. Blah. Blah. Blah.
We had a vote, and it was three against one. I lost. We are officially on hiatus. Which fucking sucks. Because I know what this means.
The end of LTZ.
I feel it in my bones.
LTZ is my fuel. My identity. Playing music keeps me sane. Balanced. So, when my bandmates are moving on to new chapters without me?
It fucking hurts.
Probably because my own happily ever after blew up in my face.
“Nothing. I’m just tired,” I lie.
“Bullshit.” Carter’s voice is kind. He’s been through it. He knows.
His phone buzzes as we pull into Alaska Airlines arrivals at Sea-Tac. He picks up and squints over at the sidewalk where hordes of people are waiting to get picked up. “Yeah, we’re here. Ah, there you are. Yeah, the black Audi. Okay. I’m pulling over.”
I see my mom waving at us. Surreal, I tell you.
We park. I jump out of the passenger seat. She’s standing next to three large suitcases. Good god. How long is she staying? She floats into my arms. Mom’s graceful that way. My entire face is covered with her kisses. “Zaney,” she coos.
“This is a surprise.” I hug her tightly.
She steps back. Thumbs the lipstick off my cheeks. “Well, your grandparents are in Minneapolis with your uncle. When Carter invited me to spend Christmas with my son, I thought, why not?”
“Lianne.” Carter acknowledges my mom. Kinda like a giddy teenager. His eyes sparkle. “Let me get your bags.”
WTF?
A few people begin to recognize my dad and me. I can always tell when they start to whisper and point. Some pretend to be talking on speaker phone even though the devices are pointed toward us. Recording us. Just a day in my life. And Carter’s. Mom’s too, on a lesser scale. All of us are high-profile in our own professions.
I motion to the Audi. “Let’s get going unless you want this little family reunion to be broadcast all over YouTube.”
“Jesus, fuck.” Carter opens the door for my mom. “Sorry about this, Lianne. I was hoping to just have a low-key airport pickup.”
My mom slides into the front seat, laughing. “The low-key ship sailed long ago as far as you two are concerned.”
We navigate back onto I-5 in silence.
“Let’s check out the new Mission on our way home?” Carter looks over at my mom and grins. “Construction is coming along.”
“That sounds great.” She settles back and smiles over at him.
I’m trying to read their body language.
Unsuccessfully.
Twilight Zone, I tell you.
I slump back into the back seat. This night is getting weirder and weirder. I bury myself in my phone until we pull intothe parking lot of what will soon be Seattle’s premiere midsize concert hall. Three stories. World-class restaurant. Bar.
It’s going to be epic. Just what this city needs with so much development going on displacing music and other arts venues. When I notice a black Toyota Highlander parked close to the front entrance, my heart plummets. Shit. Thelastperson I want to see tonight is Fiona.
She’s my childhood friend. Business partner.
