Page 77 of All Tied Down

GARRETT: I just want it to be done

ROAN: Soon.

Not soon enough.

30

GARRETT

“Do you remember that show we did in California when TCA opened for us?” I ask as Lachlan tunes his bass and Maverick twirls the drumstick between his fingers. TCA—Tin Can Aficionados—is a ska band that’s relocated to Love Beach, South Carolina, doing mostly local shows.

They’d been young, eager, and we’d had a hell of a time on tour with them.

Maverick and Lachlan both nod.

“We had that crazy jam session,” Lachlan reminisces. “It was sick—everyone was vibing. The crowd loved it.”

“It felt easy back then.”

“Are you worried that we can’t have that without Darren?” Mav asks, but I’m already shaking my head.

“No.” When they both stare at me, their eyes wide with disbelief, I chuff out a laugh. “Fine, I might have before but I can’t make him love this”—I wave my hand between us—“and I’m done trying. I keep looking up that guy online that Emerson and I saw at the bar. He was good.” Lifting my shoulder, I add, “I still think he might be good for us.”

“Look at you still scoping out the talent,” Lach teases and I shake my head.

“All I’m saying is that we have options. I’ll play until we find someone or hell, I don’t care if we even look. I just want to not fucking worry every time I go to bed what I’m gonna wake up to.”

“Amen, man. It’s been rough,” Lachlan says rubbing the back of his neck. “He made it impossible to just go out and have a good time. There always had to be more and fuck—more is never worth it at this level. It’s not what we agreed to.”

“Exactly. I’m too old for his bullshit.” Mav adds. “My daughter hears things, you know? I can’t have her looking at me like I’m anything other than the man who hung the moon for her.”

The thought hits me square in the chest both for my friend and for me.

Will I ever get to be a father?

Do I want to be?

We all went out that night to some shitty bar with cheap beer and plenty of fans after the show. Maverick and Faye hit it off and were all over each other, then snuck off to her car when no one was watching.

It was wild.

Fun.

But Faye showed up a couple of months later pregnant and claiming it was his. He never wavered and did everything he could to support her. Their daughter, Olive, is five now and amazing and while he and Faye have an amicable custody agreement, I know it’s hard for him to be away.

“You’re such a hot girl-dad,” Lach snickers, earning a side-eye from Maverick as I laugh into my fist.

“Shut it.”

“And how’s Henley?” Lach teases, knowing how easy the subject of Maverick’s sister, who also happens to live on a nearby street, will spike his blood pressure. As far as I know they never went any further than flirting, but Lachlan still likes to rile Mav up every chance he gets.

“She’s fine. Stay away from her,” he barks before turning his attention to me. “Were you gonna tell me you moved some young, single dad in next door?”

“Samson? Yeah, Colt handled that for Tom. Samson needed a quieter spot for him and his daughters after getting a job working security for Andrews International. He’s Emerson’s bodyguard. If you’re worried whether he’s a good dude, I can assure you he’s been vetted.”

“She thinks he’s hot,” Maverick groans and I can’t help but laugh. “And his mom is there, I guess, with the girls, so Henley was watching Olive and they were all playing.”

“That’s great; what’s the problem?” I ask because I would have thought he’d be pumped that his sister’s neighbor was handpicked and not some random asshole. Colt, Roan, and I made sure that our street and the couple surrounding us were exclusively overseen by us.