“Then be my guest and fix it,” he yelled from behind the bar.
I chuckled, turning the knobs, and kept strumming until it was perfect.
I started off with NeverBreath. It was a song that was always close to my heart.
One song that Isaac wrote followed it, and I worked through the list.
Jimmy kept my glass full. I needed tonight.
I was busy with another song when a second guitar played Isaac’s part. I looked over my shoulder and found the idiot strumming a guitar. My eyes locked on him just having fun and looked back at everyone cheering the two of us.
Jimmy must have phoned him. The song finally ended.
“It’s about time, don’t you guys think?” Isaac spoke in his Southern accent.
The crowd cheered. We played one more tune and then took a break.
I shook Isaac’s hand. His grin was wide as he stared at me. I felt like an idiot for not listening to Jimmy.
“How’s the wing?”
“Healed a long time ago. Why didn’t you phone?”
“You know why? I almost ripped Ty to pieces and hurt you.”
“Hey, nothing that was news to us, Blake. We knew your darkness was getting stronger. We will not leave you. What don’t you get? You are our friend, one of our best friends outside of the reservation. You are part of our family, bud. Family fight, viciously, they also give the others chances to make it up to them. Say sorry and forgive. You should’ve picked up the phone.”
“I’m an idiot. When are you going to learn that one?”
He laughed as Jimmy brought him over a drink, and we scooted into a booth in the corner.
“So you have a rider, huh?”
I brushed my fingers through my hair. “Yeah, she is really awesome, but you know me, fucked that up too.”
“Why do you feel that?”
“I tried to tell her the truth, but then Jako happened and the truth came out the worst way it could’ve. She shares her father’s look of disappointment and it’s been tough. Thought I could set it straight here, but the ancients are banning me to get close to her.”
“Blake,” Isaac said and rubbed his face. “You want me to try?”
“Dude, she doesn’t know who you are. She knows about you, but no idea what you look like.”
“You told her about us?”
“Of course I did. Music is my life, and the idiots who make music with me too.”
Isaac slap-shake my hand. “I told you three years ago we are like burrs. You will not get rid of us that easy.”
I laughed. “How are the others?”
“You know Ty. The guy is so high most of the time. I have to remind him constantly why we hadn’t seen you for such a long time. Sulking does not look good on him, man.”
I laughed.
“Jamie actually wrote a song that he begged me to send to you. Matteo is Teo, the guy hardly speaks. Asking him about his feelings is pushing it. And Max is like a little brother, kept asking me daily if I heard from you. I kept telling them to give you time.”
We spoke the entire night about the past five months. He spoke about the new club, and the owner had phoned him plenty of times to play.
