Page 45 of Busted String

“I get it,” Jace said softly. “I really do. But you matter to us more than you know. Nico, Sammie, and I miss you terribly. This band isn’t the samewithout you.”

There was a pause, and Jace could almost hear Mark wrestling with his emotions. “You don’t know how hard it’s been, watching you two and feeling like I’m on the outside.”

Jace swallowed hard, the weight of Mark’s words sinking in. “Mark, I will not pretend that everything’s perfect. We have our problems, and we fight like brothers sometimes. But that’s because we care about each other. We need you, especially now, with the big gig in Black Rock City coming up. No one can take your place.”

Mark’s voice softened, though the tension remained. “You really think I’m that important?”

“Absolutely,” Jace said firmly. “We can’t do this without you. Please, come back. We’re staying at the Renaissance in Reno. We’ll figure this out together.”

Mark hesitated, but Jace could sense the shift. “Alright. I’ll fly in tomorrow. But this doesn’t mean everything’s fixed.”

Jace felt a wave of relief wash over him. “I know. But it’s a start. Thanks, Mark.”

As Jace ended the call, he felt a glimmer of hope. They had a long way to go, but at least they were moving in the right direction. He stepped out of the bathroom, ready to face whatever came next, with Nico by his side.

“Get back over here,” Nico said.

Jace plugged in his phone to charge for the morning on the nightstand, then slipped into bed.

“Well?”

“He’s flying in tomorrow. I told him where we’re staying.”

“That’s good news.”

“Why does your face look like it’s bad news?”

“Why did you talk to him in the bathroom?”

“So I could think better. Why are you asking?”

“I need to ask you something and I want the truth, regardless of the answer.”

“Sounds serious.”

“Did you and Mark ever have a thing?”

“What does that mean?”

“Did he ever fuck you?”

“Nico! I fucked around a lot, but not with Mark.”

“Are you sure?”

“Well, we kissed when we were both drunk and we slept in the same bed. But nothing happened.”

“Nothing happened because you both were too drunk to get it up, or for another reason?”

“Nothing happened because I don’t feel that way with him. He feels like a brother.”

“And what does he want from you?”

“He wants more singing time with me. That’s all he wants and to feel like he is needed.”

“And do you think he is jealous you’re with me and not him?”

“No, he feels like he’s lost me as a brother. We did a lot of shit together. And that’s why he feels like he is not needed anymore.”

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