Page 77 of Deeper

Teddy’s dimpled smile was purely condescending as he boldly reached out and patted Zander’s chest. “Good to see you, old friend.”

At his sides, Zander’s fists balled and his shoulders were rising and falling as he got in Teddy’s face. Teddy was eating it all up, grinning like a fool as he stood toe to toe with Zander. He was a couple inches taller and not at all intimidated it seemed.

Dax was the first to step in. “Yo, man, we not on that, none of that.”

Fiona came and nudged Teddy forward. “Come on, be smart about it, please!”

Teddy flashed Zander a glimpse of his pearly whites as he prepared to step into the studio. “Oh, and congrats on your little song, mate.”

It took both Terry and Dax to get Zander to budge and guide him back down to the SUV. All the muscle Terry and Dax had combined let us all know Zander wasn’t getting past them. They weren’t about to let him do something reckless.

“Put on thefookin’radio!” he shouted to Olson as soon as we were all buckled in and on the road. His anger leaked out into his voice, making his accent thicker. He leaned forward towards Olson. “I want to hear 104.2!”

Paul peered back at Zander, rolling his eyes before going and putting on the radio station.

The car was suddenly filled with the sound of Kacey speaking.

“Geez, we got two members of So What with us today. What are the chances?” Kacey asked.

“It must’ve been awkward in that waiting room,” Eddie commented. “Ya girl came in here shaking a little.”

“Yeah,” Kacey agreed. “What was that like? Because it’s been a little…rocky between all of you since Zander left.”

“There’s no bad blood in me for anyone. I think the media makes things more than what they are most of the time,” Teddy spoke up.

“So, it was, like, a happy reunion for you, then,” Kacey encouraged.

“I mean…it’s good to see him out and about. We all have our own narratives, and with him particularly, I’m sure we’re allanxiousto hear his truth,” Teddy said. “I wish him the best. I’m really rooting for him.”

That arrogant son of a bitch.

Next to me, Zander’s knee was bouncing and his hands were shaking. “Turn the fuckin’ car around!” he practically roared at Olson.

Paul sighed, not even looking up from his phone. “Zan.”

Zander stomped his foot. “Just do it!”

Two weeks. Two weeks was how long I’d personally known Zander Khalil and, in that interval, I’d never seen him this angry, this worked up, this volatile. That vein that came out whenever he hit those high notes, also came out whenever he was pissed off.

I had to turn to look at him, catching his eyes ablaze.

His attention snapped to me and then he focused on the signed magazine in my hand and he looked away, shaking his head.

The whole ride back to his house his knee kept bouncing, his body intent on moving somehow.

Olson hadn’t been parked in the parking area in front of his house a full second before Zander stormed out of the car, bypassing Terry and Dax and the rest of us. Paul had just enough time to slip Olson two crisp hundred-dollar bills before sighing and following after Zander.

CRASH!

The sharp sound of shattering glass alerted all of us. Together the five of us raced inside to find that Zander had become a tornado of rage. In the entryway of the foyer, there was a small table that held two vases on it along with a plant, and Zander had thrown it to the ground, breaking everything. He was nowhere in sight, but by the light on in the kitchen further down the hall, I could only assume he was out back.

“Jesus,” Paul let out. “Rajaa… Okay, everybody take five, Zander’s having a meltdown.”

This was ridiculous.

I took a step back, not feeling it. “I’m going to go home and take a breather.”

Paul eyed me. “Hey, where’s your head? This life ain’t all sunshine and roses.”

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