Page 34 of The Only Thing That's Real

What’s your fave thing about performing for your fans?

Knox

These days not much. I used to love the escape. Now it all feels like bullshit. People screaming at me but they don’t know a thing about me.

Ryan

Is that on the record or off?

Knox

Off

I look up from my phone just in time to see him curse something under his breath. Shaking his head, he shoves his phone in his pocket and storms out of the room.

Shit!

What have I done now?

Luckily, the rest of the room is distracted, and nobody notices me taking off after him.

Spotting him down the hall, I run to catch up, grateful to be in my Chucks and not heels.

“Knox!” I say without yelling, but loud enough for him to hear.

He doesn’t acknowledge me, so when I reach him, I tug on the sleeve of his leather jacket. He shrugs me off him.

“Hey, I had to ask. I can’t tell if you like me enough to speak any other way than professionally. I needed to make sure. I would never want to assume something is on the record if it’s not.”

Finally stopping, he turns to face me. His hand runs through his dark hair, holding it away from his handsome face for a moment before he releases it. Shoving his hands in the front pocket of his jeans he says, “You’re right. And I’m sorry about that. I haven’t been fair to you.”

Holy shit. Did Knox McKinnon just apologize?

To me?

Whoa.

I shrug. “I get where you’re coming from too. I’m sure you haven’t always been treated fairly by the press in the past.”

“Still. I’m sorry.”

“No worries. I’ve been treated worse by those nowhere near your level of success.”

There’s no excuse for his previous behavior, but Ihavebeen treated much worse.

He leans his shoulder against the grey concrete wall, arms crossed over his chest. He’s waiting for me to continue, but I’m not sure if he wants me to speak to him professionally or personally, so I go with my gut.

“Off the record. I’m sorry you no longer find joy in your music.”

After an excruciatingly long moment of silence, he replies. “It’s not the music, it’s the people. Well, it’s me, not them. I still love the studio and playing with the guys, but thepublic persona and the undeserved adoration. That I could use a break from.”

“Still. I’m sorry.”

“Not your fault.”

“You going into the studio anytime soon?”

“Nah. There isn’t really a lot of studio time on the horizon for a band going on an indefinite hiatus. This is pretty much it for the foreseeable future. The guys have families to raise.”

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