Page 121 of Heart Break Her

“Fucking right it is. I’m not saying we have to take her money or anything, just make her issue an apology. I don’t need bitches thinking they can fuck with my reputation like that.”

Rome straps on his guitar and walks toward the stage. Adrian gives me a look that says “Right when we figured out your shit, another one of my children decides to have a tantrum.”

It’s only fitting; things have been mildly chaotic lately.

After Megan came clean about releasing the sex tape, a whole lot of crap came to light. How she asked Zane to come onto Cassie to piss me off. How Gage slipped something in Cassie’s drink at the club before kissing her.

Adrian has had a lot to deal with lately. We all have.

We didn’t just clean house with the crew; we nearly emptied it. The few guys left have been here for years, and the rest for tonight’s show work for other bands we know and trust. But before we go on tour again, Adrian’s got a lot of work on his hands to find us people who aren’t here for the wrong reasons.

After tonight’s concert, we go back to Colorado for a few months. We’ve got an album to record before we go back on the road, and my head can use the space. Writing has been hard enough with Cassie gone, but trying to focus when we’re touring is making it nearly impossible.

“How’s this gonna go?” I ask Adrian, who is watching the crew like a hawk.

Someone drops something and Adrian stands up taller, giving the guy a look that makes him appear to shit his pants before picking it up and disappearing.

“It’ll be fine,” Adrian says.

I’m not sure if he’s saying it for my sake or if he really means it, but I hope he’s right.

“Fucking Sacramento,” I say, looking out at the stage, already hearing the fans getting wild with anticipation. Their thrill hums through me.

“Fucking Sacramento,” Adrian repeats.

I push my hands into my pockets.

“Sorry about last time we were here.” I think back to the fight we had backstage. I blamed Adrian for my shit performance and the crew being a total mess, but none of it was his fault. He told me to sober the fuck up or he was going to quit, and honestly, if Myth hadn’t died right after, he probably would have.

But here he is, by my side, in Sacramento again. Being the friend I haven’t been to him for the past year.

“Don’t mention it.” He pats me on the back with one hard slap. “It’s good to have you back.”

“Do you think she’ll be here?” I ask him, trying really hard not to sound desperate.

That’s another problem with being sober, all the fucking feelings spilling out all over the place. Everything is heightened. Everything is extreme. The past five years of fame is catching up with me all at once, and I’m not quite sure how to take it.

“Don’t know.” Adrian shrugs. “Quinn hasn’t said anything.”

She would know, right? Queen of social media. It’s no secret she and Cassie are still friends. I saw as much when I tried to click on Cassie’s social media accounts and see how she’s doing. But they were all set to private, and I understood why. Even if it hurt knowing I was the reason.

Adrian turns to me. “But I gotta say, I hope she does show up, man.”

“That’s a lot, coming from you.” I lift an eyebrow.

He spearheaded the movement to try and send her home from the moment I stuck her on my plane. But somewhere between Cassie showing up, giving her input, and bringing her general light around the band, she won him over like she seems to do everyone.

“She’s good for you.” Adrian nods. “I had my concerns, but honestly, I think once you figure shit out, you’re good for her too.”

“Almost time,” Eloise says, grabbing her bass guitar and getting ready.

The band gathers in our pre-show ritual circle and pauses. Everyone looks at each other and recognizes the vibe tonight is different. We haven’t been back here since everything fell apart. Even if we all processed it in our own ways, right now it’s hitting us all.

Usually, at this point, someone would be pouring shots and wishing us luck. But no one does. It’s just the band and me. We stand here together, after everything. And I’ve never been more thankful.

I look at each of them. My family. Eloise, Rome, Noah. Even Adrian stands in the background over Rome’s shoulder. They’ve seen me through thick and thin.

“For Myth,” I say, nodding my head. “May we lay the demons to rest, and may our friends not be beside them when we do.”

---