Page 7 of Paint the Town, Dove
He was everything,once. A son, a friend, a partner…
An eagle.
I missed the way he looked at me with treasure and hope. Promise for a better future, a better life. Promises that were broken after he signed his life away to the music industry.First Avenue Records, now Arc & Sheild. Making money out of monsters…
I stepped back.
“You said I’m a mess,” he whispered, defeated. “Say it again.”
The words lodged in my throat. “I won’t do that.”
“Say it, Scar. Just say it.”
Touch him –
Help him –
HEAL him.
But I couldn’t. I can’t.“Once is enough.”
He gave up the fight, nodding in shameful silence. There was nothing left to say.
Steadily, I placed a firm hand on his shoulder, catching a whiff of hisactionslast night.
“Bathe. Now.” I commanded, steering him to the ensuite washroom. “You’re not bailing on another interview, Ryden. You’ve got an hour.”
He sniffed at his armpit. “Is it really that bad?”
“Concerningly.” I twisted the showerhead. “Did you fuck in a barn?”
That low, hoarse laugh pasted a grin on my face. No matter the circumstance, his laugh made me laugh. Ryden’s happiness was rare nowadays, so I savoured the chances I got to see it.
“Better than the Four Seasons,” he winked.
I shoved him into the bathroom. “Did it come with robes and slippers, too?”
“Even better,” he smirked, “hay bales and hogties.”
“Oh my God, just get in.” I swatted his arm, shutting the door before he could see me smile.
When I decided to become my best friend’s manager long ago, it came with a laundry list of boundaries I never dared cross. I had to stay strong, tough…
Unbreakable.
Between the two of us, he was more fragile. He wore the armour, I was the shield. Everything that got us here, well, that scarred us both. But I couldn’t stop running. I couldn’t slow the pace. We needed out.Igot us out.
Vigilant, impenetrable –
Untouchable.
Ryden’s quiet hums misted through the doorway, the voice that captured the hearts of millions across the world:
“My town, my town… My town and you –
My town and you, and a… big red… shoe?”
Laughter escaped my throat before I could bury it.
