Page 74 of Bonds We Break

WADE STANDS IN the doorway of the studio, and immediately I spring from the piano bench and crash into him.

“What are you doing here?” I ask in surprise. I haven’t spoken to him since I drunkenly called to sob on the phone about my marriage falling apart. I’d cried on the phone while gulping homemade mixed drinks of cranberry and vodka. Not one of my more stellar moments, but Wade had talked me off the ledge.

I pull back to take a look at him and he gives me a knowing smile. “Buying a house.”

I knit my eyebrows together. “I’m so confused.”

“Duh, I’m moving back,” he says, as if I’m too dumb to figure it out.

“What?” I screech. “When did this happen? Why didn’t you tell me?” I’m offended that he would keep a secret from me like this.

“You had a lot going on, and I figured I would surprise you.”

“Are you really back for good?” I hold him out in front of me, as if to make sure he is real.

Wade nods, a broad smile on his face.

“For good.”

“Silicon valley was your dream.” I guide him into the room and sit down on the chair opposite him, still holding his hand, afraid to let go.

“It didn’t mean as much when I didn’t have anyone to share it with,” Wade says thoughtfully.

“Does Adam know you’re back?” I ask.

“Yes,” he says cryptically, but then as if he’s a kid with a secret he can’t keep, he divulges, “I bought half his label. We’re going to be partners.” He is practically giddy.

“And you didn’t tell me?!” I reach across the table to smack him on the arm, offended.

“Eh, I didn’t want to bore you with all my stuff when you were going through your own stuff,” he replies, waving me off.

I sit back in my chair. I’ve been avoiding asking Wade, because I know he still talks to Cash, but I want to know how he’s doing.

“Don’t look at me like that,” Wade warns.

“Look at you like what?” I say, and cross my legs guiltily.

“Mia,” he warns again, not wanting to get in the middle of anything, but always ending up there.

“How is he?” I ask anyway.

“Don’t do this to me, Mia.” He stands up and paces the room, finally leaning against the piano.

“I just need to know,” I plead.

“You broke him,” Wade replies.

“He told me to leave, Wade. What did you want me to do?” I try to defend myself. He doesn’t know everything, and I can’t tell him.

“That was months ago, and you haven’t done anything. You haven’t fought for him, nor have you reached out to Jack. So was this all for nothing? Are you going to just hide away in this studio pretending to have a life?” Wade’s words hit me in the chest like a runaway truck.

“That’s not fair, Wade.” I hiss and turn away from him.

How can I be happy with someone else when I know Cash is suffering? That is what’s kept me away from what I know is inevitable. I can hide away in this studio as much as I want, but fate will always find me, I can hear it calling for me like a whisper on the wind.

“I’m sorry,” Wade says softly. “I don’t like seeing any of my friends in pain.”

“News flash, Wade, we’ve been fucked up for a decade.” I raise my arms in defeat.

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