Page 2 of The Second Deal

Yeah.Missme already?

Tybarely gives me enough time to start the engine and turn the radio on to the shitty local rock station before responding.

Youhave no idea.Youcan have a week or two of vacation but imma need you to come back toATL.

Ismile wistfully at his text.

Dutycalls with the family business andIknow you understand that.You’llbeOKwithout me.

Itake another deep breath before putting the car into drive that helps bring me back home, taking my brain out ofAtlantaand back intoSanAntonio.Butit also renews the sour frown from watching theRamostwins tag-teaming my older brother, their supposedBFFsince religious education back in fourth grade.

MaybeifIhad toldShannonIwas coming back home they would’ve been on their best behavior and tonight wouldn’t have been a shit show.

Myhands wring the steering wheel.It’snot your fault they’re all hotheaded.

Iwanted to see what the deal is for myself, anyway.Brandyhas tried keeping me updated on band drama, filling me in on whatShannonandRobbiefail to mention, but it’s gone in one ear and out the other.

Ileft it all behind for a reason, andIdidn’t want to hear about it.

Butthat was before last month whenShannoncalled.

BeforeRobbieand the twins were arrested for disorderly conduct at their show inAtlantathatIskipped.BeforeIsaw their battered mugshots inMetalMusicNews.

Bythe timeMomcalled a week later offering the creative director position at our family’s new year’s rock music festival,NewYear’sBall, the second she offered to pay for breaking my lease was the momentIstarted packing.

Yetseeing theRamostwins in the flesh has me considering driving pastLosoyaand heading all the way toCorpusChristi.

Asolo trip to the coast to keep home at bay.

TokeepTimelessand my past mistakes at bay.

Anew text message alert pings through the speakers and startles me.Itap the screen to listen.

“Newmessage fromTyBlackburn: ‘Sowhat you’re telling me is it’s my turn to come to you?’Wouldyou like to reply?”

“Yes.”Isnort. “Yourfuneral, dude.”

Withthe way the impending twilight darkens from clouds rolling in, the more it feels like my own funeral is approaching the closerIget to home.

Asif she knewIwas itching to keep going straight on 281,Mom’sname pops up on the entertainment center screen and interrupts the music blaring through the speakers.

Iswallow a smartass response that would cue her in on my potential escape plan. “Hey,I’mon my way now.Y’allneed anything from the store?”

“Youread my mind, baby girl,”Momreplies. “Mindpicking up extra beer for your daddy?LookslikeRobbiegot into it last time he was here.”

Thatexplains some things.

“Surething.Anythingelse?”

“Justyourself, baby.”

Thedollar store on the way is dirty, dim, claustrophobic, and haphazardly stocked as it was the dayIleft.AHotCheetosdisplay is front and center, right across from aBigRedend cap.

I’mdefinitely back inSA.

ButTy’sresponse tries to coax me back intoAtlanta.

Idgaf.Youseemed happier here and that’s allIwant.Wellthat and for you to not be so damn far away anymore xPGotused to seeing you all the time andIliked it.

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