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Rory returns to the table. “Heather and Jett are coming down. I need you to come with me, Brock. Since Jesse’s not here, I guess I’m speaking for the band.”
“Did you text Cage and Jake?” Brock asks.
“Yeah. They’re coming down as soon as they can. Jake’s looking over the percussion arrangements.”
Brock nods, and the two of them walk away from the table. I don’t know where they’re meeting Jett and Heather, but of course they need to speak alone.
“I wish there were something I could do,” Maddie says.
“We have to fix this,” I say. “We just have to.”
“I agree with you, Brianna,” Callie says. “This means everything to my brother and sister, but how do we fix it?”
“I don’t know.” I shake my head. “I just don’t know. I feel like there’s something we could be doing. Something we should be seeing that we’re not seeing.”
“Rory and the guys figured out a way to make it happen. Jesse’s going to have to go back on guitar, and Jake will take over on drums.” Donny takes a sip of his coffee and then nearly spits it out. “Man, this is terrible.”
“Tea from now on,” I say absently.
“As long as we’re in the UK, no more coffee,” my brother agrees.
“I suppose it’s good that they’re just the opening band,” Maddie says. “I mean, if they can’t play, they just won’t. There won’t be an opener.”
Did those words just come out of Maddie’s mouth? Maddie, who’s usually so empathetic? “Maddie, this means everything to your brother and sister.”
“I know that, Bree. I’m trying to look on the bright side.” She sighs. “Although, you’re right. That’s not any kind of bright side.”
“You mean your motivational guru hasn’t trained you to see the bright side in any situation?” I say sarcastically.
Maddie’s jaw drops, and the bottoms of her eyes fill with tears.
And I feel like the lowest scum on the bottom of a criminal’s shoe, throwing that in her face. “Maddie, I’m sorry.”
She sniffles back her tears. “I’m sure we’re all just stressed out.”
“You’re letting me off the hook way too easily,” I say.
“I’m just tired of feeling like shit,” she says. “I was so horrid to Jesse last night when he wouldn’t let us go off with Zane.”
Donny’s eyes shoot open. “Excuse me?”
Jeez. No one needs my big brother going all big brother right now.
“It’s a long story, Donny.”
“Do I need to kick that motherfucker’s ass?” Donny asks, not nicely.
“No,” I say. “Jesse took care of it. And I’m glad he did.”
Donny furrows his brow. “I am too. I guess I owe him one.”
“And he was right,” Maddie says. “I don’t know what I was thinking. But I was so mean to him last night. I feel like…”
“You didn’t do this, Maddie,” I say.
“I know that. Objectively, anyway. Just feel like I messed with his vibe, you know?”
I sigh. Maddie didn’t mess with Jesse’s vibe. I did. I kept him distracted. Distracted, when he should’ve had his mind focused on the band. Maybe specifically focused on Dragon. Maybe then…
