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been Adam’s disappearance right before a performance that had sent Jacob packing.
“I think we need to replace Adam to get Jacob back.”
“Is it a good idea to accept Jacob’s ultimatum?”
Didn’t Gabe realize one should never, ever give in to a bully’s demands? And to an outsider, Jacob’s ultimatum—Adam goes or I go—had sounded an awful lot like bullying. Jacob hadn’t let anyone weigh in on his decision. It had been his way or the highway, and in the end, he’d been the one who’d taken the highway—on foot.
Gabe rubbed a hand over his face. “I don’t know. Maybe we’d all be happier if Adam were gone. He’s been the center of all our problems from the start. Well, not him. His heroin addiction.”
“I thought he’d gotten clean.”
“He has, but the same selfish irresponsibility that led to his addiction is part of who he is. And we tolerate it because he’s a talented motherfucker.” Gabe released a heavy sigh through his nose and then shook his head. “Never mind. He’s more irreplaceable than even Jacob. He writes our music.”
Melanie’s ringing phone interrupted their discussion, and she considered ignoring Nikki’s call, but one of the concessions for Nikki agreeing to get help was that Melanie would answer every time Nikki needed to talk.
“Sorry,” Melanie said. “I have to take this. I promised her I would pick up.”
Gabe shrugged and took another drink of his lemonade before setting it aside and rising to join his dogs in the yard. She smiled at their exuberance—of all three of them—as she answered the phone.
“How are you doing?” Melanie asked.
“I’m bored. God, I’m bored. When are you going to spring me out of this place?”
“You promised you’d give it at least three days.” And she’d been there just over twenty-four hours.
“Yeah, but I didn’t realize how freaking boring these places are. There aren’t any cute nurses to flirt with or anything.”
Melanie covered her eyes with one hand. “You’re not there to find dates.”
“I know. I miss you.”
“I miss you too.” And she wasn’t just saying that.
“How’s Gabe? Did I interrupt anything aerobic?”
Unfortunately no, but she knew Gabe was having a hard time coping, and while inventive sex might take his mind off his troubles for a while, it wouldn’t fix anything. “We were just talking.”
“About me or the band breakup?”
“Both.”
“Does he think I’m crazy?”
“He thinks you’re troubled.”
“Good, because I don’t want him to think I’m crazy just because I’m locked up with real lunatics. He’s still the drummer of my favorite band even though he’s boinking my bestie. Tell him that they haven’t made me wear a straitjacket or anything.”
The man in question was currently tossing a stick for Beau to fetch while Lady sat panting at his feet. “You can tell him yourself. He said we’ll come visit you soon.”
“Really?” Melanie could hear the smile in Nikki’s voice. “When?”
“I don’t know yet. I’ll call you when we make plans. How was therapy?”
Nikki blew a raspberry, and Melanie hoped her childish response didn’t mean she wasn’t taking her sessions seriously.
“Nikki, you promised you’d try.”
“It’s stupid. I already know why I’m the way I am and how I feel about the things that have happened to me. Telling some dumb psychiatrist about it doesn’t help. The only thing that helps is being with you.”
The familiar guilt of trying to make something of her life without Nikki gnawed at the pit of Melanie’s stomach. “Nikki . . .”
“I’ve got to go,” she said. “It seems all the cute nurses work the night shift and just clocked in.”
“Nikki?” Melanie got no response.
With a heavy sigh, Melanie slipped her phone into her pocket and leaned forward on the porch swing. With her toes just touching the ground, she rested her elbows on her knees and buried her face in her palms. Gabe was a great guy. She wanted him to become a permanent part of her life, but Nikki had to be a part of it as well. She couldn’t figure out how she’d ever get the three of their lives to blend, especially now that Nikki had made it clear that her affection for Melanie wasn’t as platonic as she’d thought.
The swing shifted as Gabe sat beside her again. “Girl troubles?”
Melanie snorted and lifted her head from her palms. “How did you know?”
“Trouble and Nikki go hand in hand.”
“I’m not sure what to do. My life was traveling a nice, neat little course until you and Nikki entered the picture.”
“If I’m too much trouble—”
“You?” She shook her head and scooted closer to him so their hips were touching. “You’re worth the trouble.”
“And Nikki?”
Melanie released a heavy sigh. “She’s worth the trouble too.”
“I guess your life’s course will stay a little messy, then.”
She tilted her chin, her gaze holding his as she silently begged him to kiss her. “Guess I’ll have to learn to live with a little mess.”
He burrowed his fingers into the thick, tangled mass of her curls and closed the distance between their lips. Her body instantly ignited into an inferno of lust as pleasure sizzled along her nerve endings. Her hands slid up the back of his T-shirt seeking warm, smooth flesh, and she pressed her suddenly aching breasts into his firm chest, the hard ridge of the barbell in his nipple piercing sending a thrill straight to her core. He deepened the kiss, his tongue brushing against hers. Her moan of torment was cut off by the ring of his phone.
The muscles of his back tensed beneath her exploring fingers, and he pulled away slightly.
“Can you hold that thought?” he asked. “It’s Adam. I need to take this call.”
Between interruptions from her friends and his, she feared they were never going to end up naked and sweaty.
Chapter Three
“What the fuck is going on with Jacob?” Adam’s idea of a greeting.
“I wish I knew,” Gabe said into his phone.
“I watched his ridiculous news segment. Is he really back with Tina?”
“Looks that way.”
“Of all the stupid—”
“You should go talk to him,” Gabe said, nibbling on Melanie’s chin so her passion wouldn’t cool while he dealt with band bullshit.
“Madison is going to have surgery on her shoulder. I can’t leave just yet.”
Gabe bit his lip. He hadn’t realized Madison’s injuries were that severe. He’d assumed she’d just broken an arm. “I’m heading up to Kansas tomorrow. I could stop by Dallas on my way back to Austin.”
“That would be great. I feel so . . .” Adam’s deep inhale was surprisingly strangled. “Disconnected.”
Which was the feeling—if history were any indication—that sent Adam reaching for a spoon of heroin, a lighter, and a syringe. “Be strong for Madison,” Gabe said. “You’ve got this.”
