“Not a problem,” he answered. “Sometimes you need to stop and help a stranger.”
I rolled my head toward Mel. “I thought this time was different. There was so much chemistry between us, and he wasn’t afraid to hold my hand. I just want a nice relationship where I’m not a sucker and fall for this.” I choked on another sob.
Mel sniffed, and stared at me. “This…doesn’t seem like the guy I dealt with when we were trying to get you back here. This seems…out of character.”
“I thought it was too…”
“Any chance you’re wrong?”
Everett cleared his throat. “She was administering a blow job, apparently.”
Sitting up, I turned to Mel, and something broke inside me. A flood of tears poured out of me, and down my cheeks. “What am I going to do!? Everything was banked on me staying in the band and now…how the hell can I play when all I see is the guy who led me on and cheated on me?”
Everett cocked his head. “You can find another band.”
“I don’t think you really understand,” Mel said, quietly, shaking his head.
I looked at the fob in my hand. It was a picture of me with a bunch of glitter and bling and my name. When I flipped it over, it had Robot Servant in more glitter and bling. I handed it to Everett. He looked confused, but took and looked at the fob.
“Oh. Ohshit. You’re in that band.”
Covering my eyes with my hands, I nodded. “That’s me. Aaron, drummer for Robot Servant. I don’t know how much longer though.”
“Maddox Jones?” he whispered.
“Yeah,” I said.
“No, I mean he’s walking by on the sidewalk, right now.”
I swallowed, and stared at Mel. “Don’t…let him know I’m here.”
“Oh, he’s already spotted you. He’s on the way,” Everett said. “He’s got someone following him.”
“Fuck,” I whispered. “Any chance of me just running?”
Mel stood up and folded his arms. Mel “The Mountain” Garvin wasn’t afraid to use his bulk if the situation warranted. Usually, it didn’t. I’d only seen him use it one other time, to protect David. That had been ugly.
“Aaron!” Maddox’s voice was rough and sorrowful.
I didn’t turn around. I stared out at the rocks and the lake beyond.
His shoes slapped on the grass as he ran over toward us. Everett leaned over. “Is it okay if I go? You have Mel, and there’s no reason for me to be here, right?”
“Phone?”
He held it out and I quickly typed in my contact information. “Text me. I at least owe you a beer.” He smiled, and stood. I watched him jog away as the slap of Maddox’s feet got closer.
I rolled to my feet and stood next to Mel.
Maddox stopped just a few feet away, and Rand jogged up next to him. Mel unfolded his arms and glanced at me. I shrugged—I had an idea what the question was in his eyes.
“Aaron, please, let me talk to you.”
Mel swung and punched him right in the eye. Maddox staggered back until Rand managed to get his arms around him and hold him up. Rand looked at Mel and then at me.
“Aaron, let him speak. Please.”
Mel pulled back again, but I put a hand on his elbow to stop him. I stared at the both of them, and Maddox walked back the few feet to where I was standing. He pursed his lips.
