Kandi
I'm sorry
I just finished yelling at them. They had no right to say those things.
I shouldn't have agreed with them. You're right and I hope you are somewhere safe.
I went to the park down the street to call my mom. I'm really mad at you.
I deserve it. Will you come back so we can talk?
Yes. Give me a bit. Tell the others I am safe, please.
Of course, take your time. Cane will come get you soon.
Reno tilted his head and looked at the sky. Not a cloud in sight. A perfect day to lead into June. He’d only known Luka since the start of April, and already he had allowed him to change his life. He started to wonder if he was defective in some way, if he was too giving. If he was too fast to fold.
He already felt the anger from earlier seeping out of him, and he tried to hold onto it. He hated how easily his anger turned to sadness and then lingered, difficult to digest and harder to let go of. He didn’t want to be an angry person, necessarily. But, he’d like it if he could hold on to his anger long enough to storm back into work and tell the public relations team exactly what he thought of them. Instead, he just felt sad.
At least Kandi yelled at them. He smiled to himself at the thought. She could be really intimidating when she wanted to be, which is how she’d held her coveted position as Voltage’s manager for over a decade. He knew if he told Arnaud what Tomas and Manu had said, he’d yell at them too.
He already wasn’t mad at Kandi anymore. He knew she was just trying to do her job and said the wrong thing. She’d always have his back, even if she made mistakes sometimes. And, if there was anyone who could help Reno form a plan to get him his way, it was her.
“Hey." Cane appeared out of nowhere right by the swing set, and Reno jumped a little, surprised. “You okay?”
“No,” Reno admitted, twisting the swing to the side before letting it snap back into place. “Everything sucks.”
“Been a while since I’ve seen you like this.” Cane sat on the other swing by Reno, and the sight of such a large man on such a small seat was almost comical. “Do you want me to stay with you at your flat for a while?”
“You’d do that?”
“Of course.” Cane shrugged. “I’ve been looking out for you guys for years. I do take protecting you seriously.”
“I forget sometimes you aren’t just a friend to us.”
“I’m happy to hear that," Cane said. “I’m real lucky to get to work for you. I think what you do is really important, so I’d like for you to stay alive.”
“You think what we do is important?”
“Man.” Cane shook his head in disbelief. “Sometimes I wish you got to be in the crowd more instead of on stage. Maybe then you’d see what your music means to your fans. I’ve heard so many people, so many times, in so many different countries, say that your music is what kept them alive.”
“They’re exaggerating.” Reno shuffled his feet in the pebbles, digging a hole with the toe of his shoe.
“They’re not. Music does that for people. It inspires them, makes them feel less alone. You guys do a good job at writing about stuff that’s relatable and touches people. So, yeah.” He scratched his cheek awkwardly. “I’d sleep on your doorstep if it meant keeping you okay.”
“I’d never ask you to do that.” Reno’s head was spinning; there were only so many emotional conversations he could take in one day. “If you could be nearby, though, it would make me feel a lot better. And, watch out for Luka.”
“I already do,” Cane said, and Reno felt like a weight lifted off of him. “I’m gonna have to get one of my boys to watch out for this Maxine girl too, won’t I?”
“Unless she dumps T-yan’s ass for lying to her. Then you don’t have to worry about it.”
Cane chuckled and got up from the swing. “Come on, there’s a few hours left in the day, and Zana is real worried about you.”
“Okay.” Reno grabbed his bag and followed him out of the park, grateful for his company. He knew he still had to face his bandmates, Kandi, and probably Tomas and Manu. But, he trusted that they would forgive him. Then, hopefully, he could spend the rest of the day playing music to ease his tender heart.
1 my angel.
2 Never again.
