She looked up when we entered. Her smile faltered when she saw my face.
“Cal...”
I didn’t let her finish.
“What the fuck did you give me?” My voice was low, shaking with rage. “Those pills. They weren’t just the usual. I blacked out chunks. I don’t remember half the night. You drugged me.”
Her eyes widened, perfect shock, perfect innocence. “What? No. I gave you what we always take. You asked for it.”
“Bullshit.” I stepped closer. “I was out of my mind. I let you...” I choked on the words. “I let you on my lap while my wife walked in. While she went into labor. You knew what those would do.”
Sydney stood slowly, voice soft, wounded. “You’re really going to stand there and blame me? After everything we’ve been through? I was trying to help you. You were spiraling. You called me crying about Hadley and Kei. I came because you needed me.”
Kei snorted. “You came because you saw an opening.”
Sydney’s eyes flashed to him. “Stay out of this, Kei. This is between me and Cal.”
“No,” Holland said quietly. “It’s not. Not anymore.”
I stared at her. “Tell me the truth. Did you dose me heavier? Something to make me… compliant?”
She laughed, sharp, disbelieving. “Compliant? You think I roofied you? That’s insane. You took them yourself. I watched you swallow them.”
“I don’t remember,” I said through gritted teeth. “I don’t remember half of it.”
“Because you were already drunk and high when I got there!” she snapped. “You were a mess. You begged me to stay. You begged me to make it stop hurting.”
Jake stepped forward. “We all saw the baggie, Syd. Same ones you’ve been carrying since the last tour. But Cal’s tolerance isn’t what it used to be. You knew that.”
Sydney’s face hardened. “You’re all turning on me now? After Mexico? After everything I survived with you?”
“Don’t,” I said, voice dangerous. “Don’t bring Mexico into this. This is about you manipulating me when I was weak. This is about you sitting on my lap while my pregnant wife watched her world end.”
Tears welled in her eyes.... real ones, maybe. “I love you, Cal. I’ve always loved you. I thought… I thought if I could just remind you...”
“Stop.” I held up a hand. “Just stop.”
She reached for me. I stepped back.
“Get out of my life,” I said quietly. “For good. Don’t text. Don’t call. Don’t show up at shows. Don’t come near my family. We’re done.”
Her face crumpled. “You don’t mean that.”
“I do.”
She looked at the others, pleading. “You’re really going to let him do this? After everything?”
Kei’s voice was cold. “Yeah. We are.”
Holland nodded once. “You crossed a line, Syd. Multiple lines.”
Jake just stared at her. “Leave.”
Sydney’s tears spilled over. She laughed, bitter, broken. “You’re all pathetic. You think Hadley’s going to take you back? After what you did? She saw you. She’ll never forgive you.”
“Maybe not,” I said. “But that’s between me and her. Not you.”
She stared at me for a long beat. Then she grabbed her bag, shoulders shaking.
