ChapterOne
Maverick
My hand was trembling as I brought the glass of amber liquid to my lips. I knew I shouldn’t have another drink. I was going on stage in a few hours. Opening for Trey Turner, one of the biggest names in country music. I’d been waiting for this chance since I was a punk kid, writing songs and learning to play the guitar in my garage. Just to have a distraction. To get away from my messed-up family. And pretend I might have a better life someday.
That day had finally come, but my demons were chasing and I couldn’t run fast enough to get away. I was turning into the two people I hated most in the world. My alcoholic mother and hateful father. The worst of both of them. I hated myself more every day because I looked in the mirror and saw their twisted, spiteful faces staring back at me.
A knock on the door to my tour bus made me down the scotch and put the empty glass in the sink. I sank down on the small sectional, reaching for my acoustic guitar.
I cleared my throat. “Come in.”
Trey poked his head in. He was a big man, intimidating to most, but I’d never met a man who scared me. I’d grown up getting into fights. I needed someone to take my rage out on. I looked for targets. Kids weaker than me, that I could prey on, the way my old man preyed on me and my kid brother.
Leaning against the counter in the small kitchenette a few feet away, Trey crossed his arms and stared me down. “We need to talk.”
Shit, I should have known this was coming. Guys like me didn’t get lucky breaks. They got the rug pulled out from under them.
“Okay.” I set my guitar aside. “What’s up?”
He scowled before picking up the empty glass in the sink and taking a whiff. “You’re drinking again… before you go onstage.”
I knew Trey’s history. Everyone in Nashville did. He was a recovering alcoholic. He’d gone into hiding after his wife had a miscarriage and divorced him. Apparently, his muse dried up and he’d been losing his battle with the bottle, before Sierra came back into his life to rescue him from himself. Too bad I didn’t have anyone in my life who cared enough to rescue me. I was on my own, just the way I liked it.
“Just one.” I was lying my ass off and we both knew it.
“You don’t think I know an alcoholic when I see one, kid?”
I was only a few years younger than him and it irked me to be calledkid. My old man always called me that, and the derision in his voice always made me want to punch him in the face.
“Look, I know your deal,” I said, raising a hand. “That you couldn’t handle the bottle, but I can.”
His eyes narrowed as he stared me down. “You almost fell off the stage last night. You forgot the words to your own goddamn song!”
He was roaring now and my temper was rising. My days of rolling over and taking a beating or a tongue-lashing were long gone. I didn’t give a shit who this guy thought he was. No one was going to disrespect me. A voice in my head told me to shut my mouth. My career was the only thing I had left. If Trey kicked me off his tour word would spread like wildfire and I’d be done inhistown.
“Haven’t you seen the videos? Heard the shit people are saying on social media?” He didn’t give me a chance to respond before he said, “I took a chance on you, asshole! When no one else would. This is my reputation on the line.”
We glared at each other before Trey took a deep breath and tipped his head back. “Look, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have come at you like that. But this thing nearly took me down, Mav. And I don’t want to see it do the same to you.”
Trey was a good guy. He’d taken me under his wing when I got signed to his best friend’s record label, offering to take me on tour, and give me a shot to win over his loyal fanbase. I should be thanking him. Instead, I was letting him, and myself down. Letting myself down was nothing new, but the stakes had never been this high for me before. I’d never had anything worth losing.
It wasn’t easy for me to eat crow, but I knew I didn’t have a choice. “I know I had a little too much last night. Won’t happen again, boss.”
“No, it won’t because you’re going to get help.”
“What the hell are you—”
“I talked to your band. This is nothing new for you. You’ve been a drunk for years.”
He waited for me to defend myself, but I couldn’t. He was right. “I can’t believe my own band—”
“Told me the truth?” He took a seat across from me, at the small kitchen table. “This is their one shot too, man. They let you screw this up and they’re finished too. Some of them have got wives and kids counting on them. And you’re being a selfish asshole.”
It had been a long time since someone had reamed me out like this. I had a reputation for having a violent temper so most people gave me a wide berth. Still, I knew Trey was telling me what I needed to hear. My band were my brothers. They’d all been with me since we were teenagers. They’d tried to get even with my old man on my behalf. I owed them.
“You think I don’t know that?” I scraped my hands over my face. “You don’t understand.”
“You’re wrong, I do.” He waited for me to look at him before he said, “No one knows better than I do how alcohol can ravage your life. I was using pills too. Believe me, I was a mess.”
