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Tygroans as he shuts his door. “Whyis itso fucking hotout here?JesusChrist.”
Ibump my hip into his. “Quitchabitchin’.”
Shannon,Zak, andAdrianpile out of the van with a couple of extra guys and more approaching.Theyimmediately get to work, opening the van and grabbing equipment to haul to the stage.
Adrenaline’salready pumping through my veins with the excitement of festival in the air.
“Youlook like a kid in a candy shop,”Shannonteases.
Igrin at him untilZaksays in disbelief, “What’reyou doin’ here?”
HeandTystandoff, shoulders squared, eyes squinting underneath sunglasses.
Adrianappears, roundingZakand coming up to his side.Thesun is so bright that it illuminates his eyes behind dark aviators, showing that they aren’t onTy—his focus is solely dedicated to me.
Withthe flaring embers lighting up his poker face,Ithink we’re both not present in a parking lot inAustinwaiting for a festival.
Ishake myself out of his hypnosis. “Standdown, cowboys,”Isay, turning to followShannon.
“What’she doing here,Steph?”Zakyells.
Iturn around to face the three, walking backward besideShannon. “He’shere to watch me perform with my band, babe.Youcomin’ or what?”
Ididn’t exactly mean to let that slip—Iguess after so many years of arguing, the response is deeply ingrained into my gray matter.
Evenfrom here,Ican see the glint inZak’seye, the corner of his lips failing to suppress a smirk.
“Quitstirrin’ the pot,”Shannonwarns lowly asIspin around.
“Ididn’t mean to!”
Shannongives me a disappointed look. “Youdid by bringin’ him here.”
Wewalk in silence under an unbearably bright sun.Agroup of musicians we know sees us and starts whooping and hollering, throwing their hands in the air and waiting for us to join them.Robbiestands with them, which meansBrandyis somewhere around here playing photographer.
“What’dItell you about figurin’ your shit out?”
“Maybeyou oughta be harping on your brother in sin becauseTyknows something’s up, thanks to him.”
Hecomes to a complete stop, glaring at me. “Whathappened?”
Iglance behind us. “Tydragged me toAshleyRoadandDreejumped me.”
“Whythefuckdid y’all go there?”
“Tymade me go,”Ireply lowly. “AndthenDreemade it pretty fucking apparent thatIwas attacked.I’vegot my shit figured out, but you need to put a fucking leash on him.”
Marchingforward toward the sea of familiar faces, someone with long, super wavy dark brown hair and a white grindcore band tee pops up. “’Bouttime we see your face outside the studio again.”
“Holyshit, what’s up!”Iexclaim with a wide smile, greetingCharlie. “Didn’tknow y’all were gonna be here!”
“Hey, you broughtTy, too,” he says asTycomes up from behind me and greets the guys ofAbjuredwith a firm handshake.Charlieeyeballs me curiously. “Didn’tknow you headed back toTexasto rejoinTimeless.”
Itry not to grimace. “Eh, you know.Missthe stage and all that.”
Henods with a peculiar smirk.Thesilver ring in his nostril glints in the sunlight, shining brilliantly against cool olive skin. “Mm, well, can’t beat the stage—I’llgive you that much.Eventhough it woulda been nice to have your name in our credits.”
“Oh, what, mine’s not good enough?”Tyteases.
