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I shake my head. It won’t be ACD. I can’t have Jace back.
What if I could?
Out of nowhere, I decide that when I’m back home I’ll meet with him. I let him go without a fight, but that doesn’t mean I can’t try to win him back. I’ve never fought for anything in my life. I want to fight for him. I should’ve fought the day he came to break up with me.
New voices float from my left, rowdy and excited. I turn to check out the newcomers and regret not taking the anti-anxiety meds. Then again, they wouldn’t have helped withthis.
“Bjornson! What are you doing here?” Jelly launches herself at Hal for a hug as the members of Acid Churro Dreams enter the stage.
They look awesome and wild in a screaming blend of jackets, pocket chains, and footwear that ranges from abused Converse to polished military boots. I’ve been sticking to nondescript jeggings and black sweatshirts, and I have to admit, I’m a little jealous. I love bright clothes. That will be my next step. After I tell Jace all the things I should’ve said months ago.
Much to my disappointment, and some relief, Jace is absent. Some bearded guy with a short, messy ponytail and a dark blue baseball cap is with them today. He rocks a black leather jacket and neat gray jeans embroidered in shimmery patterns on one leg. Jace wouldn’t be caught dead wearing anything stylish like that. It’s either athletic wear or chaos in ripped jeans with him.
I may have escaped having to enact my earlier decisions, but I still frown at the new guy. There hasn't been any news about ACD getting a new guitarist. What happened to Jace? Who could possibly replace him?
“Surprise!” Hal beams at me over Jelly’s shoulder. “Merry early Christmas, Laurel. You don’t have to wait to see your boyfriend as long as you thought you would.”
Boyfriend? Jace must have come with them after all, and he’s delayed somehow.
Jelly faces me with eyebrows raised high and an expression that speaks volumes. It appears Jace told them we’re done, but I still haven’t told my family about our breakup. Now I’ll pay for my secrets with embarrassment.
“Hey, Jelly.” I stand, combing my new bangs over my eyes with my fingers. “It’s nice to see you again.”
“Good to see you too.” She glances at the rest of her band.
Twisting my drink tumbler in my hands, I hurry to add, “Good to see all of you.”
Link and Tristan mutter some quiet hellos and turn to the last member of their party.
Lifting his chin, he looks at me from under the cap visor. “All of us?”
The hairs on my skin rise as memories sparkle to life. The night we met, Jace wore a hat too. Probably that same one. He looks different, but I remember his wry tone even if the facial hair and the clothes fooled me at first.
“Are you two boring or what?” Hal jokes. “That’s some wimpy reunion.”
I swear my heart stops beating, but my mouth still works somehow. “I’m just too shocked.”
Forcing myself to move, as if walking through a stone wall, I approach Jace and vow in my mind to murder Hal, in his sleep, for throwing me into this public display of…everything. Yes, I thought I’d run to Jace and yell at him, but…but…but!
A knowing grin on his face, Jace delivers an Oscar-worthy act of sauntering toward me as if we’re destined soulmates who never had any kind of a fallout. As though his heart doesn’t hammer in his chest. Of course it doesn’t. I’m the only one here who’s still hurt.
He hugs me, his earthy, fresh scent enveloping and destroying me. Smiling wider, he reaches for my face. It takes all of me to not flinch as his fingers press against my skin and peel away, slowly, the piece of grip tape that I forgot to remove.
“You still haven’t told them about us,” he whispers and sticks my tape, neon green, to his neck. His laughing eyes threaten to engulf me in a wave of despair from which there’s no return.
“You wouldn’t be here if they knew. This is a good opportunity for you, not that you need it.” Or want it. His bandmates must’ve forced him to perform with us tonight. I’d be a fool to consider, even for a fraction of a second, that he’s here for me.
“Your father knows,” Jace says.
My next breath catches in my throat, and I take a long sip of my shake to soothe the kink. Then squinting in warning, I look at Hal over my shoulder. “Thanks for the surprise, cousin dear.”
Hal offers me a sheepish smile. “This wasn’t my idea.”
Ugh. Dad!
“Okay,” I say to Jace’s bandmates. “Do you know where your green room is? I’d be happy to show you.”
“Yes,” Jelly chirps. “Thank you. You know, it’d be great to say hello to your dad though. We’re a little late, delays on the way here, but if it won’t distract him…?”
