AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Answer? We can’t. It’s impossible. We’ll never connect with millions of fans screaming our names when our girls are here. Without us.
Since we left Central City, this exact argument has been in the back of my mind. Every time I think I’m going to bring it up to the guys, I chicken out. I’m afraid of what they’ll say. Or how they’ll react when I let them know—I’m done.
Anxiety swirls in my stomach. Images of their angry faces pop into my mind. They’ll argue. Fight tooth and nail for what we’ve worked so hard for.
But I won’t.
They can find a new guitarist to carry on our legacy. For once, I’ll sacrifice my dream to be with River so she can pursue her dream as the Fixer. She’s already done so much for herself. Now, it’s time for us to step up and be her support system. We can still work as a band, playing local gigs. Hell, we can still have a small-scale contract with West Records. Something that doesn’t take us away from this spot we’ve carved out as our home.
Music has been our life for years now. Even before we moved here. It runs through our veins, feeding us life. It’s our escape from reality. A way to glide above our bodies and live in the moment.
Nothing exists when music is involved.
And I’m about to suggest something that throws us off the rails of our future and plummets us into the unknown. A life without music and freedom. A life here. With the girls we’ve fallen in love with.
If only they’ll listen.
After getting dressed the best I can without asking anyone for help, I make my way out of my room and toward the top of the staircase.
I grunt, hobbling down the stairs, carefully maneuvering my crutches. One at a time. Every few steps, my damn leg throbs where the bullets pierced through, and they sewed me back up, fixing the ripped muscles, bones, and ligaments. They promised eight weeks of this cast and then physical therapy to regain my walking.
“You idiot,” Rad grunts, coming up to meet me halfway up the stairs. “I told you to yell, and I’d help you.” He shakes his head with disapproval, stealing a crutch from me and winding his arm around my shoulders. “Now, lean on me like a good boy.”
I sigh, leaning into him for support. A pathetic feeling festers inside of me at the amount of help I need to get around. And shower. That’s been the worst. Having to tie a damn black bag around my leg feels so weird and even weirder when River hangs out in the bathroom with me, making sure I don’t fall over. I would have, too, the first night.
“Thanks, man,” I say, taking my crutch from him as he tsks me like a child.
“Call for help, bro. You got shot. You’re in a cast. I can carry you on my back everywhere I go. Don’t make me do it,” he quips, giving me his best dad look that might work on Lyric.
“I’m fine, seriously. I can do some stuff on my own. I’m a big boy.” I roll my eyes when he points to the dining room table, demanding I sit across from Kieran and Cal.
“Bossy, asshole,” I grumble, leaning on my crutches as I make my way to the long table.
“Morning, sunshine,” Callum quips, leaning his elbow on the table.
I snort, situate myself in a chair, and lean my crutches behind me. “Morning.”
Kieran nods in my direction, dropping his eyes to his steamy plate of food. He shifts uncomfortably, drawing my attention to his stiff posture. I’ve known the guy for a long time now. So, I can always tell when something is on his mind.
From the kitchen, Rad whistles a little tune, clinking plates and silverware together before emerging again with a plate full of every breakfast food imaginable. Eggs, bacon, hash browns, and even a massive side of biscuits and gravy.
My stomach rumbles when the smell hits my senses, and I swear, I drool a little.
“Breakfast is served,” Rad singsongs, waltzing into the dining room with two plates and setting one in front of me. He hums more, wiggling his body as he finds his seat and grins. “God, I love cooking. There’s even enough for my Little Pretty Girl before she has to go to school.”
“Thanks,” I say with appreciation, rubbing my hands together. I raise my brow when I look up from my plate, greeted by two concerned looks from Kieran and Cal.
“I’m fine,” I reassure them again, shaking my head when they scoff in unison.
“You say that, but I don’t fucking believe it,” Kieran grumbles, digging into his food and shoving it into his mouth with a huff.
Rad snorts. “That’s because this asshole is never okay. And now, he’s been shot, by Donavan fucking Drake. That super bunghole,” he grunts, roughly cutting into his biscuits.
“New rule. Never say his name again,” Kieran says, shaking his head with disgust. “I’m just…I can’t believe that happened,” he whispers, keeping his voice low so we don’t wake our two guests, still snuggled in bed upstairs.
That’s another new development I need to discuss with our girl. River hasn’t left our house since this happened. Half of me thinks she’s terrified to go home. Totally understandable, too. I wouldn’t want to return to the place where my privacy was invaded.
The other half of me thinks she feels guilty for me getting shot. She shouldn’t. It’s not her fault. I did it to protect Lyric.
