30. Chapter Thirty
Chapter Thirty
Jax
How many men does it take to unload a van?
Apparently fucking ten.
We didn’t even bring every single piece of equipment we own, it’s mostly just Casey’s goddamn cymbals and hi-hats. It takes at least six trips to haul everything in, and finally, by nine thirty, the studio is organized and ready to go.
James runs over, clapping me hard on the back. “Can you believe it? We’re finally here!” he exclaims, shaking my shoulders.
I chuckle softly. “You ready to work our asses off for the next few months?”
“You fucking bet I am,” he says with a wide grin, then takes off running toward Gareth.
If we can count on anyone to keep up morale around here, it’s definitely James. The rest of us have been dragging our feet all morning, worn out from either lack of sleep or just not being morning people—especially at freakin’ eight o’clock.
I walk down the narrow hallway, swing open the last door, and step inside slowly. Seeing all our equipment set up feels… surreal .
We’re definitely not in a dingy garage anymore.
We’re in an actual recording studio with a mixing board and everything.
Standing in the middle of Petal 3
A smile tugs at my lips as I reread her message, not caring who sees anymore. It’s only been maybe two hours since I left her curled up on the couch, and I already miss her like crazy.
“Come on, lover boy, let’s go. You can text her after we’re done for the day,” Gareth teases, gesturing for me to put my phone away.
I roll my eyes. “Yeah, yeah. Don’t get your knickers in a twist,” I shoot back, slipping it into my pocket.
I cross the room, my heartbeat pounding in my ears all the way until my hand lands on the smooth door handle.
This is it. The start of our dreams coming true.
I blow out a quick breath and slip inside the small, soundproof room. Instantly spotting the headphones hanging on the wall, I slip them over my ears and step in front of the small window.
“Hey, Jax, can you hear me clearly?” Gerald’s voice comes through the headphones.
I give him two thumbs up. “Crystal.”
“Okay, ready when you are.”
I nod and slowly approach the mic, drawing in a deep breath. It feels like it’s been forever since I’ve really sung anything, and now that I’m here, I feel the nerves rising like a tidal wave.
But then I remember that night with Allie on the hotel balcony, her beautiful face clear as day in my mind. And just like that, every doubt falls away, and I know I’m ready.
I’ve worked my ass off for the last ten years for this moment and this moment alone. If anyone deserves this, it’s us.
And now it’s our time to shine.
I never realized how difficult recording could be. I figured it’d be simple—just sing the song like normal.
But nope.
We’ve had to start and restart the same three-minute track so many times, my throat’s already raw. And it’s only been a bloody hour.
“What?” Gerald mutters under his breath.
When I glance up, he’s not even looking at me. His eyes are pinned somewhere across the room, brows knit tightly together.
While he’s distracted, I take a seat on the stool and bend to grab my water bottle.
“Jax?”
The sharpness in Gerald’s tone makes my eyes snap up while a chill slithers down my spine.
“Yeah?” I reply, setting the bottle back down on the floor.
He glances sideways, toward where the guys are sitting, but from in here, I can’t see them.
I rise slowly from the stool. “Is everything okay?” I ask, drawing out each word, trying to keep the rising anxiety from spreading into my voice.
My eyebrows pull together while I watch Gerald turn back toward me like he’s moving in slow motion. He stammers, hands lifted as if he’s trying to explain something with them, but no words are coming out.
Then James suddenly appears beside him, his eyes bloodshot red. He reaches over and gently lifts the headset off Gerald’s ears, placing them over his. The look on his face makes my stomach twist violently.
I stare back at him wide-eyed, because somehow, I know something’s wrong.
I can feel it.
“What’s going on, James?” I ask, my knees growing weak with every second that stretches on, and he just stares at me like I’m a deer caught in his headlights.
“Jax,” he says quietly. His face falls to the floor while he shakes his head slowly. “There’s… been an accident.”
Overwhelming nausea grips me, freezing me in place until everything clicks.
I rip the headphones off, dropping them to the floor with the metallic clatter?ringing through the booth. Bursting through the door, I sprint toward James, my heart climbing further into my throat with every step.
I grip his shoulders firmly. “What do you mean there’s been an accident? Who was in an accident, James?” I ask frantically, trying to force him to meet my eyes—but he won’t. He just keeps looking away.
He stammers, his eyes scanning the room while his mouth opens and closes like he’s trying to find words. Then another hand lands on my shoulder.
I spin around, only to find Gareth standing there, his eyes as red as James’s.
“Come sit, man,” he pleads, gesturing toward the sofa.
I slowly shake my head while trying to understand, but it’s hard when everyone’s fucking tiptoeing .
They did the same shit with my mum, and I only wanted to know what happened.
“Will somebody just tell me what the fuck is going on?” I demand, my voice cracking as flashes of my moms face surfaces in my mind.
“Let’s go sit down, Jax,” Casey says cautiously from behind me.
“No! I don’t want to fucking sit down! I want someone to tell me what the fuck is going on!” I snap.
Allie went to breakfast this morning with Nora.
My eyes widen, and I frantically pat my pockets. “Where the hell is my phone?”
Gareth grips my shoulders, pulling me toward the sofa and forces me onto it.
“There was an accident,” he starts, his fingers digging into my arm. “Nora called me a few minutes ago. She said she and Allie were at a light on their way back, and when they went to go through, someone slammed into them.” He pauses, shaking his head slowly.
A single tear escapes, rolling down my cheek and suddenly I can’t breathe.
“She… she said the paramedics got her out quickly, but Allie—” He shakes his head again. “She was still trapped inside when they left. I’m so sorry, Jax.” He rushes the last part out, squeezing my shoulder tighter like it’s the glue holding me together.
But it’s not enough.
My muscles give out, and I collapse forward, my head falling into my hands.
Sobs rack through my body while Gareth slides his arm around me, trying to soothe me—but there’s no soothing this .
My mind flashes with far too many emotions, too many memories at once. It feels like a nightmare.
First my mum, and now…
My head snaps up, my eyes locking onto Gareth’s.
“Is she still in there?” I ask urgently.
He stammers. “When Nora called, she was already on her way to the hospital. I don’t know—”
I don’t let him finish. Instead, my body propels me off the sofa, moving before I can think.
“You—” My voice cracks. “You guys are acting like she’s already gone ! She could just need help, and we’re all just sitting around with our thumbs up our asses?”
They look at me like I’ve lost it, and maybe I have. But my mum died on impact. There was nothing I could do for her—but Allie ?
“She needs me,” I say, the words coming out broken.
Without another word, I’m already heading for the door. My footsteps echo down the hall, and I don’t stop until I’m outside, racing toward my car. The second I slip into the driver’s seat, my phone vibrates with an incoming call.
I answer it quickly, fumbling with it in my shaking hands, and press it to my ear.
“Hello?” I answer, panic rising in my voice.
“Jax?”
The way Ana says my name, like she’s about to break, shatters something in me.
I don’t say anything, I just give her a minute to collect herself, trying so hard not to push her for answers when I’m sure her entire world’s been turned upside down.
“Y-you need to get here. Fast, please.”
Then her sobs echo through the speaker.