Chapter 39
SLIP
Two days after our wedding, I placed the last of my suitcases next to my guitars by the front door and dumped my satchel loaded with music-filled notebooks and my laptop on the floor beside them. I took Maddy’s hand, and with somber, heavy steps, we headed into the living room. We sat on my modular sofa where Flint, Cole, and Lewis had been waiting for us.
Tears welled in Flint’s red-rimmed, glassy eyes. The agony in his gaze crushed my soul. But this was the right thing to do.
He shook his head and rubbed his stubble. “You really doing this?”
“Yes. We are.” Ignoring the ache in the center of my chest, I curled my hand around Maddy’s leg and kissed her cheek.
“I can’t believe this is it.” Cole’s voice snagged in his throat as he swiped his hand down his cheek. “You’re moving to Vancouver.”
“Yep.” I closed my eyes to avoid their pained gazes. “For the foreseeable future.”
“Fuck.” Flint slumped back against the sofa. “We’ve barely gone more than a few days apart since we were nine.”
No, we hadn’t. But life had changed so much since we’d lost Phil. “It’s certainly gonna be different.”
“I’m gonna miss you like crazy, man.” Lewis’s emotional gaze speared the bottom of my gut. He’d become one of us over the past two years. I was still there, alive, thanks to him and his unwavering friendship.
“We’ll be back for Christmas,” Maddy said softly. “It’ll be like we’re not even gone.” With Maddy working till the holidays, and Bridget taking care of Valerie, we planned not to come back to LA for the next five weeks—our trial run before we disappeared in the new year.
Flint closed his eyes, winced, and nodded. “It’ll just be weird that you’re not a couple miles away.”
“True,” I agreed. “But it’s only a short flight.”
“You won’t stay for Thanksgiving next week?” Cole asked.
“No.” I shook my head. Why was saying goodbye so hard? It wasn’t like we’d never see each other again. “But know that I’m more than thankful and beyond grateful that I’m here. Sober. Clean. And I have you guys in my life.”
Lewis straightened and rubbed his hands down his thighs. “That goes without question.”
“How’s the new house?” Maddy asked.
Lewis grinned and rested his arm on the back of the sofa. “I never thought I’d see the day where I could afford a house anywhere let alone in Hollywood.” Humbleness drifted through his tone. “It’s awesome. Tia and I didn’t own a lot of stuff before we moved in together, but we seem to keep unpacking boxes and boxes of the crap that she’d had in storage since coming home from Chicago.”
They didn’t have to move out of my place so quickly after the tour, but they wanted to start their life together. Have a baby. They’d bought a four-bedroom home, not far from Flint’s joint. My house wouldn’t be the same without them in it. Or anyone, for that matter. But it would always be home when Maddy and I were in LA.
“Wait until you have children.” Cole smirked, but then his lips curled and morphed into the happiest of grins. “You think you have an enormous house, and then suddenly there’s kids crap filling every room.” Yep, his home was now inundated with girly toys...and the random dinosaur and truck for Josh. Cole fucking loved it.
I gave him a quizzical look. “Is Ava officially gonna move in with you?”
Cole’s smile broadened even more as he nodded. “Yeah. Eventually. I’ve asked her to, but she wants to stay at her place for a few more months. We’re in no rush. We love being together and running around after the kids.”
“Flint?” My heart faltered as I glanced at him. His ice-blue eyes looked like they were melting. Tears pooled on the rims of his eyes, but none fell. This was a hard day for everyone. “You cool?”
“Yeah.” He sniffled and sucked in a deep breath. “I’m stoked everyone is happy. I couldn’t ask for more than that.”
“But are you?” I asked.
“Yeah...I am. Absolutely.” Strength and reassurance set in his tone. “I have you guys and Sutton.”
Maddy pouted at him. “When are you gonna marry her and put her out of her misery?”
“She’s not subtle, is she?” A glint returned to his eyes. “While I’m sure she’d say yes even if I walked in one day and plonked a ring down on the table in front of her, I know deep down she’d be disappointed. I know Sutton. She wants the fairy tale, so I’m working on making that happen.”
“Yay!” Maddy clapped. “When are you going to ask her?”
“Nah-ah.” Flint shook his head and waggled a finger at Maddy. “It’s a surprise, but don’t tell her it’s coming.”
“Better be quick before she asks you.” Maddy mirrored Flint’s finger wave. “Your anniversary is her deadline.”
“Thanks for the heads-up.” He grinned and drew his eyebrows together. “But I’ve got it covered. Just a lot of planning is involved.”
Not my style. “Spontaneity is much more fun.” A low chuckle rolled through my throat, but then I swallowed hard. My heartbeat thudded loudly in my ears. I took Maddy’s hand in mine and whispered to her, “Is it time?”
She glanced at her cell phone lying on the sofa beside her and nodded.
Shit. This is it.
Flint must have been watching us. He squeezed his eyes shut.
Fuck. I wished he hadn’t done that.
The air in the room grew heavy, solemn, and difficult to breathe.
“Fuck.” Flint seemed to shake off his emotion and pressed his steepled fingers against his mouth. “I can’t believe this is happening. That we’re all going our separate ways.”
“Dude, I’m not going anywhere.” Cole slapped him on the shoulder. “Neither is Lewis. We’ll jam with you anytime.” But then he lowered his chin and let out a slow breath. “Slip is right, though. We’ve had an incredible few years, but they’ve also nearly broken us. This break will be good for us.”
Lewis jutted his chin at no one in particular. “I’ve just joined you fuckers—we better come back stronger than ever. But if not...” He splayed his palm across his heart. “I can’t thank you enough for the opportunity to play with you. It’s been an honor. Life-changing, in more ways than one. I found Tia. And you guys are friends for life.”
“Always, bro.” I tapped my fist against my chest, then pointed at him. “Always.”
“Have any of your plans changed?” he asked .
“Nope.” I rubbed my hands up and down my thighs, thinking about the months ahead. “We’ll be at Mads’ place in Vancouver for the next few weeks. I’ll go to counseling, have physical therapy on my hip, and be a househusband while Maddy finishes filming.” Maddy had excused herself from awards season duties too...and had taken six months’ leave from her show. Over the next couple of weeks, we’d search for somewhere to buy near Vancouver. We had a list of private islands, houses with spectacular views, and properties with no neighbors to check out. We aimed to find our new home, our escape. “After Christmas, we’ll have our honeymoon on the Great Barrier Reef.” Who said Australia is too far to travel to? For the resort I’d found on Lizard Island, it’d be worth it. “Once that’s over, we’re gonna disappear.” I took Maddy’s hand in mine, kissed her knuckles, then held it against my leg. “We’re gonna work on us, spend every moment together, have a well-earned break, and get better.”The road to recovery was long, and we’d only just begun.
“Too right.” Cole nodded.
“Slip, I can’t wait. And on that note, we’ve gotta go.” Maddy patted my thigh. “We have to catch our flight.”
“Shit.” I closed my eyes. My pulse spiked. Why did my jaw suddenly ache and the back of my eyes burn? “Yeah. Okay.”
“Slip, I’ll lock up,” Lewis jabbed his thumb toward the staircase. “I’ve still gotta clear some gear out of my room.”
“Thanks.” My chest shuddered as I drew in a shaky breath and took in each of the guys. Too much emotion welled in their gazes. Too much anguish pummeled my ribs.
But this wasn’t the end. It was just a much-needed rest.
We’d be back . . . one day .
Everyone stood and ambled toward the door.
I turned to the guys and wrapped my arms around them in a group hug. “I love you. You hear me? Every fucking one of you. I’ll see you soon.”
Flint hugged me tight. “Love you too. No matter what.”
“If you need anything, day or night, you call.” Cole’s voice cracked. “I’ll be on your doorstep anytime you need me.”
“Just be happy, okay?” Lewis clutched the back of my head and gave me a gentle shake.
“Yeah. We will be.” I nodded.
Flint drew Maddy into our group hug and gave her a kiss on the side of her head. “We love you too. Promise me you’ll take care of each other.”
“Yeah.” Maddy nodded. “I promise.”
We huddled together, and I clung onto my friends. As silence hung heavily in the air, I was grateful and blessed to have incredible people like this in my life.
From nine-year-old boys who’d met on a suburban street in Pasadena, who’d united over a love of music, been through hell and back more than once, and had lives changed by loss and love, we’d become the men we are today. We’d worked hard, played hard, and loved each other hard.
We’d taken on the world and exceeded our dreams. Our friendship was unbreakable. Our hearts had found room for more love, and we’d drawn more amazing people into our lives. Sutton, Ava, and Maddy had joined our family. Tia had already been a part of it. But I wouldn’t be there if it wasn’t for Flint, Cole, Lewis...and may he rest in peace, Phil. I clutched Flint’s head beside me and pressed mine against his. “I love you. Don’t ever forget that.”
“Never,” Flint murmured and nodded.
We were venturing into new chapters in our lives, new directions and phases, but I couldn’t wait to see where we went.
Life was changing again.
We were moving onto bigger and better things.
But one thing was certain . . . I hadn’t felt sure until now .
Although I needed time away, these guys were part of my soul. Music was a huge part of our life. We needed that more than we needed oxygen. We needed music to survive.
I kissed Maddy on the cheek, then drew in a shaky breath and met each of the guys’ gazes. “But I promise you this, guys...I will be back. We will record again. We will tour again. We are, and will always be, The Flintlocks.”
Everyone hollered, “Fuck yeah!”
After loading our gear into the Suburban, I gave the guys one last wave, then slipped into the back seat with Maddy. As Beckett drove us away, and I held Maddy’s hand, I glanced out the rear window. The guys stood on my front step. They each held a hand over their heart, stretched out their other arm, and pointed toward us.
Fuck yeah. We were The Flintlocks.
We would rock on forever.
But for now . . . it was goodbye.
***
Wait . . . What?
That can’t be the end!
Don’t fear . . . Keep reading for some Bonus Scenes . . .
And . . . there is one more story to go.
Not all is over for The Flintlocks.
Not everything goes according to plan.
Life will change yet again .
Stay tuned... Lost Lyrics, the series wrap, will be with you soon.