Chapter Thirteen #2
“Which I let you all know I’d be missing ahead of time.” I throw my hands up. Reasoning with him seems impossible. “In all the years we’ve been together, this band and others, I’ve never missed a practice before.”
“Layne,” Everett’s tone is soft, placating, “you’re the only one who had a problem with that.”
Layne jabs his finger into my chest. “You’re not as focused.”
“And you’ve been a mess.” I swat his hand away. “Those guys matter to me. If they’re a part of my life, I’m gonna make them a priority. I won’t apologize for that.”
Layne tucks his hands under his arms, that damn chin of his raised again. “Then maybe we need to go in a different direction.”
“Really?” My legs feel like they’re going to give out on me, but I lock my knees and continue, “You want to cut me out of the band that we started together? Do you honestly think you’ll find another drummer who’s willing to babysit you?
Who won’t go out of his head because watching out for you is fucking exhausting. ”
Layne wraps his arms around himself, but keeps his chin up. “Well, thank you very fucking much. You think you’re easy to deal with?”
I snort. “Yeah. I do.”
“Guys. Stop.” Everett holds his hand up.
Gavin shoves his way between us. “You both need to cool off.”
Layne pushes past Gavin with a huff. “I’m out of here.”
He stomps up the stairs. The heavy sound of his boots clomps through the living room above our heads, and the front door slams.
“Well, fuck…” I fall onto the couch and drop my head into my hands.
“You can say that again.” Everett drops next to me.
I drag my hands through my hair. “I don’t know what to do with him. What do you think about the concert?”
Gavin shrugs. “I’m not looking forward to spending the money on the flights and hotel. But weighing that against the exposure we’d get… it’s probably worth it.”
“I didn’t say I wouldn’t go.” I sigh.
Everett bumps my knee with his. “You kind of did.”
“Only because he was being a dick about Tyler.” Exhaustion weighs me down like a lead blanket.
I hate fighting with Layne, but is it too much to ask for my best friend to be fucking happy for me?
“Why would he care if Ty comes? It’s not like Layne will be paying for him.
Does he not like Ty? He hasn’t spent enough time with him to decide that. ”
Gavin shrugs and sits on the floor next to Everett. “I don’t know. I hope it’s not anything like that. Bands have broken up for that reason.”
“You haven’t been spending as much time together. Maybe he just misses you?” Everett’s quiet observation slices through some of my frustration with Layne, but his little tantrum still pisses me off.
“Then he should act like an adult and tell me.” I don’t know if I’m more hurt by this latest stunt or the months of him shutting me out, but I can’t let whatever’s going on between Layne and me affect the band. “I’ll go to the concert. But I need to make sure Tyler is okay.”
“We understand that. Hell, if Gavin were injured, I wouldn’t leave him.”
“Aww, thanks. Back at you, Ev.” Gavin pulls him against his side.
“Then again, maybe Layne will make good on his threat to replace me.”
Gavin shakes his head. “He won’t. We wouldn’t let him.” He gestures to the ceiling. “Take Tyler home. Let’s skip practice on Thursday to give you and Layne more time to cool off, then pick it up again next week. Practice Wednesday, and perform Friday.”
“All right. But I don’t think this is anywhere near over. We need to decide what we want. And if Layne really does have a problem with Ty, well, I don’t know how we’ll get through that because I’m not dealing with his shit anymore.” I grab my phone and trek upstairs.
Tyler pulls the chair’s lever and sits up. Concern lines his face. “What happened? I heard yelling and then Layne stormed out.”
“Did he say anything to you?”
“No. Didn’t even look my way.”
Sighing, I pull on my coat. “Let’s go. Practice is canceled. Layne and I had a fight.”
He holds out his good arm so I can pull him up. “What was the fight about?”
“His booking things and making assumptions without getting everyone’s input.” I drape his coat over his shoulders. “And he thinks my priorities aren’t where they should be.”
Guilt slides over his features. “Is this because you missed practice?”
“No. This is something more.”
Candlelight, pizzas, and the company of my two guys. I needed this.
Sitting back on Soren’s bed, I close my eyes as his arms come around me. “Thanks.”
He kisses the side of my head. “For what?”
“Being here. Holding onto us.” Our legs are tangled together. I tap my foot against Tyler’s. He’s cuddled up on Soren’s other side.
After we left Gavin and Everett’s place, Tyler and I went for a long walk to help me calm down. We showered together when we got home, then took a nap we both desperately needed. When we woke, we were both too drained to do anything other than order pizza.
Soren came home while we were eating, grabbed a slice and told us about his game in Rockford, which they lost. Tyler told him about my argument with Layne, and as much as I wanted to forget about it, I appreciated how Tyler knew Soren would want to know, and I wouldn’t be able to tell him.
Even injured, and dealing with so many unknowns, he’s taking care of Soren and me.
Soren hugs me tighter. “I’m sorry you had a rough time with Layne. You mentioned he hasn’t been himself for a while.”
“He was so angry today.” My chest aches at the memory of all the things we said to each other. I still can’t believe it.
Tyler carefully sits up, wincing with the effort, to pick up his bottle. With a sigh, Soren hands it to him. “Ty, we’re sitting right here. If you need something, just ask us.”
“I thought I could do it.” He takes a sip, then passes the bottle to Soren. “Bax, I can’t believe you were going to turn down a show for me. I can go to New York with you. But I’ll be fine here. My injury shouldn’t cause problems between you and Layne. Or affect your band.”
I gave him and Soren a shorter version of what happened, but enough details for them to understand that for Layne and me, this fight is far bigger than a typical argument. “We need to see how you’re feeling.”
“Maybe I’ll be cleared to play then.”
“Maybe.” I keep my tone neutral. Tyler getting cleared is a possibility, but eight weeks out doesn’t seem like enough time to rebuild his strength. We’ll see.
Soren’s phone beeps. He glances at the screen. “It’s the team. I’ll be right back.”
He gets up, wandering to the far end of the room with the phone pressed to his ear, and Tyler shifts into his vacated seat. “Thank you for taking care of me. I wish I could take better care of you right now.”
I stroke my fingers through his hair. “Spending time with you helps. I know you’ll have your housemates back for a while, but if you want, I can come over after work tomorrow.” Just like I did the first few days of his injury. Soren and I took care of him together.
“I’m all for that idea.”
Soren strides to us, his eyes wide. He drops the phone on the bed.
“I got called up. Pierre, the Metros starting goalie, injured his groin in their game tonight. I’m up for at least the next few games, maybe more, depending on how bad it is.
Worst case is that he’ll be out for the rest of the season. ”
“Pierre and I should start playing chess via text or something.” Tyler points to his phone on the nightstand.Soren picks it up and hands it to him, dropping a kiss to the top of Tyler’s head. “Sorry. I’d trade places with you if I could.”
Tyler smiles. “Better that you can’t. I’m a terrible goalie.”
Chuckling, I cuddle them close.
I don’t want to have to choose between these two and my band.
Layne’s been a part of my life for so many years, I can barely remember a time when he wasn’t.
He’s my family… the brother I never had.
Creating music with him has defined my life.
I love being a part of Flame Shade and can’t imagine it continuing on with someone else in my place.
But in Soren and Tyler, I’ve found people who add so much color to my world.
They make me feel whole in a way I never have before.
As cheesy as it is, they complete me. I feel valued, cared for, needed, wanted, and loved.
And I want to give them everything, just as they’ve given it to me. I can see us building a life together.
I’m forced to choose… I just don’t think I can walk away from what I’ve found here.