12. Chapter Twelve
Chapter Twelve
Alec
I’m sitting in my car, parked on the side of the road in front of my apartment. I finish my cigarette and think about calling Chase and telling him to not worry about pushing the dates for Denverson. I have my reasons for wanting to, but now that I’m developing feelings for Summer, there is that little piece of me—a very tiny piece of me—that feels like, if I leave now, the feelings won’t progress.
Then I think of the last thing she asked me. Nobody I’ve been with in the past has ever asked me to teach them how to play the guitar, and that stirs something inside of me that I can’t ignore.
My mind is clouded. A battle of yes and no, constantly fighting back and forth in my head. I stuff my smoke out and bring my fingers to my temples to lightly massage them, hoping to release the headache sneaking up on me. It doesn’t help much, but it’ll do.
Once my headache is a tad more tolerable, I pick my phone up from the center console to send Chase a quick message.
Any word of Denverson?
Chase is usually quick at getting back to me about tour dates. But this time seems different. I know he wasn’t thrilled about my idea of postponing because Denverson is pretty tough to get into. Something tells me that he’s really pushing for the reschedule.
Chase usually gets us what we want, so I don’t have much to worry about in that area. I’ll just wait for his reply and go from there. That’s all I can do at the moment.
A light knock on my passenger side window catches my attention. I turn my head to see Samantha waving with a small smile.
I take a deep breath and roll the rest of my window up before stepping out of the car.
“What’re you doing chillin’ in the car this late?” she asks.
Honestly, I haven’t paid much attention to the time. It’s almost eleven at night. I’ve been in my car since I drove back home after Summer left earlier.
I grip the back of my neck to ease some tension in my muscles. “I haven’t heard from Chase.”
Samantha brings her arms across her chest. “Doesn’t surprise me. He sort of made it clear that we’d lose the opportunity if they refused to change dates. We should have just taken the offer.”
I roll my eyes and walk to the door. She follows me close behind me. “Chase has never failed us before. I have faith.”
“Yeah, but we’ve never had a deal this big before,” she points out. I hate that she’s right, but at the same time, we can’t have everyone walk all over us either. If they want us to play at their events or pubs, they can agree to our needs.
When we get to the door, I notice a folded piece of paper slipped between the crack right by the doorknob. My eyes narrow as I pull it out and open it. My muscles tense as I read the words written inside the paper.
This is your last warning.
Samantha hovers over my shoulder to read it. “What is this?”
I know this handwriting.
“Raleigh.” I crumple the paper without hesitation, go inside, and unlock my apartment door.
“Alec, what did you do?”
Scratching my temple, I shake my head. “I haven’t done anything. He’s targeting me. He always fucking targets me.”
She gives me her ‘you can’t fool me’ look. Rage courses through me, and it would be easier to not tell Samantha, but knowing how pushy she is, she’ll find out sooner or later. I want to save myself the trouble and get it over with.
“OK, fine. I hung out with Summer a couple of times.” I shrug like it’s no big deal.
Samantha’s mouth falls open. She blinks twice, and then her hand stretches out and she smacks my upper arm.
“What the fuck, Sam.”
“You are a fucking idiot, Alec Sokolov,” she barks.
And maybe I am, but I won’t admit that to Samantha.
I want to object, but James swings the door open aggressively, causing both mine and Sam’s head to swing his direction. He pauses and looks between Samantha and me, the tension between us clear.
The only reason he’s here this late is to pick Samantha up. She works part-time at the small convenience store down the road and given that her car broke down a few weeks ago, she’s been hitching a ride with James since their schedules outside of band practice and events mingle together.
James chuckles, looking at me. “What did you do this time?”
“Why is it always something that I did?” I bite back in defense, becoming even more agitated.
“Alec is screwing around with Officer Raleigh’s daughter, and now he’s leaving threats at the door,” Samantha tells James.
“I’m not fucking her,” I scowl.
James scratches the stubble on his jaw, his lips curled downward. It’s obvious they don’t believe me. I shouldn’t care, but for some reason I do.
Before I get the chance to interfere with the theory they’ve created in their head about me sleeping with Summer, my phone goes off. I pull out my phone and see a message from Chase.
My insides are suddenly filled with relief as I read over the message, and I look at Samantha and James. “Chase got us in. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’d like to actually sleep before practice tomorrow.”
Samantha lets out an aggravated but almost thankful groan before saying, “This isn’t over.”
I wave my arm out in an “I don’t care” motion and she rolls her eyes before grabbing James’s arm and heading out the door.
When they both leave, I lock the door and go into the living room to sit down on the couch. My mind races with thoughts I shouldn’t have. Thoughts of Summer. I want to connect with her in a way I’ve never connected with anyone in my life. Itching to feel something aside from all the pain and loneliness I’ve stuffed down inside of me over the years.
And despite her father’s threat, I do something entirely fucking stupid.