Page 27 of Take My Hand

He must feel my eyes on him because he darts his gaze over to meet mine and I can’t quite get a read on what’s behind it. He holds my stare for a moment before looking away and taking another swig of his drink.

“That’s exciting for Scar. Tell her I want the demos as soon as she’s done with them,” I say. While the electronic music that Scar produces isn’t what I typically listen to, I became a fan of hers listening to her set time after time on tour.

“I will.” Walker holds his cup to me and I tap it with my water. “What about you, Nik? Gotten into any trouble lately? I’ve been staying offline so if there’s anything good out there, you’ll need to fill me in yourself.”

He hides his smile behind his hand as he rubs his jaw. “Arun should be very pleased that I’ve kept a low profile since we got back to LA. Just been riding the new bike a lot,” he says, and I hide my cringe that I always get when he brings up the motorcycle.

For him, he sees it as an adrenaline rush. The wind in his hair, the motor drowning out his thoughts, long rides exhausting him to his bones.

But I’m not his mother; I can’t tell him what to do. I prefer to forget that he even has that thing.

“So, no new girlfriends causing any troubles? That’s a first,” Walker teases but it falls flat at the way Nikolai’s hand tightens around his cup.

Quick to deflect from whatever the fuck he’s got going on, Nikolai turns to Reid and asks, “What about you? I tried calling you the other day to see if you wanted to go to the gym with me but you didn’t answer.”

Reid shrugs his shoulders. “I’ve been around. Sorry, I must've missed it.” His dismissal earns a droop of Nikolai’s head. Noticing it, he amends, “Let me know next time you go. I’ll see if I can make it.”

The door to our room pops open, one of the stagehands popping their heads through. “You’re on in ten,” she calls out before shutting the door again.

“Time for one more drink, then.” Walker slaps his thighs as he rises, walking back to the bar for a refill.

“Haven’t seen you drink this much since you met her.” Reid’s voice is low, but the words ring loudly throughout the space.

The three of us freeze, but for different reasons. Walker’s spine has gone ramrod, back turned to the rest of us, but I don’t have to see his face to know what he’s thinking.

Was that a dig at Scar? A dig at him? A dig at their relationship?

Nikolai sits still, eyes downcast and shoulders slumped forward. I hold my breath until my lungs demand air.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Walker says, turning around slowly, his voice cold in a way I’ve only heard it handful of times.

Reid holds his position under Walker’s glare. “Just an observation.”

“Since when do you need to make observations about my choice to have a drink before our show?”

“Since you basically stopped when you started dating her? But now that she’s not here for this one…” Reid holds his hands out and scans the room in mock fashion. “It’s like you have your freedom back to enjoy yourself.”

Walker’s fists clench at his sides, jaw ticking.

“Am I wrong?” Reid asks, sitting forward and resting his elbows on his thighs, looking to me and Nikolai to join in.

Nikolai shakes his head, refusing to engage.

Reid’s not necessarily wrong, but he’s framing it poorly. Walker doesn’t drink when Scar is around because she’s been sober for a couple of years and he wants to be supportive of her. So yes, while Reid isn’t technically wrong, it’s only because Walker’s trying to be the best support system he can be for her.

“It’s unnecessary to point that out, man.” I shake my head at Reid and a spark ignites behind those eyes of his, and I instantly regret my words, knowing he was waiting for a challenge.

“Oh, of course, look at this, boys. Hayden taking Walker’s side, surprise, surprise.”

“It’s not about taking sides,” I tell him, feeling my own anger rising in response to his sarcasm. “It’s about you not needing to be a dick all the fucking time.”

“And you keeping her name out of your fucking mouth. Or did that punch not make that clear enough the last time?” Walker adds in.

“Two on one again, here we go. Care to join in on the fun, Nik?” Reid shoots to his feet.

Nikolai exhales, also rising. “C’mon, guys, let's all cool it for a second.”

“Seriously? You know he had no reason to bring her up!” Walker turns to him, arms out wide. “I didn’t do shit to him.”

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