Page 26 of Take My Hand

Will: they shouldn’t be. I’m fine

I scoff at those two words, thinking about how many times I tried to say the same thing. And how each and every time I did, I felt the exact opposite.

“Drink, anyone?” Walker calls out, standing over by a folding table in the corner stocked with various bottles, mixers, and a bucket of ice.

I shake my head, too hot to drink anything but water.

“I’ll have whatever you are,” Nikolai calls out, buttoning up only the bottom two buttons on his shirt and leaving the rest open, exposing his sun-kissed chest. The coral color of his shirt complements his summer tan well and by the way he checks himself out in the mirror, I’d say he agrees.

Walker holds up one finger, accounting for Nikolai’s drink and looks over his shoulder at Reid, who’s lacing up his sneakers on a chair in the corner.

My gaze bounces between the two of them. As far as I know, they haven’t spoken at all during this trip. I guess that’s better than them fighting, but the cold war is getting old.

Walker raises an eyebrow at Reid in silent question and I applaud him for the olive branch, albeit small.

Turning my attention to Reid, I wait to see what he’ll do with it.

His cold, chillingly blue eyes dance over Walker as he stands there, waiting. What is he looking for? Walker has never been a calculating person. What you see is what you get with him. And despite their differences, Reid knows that.

There’s no ulterior motive behind Walker asking him if he wants a drink while he’s pouring for others. But by the way Reid glares at him, it’s almost as if he’s trying to create one in his head.

Nikolai settles in on one of the couches across from me, trying to be nonchalant about watching the two of them.

“Sure.” The response is clipped, but by the way Nikolai’s shoulders drop in relief, likely mirroring my own, it’s a start.

Walker starts pouring drinks, tossing me a bottle of water when he’s done as he passes them out.

“Thanks, man.” Nikolai takes his and immediately downs half of it.

Walker crosses over to Reid and extends the red cup to him.

“No laxatives or other substances in here, are there?” Reid asks him.

Nikolai sputters, leaning over his knees and coughing to clear his throat.

I stare at Reid, not sure if that was an attempt at a joke or a jab to imply that Walker would seriously do something to sabotage him before a performance.

Walker pauses a moment, as if considering the same thing. But he makes his choice and responds, “As much as I’d love to see you shit your pants onstage, I think we’ve given Arun enough of a headache this last year.”

A beat stretches, then two, Nikolai and I both holding our breath to see if this is going to devolve.

But Reid cracks the faintest of smiles and holds his cup up in cheers before taking a sip and settling back in his chair.

Walker comes and sits next to me on the couch and the four of us sip our drinks, listening to the muffled thump of music from the artist performing before us.

“What’s everyone been up to lately?” I break the silence, not having seen much of anyone except for moving day at Carter’s and getting my new tattoo since our last show together.

Reid takes another drink, deferring to someone else to go first.

Nikolai, normally the first one to fill us in on every little detail about his latest adventures, crosses one leg over his knee and bounces his foot rapidly, eyes darting around the trailer they set us up in.

“Well…” Walker clears his throat, stepping into the conversation. “I’ve been back and forth to Vegas quite a bit. Scar’s been there working in the studio with Boone when he has off days from his residency. She’s doing her first full length album, so it’s been keeping her busy.” His face lights up as he talks about her and you can see the pride he has for her radiating through every word.

“So whenever she steps away, we’ve been doing some hiking there. Otherwise, I’ve just been playing for fun in my downtime. Jane is going to be coming out for a visit soon, so it’ll be good to see her again.”

Nikolai’s foot stops its movements for the slightest of seconds at the mention of Walker’s twin sister's name before resuming its nervous tapping.

What the hell was that? Did anyone else notice, or is my mind just imagining the way Nikolai’s face has pinched?

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