Page 96 of Take My Hand

“James.” Jane’s voice cuts between the two of them like a knife. Walker looks to his sister, surprised at the use of his first name. “Drop it.”

“What are you—” Walker starts.

“I said, drop it.” Jane’s tone brokers no arguments and I pity anyone who has to face her in the courtroom and get this side of her.

Walker sits back and throws back the last of his beer; the one and only one he’s been drinking tonight with Scar by his side.

By the way Nikolai chews on his lip, skin a couple shades paler than it was only moments ago, and how Jane watches him with an intensity like she’s scared he might disappear right in front of her face, I know there’s something that I’m missing.

And with how Reid seems to be watching him out of the corner of his eye with the same look, he’s definitely privy to whatever it is, too.

We never used to keep secrets from each other, but looking around at the wreckage of hurt that has built up over the years, I think I may have been naïve to think that was still the way things were.

32

HAYDEN

The summer is winding down, but it’s still brutally hot in LA, even as the sun begins to fall. The air conditioner is working overtime to try to keep my house cool while I sweat my ass off working on the various projects I have going on.

The whirl of the drill cuts into the music playing throughout my kitchen as I secure a newly painted and sealed cabinet door back into its place. I’m hoping to have all the doors and drawers put back on within the next few days.

The new deep, rustic red color has completely transformed this space. Along with a few personalized touches like Carter had suggested and a couple of floor runners to add in a bit more color and that sterile coldness of it is gone.

With only two weeks until the final Whisper Me Nothings show, I thought I would be freaking out more than I am. But after the dinner party at Nikolai’s a couple weeks ago, along with two more shows that were awkward and tense as hell, I’m just ready to have the stress of it all off my shoulders. There’s nothing I love more than playing music and even as I don’t know what the future of that will look like for me, it’s not so scary now that my career isn’t my entire life.

Carter doesn’t make the uncertainty so scary. Seeing how she had her life flipped upside down and has thrived has shown me that I can do the same. Just because one thing is coming to an end doesn’t mean my life is as well.

For the first time since the shooting, I finally feel ready to live. And I’m excited to do it with her by my side.

After her contract is up with the band when we’re done, she’s going to take some time and focus back into portrait photography and stylized shoots for artists rather than live shows. The schedule of it will be nice since neither of us now will be obligated to travel for work. At least for right now while we both catch our breath a bit.

My phone buzzes on the counter above my head, and I get up, stretching my legs and wincing at the burn of being in the same position for so long.

Walker: got any plans later?

Me: Not really. Scar out of town?

It’s not that Walker only texts me to hang out when she’s traveling, but he doesn’t have the same appreciation for solitude like I do so it’s a safe bet that if he doesn’t have plans with her, he’s for sure going to be texting me to see what I’m doing.

Walker: yes. I’m so fucking bored. What are we gonna do when we’re unemployed?

I snort at his dramatization.

Me: Oh no…whatever will you do in that big mansion of yours and full back account

Walker: fuck off you know what I mean

Walker: do you want to hang out or not?

A chime rings through the air, alerting me that someone just opened my front door. Shortly after, Carter’s voice cuts through the music. “Hayden?”

“In here,” I call back, then shoot off a text to my best friend.

Me: actually I just found someone much prettier than you to hang out with tonight

Walker: tell Nikolai I say hi

“What’s so funny?” Carter asks me, dropping her camera bag and a large manila envelope on the counter while looking around the kitchen, admiring my work.

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