Page 16 of Mayhem

BRAD

My foot taps impatiently as we wait for this Dakota guy to show up. Charlie's going on and on trying to guess what cool accessories he might have. I'm only catching some of it though. I’m too distracted replaying Tess and me spilling our guts last night on the phone.

Did we cross lines getting that real about shit we don't normally tell people? Will she backpedal into polite small talk today keeping it strictly business now?

Or maybe she’ll dodge personal shit altogether after going deep about family troubles and all. Keep any talk clipped to new bass player logistics and avoiding our chemistry altogether.

My stomach twists with nerves. I scrub a hand over my face, confusion mounting when Charlie asks, “You worried Dakota might suck too, huh Dad?”

“Hmm...? Oh, yeah...” I ruffle her hair, my mind spinning miles away. Man, I wish filterless kid drama was the biggest complication I had to deal with today. “Though, if he does, don’t say it like that.”

I rake my fingers through my hair, irritation building because for some reason it matters if Tess acts distant after we spilled our souls. Why do I care if she throws walls up protecting herself after our talk last night? Don’t I do the same damn thing? Have I?

I start bouncing my knee, anxiety spiking as I hear the door creak open, and her heels click towards us. But my breath catches seeing her features tighten subtly noticing my fidgeting. Her smile seems to dim behind the polite professionalism she must have built back up overnight.

I wish I could do that.

Before disappointment sinks in, she ducks her head almost shyly. "Hey...about last night, hope I didn't overshare too much. Just easy to talk to you I guess."

Relief floods me as her words poke holes in my worries. My lips quirk up teasingly. "Please, tell me more about how you apparently took down Congress in high school debate club. That's the story I'm waiting on."

Tess's eyes light up, shoulders relaxing as she laughs. "Well, if Dakota's audition goes sideways today, I'm clearly the secret weapon here. Just let me at him."

Our banter dissolves any lingering awkwardness. Maybe navigating the blurred lines feels less complicated in the light of day after all. Without dissecting it too much, we seem to have picked up where we left off. That brief intimate glimpse bound us in a new understanding of each other.

It's an intimacy I’ve never let myself feel before with anyone I’ve been with. Everything before now has been ‘what you see is what you get.’ There’s never been a question as to the why of any of it. Or if there was, I never wanted to share that part of me.

With Tess, it’s different. One fucking phone call, and my life is suddenly upside down and inside out.

The door suddenly swings open again, grabbing everyone's attention. Dakota strides in eagerly with a guitar case in one hand, and my blushing daughter's enthusiastic hand in the other. Guess she snagged first dibs on access behind that mystery beanie waiting outside. Tess and I share surprised, hopeful glances at this unexpected start.

Charlie drags Dakota over, grinning ear to ear. "His beanie has skull flowers, isn't that so cool?"

Dakota ducks his head almost bashfully as we take him in. I can't deny his talent flashing through the video we saw held intrigue, and now seeing his humble but reserved confidence in person, I'm actually hopeful.

"Well, the lady has spoken. You’re clearly crushing the audition already," I joke, breaking the ice. Dakota laughs, a musicality in it echoing throughout the space. As if buoyed by the positivity, he makes eye contact with each of us.

"I know I'm probably not what you had in mind. But thanks for taking a chance..." He trails off, waiting for our cues.

I glance at Tess, reading the silent encouragement there to drop any remaining skepticism. She's right. Hidden gems show up in unexpected packages sometimes.

"Hey man, only thing that matters to us is if you can bring the fire. The video glimpses were solid." I extend my hand, an offer to wipe slates clean and feel him out with impartial ears. “I’m Brad. Your biggest fan’s dad.”

Dakota's grin spreads slowly as he shakes my hand. He turns to lift his guitar respectfully. "Well, I'm definitely eager to jam together. I’m probably Chaos Fuel’s biggest fan, so this is huge."

Everyone is introduced, and we start in on our audition songs. I cue the opening chords to a newer song. Dakota comes in tentatively at first, but then finds the bass groove. Hope flickers as we build on it with layers of guitar and drums.

Just as the musical alchemy starts to catch, Dakota flubs on a tempo change. Notes tumble disjointedly until he grimaces and cuts out.

I motion reassurance when he shoots an embarrassed look my way. "No problem, dude. Song's still fresh for all of us. Top again?" Dakota nods, exhaling unsteadily before Emmett counts us back in. Desperation edges into my encouragement despite my best efforts. "Let's keep the energy light, yeah? No pressure."

I flash a strained, rallying smile Dakota's way, even as doubt plagues my thoughts.

Come on...ignite that spark we glimpsed already. Find the pocket again, man.

Feeling the guys' eyes boring impatient judgment into Dakota's back beside me grates on my last nerve. Should I send them off, give Dakota air to breathe? Or will that shake his confidence even more somehow?

My temples throb as I strain to keep my game face steady. But it's one thing soothing Charlie's artistic growing pains. Faking unwavering faith as I watch the wheels falling off something everything's riding on now is totally different. Raw panic is dangerously close to erupting.

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