Page 114 of The Fix

“Clearly,” Leo enunciates, leaning back in his seat and perching his elbow on the window. His fingers tease the oh shit handle before grabbing the thing like his life depends on it when I bank a U-turn that’s probably illegal. “Dude.”

I chuckle and straighten the car out into the traffic. Only a few horns blare in my direction, and I signal to switch into the lane closest to the street Leo told me to turn down.

With the roar of the engine beneath me and a grin, I reach over and blindly smack at his arm again. “Send her tickets for tomorrow, at least.”

The sigh that comes out of the man is borderline hysterical with how deep and intense it is. “Fine. But it’s not my fault if she doesn’t come.”

I chuckle, a warmth I haven’t felt in months blooming in my chest. “It’s gonna be all your fault.”

“Goddammit, you’re never gonna let this go, are you?”

I shake my head and hit the gas. “That would require letting Anna go.” A somber wave rushing down my spine has my soul feeling like it might be swallowed up in an endless void. “Can’t do that.”

Leo makes some kind of sound that’s a mix of irritation and distress, and I shake the thoughts out of my head.

“You’re starting to sound like the other two,” Leo murmurs. “All that time talking shit, now look at you.”

I huff, but shrug. “I guess I understand now.”

I can’t see the band manager roll his eyes, but I feel it. “Understand what exactly?”

“That I would rather see her, know her, be with her. That over everything else in my life, she’s the one that matters most. Anna makes the most sense to me when the rest of the world doesn’t.”

“You’re giving me diabetes.”

The laugh that bursts out of me is cathartic.

“I take it back,” Leo mumbles with a shake of his head and a raise of his phone wielding hand. “You are worse than Rex and Fin.” He makes a fake gagging noise in the back of his throat that has more laughter bubbling out of me.

“One day, you might get it.”

“Jesus, now you sound like Ma.” His phone makes a pinging noise when he taps at the screen. “There, man. I sent her two VIP tickets. Now, will you shut the hell up?”

My eyes bulge. “Why the fuck would you send two?”

“Maybe she’s got a friend—Turn here!”

“Oh, motherfucker.”

Chapter Sixty

Anna

My phone tapping against my thigh is the only noise in my otherwise dead silent office. It makes my mouth dry and my heart pound.

I miss all of them.

Leo has called me nearly every day since I left As Above, claiming he’s just checking in. Making sure I’ve settled. Wondering if I’d ever come back. Asking what it would take to bring me back.

Sighing, I open the invite that’s plagued me for the last several hours.

I’m going to decline.

It’s the only logical answer.

Right?

Thumb hovering over the button to send it back, I jump clear out of my skin and let loose a scream when the device rings against my palm.

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