Page 12 of The Fix

“Toby.”

It’s not real.

“Tob, c’mon.”

Not even Mac can muster up a weird name. I hear his voice calling after me, feel his presence, and yet …

“This can’t be real.” The words tumble from my numb lips, my fingers tingling at the tips as I look around me and feel only eyes. They’re on me, only me, filled with different levels of judgment and sympathy.

It is real.

I’m just like them.

Just. Like. Them.

I’m gonna be tied down and washed up. Wrung out and pinned to the spot, waiting and wishing and filling with regret with each day that passes.

With each day, I’ll lose my freedom.

My breathing becomes labored, my heart racing in my chest, my bandmates staring intently, waiting for the explosion that is my life. Waiting for the inevitable collapse of all that is me.

It’s all over.

My dream … our dream.

It’s over.

Chapter Six

Anna

“Get him out of here!”

Barking and yelling orders is not generally my style, but when Tobias Jeffers starts hyperventilating, I fear destruction is next.

It’s his thing.

Feel stuck, caged, or just plain too freaking high to know that the dragon isn’t real?

Smash everything.

Many a hotel room, green room, and venue have seen his noxious ways, resulting in one too many fines for Leo’s label. It’s chaos I’m not looking forward to, should it erupt.

Especially here.

It takes a second forced yell from me to get the stunned guys moving.

Security members fling arms around Toby and practically carry the man to the back of the studio. Once we’re outside, it’s a flurry of bodies piling into different vehicles.

I pause in the freezing cold, knowing my car is still here and that I shouldn’t leave it, but I’m more concerned about Dr. Banner going Hulk as he’s shoved into the back seat of a blacked-out vehicle.

“Crap,” I mutter, my breath forming a cloud in the cold air. Ignoring the sensible voice in my head suggesting to drive my own car, I make my way toward Toby’s vehicle and slide into the back seat next to him, just as the door slams closed.

I’m forced to shove Toby’s leg over since he’s taking up the entire back seat and plant my butt against the chilled leather, my phone already to my ear and ringing before security can pull us out of the lot.

“She wasn’t fucking here,” Leo answers, sounding somewhat out of breath. “I can’t find her.”

“Because she’s here.” I shove at Toby again, my freezing hand landing on his warm thigh and digging in to get him moving over far enough for me to snap my seat belt.

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