Page 45 of For Eva

Jesse came to a dead stop and slowly turned around. “What the fuck did you just say?”

Eric crossed his arms and walked back toward him, bringing them face-to-face. “I called you acocksucker.”

Oh my fucking God.

Jesse snorted, his eyes shifting to us, then back to Eric. “Do you wanna take that back before I completely ruin you?”

“No, I fucking don’t. In fact, I wanna do this.” He cocked his fist, thrusting it forward, so it landed squarely on Jesse’s jaw.

The impact sent Jesse reeling backward as Eric turned and stalked around the corner toward the dressing room.

Jesse pushed himself off the wall, rubbing the side of face. “That guy’s fucking finished,” he spat, glaring at Keith.

“Sorry about that, man. Won’t happen again.” Keith flashed me a conspiratorial grin as Jesse told him to fuck off and stormed past us.

Keith shook his head and laughed. “I suppose I should go smooth this over. Not that he stands a chance in hell of ruining anyone’s career, but you know, burning bridges and all that shit.”

He followed behind Jesse as the rest of the guys stood motionless, mouths gaping open. My eyes darted back and forth between them. “I’ll, uh…I’ll go talk to Eric. Maybe give me just a minute before you head to the dressing room.”

I hurried down the hallway and opened the door to find him sitting on the black vinyl couch, hunched over several white lines on the glass top of the coffee table.

“I know, I know. I fucked up out there,” he said, putting the straw to the table and vacuuming up one of the lines. He raised his head and rubbed his nose before attacking the second. “But that guyisa cocksucker.”

“I didn’t come to yell at you, Eric.”

He pressed his hands onto his leather-clad thighs and stood, massaging his fist. “Huh?”

“I think I’msupposedto yell at you. But how do I do that when I haven't even said thank you for saving me from that asshole?”

He blinked, and before I knew what I was doing, I threw my arms around him. He cautiously moved his hands to my back, his chest expanding against mine as he pulled me closer—just for a second—before breaking away and shifting his eyes to the side. “You’re, uh, welcome…I guess.”

I cleared my throat. “But as part of my job, I’m pretty sure I’m supposed to tell you not to punch the lead singer of the band you’re opening for ever again.”

He snorted. “Yeah, okay. Congratulations on that, by the way. You, uh…you really deserve it.”

“You think so?”

“Yeah, Eva.” He lit a cigarette, leaning back against the wall and sending a stream of smoke to the ceiling. “I don’t think you have any idea how much you fucking do.”

I cocked my head, his words pulling the corners of my mouth upward. “Well, thanks.”

“What’s with your face?”

“I just didn’t know—” I paused as voices echoed in the hallway. My mind switched gears, and I grinned. “I didn’t know you had such a good right hook, dude. Last show of the tour, and Jesse’s gonna sound like he just got a fucking root canal.”

NINETEEN

Eva

July 1989

“Platinum, fuckers!” Matt raised his shot glass before throwing back the contents and refilling it from the bottle in his other hand.“Pla-ti-num!”

Will caught him as he teetered on his barstool and propped him back up so he could pour them both another shot.

“We sold a million fucking records, babe.” Danny pulled me into his arms, pressing his whiskey-soaked lips to mine, and I chuckled as I wiped the back of my hand across my mouth.

“I know, I’m so exci—”

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