Page 6 of Tangled Weeds

“Oh yes,” Liam said making Kai and I laugh. “And directions on exactly what brand and everything.”

“Sounds like them. What time do you want us there?” I asked and pulled Kai closer.

“Your dad says we’re eating around six and they’ll be here at four to start cooking.”

“Want us to get there then too?” I asked.

“Yes please, then we can all help because you know Liam and I have zero clue what we’re doing. We just wanted everyone to get together without being at practice or on the bus,” Easy said.

“Did you guys’ message Glenn?” I asked.

“Yes, he’s bringing the kiddos so it’s probably best to have him get there just before we eat,” Easy said.

“Good plan. We’re outta here, see you later,” I said and hung up.

Easy

“Those assholes will stay in bed until fifteen minutes before they need to leave.”

“Well, we could have stayed in bed too. Don’t forget this was all your idea,” Liam said while I concentrated on driving. The past few years I drove less and less and really did not miss it one bit, but there were times where it came in handy. I pulled into the parking lot of the nearest Costco and the two of us hurried to the door.

“I haven’t been shopping here for a long time,” Liam said.

“It was time to renew my membership a few months ago and I almost didn’t do it because we’re never around enough to finish a giant container of cheese balls before we leave, but I paid it anyway.”

“We could always use five pounds of cheese balls on the bus,” Liam said and grabbed one of the big carts.

We walked through the store, and I tried to remember the last time I’d been into any type of grocery store and really couldn’t remember. There were so many things to look at and so much to distract me from what we’d come here for. “Where’s the list?” I finally asked.

“Here, let me send it to you so you can see it too.” Liam tapped his phone and mine signaled a message. Once we were both working on the list, we wasted less time and focused on buying what we needed not just random things we saw. We ended up down the alcohol aisle and even though we’d told everyone to bring their own, we bought some beer and wine just in case and proceeded to buy some juice boxes for the kids. “Those might be a mistake,” Liam said. “They used to make me crazy hyper.”

“Eh, they’re Glenn’s kids, he can deal with it,” I said like the asshole I am.

“We’ll see,” Liam said under his breath.

After choosing way too many steaks and also getting hamburger patties and hot dogs and the buns to go with them, we were finally ready to pay and go. Our cart was overflowing with way too much shit, but a party’s a party, and I wanted everyone to get enough to eat.

“That was nice of Rory’s parents to offer to cook. I can honestly say if you hoped I could help cook it would have been a disaster.” Liam rode on the cart while I pushed it to the shortest line. The store was busier than I thought it would be but then again, I hadn’t been into a store in months.

“Aren’t you guys in Blinding Light?” a kid about Liam’s age asked from where he stood next to his own cart.

“Yeah, I’m Easy and this is Liam,” I said and held my hand out to him.

“I saw you guys last night. It was a great show. Where’s the next one?” he asked, and while we waited in line the three of us talked about where we’d already played and where we were headed next. Liam was quiet, this was still something he had a hard time getting used to. He’d been in a small garage band, but they never had enough success to be recognized away from the band even if he was a fucking prodigy.

Finally, it was our turn and Liam hurried to start unloading our items onto the conveyer and the fan made his way with his family to another line. “I will never get used to that,” Liam whispered, and a slight blush tinted his cheeks.

“Get used to it, the more we play the more people will know us. Vegas will be big. The crowds there are crazy, and since we’re playing four nights at four different venues, it’s a huge opportunity for visibility. I have to admit Vance is doing a great job.” Our manager hadn’t always been looking out for us, but when he knew we were ready to walk he turned that shit around and since then we all worked together like a well-oiled machine. Yep, everything was going great, and in a few weeks, we’d be playing Rocktoberfest for the third time before starting our tour of the Pacific Northwest. Liam grinned at me like he could read my mind, and I couldn’t help but reach for his hand as the checker started ringing us up. Life was good, it was so, so good.

Six

Liam

We pulled up to the house just as Drake and Enid did and the four of us greeted each other with hugs even though we’d just seen them last night. “I can’t get used to your hair like this,” I said to Drake and ran my hand over the top of his shaved head.

“Don’t worry it grows like a weed. It’ll be too long before you lads are playing at Rocktoberfest,” Drake said in his heavy Irish accent.

Shamus opened the back of the car and handed everyone something to take in. “It looks like you bought enough for an army. How many people did you invite?” Enid asked.

---