Page 10 of Tangled Weeds

“How long do you have that thing on?” Liam asked and that sobered us all up.

“That’s the part you’re not going to like. It’s a bad break, both bones all the way through. They’re saying I can’t play for at least six weeks, but most likely closer to twelve.” He rolled his eyesand grimaced when he moved slightly. “I’m really sorry, guys, but I’m not going to be able to play out the rest of the tour.”

I sat down on the stool I’d been using and for what seemed like forever none of us spoke. We’d been lucky so far, none of us had been injured seriously enough to not play. We had no backup musicians lined up just in case. Just when it seemed like we were doing good, and things were about to get better, we get knocked down once again.

“Are you okay?” Rory finally asked.

“Yeah, I mean they put me on pain meds, it wasn’t fun, and the Uber ride was a straight up nightmare. Screaming kids, screaming dad, I was trying not to start crying from the pain and the craziness. That poor driver,” Glenn said, once again making us laugh.

“Sorry, I know it’s horrible, but I’ve never heard of so much bad shit from fucking Lego,” Liam finally said.

“It was so much worse than you can even imagine,” Glenn said with a weird far off look in his eyes that I thought had something to do with the meds he was on.

“Where are the kids?” I asked.

“My parents took pity on me and have them. I think they were worried I was going to just lie on the couch and let everyone run wild. Which was highly likely.”

“Have you told Vance?” I asked.

“Not yet, I wanted to talk to you guys first. I have a solution but I’m not sure how you’re going to feel about it. You know my nephew Devon,” he said and looked at Rory.

“Yeah, your sister’s kid. Hasn’t he always been a handful?” Rory asked.

“Yeah, he’s not known for being the most responsible. But he’s an amazing drummer and I think he would kick ass on the drums until I can get back to it. It would also be good for him to see how it’s done when you’re not fucking around all the time,” Glenn said.

“Are you sure about this? We can cancel and wait until you’re all healed,” I offered even though I fucking hated the idea of cancelling all those shows.

“I’m sure, and it’ll give me time to get my house back in order with more help for Jess. I’ve already talked to him and he’s available. What do you think?”

The three of us looked at each other, and I knew everyone’s decision before a word was said. I hoped like hell this wasn’t something that would bite us in the ass, but in the back of my mind I knew for a fact shit would eventually hit the fan.

“I’m in,” I said followed by Rory and Liam.

Nine

Devon Grimes

“Hey, Glenn, how’s everything going?” I said when he’d called this morning. I knew something was up. Uncle Glenn was drummer for Blinding Light and usually they were so busy the only time I heard from him was during the holidays.

“Not so good, I have a favor to ask,” he said which was not at all like him. He then proceeded to tell me how he’d been taken out by an unfortunate Lego accident and wasn’t able to finish the tour with the band. “I wouldn’t ask if it wasn’t important, and if you’re already playing with a band then you can tell me to fuck off. But I can’t think of another drummer I’d rather have join the guys until I can get back to them.”

“Are you sure?” Glenn was well aware of my past. How I’d dropped out of school to play in a band only to be dumped for flaking on not only practice but gigs.

“Devon, you’re more talented than most of the drummers out there. This could lead to you getting in a band of your own.” He was serious and believed in me far more than I believed in myself. I was now twenty-three and working part-time at a music store having burned far too many bridges to remember.

“I’ll take it, but I need to tell my boss. I don’t want to leave him hanging,” I said, and meant it. Greg Cabbott was one of the few people willing to take a chance on me, and even though he paid me shit and only let me work part-time, he’d let me work there the past three years. He was dependable, and I wanted to show him the same respect.

“Fair enough. I need to go break it to the guys. How about you join me there later after I talk to them?” Glenn said which is what led me to sitting in my car outside their practice room waiting for him to text me. My phone buzzed making me jump, but I was afraid to move. Finally, I checked the message, and sure enough it was Glenn telling me to get inside.

I’d been here before to watch them play but it was years ago, and now it felt like a lifetime ago. They were bigger now, and I knew I’d only get one chance not to fuck up. Sliding out of the car, I walked up to the door and into the lobby before going right to the door where I knew they’d be.

“Devon, you remember Easy?” Glenn said while the other three guys looked at me more like they were trying to figure out if they could trust me or not.

Clearing my throat, I held out my hand to him. “Yeah, how’s it going, man?”

“Good. You realize we’re not going to take any shit from you. If you can’t get your ass to practice and be on the bus when we’re ready to leave, we’ll cancel the tour,” Easy said and folded his arms. He’d always been hardcore about the band and was never one to fuck around where it was concerned.

“Yeah, I get it,” I said and looked at Rory and the other guy I hadn’t met yet, but I knew was Liam. “I’m Devon Grimes.” Rory shook my hand and gave me a critical look.

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