Page 112 of Five Summers

As the afternoon goes on, I try to distract myself. Tomorrow’s tour looms, so I pack. I play my guitar, jotting down additional lyrics in my old notebook. Despite my efforts, the loneliness persists, so I retreat to my oversized pool, immersing myself in its refreshing waters, praying it will bring me some peace.

By late afternoon, I’m back on the couch once again staring at the grand piano. The sound of my front door opening and closing catches my attention and I already anticipate who it is. Theo usually comes over at this time of the afternoon.

Theo gives me his usual smile as he comes into the room, holding two beers. “I gotta tell you something because I don’t want you blindsided when you find out,” he says, passing me a beer.

I twist the lid off my beer and toss the cap on the coffee table. "What is it?” I ask, lifting the bottle to my mouth.

Theo plops down on the other couch next to me. “It is serious. I’ve only just found out. Well Nate found out when he was talking to Ace, but I just thought-”

“What the fuck Theo, just tell me,” I cut in.

“You’re not going to like it. Or you might. I’m not sure.”

“Seriously, just tell me already.”

He eyes me for a moment. “We’ve got someone joining us on the tour.”

"If it’s Lionel, I'll fucking lose it," I say, taking another drink of my beer.

Theo drinks his beer, then puts it on the coffee table before pulling out a joint and lighting it up. “Nah, it's someone you know, someone you've mentioned a lot.” He leans forward to hand me the joint and I take a hit.

"Who?" I ask, blowing out smoke. I take another hit and pass it back.

"Spitfire," says Theo.

My heart races and my stomach tightens. No, Theo’s just fucking with me like he always does. I stay silent and wait to see what he's gonna say because none of it makes any sense. Why would she join us on tour?

I hear someone coming in through the front door, but I don't take my eyes off Theo, trying to figure him out. He's lacking that cocky grin that he usually wears when he wants to mess with me.

Nate enters the room and sits on the couch beside Theo. “So did you tell him?” Nate asks, reaching over and taking the joint from Theo.

"Yep," answers Theo. “That’s why the fucker looks so stunned. He hasn't said a word since I told him.”

“You’re fucking serious?” I ask, struggling to grasp the reality that this isn’t some kind of prank or elaborate setup. Knowing how serious Nate always is, I realize Theo’s telling me the truth. Throughout all our usual shenanigans and teasing banter, never once has Theo included Nate.

"Told ya he wouldn't like it," Nate says, passing the joint back to Theo.

Hearing Nate’s words only confirms my suspicion. That he knows about what happened between Poppy and me, including my feelings towards her. I can’t focus on that now, I’ll address that with Theo later.

I lean forward and put my empty beer bottle on the table in front. “Is it the label or Ace?” I ask, shifting my gaze between them.

‘Both,” Nate replies.

“Why the fuck would they ask Poppy to come along when they don’t even know her?” I get up off the couch, determined to get to the bottom of this. I can’t see her every day for eight weeks. I saw her for one night and it fucking wrecked me.

“Where are you going?” Nate yells, turning in his seat.

“To get some damn answers,” I spit out.

Footsteps sound behind me on the marble tiles and just as I’m about to open the door, a hand seizes my shoulder, forcing me to stop.

“Xander, hold the fuck up,” Nate says.

"What?" I ask, turning abruptly, desperate to go over to Ace’s house to find out what the hell is happening.

Theo stands further down the hall, watching.

"Don't go over there like this," Nate warns. “I'll call Ace and tell him to come over so we can get to the bottom of it.”

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