Page 18 of Sixty Days Of Summer

Every flash from that prick’s camera intensifies my anger, causing a surge of red to fill my vision. I charge ahead, closing the distance until I’m standing right in front of the fucker’s face.

In a single, swift motion, I snatch the camera from his grasp and slam it down onto the unforgiving concrete. I watch as it shatters into countless fragments, sending debris scattering across the ground.

Ignoring the stillness that hangs in the air, I make my way back to the car and get in, slamming the door.

“You fucking idiot,” Xander says, as I press my foot hard on the pedal, peeling away from the hospital.

Chapter 7

Ace

“Why the hell did you do that, Ace?” Xander snaps, his voice sharp enough to cut. “You better fucking hope that paparazzi guy doesn’t sue us.”

It’s been a day since my meltdown with that asshole and his camera. I’m still fuming at myself for losing my shit like that. It feels like forever since I last lost it, and that was when that biker wannabe had me by the neck at my mom’s place. I’m not fucking proud of it. It’s all over the news, a constant reminder of my fuck up, blaring every time I turn the TV on.

This entire situation is an absolute fucking mess. Right now, I should be in the studio, putting the finishing touches on ouralbum before its release next week, right before we hit the road for our tour. Instead, I’m stuck dealing with this bullshit—bullshit I caused. I am completely in the dark about what will come next.

“I already fucking told you, I just snapped,” I say, my voice filled with anger, as I grab another beer from the fridge without bothering to offer one to the guys. As I twist off the lid and flick the cap onto the counter, I feel their intense stares burning into me. “Fuck that paparazzi idiot and his damn camera. I called Anita and asked her to reach out and offer a replacement. We’ve got way bigger problems than that. After making such a big deal about ditching the label, we’re going to look like complete fucking idiots. Lionel’s probably loving this shit. I can already picture his smug face, grinning about how we had to cancel the tour. He’ll be out there, boasting that his label is the only reason for our success, and without his support, we’ll fade into obscurity like countless other bands.” I take a swig, feeling the cool liquid slide down my throat, downing half the bottle. The stress is eating away at me, and the booze takes the edge off a little.

Theo jumps in, “We can still pull it off. We just gotta find another drummer for the tour. It’s not like other bands haven’t done it before.”

Xander and I exchange a look, both of us ready to tear into him. Theo always seems to come up with these half-assed ideas that just push our buttons.

Xander’s the first to bite. “The tour’s in two weeks. Asking someone to learn our entire set in that time, that’s a total joke, Theo, and you know it.”

“Like I said, other bands have pulled it off. Why can’t we?” Theo responds, still off in fantasy land.

My eyes narrow as I shoot him a disapproving look. “Maybe if we had more time, but two weeks? No way in hell anyone’slearning our entire set that fast. Those other bands probably had months to get their new drummer up to speed.”

Theo’s gaze flickers back and forth between Xander and me. “Well,” he insists, “I think it might work.”

Alright, I’ll play along with this idiot. “Maybe,” I reply, not buying any of the shit coming out of his mouth, but willing to entertain the idea instead of announcing the cancellation of the tour. Not to forget that we couldn’t pull off one fucking show on our own.

Xander shoots me a look like I’ve lost my fucking mind. I make my way towards the table and settle down into a seat. “Maybe it could work,” I say. “I have no fucking idea if it will or not, but one thing I do know is that when we first started out, I’d have jumped at the chance to play to sold-out crowds. I would’ve practiced my ass off twenty-four-seven just to snag a spot playing with the hottest band on the planet. That opportunity would’ve been a no-brainer for me.”

“Seriously, you’d have ditched us just like that?” Theo asks, raising an eyebrow.

“Hell yeah, I’d have done it without a second thought,” I snap back, not even hesitating.

Theo smirks. “Well, I would’ve convinced the guys to get rid of our shitty guitarist, anyway.”

I casually shrug off his attempts to provoke a reaction from me. “Listen, it could work if we find someone who’s willing to work their ass off and is dedicated enough to fill in for Nate on the tour. That’s all there is to it.”

“It’s not happening,” Xander declares, his head shaking in disbelief. “There’s no way someone can learn our set that fast. We’re just delaying the inevitable. We gotta call off the tour.”

Theo’s eyebrows furrow as he responds, “Why?”

Xander gives him that look, the kind that says, “Are you really this fucking dumb?”

“Seriously?” he says. “Who on earth do we know that can step up and learn our set in just two weeks? Even if someone can cover for Nate, how the hell do we know our songs will keep that same vibe? Each drummer has their own unique style. We just got our old sound back, and now you wanna mess with it? Plus, who the fuck would even be available at such short notice?”

“Scarlet can handle it,” Theo says confidently, finishing his beer and leaning back in his chair.

Xander and I exchange a look, and it’s clear we’re both thinking the same thing. No fucking way she’s coming on tour after all the shit that’s happened between me and her.

“No,” Xander says flatly, his tone leaving no room for argument.

Theo gets up from the chair. “What about you, Ace?”

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