Page 36 of Sixty Days Of Summer

“It’s cool, Scar,” Nate says, his voice steady yet tinged with sadness. “You know how much we loved her and why it’s something we can’t revisit.”

I reach out and take his hand in mine, offering the same comfort and support he’s always extended to me. I find myself in a rare position of being the source of reassurance for him, attempting to repair the damage that my words had unknowingly created.

After entering Ace’s house, we make our way towards the studio. The air is alive with anticipation as Theo and Ace casually throw their guitar straps over their shoulders. Xander confidently stands before the microphone. Meanwhile, I settle in behind the drum set, trying to find a comfortable position.

Nestled in the corner, Nate and Alex sit comfortably in the cozy chairs. Nate’s intense gaze never wavers, as he closely follows my every move with unwavering concentration. As we gear up ready to play, I can feel the rush of adrenaline pulsating within me.

As Ace counts us in, the vibrant rhythm envelops us, and we dive headfirst into the music. Nate’s unwavering stare throws me off balance, causing me to stumble slightly, missing a beat. I try to recover quickly, aware that the guys have noticed my slip-up. Determined not to let it distract me, I push through, focusing intently on every note and blocking everything else out to get it right.

As we reach the third song on the playlist, I glance up and catch Nate’s smile, his eyes sparkling with joy. It’s a proud, genuine grin—the kind he used to flash whenever I outplayed him in our childhood competitions. Seeing that familiar look again feels like a warm embrace, a silent affirmation from someone who’s always had faith in me. It’s as if he’s telling me, without words, that I’m doing just fine, and that assurance fuels my performance.

Chapter 13

Ace

After our flight and checking into the hotel, it feels like I’ve barely had a moment to breathe before we’re rushing off to sound check. One fuck-up tonight, and we’ll be making headlines for all the wrong reasons. We’ve already had enough negative buzz lately, and I’m hell-bent on making sure this tour is a goddamn triumph, just like our album that shot to number one worldwide.

Inside the town car, it’s just Theo, Scarlet, and me. Xander took off earlier to catch up with Walter and his band. They should be into their sound check by the time we arrive.

Theo’s next to me, with Scarlet on his other side. It’s hard not to notice her restlessness, as her fingers tap anxiously against her leg and she shifts in her seat. Her anxiety is palpable, even though there is no apparent reason for her to feel nervous. She’s insanely talented, and I’m confident the fans will fall for her just like the rest of us have.

As the car rolls up to the stadium, we spot Neil, our burly security guy, standing by the entrance. Despite his imposing stature, a warm, friendly grin spreads across his face. He swings the door open, and I step out, Theo following closely behind.

Theo glances at Neil’s wide grin and quips, “Watch it, Neil—keep smiling like that, and you’ll end up as the friendly giant at a kids' birthday party!”

Neil lets out a hearty laugh, and I can’t help but think about how much he’s changed since we first met. Back then, he was all about business—never cracked a smile. Now, he’s practically one of us, joking around and helping to cut the tension before a big show.

Scarlet steps out of the car, and my eyes can’t help but linger on her long, sexy legs, the mini skirt showing off every curve. A surge of desire hits me hard, setting my whole body on fire. I quickly tear my gaze away, forcing myself to get a grip, reminding myself that I can’t let my thoughts go there—not again.

I turn away, shoving my hands into my pockets, trying to focus on the massive stadium ahead. But the moment she steps up beside me, her scent—pure fucking temptation—slams into me, igniting a fierce throb in my groin. Every damn time, she manages to get under my skin. Fuck, I need to keep my shit together. Tonight, I’ll deal with this the only way I know how—by drowning these cravings in groupies. A double dose of groupies, that’s the plan. Drag them back to my room, lose myself in the chaos, and forget all about her—for a little while, at least.

Neil leads us through the front doors, and I make a point to keep my distance from Scarlet. As we walk, the sound of Disturbed and Twisted, Walter’s band, echoes through the stadium. I have to give credit where it’s due—Xander nailed it with this choice. Unlike the garbage our old label used to push on us—bands that didn’t fit our vibe, just trying to use us to pump up their weak-ass sales—Walter’s band hits the mark. They’re the perfect match for our sound, raw and powerful.

As we navigate through the narrow back corridors, I can sense Scarlet’s presence lingering closely behind me. No matter where I go, she’s always there, lingering like an ever-present shadow.

Neil leads us into the green room and sticks close to the door as the rest of us file in. As usual, a shit load of food lines the far wall—Kit always nails it with the setup. Without missing a beat, I head straight for the table, grabbing a handful of peanut M&Ms. They’re my ultimate fucking weakness, and after the tension of the day, I need something to take the edge off.

I turn around and spot Theo already slumped on the couch, head back, eyes closed. He pulls this shit every time. I used to give him hell for it when we first started out, but now I understand. It’s his way of grounding himself, and with Nate out of the picture right now, he probably needs it more than ever.

But my attention shifts to the sexy blonde pacing the room. She’s moving back and forth, taking deep breaths and letting them out slowly. I watch her shake her hands, opening and closing them like she’s trying to squeeze the stress away. I should probably say something to calm her down, but emotional shit isn’t exactly my strong suit. If it were one of the guys, I’d have already told them to sit the fuck down because they’re driving me up the wall. But she’s not one of the guys. She’s the girl who’s been living in my head like a fucking parasite that just won’t leave.

The door swings open, causing every head in the room to turn towards Xander as he enters. Scarlet resumes her restless pacing, Theo shuts his eyes, and I continue to munch on my M&M’s, my eyes locked on Xander as he closes the door and approaches.

“Walter’s band sounds solid,” I comment just as he reaches for something behind me on the table—probably the fucking M&M’s. We used to live off this shit in my old garage, pulling all-nighters to perfect our music, using the sugar rush to stay awake and fight off the exhaustion.

“Yeah, as soon as I heard his demo, I knew he was a perfect fit,” he replies, turning with the bowl of M&Ms in hand and leaning against the table. He pops a few into his mouth, then glances over at Scarlet. “What’s going on with her?”

“Not sure,” I respond, grabbing another handful of M&Ms. “Maybe it’s just her pre-performance routine or something.” I’m not keen on digging deeper, especially with Xander around. I need to maintain some distance and make it seem like I'm genuinely trying to steer clear of her. I toss a few more M&Ms into my mouth, my eyes still lingering on Scarlet.

“Scarlet,” Xander says, handing me the bowl and pushing himself off the table.

The moment she hears his voice, she stops pacing and turns to face him. I can see the nerves etched all over her face.

“Are you okay?” Xander asks, his brow furrowing with concern.

I continue shoving M&Ms into my mouth as Xander walks over to Scarlet. Theo gets up from the couch and trails behind him, leaving me sitting here, mindlessly stuffing my face with candy, unsure of what else to do. Comforting people isn’t my thing, and I’m not about to draw attention to it with both guys already over there. Besides, I’ve been told to keep my distance, and that’s exactly what I intend to do.

She nods, letting out a deep breath that makes her shoulders sag like she’s carrying a shitload of stress. “Yeah, I’m just nervous, that’s all.”

---