Page 72 of Sixty Days Of Summer

My eyes linger on her, carefully studying every minuscule change in her expression. It’s clear that she needs this as much as I do, maybe even more. This storm has been raging around us for what seems like forever, but standing united against it brings a small sense of calm to the chaos.

“Okay,” I finally say, nodding as I meet her eyes, the flicker of courage in them steadying something inside me. “Will you stay? We can talk after the show.”

Her small smile hits me with a wave of nostalgia, taking me back to the days when I’d sit beside her, showing off my shitty, crayon-scrawled drawings. That smile of hers always seemed to make everything better, even when the world around us was crumbling. It reminds me of just how much she meant to me—more than a sister. She was the one who held things together, more of a mother than the woman who claims that title now.

“I’d like that,” she says, and for the first time in what feels like forever, I feel something shift—like maybe, just maybe, there’s a chance we can move forward.

Standing up, I feel torn between wanting to stay and talk with her, and the realization that I need to haul myself out onto that stage. The fans are waiting, and I have no fucking idea where Walter’s band is—by now, they’re usually in here, celebrating another killer night. Daisy stands up too, I glance over at Scarlet, feeling this surge of gratitude that she’s been here with me, helping me get through all of this.

“This is Scarlet,” I start, fumbling for the right words. Fuck, what do I even call her? I’ve never had to introduce someone like her before, and it’s way more complicated than it should be. I take a breath, trying to keep it simple, even though nothingabout this feels fucking simple at all. “She’s a member of the band.” It’s lame, I know, but it’s all I can manage right now. Then I turn to Scarlet. “Scarlet, this is my sister, Daisy.”

Scarlet steps forward with a smile, extending her hand to Daisy. They exchange a quick greeting, and I watch the brief connection between them.

“Do you want to watch the show from the wings?” I ask Daisy, feeling awkward as hell. I’ve never had anyone here like this—someone who genuinely wants to be in my corner.

“Yeah, I’d like that, Ace,” she says, with a smile.

Walking over to the door, I pull it open and find Neil standing there, clearly under Kit’s orders to keep everyone out. In front of him are the members of Twisted and Disturbed, their faces flushed, and their clothes soaked from pouring their souls out on stage.

Letting Scarlet take the lead, I follow behind as we make our way out, with Daisy trailing behind me. As soon as we exit the room, Neil moves aside, allowing the band to flood into the green room. The energy shifts instantly as they pour in, ready to celebrate the night’s success. The buzz of excitement fills the air, a stark contrast to the heaviness of the conversation that had just taken place seconds before. It’s like stepping from one world into another.

Scarlet and Daisy head out in front, with Scarlet animatedly pointing out various things and showing Daisy the ropes of what goes on behind the scenes. It’s nice to see them connecting.

Neil walks beside me, his expression all business-like. “The guys are waiting near the stage,” he says.

As we reach the side of the stage, I spot Kit, Xander, and Theo waiting. The second Xander catches sight of me, he looks over, and Theo and Kit turn to follow his gaze.

When Scarlet reaches the group, she steps aside to give me room to come forward. “Guys, this is my sister, Daisy,” I say, trying to keep things casual even though my nerves are buzzing.

Daisy smiles, her gaze landing on Xander. “Yes, I remember Xander from when he was little,” she says, and I can’t help but grin at the memory. Back then, whenever she picked me up from school, Xander was always there with us. That was around a year after he lost his mom, and his home life had turned to shit.

I glance at Xander, who’s smiling back at her with that easy charm of his. “Good to see you again, Daisy,” he replies, with genuine warmth in his voice.

“And this is Theo,” I say, gesturing toward him.

Theo flashes my sister a charming smile, his usual flirtatious energy dialed back for the moment. He takes her hand and gives it a firm shake. “Nice to meet you, Daisy.”

Fuck, it hits me—I never asked about her life. Not once did I bother to find out if she’s married or has kids. There’s this entire part of her world I know nothing about, like a stranger’s life running parallel to mine.

“Are you watching from the wings?” Kit asks, giving me a quick look to make sure it’s alright.

“Yeah, she is,” I reply, feeling a flicker of warmth at the thought of her supporting me.

“I’ll keep an eye on her,” Kit assures me. “Now you guys need to get your asses out there. The crowd’s getting restless.”

I glance back at Daisy, and she gives me a reassuring smile—a small gesture, but it gives me the boost I need. I turn toward the stage, noticing the rest of the guys are already out there.

As I make my way to grab my guitar, Theo slips his strap over his head and catches my eye. “Hey, Ace, you okay?” he asks.

I nod, though I can feel the weight of everything. “Yeah, just… a lot going on.” I try to brush it off.

“Just remember, we’ve got your back, man,” he says with a reassuring grin.

I can see how genuinely concerned Theo is, and it’s clear he gets just how tough it is for me to revisit one of the most challenging periods of my life. His small gesture of reaching out means a hell of a lot to me. Despite the tension we had earlier in our conversation at the hotel and his skepticism about my relationship with Scarlet, it’s reassuring to know Theo’s got my back. We might clash, and he might annoy the shit out of me more times than I’d like, but I know through all the bullshit, I can always count on him to stand by my side when it counts.

“You up for the challenge tonight, old man?” Theo asks, a grin spreading across his face as I turn around.

I know exactly what he’s getting at—he’s itching for another guitar showdown. If he thinks I’m going to go easy on him, he’s got another thing coming.

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