Page 99 of Sixty Days Of Summer

Chapter 35

Scarlet

My body’s sore from what Ace did to me last night. Hours spent with him taking me hard and then slow, exploring every inch of my body, pushing me to the limits with each deep thrust. Even now, as I walk to Nate and Theo’s room, each step sends a delicious reminder of what he did to me.

I have no idea where Ace went, and I’m getting fed up with waiting for him to come back. I knock on my brother’s door, and it swings open to reveal Theo.

I step inside, expecting just him and Nate, but the whole band’s there—Kit included. I pause, confused. They didn’t call a band meeting, but then again, I’m just a fill-in with only fivedays left on the tour. My eyes scan the room, landing on Ace. He stands with his arms crossed, looking serious, but when our gazes meet, he gives me a smile that makes my heart skip. Still, the tension is thick. Something’s going on, and I’m not part of it.

All eyes are on me as I walk toward Ace, and for a moment, I feel a surge of anxiety. Did I mess up? Did the media catch wind of something? Beck. That asshole better not have gone to the press about what Ace did to him. If he has, I’ll have no choice but to set the record straight and let everyone know what he did to me. But God, I don’t want that out in the open—the ugly truth of it all. I don’t want my past with Beck dragging me back to a place I’ve been fighting so hard to escape.

“You might as well tell her,” Xander says, his eyes fixed on Nate.

I glance at Nate, sitting next to Theo, both of them silent as hell. The quiet is starting to get to me, the tension building with every second that passes. My gaze snaps back to Xander, waiting for him to speak up, to explain what the hell is going on. But instead, he looks over at Kit.

Kit steps forward, and that’s when the worry really starts to kick in. My heart races, and I feel a tightness in my chest. What the hell have I done to make them all so on edge?

“Scarlet, we’ve had a label reach out to us,” Kit says, her tone a little too serious for my liking.

“Okay...” I reply slowly, still not sure how any of this has anything to do with me.

“They’ve been keeping an eye on the tour, and they’re impressed with how you’ve stepped into the band. They want to sign you—along with a few others—for a new band they’re putting together.”

A smile creeps across my face as the weight of uncertainty finally begins to lift. I can feel a spark of excitement starting to build. “Really?” I ask.

“Yes, they reached out to me yesterday,” Kit confirms.

“Wow,” I reply, my smile growing wider as the excitement settles in. I glance around the room, taking in the hopeful looks from Ace, Xander, and Kit. But when my gaze lands on Theo and Nate, their serious faces pull me up short. The lack of enthusiasm on their part makes me pause, and I can't help but wonder why they aren’t as thrilled for me as I am.

My smile fades as I glance back at Kit. “Is there a catch I don’t know about?”

She shakes her head. “They haven’t given us any details on what they’re offering yet, just that they’re interested and want you to give them a call.”

“Okay,” I reply, still feeling a bit unsettled by Theo and Nate’s lack of enthusiasm. I glance at Ace, who stands next to me with a proud look on his face. His support is the one thing I can count on right now.

I turn back to my brothers, my curiosity getting the better of me. “What’s wrong?” I ask, my voice steady but tinged with confusion. “Why aren’t you guys as excited as everyone else? This is a big deal, and it feels like something’s off.”

They exchange a look before Nate finally speaks. “We were screwed over by our old label, Scar. We don’t want that happening to you.”

Are you fucking kidding me right now? I finally get a glimmer of a future after this tour, and now they’re telling me it’s a bad idea. I let out a sharp, exasperated sigh, my chest tightening with frustration. I fold my arms, shooting a glare at Nate, then Theo.

“Nah, hear us out, Scar,” Theo cuts in, trying to smooth things over. “We just don’t want you to get taken advantage of like we were.”

“For fuck’s sake,” I snap. “I can’t believe you’re trying to shut this down before I even get the chance to see what’s on the table.”

“The label always takes advantage of band members,” Nate says. “They work you into the ground, Scar. Trust us, we’ve been there. We know exactly how much they exploit you.”

“So this whole meeting was basically to decide whether you should even tell me about this offer?” I ask, my voice shaky with a mix of hurt and disbelief. The sting of betrayal cuts deeper than I want to admit. After everything I’ve given these last two months, this is how they repay me? “If I hadn’t walked in on this, would any of you have bothered to tell me?”

Nate’s expression softens a bit, but his tone remains firm. “We’ve seen too many bands get chewed up and spit out by these labels.”

I shoot him an incredulous look. “So, you think I can’t handle it? Is that it?” I glance at Ace. “So, you’re with them?”

“No, I’m fucking not,” Ace replies, his voice firm and unwavering. He meets my gaze, his confidence giving me a sense of relief. “I told them it was your choice, not theirs.” The weight lifts off my chest, knowing he’s got my back in this. “As did Xander.”

I turn back to Nate and Theo, my anger bubbling when I catch the irritation carved into their faces. It’s obvious—they didn’t want me to know they were the ones blocking my shot. They took their chance to make a life out of their music, and now they’re trying to pull the rug out from under me. Well, fuck that. My fists clench, and I don’t give a shit about whatever excuse Nate’s about to spit out. I move forward, cutting him off before he can even open his mouth.

“I’m so fucking tired of this shit with you two,” I snap, leaning over them. “You think you control my life. Well, I don’t answer to either of you. I make the decisions, and I’m the onewho gets to choose what happens next. Whether it’s joining a band, signing with a label, or who I fuck— it’s none of your damn business.” I watch as their faces tighten, knowing the last part stung. “So here’s the deal: I don’t need your approval. Get it through your fucking heads and stay out of my way. I’m living my life, not yours.”

---