Page 70 of Sixty Days Of Summer

“Just focus on the music for now,” I say, hoping to guide him toward some relief. Losing himself in the music might be his best escape right now; it’s what I do when everything gets too much.

We’re in the green room, waiting to hit the stage, and Ace is already deep into the booze. Walter’s band is out there, about to wrap up any minute now. I’ve watched him down three beers, and if he keeps this up, he’ll be too far gone to give his best performance tonight. It feels like he’s trying to drown out the shit from earlier, but I know that kind of escape won’t lead him anywhere good.

I make my way over to Xander, who’s got his eyes glued to Ace with a detached intensity. I sit down next to him on the couch.

“I’m worried about him,” I say, trying to keep my voice steady. I brace myself for Xander’s typical response—the one where he tells me to fuck off and that it’s not my concern. But tonight, he just keeps watching Ace, and the sharp retort I expect never comes.

When Xander still doesn’t respond, I begin to think he might just ignore me. But finally, he turns his attention to me. “I’m worried too. I’d go talk to him, but he probably doesn’t want to hear what I have to say.”

Xander turns his gaze back to Ace, and I can see the weight of the situation pressing heavily on him.

My brows furrow in confusion. “Why? What do you mean?”

Xander’s eyes remain locked on Ace as he speaks. “The fucker’s been drinking since we got here. If he grabs another bottle, I swear I’m going to throw it against the fucking wall. You need to go talk to him.”

I nod and stand up, striding toward Ace, who’s resting against the table, draining the last of his third beer. The moment our eyes lock, I catch that lustful glint in his gaze as it sweeps over my body. Shit, I hope Theo didn’t see that—didn’t catch the intent behind those eyes.

He turns slightly, tossing the empty bottle into the plastic bin with a loud thud. As he reaches for another, I step forward and grab his hand, halting him mid-motion.

“Ace,” I say firmly.

His eyes flicker towards me, a mix of annoyance and something else that I can’t quite place. I’m not sure how to get through to him when he’s like this, but I know I have to try.

Kit bursts through the doorway, immediately drawing everyone’s attention. “On in ten,” she announces, her voice cutting through the room. “They're on their last song now.”

She glances at Ace, and I can see she’s picked up on the tension in the air. As she strides over to him, she gives me a quick, knowing look, a silent acknowledgment that she senses something’s off. Turning her full attention to Ace, she asks, “How are you doing?”

Ace meets her gaze but remains silent, his eyes revealing the internal struggle he’s facing. Kit takes a deep breath, her expression shifting to one of seriousness. “I was planning to wait until after the show to share this with you, but considering what happened at the hotel, you might as well hear it now.”

She pauses, allowing the weight of her words to settle in the air. Ace’s brows furrow as if bracing himself for whatever is coming next.

Shit, if she’s got more bad news lined up, I can’t even imagine how he’ll react. Xander and Theo seem to be on the same wavelength because, in no time at all, they’re both at Ace’s side, ready to offer their support.

“Kit,” Xander says, like he’s trying to warn her against dropping any more bombs on Ace right now.

But Kit, ignoring Xander's warning, locks eyes with Ace. “Your sister’s here tonight. She told me she wants to set the record straight about your mother. If you decide you never want to see her again after that, she’ll accept it.”

Ace’s voice drips with bitterness as he responds, “And why would she want to do that? She didn’t give a fuck back then, so why care now?”

“Ace…” Xander interjects, his tone shifting to one of pleading. I can hear the desperation in his voice, a rare crack in his usual tough demeanor.

Ace turns his head to Xander, and for a moment, they lock eyes. There’s something unspoken that passes between them.

Ace’s jaw tightens, and his eyes narrow. “You really think one conversation with her is going to fix everything? That suddenly the world’s just going to believe her over my mother?”

Theo steps forward. “I know how hard this will be for you, Ace. It would fucking terrify me to go back into that world, but if she’s willing to set the record straight, you should at least hear her out. She could fix the shit that happened tonight.”

My gaze softens as I turn to Theo. Despite everything that’s happened between them, he’s stepping up, setting aside all the complicated feelings to offer his support. Right now, Ace needs that more than anything. It’s clear they have each other’s backs, no matter what.

“I can go with you if you want,” I offer.

He nods, swallowing hard, and I can see the dread etched across his face at the thought of facing his sister.

“The fans can wait,” Kit says firmly. “We need to have this meeting now, rather than let it weigh over you during the show.”

Ace’s shoulders tense, but he nods anyway. Xander steps closer, lifting his hand to rest on Ace’s shoulder, a quiet show of support.

“You can do this, man. I know you can,” Xander says, his voice steady and infused with the kind of confidence that’s meant to lift Ace up.

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