Page 97 of Sixty Days Of Summer

“Seriously?” Nate raises an eyebrow, his tone a mix of skepticism and surprise. “Because the Ace Roberts I know would fuck anything with two legs.”

I smirk, knowing he’s not wrong. A wet hole to get me off was my motto back in the day. I glance over at Theo, who’s sitting there unusually quiet. He’s usually the one speaking up to make his point clear, so his silence is throwing me off. “What about you, Theo? What’s your take on this?”

Theo gives me a hard look. “I was with Nate at first; I wanted you to stay the fuck away from her.” Then he turns to Nate. “But honestly, seeing Ace with Scarlet? It’s like watching him try to bake cookies—messy, confusing, and you can’t help but laugh at how far out of his depth he is.”

I let his smart-ass remark slide. A few weeks ago, all I wanted was to hear him bust my balls instead of giving me the cold shoulder.

“But I also see a different side to him,” he continues, his tone shifting. “He loves her, Nate. I can fucking see it. It’s just like theway we loved Bianca. I never thought I’d see the day Ace Roberts could actually fucking love something, but I see it with Scar. It’s in the little things he does and the way he treats her.”

I stay quiet, not sure how to respond. The guys don’t often bring up Bianca, except for that photo they showed me and Xander—a snapshot of the beautiful girl they lost all those years ago, a picture they both keep on their phones.

“You love her?” Nate asks, cutting right to the chase.

I could easily tell them both to back the fuck off and mind their own business, but instead, I lock eyes with him and stand my ground. “Yeah,” I say firmly. “Yeah, I love her.”

Nate keeps his gaze steady, and I can’t help but wonder what’s running through his mind. Then, without a word, he extends his hand. I look down for a moment, then reach out and take it.

“I approve,” he says. “But listen up, Ace—if you fuck her over or treat her badly, I’ll fucking end you.”

I shake his hand, holding his gaze. “And I wouldn’t expect anything less,” I reply.

With that, Nate takes another sip of his drink, and the tension begins to dissipate. I can see the trust slowly building between us, the kind that makes this whole crazy situation feel a little more solid.

Tonight, as we walk onto the stage, Xander turns to face me, his expression serious. “Don’t count us in tonight, Ace. I’ve got something I want to do first.”

I nod, my mind racing. What the hell is he planning now?

He turns to the stagehands, snapping his fingers and calling out for them to power up his mic and get the curtain moving. As the curtains part, roars erupt from the crowd. The noise is deafening, and the atmosphere is thick with excitement. It’s as if the whole place is vibrating with anticipation, and I feel it thrumming through my veins.

Xander spreads his arms, and the crowd instantly falls silent, like he’s some kind of prophet about to drop a major revelation.

“Before we kick things off tonight,” he begins, “I want to bring someone out on this stage. Someone you all know.”

I nod, catching on, and glance over at Nate.

“Someone who hasn’t been able to hit the stage with us this whole tour,” Xander continues.

The moment the crowd realizes who he’s talking about, chaos erupts.

Xander grabs the mic and shouts, “Come on out here, Nate!”

Nate steps onto the stage, a wide smile spreading across his face as he takes in the roaring applause. He raises his good arm to the crowd, soaking up every moment. It’s like he’s finally back where he belongs, even if it’s just for tonight. The cheers of the crowd are like a welcome home. I’m just stoked to see him here, part of this world he helped create.

Nate strides up next to Xander, a broad smile on his face. They share a knowing grin, a silent acknowledgment of the moment. Nate gives one last wave, letting the crowd soak up his presence before stepping back to the wings of the stage. With the roar of the audience still echoing around us, Xander turns, nodding for me to count us in. I start it off, and we launch into the first song of the night, ready to give it everything we’ve got.

The night pushes on, and the energy in the arena stays electric. We power through our set, pouring everything into each song. Every time I glance toward the side of the stage, Icatch Nate watching Scarlet. He’s finally seeing her step into the spotlight, witnessing the magic he’s been missing.

By the time we reach the last song, I’m breathless and drenched in sweat. Xander grabs his stool and guitar, and I spot Scarlet getting up from the drums and moving toward Nate. My gaze follows her, curiosity sparking, and I notice Xander and Theo watching just as intently. Scarlet leans in close to Nate, and I catch the smile and nod he gives her before she hands him the drumsticks.

Nate steps up to the drum kit, and Xander and I exchange a look, both wondering if he’s pushing himself too hard to make a comeback.

“Are you sure you should be doing this?” I ask, moving closer.

“Yeah, it’s slow enough,” Nate replies. “I’ll be fine.”

I glance over at Scarlet, standing on the side of the stage, her face glowing with pride as she watches Nate take his seat.

As the opening notes of "Creep" fill the arena, we glance at Nate to make sure he’s holding up. His drumming is steady, with no signs of struggle. He’s fully immersed, lost in the rhythm, feeling every beat like he used to.

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