Page 47 of Fractured Rhythm

We’d said a quick hello to Gray when he made our drinks, but no one paid any attention to us. The band on stage was decent, a classic rock band unlike the hard rock that Steelwolf was, and a few couples danced on the small dance floor.

“It’s relaxing. Even if we’re recognized, I don’t think we’ll be accosted like at some club or one of the more popular bars in the city,” Bash said. “You guys should’ve heard the band the other night. They weren’t half bad.”

“Really? Should we mention them to Josh?” Tristan asked.

“We aren’t taking a band under our wing,” Jax said.

“Hey, I wasn’t offering. Just letting you know,” Bash said.

“Would you guys do that?” I asked.

“If they were fucking awesome, we would,” Jax said. “Always room for another great band, but we have to focus on the new album, so we don’t have time to help out another group trying to make it.”

“How’s the new album coming? Are you recording yet?” I asked. I was dying to hear their new music and also dreading it.

“Not yet. I still have at least another six songs to write, and we have to decide on a drummer,” Bash said before he shot back the rest of his whiskey.

I grabbed his free hand under the table and squeezed. This wasn’t easy for any of us, but I didn’t want him to keep numbing that reality with more whiskey. It hadn’t slipped my attention that he was drinking a lot more than he used to. Sure, he would party like a rock star when we were together, but this was different.

And if I was honest, it made me nervous. How close was he getting to the point where it was too much? Where it was a problem he couldn’t stop?

“I’m dying for new music. I’m sure it’ll be awesome,” Holly said, taking a long pull on her beer and pulling me out of my thoughts.

“Damn right, it’s going to be awesome. It always is. The new songs are sick,” Jax said, grinning as he slammed down his empty shot glass. “I think we need a round of shots. Tequila. Yeah, tequila.”

“Umm, this bar doesn’t have top-of-the-line liquor, Jax,” Bash said, eyeing his friend.

“Ahh, it’ll be fine, Wolfie.”

I felt Bash’s grumble. It was low and whispered over my skin, sending sparks to my toes. He hated when the guys called him Wolfie, but I thought it was adorable.

“It’s your hangover, man,” Bash said.

“Nah. It’s all of ours. Shots for everyone,” he said with a cheer before he pushed back his chair and headed for the bar.

I’d missed this way too much. My family was finally back together, and now I had to make sure we didn’t do anything to fuck it up again.

BASH

“And then Ifell off the damn stage, but I swear one of you pushed me,” Jax said a few hours later, his gaze darting between me and Tristan.

We’d been holed up in the dive bar all night, sharing stories about growing up and band life, and having more than a few drinks. Well, Jax, Holly, and Tristan had more than a few drinks. After the round of shots Jax had ordered, Cassie and I were nursing beers, and I wondered why she wasn’t imbibing as much as the rest of them.

Me. I wanted to be relatively sober tonight. Everything was going well, and if I had the chance to take Cassie home with me tonight, or even get a kiss at her door, I wasn’t going to be wasted for that. Plus, having her next to me while we talked about Jamie helped. I wasn’t instantly reaching for a bottle to numb myself. That had to count for something.

Instead, I was thinking about a new song, and how sweet Cassie’s body felt pressed against mine when I’d hugged her earlier, and when I’d convinced her to dance with me an hour ago. Now her thumb grazed my hand under the table, and I linked my fingers with hers. She looked up at me through lowered lashes, and I swore she sighed again. She’d been doing that a lot tonight. It was probably the leading reason I wasn’t pounding back drinks like the rest of them.

“I doubt they pushed you. Jamie might’ve, but that would’ve been pretty damn hard with him behind his kit,” Cassie said with a light laugh.

It warmed my heart that she could talk about her brother without choking on tears. We’d all made progress on that front, and I think he’d be happy about that. I still missed the fuck out of him and would give anything to have him here, but we were finally healing, and we could only do that together.

I’d been an idiot to think otherwise.

“You sure you didn’t trip?” Holly asked, grinning over her beer. “Maybe over your ego?”

The rest of us burst out laughing. It was nice not seeing every woman salivate at Jax’s feet. It was good for him to be taken down a peg or two.

“That really fucking hurts, Hols. My ego is the perfect size. Now if you want to talk about something big…” He trailed off with a wink, and Tristan and I groaned.

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