Page 72 of Fractured Rhythm

I punched him in the shoulder. “Really?”

“What? Safe sex is important,” Jax said with complete seriousness.

“We should’ve rented a car,” I muttered, ignoring my grinning bandmate and ushering Cassie to the back of the bus.

“Keep that up and you can’t have dinner with us tonight,” I said.

“You wouldn’t leave me to starve, would you? I’ll tell your mom,” Jax said.

“Oh my god, you are ridiculous. Shut up and sit down, Jax,” Charlie said before she went back to scrolling on her phone from the couch.

“Where’s the respect?” he huffed.

“You don’t deserve any,” Cassie teased, plopping down on the couch next to Charlie.

“That really hurts, Cassiopeia,” Jax said, sitting down on the opposite side of Cassie and putting his arm across her shoulder. “But I’m thrilled you’re coming on tour with us after all this time.”

“Thanks. I wish I’d done this years ago,” she said, her tone so soft I barely heard her.

I wish I hadn’t fucked everything up years ago so she would’ve been comfortable coming on tour with us. Even if that was exactly what her brother didn’t want.

Would I ever be able to make that up to her? She’d forgiven me for lying to her, but I wasn’t sure I’d forgiven myself for taking the opportunity for her to spend more time with her brother—with us—away.

I itched for a glass of whiskey, knowing there was a bottle in one of my bags.

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