Page 12 of Jet

Taking a deep breath, I let go of the sink and my anxiety. With my head held high I walk back into the restaurant. Just to deflate when I see Willow sitting at the table, alone.

Jet’s gone and I’m not sure if that should make me angry or grateful.

JET

It’s only beentwodays since Quinn called Caleb, but it feels like weeks. I understand that she got in touch with him on a Friday and most labels have the weekends off. But I’m not a very patient man and as much as I’d like to call him, I’ll refrain. Time is not on my side since we’ll be leaving for Connecticut in less than a week. I was hoping we’d have time to figure it all out before travelling for another three months. If we get the green light, it’s going to be so damned hard waiting until we get home. My only consolation is that Quinn and I did have a chance to start scheming and dreaming. For now, I just need to be thankful we had that time to hash it all out. I’ll be the good little boy and do whatever I’m told since Quinn claims she calls all the shots. Once this tour is over, I’ll do whatever I damn well please.

Lacing up my shoes, I get ready to go for a run. It’s been ages and I feel like I need the exercise. Grabbing my phone, keys, and earbuds, I get ready to leave when my phone vibrates. Any other time, I’d ignore it, but it’s from Willow so I swipe and read the message.

Willow:Trevor and I are getting rusty, wanna come over and practice or just mess around?

Messing around sounds amazing, but I’m sure she didn’t mean sexually, since her cousin would be under the same roof. Most likely his mom, Mrs. C would be there, too. So much for going for a run since I don’t want to be all sweaty and sticky when I walk in the door. Hell, tomorrow is another day and I’d be lying if I didn’t say my fingers are begging for a little bit of string action. Old habits die hard, and it’s been days since I picked up my guitar.

Me:Sounds great. I’ll be there in twenty.

Willow:Can’t wait!

Thank goodness we have a set of instruments at Trevor’s house, since our gear is still on the equipment truck far away from here. Come to think of it, I hope they are guarding that damn thing, because there’s a ton of money tied up there. Before leaving, I shoot a text to Carl, our equipment manager.

Me:Please tell me that our equipment is all safe and sound because I’m seriously thinking of getting on a damn plane to go check.

Carl:No worries. All the trucks and tour buses are in an old airplane hangar onsite, and guards are there twenty-four seven. Relax, that’s what you pay us for. Enjoy.

Me:Thanks, appreciate it.

While driving to Trevor’s I flip on the radio, which is something I haven’t done in ages. I’m freaking whenDistractionblares from the speakers on station WBCS. Hell yeah, this never gets old. Hearing our songs on the radio is old school but so damn cool I can’t stand it. I kind of want to drive longer just to see if they play more of our songs, but I decide to just pull into his driveway.

I’m still wearing my shorts and running shoes when I walk in the door. Trevor appears from around the corner and takes one look at me. “Bro, were you going for a run? How long has it been since you’ve pounded the pavement?”

“Too damn long, and I’m starting to feel like I’m getting thick in the middle.”

“You’re as sexy as ever, Jet,” Willow says. “Do you want me screaming your name like all of the girls at the concerts?” I think Willow would tell me that even if I was an old man sitting in a rocking chair.

“You think so, baby?” I pull her in for a hug and plant a wet one on the top of her head.

“You’re here to jam, not bang my cousin. Now get your asses downstairs and let’s do this. Now, I’m the one who needs the exercise since my arms are hitting me in the face every time I wave.” Fucking Trevor. We’re bent over laughing when I hear a voice that shouldn’t be here.

“What’s so funny?”

Willow hurries downstairs as Trevor smacks my arm and follows her.

Pussy!

“Quinn, fancy meeting you here.” I’ve no doubt Willow left out the fact that she invited her too, since she knows I would have gone for my run instead.

“I hope you don’t mind, but Willow invited me and I jumped at the chance. I can’t wait to see where you guys jammed all these years.” Oh, I bet she would.

Willow avoids me at all costs as I grab my guitar, slip it over my shoulder, and check the tuning. Not that it needs it, but it gives me something to do with my hands. God knows I want to choke the little shit for not mentioning that Quinn would be here.

“This is spectacular. Seriously, Trevor, you guys could have recorded your own albums down here with this setup.” No one dares mention that Lucas was opposed to the idea. He had his reasons.

“A little less conversation. Let’s practice.” Yep, I’m an asshole, but I didn’t come here to play catch up. I want to jam and hopefully get rid of this toxic tension that has been hanging in the air since Quinn invaded our private sanctuary.

Just because I’m feeling rebellious, I break out with,Another One Bites the Dust, byQueen. Quinn’s eyes are as round as saucers as Trevor joins in and Willow sings. Yeah, we got some mad skills and can play cover songs probably just as good as the originals. And I don’t think there’s a person on the face of the earth that isn’t familiar with this song, so there’s that too.

After I’m done fucking around, we start with our playlist from our last concert. Love these guys because we do all of this without speaking. It’s just our nature since we’ve been doing it for so damn long.

We keep at it for hours and I’m now covered in sweat. Without thinking, I reach over my shoulder and pull my shirt over my head. It hits the sofa, right on the side of Quinn. Oops, my bad. Damn, I should have wiped myself down before tossing it. I can feel Quinn’s stare burning a hole in my chest. I’m guessing she likes my ink and she’s trying to decipher it from far away.

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