Page 2 of Higher Notes

Nigel: I’m gonna lay low and hang with my daughter.

Josh: Down for an acoustic, Jase?

One of the smartest things we did as a band was sign Josh as our guitarist. Had the road been easy acclimating him to our style or shutting up the haters? Nah, but merging the two worlds proved to be best for the band. Now I considered him one of my best friends and his boyfriend, Reagan, was the bomb.

Me: Yeah, I’m down.

Josh: Sweet, I’ll let him know.

Reagan used to pay us to play but now we let him keep the funds in the coffer to help bring in other up and coming bands and give them a chance at achieving their dreams. Masterson paid us well and while on the road all expenses were covered. This was our way of giving back not only to Reagan for all he did for us but to the local band scene as well. Now that Stoli and Diamond were in contact with Reagan, Reagan shared his entertainment schedule with them in case they wanted to scope out new talent.

My professional life had changed so much over the last year. It was awesome that those I’d idolized were now also friends. The guys from Social, Maiden and even Embrace the Fear were part of the family. Now it was time to get my blood-related family into a better situation, which started with reaching out to a key lifeline.

Me: Hey, wanted to let you guys know Josh and I are doing an acoustic at Reagan’s Friday night.

Stoli: Right on. Babe, do we have anything going on?

Shit, their presence would surely send security and the hotel into a tizzy.

Joey: Nada that I see. We’re down.

And just that easy, they were in. Chaotic was truly blessed having these guys in our wheelhouse. Plus, they were cool as fuck to hang out with.

Me: Sweet. I’m in need of a real estate contact.

Stoli: I thought you lived in an apartment with the fam.

Me: I do but I want to upgrade our sitch. You guys know an agent?

Joey: We do. Easton hooked Social up with one when the four of us were looking for homes.

A few seconds later a picture of a business card came through.

Me: You guys are the bomb. Can’t wait to see you both Friday night.

Contentment wasn’t always enough. As I sat there reflecting on the humble beginnings I came from, after busting my ass for as long as I had, a sense of loneliness hit when above all else I should have been elated. Not a familiar feeling given all therugrats in the house and being my first night home. This was too weird. Restless and wide awake, I flipped through the channels before I finally relented to the niggling itch.

“Fuck it.”

Me: Hey

Really, Jason, that’s the best you’ve got?Hey?Really mature. When the bubbles on the screen appeared, I held my breath until the return text came.

Sikes: Everything okay?

I imagined them both wide awake, staring at their phones and wondering what the fuck was wrong with me.

Snipe: Need us to catch the next flight out to Seattle?

Great, now my dumbass made them worry.

Me: Nah, I’m good.

Just bored? Thinking about you guys? Wondering what the hell was going on? So much to say yet nothing to say at all. Even in my head that made zero freaking sense and was lame as fuck.

Sikes: We’ve got some down time with Embrace being home.

Did I want them to come up here? Where would they stay? What would it mean? I had far too many questions and not enough answers.

---