Page 132 of Deliverance

I recognize them instantly, before Zander makes the official introductions. The tall, lean one in skinny jeans and a leather jacket is Leo Propaganda. His espresso-colored hair is cut short, a fair amount of stubble shadows his sharp jaw, and he wears a small stud in his right ear. I don’t remember him being this thin, but rumor is, he’s gone vegan. At least, that’s what I read online the other day when I was stalki—researchinghim before giving Zander my final answer.

Yes, Sienna Webster would like Leo. He seems very humble, and my gut tells me his interest in Zero Ecstasy can open some doors Cash wasn’t able to open when he was alive.

The second man is his guitarist. Tobias. He’s a quiet type and still wears his hair in an emo swoop, just like he did fifteen years ago when Bleeding Faith blew up the charts.

“What the hell!” Leo grins and gives Zander a bear hug. “Small world. I thought I saw your name on the guest list.”

“I didn’t see yours.”

“Ah, we’re crashing, dude.” Then he turns to face me. “Drew? Right?”

“Yep that’s me.”

“Pleasure to meet you. I gotta say, Zero Ecstasy. Is. Some. Deep. Shit. Accept my condolences.” He presses his palms together at chest level and offers a small bow as an expression of profound sadness flickers across his sharp features. “I heard the songwriter was a close friend of yours.”

“Yes. He was. And thank you.” It’s so strange to talk about Cash with other people. Liberating even. Somehow, I have a good feeling about it, especially after hearing the demo, which Zander sent me a few days ago. “I love what you did with the song.”

“I appreciate it. I hope we can make this work.”

Tobias remains quiet. He seems like the perfect sidekick for a guy as chatty as Leo Propaganda.

“I’m sure we will,” I tell him and make a mental note to text Sienna in the morning.

Guilt slices through me like a knife, particularly sharp, but I shove it away.

Not tonight. No, I can’t let myself fall apart, especially in front of all these people, because my wounds from his loss are still raw.

“Keep an eye on this fella, huh?” Leo claps Zander on the back and winks at me. “His next buy should be a minivan.”

We all share a laugh.

“I promise that wasn’t intentional,” Zander says apologetically when Leo and Tobias eventually stroll off. “I didn’t know he was going to be here tonight.”

“I believe you,” I reassure him. “He seems cool.”

“He is. Trust me. He respects the situation and he’s ready to do right by your friend.”

I tighten my grasp on Zander’s forearm and whisper, “Don’t do that. Don’t be sorry for wanting to do something good for someone.”

Be that someone dead or alive.

The line moves and we move along with it, and for a few moments, silence ensues between us, but it’s not that disturbing void that happens when two people don’t have anything to say to each other. Instead, it’s that tranquil state that comes about when there’s too much to say and not enough words to express everything.

And I don’t know whether I ever had that with anyone until tonight.

“Sienna liked the demo too,” I tell Zander once we’re near the bar. “I’ll follow up with her tomorrow.”

“There’s no rush. I know this is a very sensitive subject for her, and if she’s not ready to meet just yet, we can leave it alone for now.”

“She wants to. It’s just unexpected is all. After years of trying to get his music noticed.”

“I understand.”

And I know he does. He lost someone very close too, and although he doesn’t talk about that someone often, the pain is still there. I can sense it in almost everything he’s doing.

When we finally get our drinks, people upstairs have already begun to stream into the theater to look for their seats. The security guards at the doors are meticulous at their jobs, scanning each and every wristband. I spy Alex and his publicist in the crowd. Miss Green Jumpsuit has her hands all over some guy with dreads. A few more familiar faces emerge from the stairs.

Several critics already labeled the film as one of the greatest rock’n’roll movies of the decade, and my excitement is now real and palpable.

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