Page 46 of Hollow Heart

How dare these assholes throw salt in Duncan’s wounds just for fucking ratings!

“That must have been difficult,” Joe says.

Without thinking, I trace my fingers up and down the back of his velvet blazer, trying to soothe his nerves.

It’s okay. I got this.

I jump in. “Of course. Losing someone you love is always difficult. It’s also extremely personal, and not everyone’s fucking business.”

I catch Lou’s eyes widen off stage, but the way Duncan’s spinerelaxesis worth whatever bellowing I will endure from Lou or the company for being an asshole on the air.

A small price to pay to put someone in their place

Joe holds his hands up in mock surrender.

“Of course it is. I only wanted to express my condolences on the matter.”

I bet you did.

Duncan gives a half smile as he leans forward, his elbows on his knees. He nods at Joe, grunting out a thank you.

“To answer your question, yes, it was difficult. There are still days where it’s difficult, and that will never change. You don’t ever get over something like that, you just learn how to live with it. You can’t let pain define you. You have to learn how to co-exist with it, how to use it.”

His words are profound, heavy.

The tension that befalls the room is thick and I can’t help but look at this man, his deep eyes as vast as the depths in which his grief still runs.

I want to fucking tear Joe and the producers of this show a new asshole for putting Duncan on the spot like this, for hurting him.

I speak without thinking.

“Music has always been a channel formypain,” I declare, as I look him in his eyes.

Duncan’s gaze meets mine, and I continue, steering the discussion back to the reason we’re both here.

The tour.

If there’s anything I’ve learned in these past few years, it’s damage control. Lord knows, I’ve needed enough of it myself.

“Which is another reason why I think this tour is more than just a tour. It’s a homecoming of sorts, not just for myself and Duncan, but for the other acts as well. Dare, Geo, Matty... all of us are just fucking misfits, man. We all wear our hearts on our sleeves, and that’s why this tour is so important. It’s not just about the music, it’s about what music does. It heals.”

Duncan’s lips turn up slightly in the corner, his gaze glittering with warmth.

“Absolutely.”

Joe grins, and I see the producer flashing his hand signs, a digital screen counting down until we are off the air.

CHAPTER 13

Duncan

A thousand thingsrun through my mind once the producers cut from the air. There’s a hundred things I want to say to Felix, but before I can, a group of folks hurry him off stage, leaving me alone with Joe.

“Hey man, I wasn’t trying to be a dick or anything. I really am sorry for your loss,” he says, and I can tell it is genuine.

“Thanks,” I utter as I trudge off stage, toward the dressing room, feeling hot as hell from the lights and the conversation of choice.

Somewhere in the back of my mind, I knew this would happen.

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