Page 47 of Hollow Heart

You don’t get to be out of the limelight for thirty years and pop back into public and expect no one to ask you about what you’ve been up to; and maybe on some level I thought it was fine, that I could handle it. Hell, I’ve had nightmares about this very moment.

Because I knew ten years ago, one day Iwouldfind my way back to the music. I just didn’t know it was going to be performing alongside a sex symbol half my age who has authority issues.

When the momentactuallycame for me to take control of the narrative and tell the truth, tell my story, spin it into something positive...

I froze.

Thank God Felix jumped in.

Though I have to say, his defense, his attitude, even the small touch of his fingertips along my back was unexpected, but it feltgood.

For the briefest few minutes, I didn’t feel alone.

I felt like for the first time in years, someone got it. Got me.

I’m barely in the room for five minutes before Lou comes in, shaking his head.

“I’m so sorry, McKay. I didn’t?—”

“It’s fine,” I lie, sinking into the couch, sighing in relief as I close my eyes.

“No, it’s not fine. I specifically told my guynotto bring up Marci, to stick to the fucking script and?—”

“It’s my life, and I knew by jumping back into all of this—” I wave my hand around the room, “that this was inevitable. When you’re in the public eye, everything is public. Whether you want it to be or not.”

Lou scrunches his eyebrows together.

“My life postHollow Pointeis fine, really. Just leave Bobby out of it. That’s all I ask. He’s just a kid, and the last thing I want is for him to be subjected to all this Hollywood bullshit.”

Lou’s expression shifts as he takes a seat next to me. “You know I’d never?—”

“I know,” I state as a strange weight leaves me.

Lou grips my shoulder, squeezing tight. “The public’s always been interested in your marriage. I thought... I thought maybe with her death behind you... you know, with it happening a good while ago, they would have forgotten about it. Hell, I thought they’d zero in on Felix and his bullshit, to tell you the truth. Kid is a magnet for attention. I guess I was wrong.”

I shrug as I lean my head back in the cushions. “I mean, I married a fan. It’s like, the literal Cinderella story of rock. Not to mention, I’m the only member of the band who walked away from all that shit, and I know it looks strange. Especially, given with how much Issax has remained in the spotlight. Why wouldn’t they want all the details, you know?”

Lou’s voice is soft, gentler as he speaks. “What do you think Marci would say about all of this?”

I sigh. “I’m sure she’d be excited because she knows how much I missed playing shows. Big ones, like thisPillars of Rocktour.”

Lou nods. “And Felix? What do you think she’d make of him?”

I can’t help but laugh. “Oh, shit. She’d probablylovehim. His pain in the ass attitude, his tattoos. Even the pink shirts. She’d probably have begged me to audition before you did.”

Lou laughs. “I didn’tbegyou.”

I shake my head. “No, but you clearly needed my help, and I’m not talking about the music.”

Lou leans back into the cushions. The television across from us shows that Felix is on stage. I guess the show is back on the air.

“Yeah, well, you’re the best brat tamer I know,” Lou says with the ghost of a smile.

I know what he means, or ratherwhohe means.

Isaax.

Though we’ve never reallytalkedabout those last two years, when Issax went off the rails. Before the band officially broke up.

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