Page 3 of Lost Lyrics

I drew Sutton close, kissed her on the temple, then faced my friends.

Holding the urn between my hands, I ran my thumb over the engraved plaque.

Phil Glover

24 May 2000—10 Feb 2022

Rock On Forever

With a heavy heart, I placed the urn on top of the rock in the center of my friends. I fell back next to Sutton and entwined our fingers. She squeezed my hand and cuddled in close.My love. My clarity.

“Thanks everyone for coming.” I smiled at the urn on the rock. “Phil, once again, you hold center stage. You are and will always be a part of our lives and hold a special place in our hearts. We often spent hours here on these beaches. The guys and I thought this was the perfect place to set you free rather than keeping you locked up in that pot. Please don’t haunt us if you hate it.” The muscles in my jaw ached as I struggled to keep my voice steady. I didn’t want to be sad anymore. “I want you to know I will never forget you. You filled my life with laughter, crazy fun, and were the best brother a guy could’ve asked for. I love you and miss you every fucking day.”

Sutton snaked her arm around my waist and rubbed my back. Just her touch was comforting and grounding.

Tia sobbed and sniffled as she stepped forward. She kneeled on the sand and touched the side of the urn. “Hey, Philly. It’s been a while. I miss you so fucking much. Even though you broke my heart, I loved you. And I know you loved me. You always wanted to soar, live life, and never be tied down. May you ride the waves and the wind forever. Keep rocking up a storm. Love you.”

Lewis took small steps toward Tia, helped her to her feet, and drew her back into the circle. He held her against his chest like she was a delicate flower. But Tia was far from it. She wasone of the toughest people I’d ever known. Totally resilient.

“I got you, Tee.” Lewis rubbed her arms and kissed the side of her head. “Always.”

Directly across from me, Slip splayed his hand across his chest and stared at the urn. Deep grooves furrowed his brow. “Phil, I can’t believe it’s been three years. It’s been hard. I miss that wicked laugh of yours, the partying, and the crazy shit we got up to. I miss playing beside you. You’ve left a huge fucking hole in my chest. Life without you got ugly before it got better. We’ve all fought demons and the devil to get here. If you played a part in bringing Sutton, Maddy, Ava, and Lewis to us, thank you. They saved us. Support us. Love us. You’d love them. You may be gone, but you’ll never be forgotten. Love you, man. Miss you. Rest in peace.”

He wiped his hand across his cheek, then his mouth, staying strong. Maddy curled her arm around his and held him close. Those two were each other’s strength. I loved that. It was how I felt about Sutton.

“Phil.” Lewis jutted his chin toward the rock. “I never knew you, but I know these guys and Tia loved you. I’m honored to be part of their lives and want you to know I’m taking good care of Tia. She’s changed my life in so many mind-blowing ways, and we hope to have a family soon.” He rubbed the back of Tia’s neck. “I love her and promise to be by her side forever. Rest in peace, bro.”

“Fuck.” Cole eased toward the rock and squatted. “Hey, buddy. You haven’t looked this good in years.” Cole chuckled, but sadness punched my guts. I hated that he’d told the truth. That a shiny chrome urn on a jagged rock looked better than Phil had in the last several months of his life. “You certainly messed us up when you left. The days are getting easier, but that doesn’t mean for one second we’ll forget you. I’ll always treasure the laughs, the music, the good times. Hope you’rerocking it up there in Heaven with some sexy angels. Party on...Love you, man.”

Cole wiped his eyes and returned to Ava’s side. She touched his arm and gave it a gentle rub, but that was as far as the comforting gesture went.

Damn. What is up with those two?

More drama?

Always.

The girls respectfully said a few quick words, wishing Phil peace and were grateful they’d come into our lives. I couldn’t argue with that.

I sniffled and drew my shoulders back. “So, bro, before we send you on your way, can I ask for one last favor? Promise me that the band will get back together before the end of the year? I miss playing with these guys so goddamn much. As much as I fucking miss you.”

“Flint?” Slip grimaced as if I’d cut him a low blow to the gut. “I can’t guarantee a timeframe.”

“I know.” I lowered my chin and stared at the urn. In the depths of my marrow, I understood why Slip had needed to get out of LA, away from the parties, the drugs, the booze. To spend time with Maddy, and work on their marriage. To focus on healing his hip and holding onto his sobriety. I supported him without question. I’d give him all the time in the world to get better if needed. But that didn’t mean his absence didn’t feed my anxieties. I was nervous we wouldn’t reform. “I just don’t want to be on a break forever.”

“There are no guarantees.” Slip closed his eyes and swayed on his feet. “I’ll come back when I’m ready.”

“I know you will. Your health comes first. I mean that.” I did. But I’d be better with certainty. I wanted a concrete date for our band to reunite and hated one couldn’t be set.

“I’m with Flint.” Cole nodded as he tilted his head towardSlip. “We want you to do whatever is necessary to be well. But yeah...I miss the band being together. We’d love you and Maddy to come home.”

“Fuck, I thought Flint was the only one with issues—not you too?” Slip clutched Maddy’s hand as if steadying himself. “Mads goes back to filming her show in a few months. We’re not coming home permanently. You know that.”

“We do. We’ll work with that.” Lewis splayed his hand across his chest. “But I miss you, too. I just haven’t said how much.”

An ache shuddered through my chest. The band meant so much to all of us. We needed Slip. We weren’t complete without him.

“Don’t keep shit from me.” Slip shook his head like it weighed a ton. “Talk to me, all of you. About anything and everything. I don’t want to go through any crap like we’ve done in the past three years, keeping secrets from each other ever again. Deal?”

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