Page 62 of Behind the Lights

“Sorry, I’ve made a lot of changes. Hopefully you guys will like them. I’m gonna grab a bottle of water, want one?”

“Yeah.”

“Me too,” Mickey added from his bunk.

“Me three,” Diamond added.

I didn’t realize we had all congregated back here. When I walked out to the kitchen, Easton was still busy on his laptop. After grabbing the water bottles, I headed back, tossing one inside each bunk to the chimes of “thanks” before plopping back down in mine.

Stoli had grabbed his guitar and was plucking away at the chords and writing notes down to the lyrics. That drew the rest of us to open our curtains and join in. By the time we stopped for dinner, we had a great feel for the direction we wanted the next CD to head in and told Easton to have his dad set up studio time with the label starting next week.

When we got home, it was feast or famine to say the least. In order to move forward, I had to purge all the negatives out, which for me started with removing everything Lucas related from my life. Even though I’d not heard from him, I deleted his contact in my phone and took down every picture, letter, card – you name it and boxed it up. I invited the guys over for a BBQ as my official apology on Saturday and we toasted to new beginnings and burned the bad memories in the fire pit in my backyard. Sunday everyone spent hanging out with their families, well Diamond with us since he was part of our family, and chilled since we were back in the studio bright and early on Monday morning.

And just as I’d anticipated, when we walked in to the studio Sal asked to have a word with me first thing.

We went back to the office and he shut the door before gesturing for me to take the seat across from him. “Joey, I’m at a loss here, son. I’m sure I don’t know everything that happened on the tour, but what I did hear I’m not pleased with.”

“Well Sal, if it’s any consolation, I’m not too happy with myself either.”

Fuck, I hope I’m not fired.

“I know you’ve only been home for a couple of days, but I hope and pray there won’t be a repeat performance.” He spoke sternly, “I’m working on some big things for you boys right now to tie in with this next CD release, and I hate to have one bad apple in the bunch ruin it for the others.”

“I won’t, Sal, I promise it’s over.”

Sal stood, and gripped my shoulder while looking down at me. “I hope so, son.”

When we walked back out into the lobby the guys were there waiting, three sets of eyes turned my way. I stuffed my hands in my pockets, feeling more out of place than I ever had. Sal patted my back as he passed by me.

“Okay boys, you know where to go and what to do. Dave’s back there and Easton and I’ve got work to do so get busy.” They grabbed their bags and left.

As soon as they were gone, Stoli asked, “Um, everything okay?”

“Yeah, he heard about my fuckups and wanted to make sure I had my shit under control,” I told them.

“Do you?” Mickey asked, still somewhat standoffish where I was concerned which I more than understood. It takes a lot to get him riled up, and it seemed I’d reached that plateau.

“I’m getting there. Haven’t had a drink since Saturday night when I toasted with you guys which is a start.” It was unnerving having their unwavering eyes pinned to me.

Nothing more was said, they picked up their gear and headed back to the tuning room which we’d nicknamed the jam room and started unpacking.

“Oh, Sal did say that they’re working on something big for us to tie in with this CD release.”

“Did he say what it was?” Stoli asked.

“Nope just said that, then gave me the bad apple speech. Look guys, I know I fucked up and trust me, no one hates me for more it than I do, but I promise it’s over.”

Everyone nodded and got back to what they were doing. The strain on our relationships was still there, but at least they were giving me a chance to prove I belonged not only in the band, but in their lives.

The next three weeks spent in the studio went by in a blur with the music flowing out of us like it never had before. This CD held a lot of promise, a lot of healing, and a lot of much needed bonding.

Chapter

Fifteen

“Well boys,” Sal raised his champagne glass, “you’re topping the charts and Blood Brothers is being played on every rock station across the US.”

The label said we’d exceeded the expectations they had set for us so Sal took us out to dinner as a thank you.

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