Page 31 of Encore
I’d been an ass.
But she still wasn’t all that warm or receptive to any conversations I tried to start with her.Every single time I tried, someone popped up like an annoying and ill-timed jack-in-the-box.Grady.Xander.Harper.They were all amends-blocking me.And like a wuss, I hadn’t found a way to approach her in front of them.
Or maybe I needed to nut up and just do it already.
At church today, I’d barely shown up and she was already retreating to the edge of the stage, my drums all in place, laughing and talking with Grady.
“Everything okay?”Xander suddenly appeared at my side.
I blinked and shook my head.Shit, I was being all obvious and mooning over a girl.
Me.
“Yeah, man.I’m good.How’s married life?”
Xander grinned.“It’s great.And I gotta tell you, living in one place long enough to finally put down roots is so satisfying.”
“I don’t want to know about you putting your root in Harper.”
Xander barked with laughter, then shoved my shoulder with a muffled, “Fuck you.”
I grinned back at him.There was a time when I thought maybe I’d be the one with Harper, but it hadn’t been in the cards, and I wasn’t broken up about it.Harper had always treated me more like a naughty puppy than a love interest.And I might’ve kinda sorta been the one to throw them together.Although I had a reason as it took their attention off of me and my drug use since they were distracted by each other.But still, I was happy for them.
Xander shook his head as we walked across the stage for church.“We should have you over for dinner or something.Show you the roots I’m talking about.”
“Is that an invitation to swing?Because I don’t have a partner currently—haven’t had one in over a year to be honest—but I’m Dee Tee Eff if you guys are.”I ducked and laughed as a guitar pick came sailing at my head.
“Stop fucking talking about fucking my wife, god dammit!”
“Wait, so it was okay before she was your wife?”I cocked my head.
Xander took a threatening step toward me, anger evident in every line of his face.
Clearly, I’d taken the joke one step too far.I lifted my palms, leaving my drumsticks on my tom.“Joke.It’s a joke.Sorry.”
The anger eased from Xander’s face.“I didn’t think you did that anymore.”
“What?”Jesse asked as he took his bass from Grady.“Did Noah give up something else when I wasn’t looking?”
“Women, last I heard.”Xander smirked.
“What?”Chase whipped around like that was the most shocking answer ever given.
I ignored all of them and picked up my sticks to test out the setup, tapping over the drums.Alice had done it again—perfect.Zero notes.
But I should’ve known better than trying to ignore them.
All the guys crowded around my drums, peppering me with questions.
“How long has it been?”Chase asked.
Jesse followed the group over.“Why the fuck would you give up sex?”
“No wonder you’ve been such a sourpuss.”Xander stood next to Jesse and shook his head.“You need to get laid, man.”
“Maybe that should be our mission tonight—get Noah laid.”Jesse laughed.
Chase smirked.“Shouldn’t be too hard.He doesn’t have any competition now since we’re all wifed up.”
