Page 447 of Rock Me All Night
He looks at me like I have two heads. "Of course."
"Not many people think that way."
"It's nothing. Should have given him an ultimatum a lot sooner. Truth is, I didn't want to threaten him with expulsion from the band. Miles is the face of Sinful Serenade. We wouldn't be where we are if girls didn't go apeshit for his tortured voice and his pretty blue eyes."
"But you did give him an ultimatum."
"Eventually. He still hates me for it. But that's better than him dying in some hotel room by himself." Tom's expression hardens.
He has no idea how much he's willing to sacrifice for his friends.
"You are a good guy," I whisper in his ear.
"Just getting shit done."
He really believes that.
But I don't. "When Miles was using, who was the person who pushed him to get clean? Was it Drew or Pete or was it you?"
"They wanted it too."
"But were they willing to let Miles hate them for it?"
"We were all in agreement. When he was fucking shit up with Meg too. We all agreed we couldn't watch him destroy himself. It was nothing. Selfish even."
"Do you really believe that?"
Tom shrugs.
But he's not selfish. Selfish guys don't make sure you come three times for every one time they do. Selfish guys don't order pizza they don't like to make you happy.
And selfish guys don't risk their livelihoods to help a friend in need.
I try to think up some way to convince him but I'm interrupted by Pete's arrival. I cross my fingers that he'll be perfect evidence of how much Tom does for the band, for his friends.
No luck.
Pete's got a black eye and bruised knuckles.
