Page 7 of Revive
“But I thought…” She’d cried a myriad of tears onto his shoulder at Christmas over the inviolable bond that seemed to exist between Spook and Xane, and how that closeness continually played out in a loop in her head. For all she knew, the two of them were somewhere on this blasted island right now screwing like rabbits.
She guessed her thoughts were apparent on her face, because Rock Giant unleashed a sigh then rolled upwards onto his feet again. “Not sure the film reel you have running bears much similarity to reality.”
“They’re not screwing?”
He shrugged. “Honestly, couldn’t tell you. Highly doubt it.” He glanced back at her, his expression inscrutable. “Is that honestly how you’re trying to spin this to yourself? Xane’s thieved your man, so you may as well pack up and go home? Because that’s bollocks.” He crossed to the window, where he combed his knuckles across the side of his head where the hair was shorn short. “Look, I’m not saying they’re not close, or that they’ve never fucked, but I can tell you categorically that the person Xane goes home with at night is Luthor, not Spook. The two of them are sickeningly in love. Hell, if I got a shag for every time I’ve caught an eyeful of Xane and Luthor being smoochy, my dick would have fallen off from overuse by now. And to be clear, when I say smoochy, I mean everything from low key snogging to full on penis in arse hardcore porn. Xane doesn’t hide his relationships. I should fucking know, I’ve had first-hand experience of enough of them and their bloody aftermaths. If he and Spook were really a thing, there’d be no missing it. I’d have seen them at it at least a dozen times by now, and so would’ve every bugger else. Ergo, it ain’t happening.”
“Then what is going on? Why won’t any of you tell me where he is?”
“Because we don’t fucking know. Babe, if I knew, I’d take you to him. But I haven’t the foggiest, and neither does anyone else downstairs, with the possible exception of Luthor.”
“He’s not downstairs. He left.”
Paul lifted his hands again. “He wouldn’t have spilled anyway, not without Xane’s say so.”
“Fine, then explain to me why Xane’s keeping him from me?”
“I doubt that’s what’s happening.” He blew out a long slow breath, then his fingers made another pass over his skull. “It’s probably the opposite, or are you forgetting the only reason that any of us even know Spook’s in the land of the living is because of Xane? The only reason any of us are on this island, that Black Halo are going to have a sixth album is because of Xane. That you’re here now, because of Xane.”
“I’ll be sure to pat him on the back and say good job when I see him.”
“Fucking hell, Alle, don’t… just… Look! Your man’s a fucking mess. And I don’t just mean he’s feeling a bit emo. I mean he’s a complete. Fucking. Mess. If you want a reason for why he’s not here, then you don’t need to look any further than that. He has panic attacks. He barely eats. His coping mechanisms are way beyond indulging in a few cheesy puffs.”
She was sure his rant wasn’t done, but something outside snagged his attention.
“What?”
“Xane,” he said.
Alle hurried to the window. Two figures were strolling along the seafront heading in their direction. One was definitely Xane, as evidenced by the swirl of jet black hair. The other… the other was, “It’s bloody Luthor! They don’t even have Spook with them.”
Rock Giant caught her arm as she turned towards the door. “Remember, he’s on your side. You don’t have to collide with him like a sledgehammer.”
“Sure,” she slurred, already halfway down the rickety stairs.Softly, softly, meek and mild. It was something her father used to say. She’d never mastered it. Had never understood why she’d want to be a mouse. Also, while sure, she was grateful to Xane for finding Spook, that didn’t change the fact that he’d deliberately kept her out of the loop for most of the time Spook had been gone, or that he was keeping him from her now.
Alle hurtled outside into the hazy afternoon sun. Despite Rock Giant’s plea, she would have barrelled straight into Xane, if Luthor hadn’t stepped into her path, bringing her to a sharp halt due to his hand on her shoulder.
“Allegra,” he acknowledged her. Like they hadn’t already spoken earlier.
Alle did her best to side-step around him, gaze targeted on Xane. “Where is he? Where the fuck is he?”
“You need to calm down.” Luthor moved with her, refusing to let her narrow the gap between her and his boyfriend.
Jeez, protective much!
“Luth, it’s fine.” Xane placed a hand on his lover’s shoulder, and gently pushed him to one side. “You can let her past. I need to talk to her anyway.”
Oh, they definitely needed to talk. Although what she felt like doing was more akin to screaming.
Luthor reluctantly gave them some space. “Need me to stick around?”
“We’ll be fine,” Xane assured him with a quick smile.
The last time Alle had seen Xane had been backstage after Ronnie’s Halloween gig, right before he took off to find Spook without giving her a heads up, and having lied to her face that he’d heard anything. Their exchanges since then had largely consisted of fraught phone calls and awkward texts. She was prepared to get right up in his grill, despite Paul’s plea, but all it took was one good look at him for the heat to sweep right out of her.
Xane was unquestionably a pretty boy, and while he often downplayed that with his stage visage, there was no hiding that he looked what she could only describe as worn down—sapped.
“Where…where is he?” she repeated, around the sudden lump in her throat.
