Page 41 of Love You Like That (Excess All Areas 4)

Tears shimmered in Cerys’s eyes, and he had a feeling Jase would likely kick his arse later for making her cry, but she needed to know.

“That’s what she said. I just want to help her, but I’m being a dick, aren’t I?”

“Not deliberately, but yes, sweetheart. It’s not our job to guilt her into playing or try to fix her, because she’s not broken. And you need to stop seeing her like she is.”

“I don’t—”

“Not intentionally. But you do. You’ve decided that her decision to leave music is because she just doesn’t understand that music will save her. And it’s not fair. I know it comes from a place of concern, but you need to back off. Because I know what it feels like when people look at you as if you are defective. When people try to fix you. It’s happened most of my goddamn life.”

Cerys flopped back against the wall next to him and raised one foot. “Shit.”

He gave her a moment to think through his words before he continued. “You know what our job is, Cerys?”

She turned her head to look up at him. “What?”

“It’s to love our friend. That’s it. Love her and remind her she’s perfect. Love her so she feels supported in life, in the big things and the small things. Make her feel so fucking safe that she feels like she can try anything because she knows we are here for her. Make her feel so secure in herself, that she feels capable of taking on the world. And if that’s music, amazing. And if it’s not music, it’s still amazing.”

“Do you love her? I mean. I thought I saw something between the two of you.”

“She’s becoming important to me. Like you are. And Willow is. But I’ll say this. She’s safe with me. I promise. And you need to apologise. As does your boyfriend.”

“We will.”

As he knocked back a pint in the nightclub an hour later, he thought about Zoe falling apart in his arms. His heart hurt, but it was progress. She’d felt comfortable enough with him to let go and cry, even if she’d shored up her defences afterwards.

“So, what the hell happened earlier?” Ben shouted, looking around the club. The two of them had found a seat in the corner near the bar, but they couldn’t escape the pulsing beat of dance music and the lights that reflected around the walls.

Alex took in the crowd, obviously student night or something given the average age of the people in there. At nearly twenty-nine, it all skewed a little young for his tastes. “Cerys and Zoe had an argument about something.”

“Girl drama?”

Alex eyed him carefully. “Steady mate. It was to do with Zoe playing. And I didn’t like the way Jase ploughed in and stood right next to Cerys. I think he forgets how intimidating he can be. It just seemed one-sided.”

“So what, you peacocked over, puffed out your chest and went toe to toe?” Ben asked.

Alex shook his head. “No. I reassured Zoe someone had her back, cooled the situation. Had a chat with Cerys about it just before we left the stadium.”

“Do you think Cerys is right?”

Alex took two large gulps of his pint. “Is it a shame a talented musician isn’t playing? Sure. But you know what? I get it. It’s hard enough being a musician without having big ass hurdles in your way. But it has made me wonder about something else. There are kids who never had access to instruments as kids who could probably be maestros. And kids who could be the next Monet or Banksy but can’t afford supplies. I honestly believe every single person on this planet is creative but many of them don’t create.”

“That’s deep.”

Alex shrugged. “It’s on my mind. I feel like I want to create a space in Manchester where kids can come and be creative as fuck. Paint shit. Play shit. Build shit. Express themselves.”

Ben leaned forward. “You’re serious?”

“Yeah.”

“Be a good little earner if you let someone else run it.”

Alex tapped the top of the table with the corner of a beer mat. “That’s the point though. I want it to be free, or not a profit thing.”

“That’s quite the obligation.”

“Is it, though? I mean, what the hell are we going to spend all this money on? I’ve coped well enough on what I’ve had.”

“But you want more right?”

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