Page 36 of The Second Deal

Mycheeks flush.

“Damn,Steph,”Shannoncomments. “Thehell you thinkin’ about that’s makin’ your face so red?”

Myeyes widen. “Nothing.”

Hegrins, chortling. “Isee you, girl.”Thelook drops from his face suddenly as he focuses on situating a pedal board just right. “HeardaboutDreeandNorma.”

Iclear my throat quietly, swallowing the rock that suddenly appeared. “I, uh…Ididn’t know he was seeing someone.”

“Ah.”

Icross my arms and pivot slightly, watching people moving in the shadows beneath the bright stage lights.Cordsare tossed.Boardshooked up.Loosebits taped down or hidden underneath rugs.Tomsrigged to kick drums and pedals situated.

Myarms slap against my legs. “Look,Idon’t know what to say here—”

“Nothing,”Shannoninterrupts. “Ialready know too much.”

“Whatdo you know?”

“They’remy wife’s brothers, you know.”Hekneels at my feet to tape down the cornerIstepped on.Whenhe looks up at me, he squints against the brightness of the lights overhead. “Iknow y’all so damn well thatIknow which one a y’all fuckin’ fart in the van even if it doesn’t make a sound.IthinkIknew before you did,Steph.”Hescoffs, muttering, “Ithink we all did.”

“Shecan be pretty clueless sometimes,” a familiar voice says.

Robbiesuddenly appears in the bright lights, hopping up on stage.Heslings an arm around my shoulders, yanks me close, and musses my hair. “Shedon’t know dick from shit.”

Igrunt and shove him away.Goodthing my hair isn’t done, just tossed up in a bun.

WhenIcatch a glimpse of his face, my jaw drops a little.

“Didn’tknow you’d be here,” he says as he pinches my side.

Ishrug, not bothering to mention the reason whyI’mhere. “Youlook like shit, bro.”

Hestudies the bandage on my cheek and points at it. “Twinsies.”Hethen gestures towards the back. “Makeyourself useful and watch the door.Ain’tcool walkin’ in through the front.”

Makinga face at him,Iglance atShannonand he puts a finger to his lips to silently shush me, nodding and cocking his head, telling me to go.

“Assholes,”Igrumble asIhead to the back.

Perchingon a sturdy trunk by the backdoor,Iwhip out my phone.Ihesitate over the screen, but it flows so naturally whenIstart to type in the search bar.

ZakRamos,Timeless.

Promoand concert images ofZakand his shimmering white guitar display first.Itap one to look at it more closely, one ofZakshouting at the crowd and riling them up.Thephoto links to an interview ofZaktalking about the song he wrote.

Scanningthe article, confusion knits my brows together and pulls the corners of my lips downward.Zaknever wrote lyrics whenIwas in the band since he sucked at poetry and hated toying with words, so he left that up to me andShannon.

Myheart sinks.

MetalMusicNews: “Dawn” is your debut writing a song completely by yourself and it’s a fan favorite.It’sheart-wrenching and seems to come from a place of deep pain.Doyou think you’ll write more forTimelessafter this?Orhas the positive fan response made you shy away from writing anything else?

ZakRamos:Yeah, it’s ironicIwrite this and now that’s all anyone wants.Sorryto disappoint, butI’mhoping this is a one-time thing.Ijust had a lot of shit to work through andI’dlike to thinkI’mover it after getting it out the wayIknow best: through music.

Afamiliar rapping sounds from the door, making me jump and drop my phone.Isnatch it up before pushing the metal bar to open the door.

Igroan. “Really?”

Adriangrins and sets his aviators on top of his head. “Hey, baby.”

---