Page 121 of Bragg's Christmas

I glare at the rest of the band. “Anyone else want to complain about my lyrics?”

Fender, Gibson, and Jett hold up their hands. They know better than to mess with me when I’m in ‘a mood’ as they say.

“Why don’t you go for a walk?” Dylan suggests.

A walk? I don’t want to go for a fucking walk. I want to nail these lyrics and get out of Winter Falls. Coming here was a mistake. Especially since I’ve been too chicken shit to deal with the reason I insistedCash & the Sinnersrecord our latest album in this tiny town in Colorado.

Don’t get me wrong. The recording studio – bizarrely namedBertie’s– is top notch and many hits have been recorded here. But my reason for choosingBertie’shas nothing to do with its reputation and everything to do with my past.

I rub a hand down my face. “A walk sounds nice.”

“Nice?” Dylan chuckles. “Since when do you use the word nice?”

I ignore him. Dylan enjoys pushing my buttons. Usually, I push back. I’m not in the mood to spar with him today, though.

I stand from the stool I’ve been sitting on for hours and stretch my back. “Anyone want to join me?”

Fender, Gibson, and Jett glance away. I guess I’ve been more than a bit of an asshole today. I should probably apologize. Ask me if I’m going to.

Dylan sighs as he stands. “I’ll go with you. Don’t want you getting into a fistfight with the locals.”

I scowl. “One time. One time I got into a fight. And it wasn’t my fault.”

“Your fist just happened to ram itself into the reporter’s face?”

“He called me a womanizer.”

I know I sound crazy, but I can’t stand it when anyone accuses me of being a man whore. So, sue me. I have issues. Who doesn’t?

“We’ll pack up,” Gibson volunteers as Dylan and I make our way out of the recording booth.

“Thanks.” There. I’m not a complete asshole. I thanked my band for doing their jobs. I deserve a pat on the back.

We step outside and I shiver. I’m not used to the cold of Colorado after growing up in Southern California. I stuff my hands in my pockets and turn right away fromNaked Falls Brewing.

“You want to grab a beer?”

“Nope.” I do not want to grab a beer at the brewery.

“We should take some time off,” he suggests.

I frown. I don’t want time off. All I do in my free time is obsess over my past. All the mistakes I’ve made. All the fuck-ups it’s too late to fix.

“Are you sleeping?”

I ignore his question. He knows I’m not. The only time I ever slept peacefully was when she was in my arms. But I ruined that.

A girl bumps into my legs. “Are you my uncle?”

I peer down at the little blonde girl in front of me.

“Excuse me?”

Her nose wrinkles as she studies me. “You look just like my uncles. I have five.” She holds up her hand and begins counting them off. “Riley, Brody, Miller, Elder, and Peace.”

Peace? I don’t know the name Peace. The rest? Yeah, I know their names. I’ve researched them.

A woman rushes up to us. “I’m sorry. She got away from me. I hope she’s not bothering you.”

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