Page 37 of Sustain

He hurries to the kitchen area to shut off the radio, and I limp after him. Despite this positive turn of events, dread creeps in that this little paradise that we’ve found ourselves in is well and truly over. The thought makes my stomach tighten with disappointment.

Scrambling towards where our dead phones lie abandoned on the counter, he looks around, “Here, help me gather cables, let’s get these charging straight away...”

I try to shake off the feeling as Ian sets the phones up to charge, and ominous possibilities start to plague me over what emergencies we might have missed while we were blissfully ignorant in our little cocoon.

“Is there service?” I ask, only partly wanting to know the answer.

We both lean over the counter to watch the screens in anticipation as power slowly trickles into the phones, lighting them up one by one. Then they both erupt with notifications and we each grab our own to see what we’ve been missing.

Mine are mostly from people checking in on me to see how I’m doing.

SKYLER: Hey Mac. So sorry about your accident! I feel so bad. Call me when you get this. Let me know you’re ok. All is good in birdland. Don’t worry about us. (tho I know you will) :D

CHELSIE: Hey chick. I just saw the huge storm hitting where you’re at. Let me know you at least made it in okay. Btw, Jett misses his aunt. Can’t wait to see you for Christmas. We all miss you. ~C.

REMY: Hey. Sky told us about your accident. Just checking on you.

SKYLER: Checking on you again. Haven’t heard from you. Hope you’re ok. Is it true you’re with Ian? Ooh la la. j/k. maybe.

CHELSIE: Woman. Text me. Now I’m getting worried. I saw that the festival might get canceled. Let me know you’re safe. Love you. ~C.

It goes on with more texts, and growing concern from everyone as I wasn’t able to respond. I check my email to find messages from both Blackmore and the festival promoters.

FROM: [email protected]

TO: [email protected]

SUBJECT: Aspen Alive Festival

Hi Mac,

I just heard about your accident and the storm from Skyler, and wanted to see how you were faring. Hopefully, it’s not too bad, and you’re up and about in no time. I tried calling, but understand that cell service might be sketchy.

Luckily, Ian Summer is also in town with Chaos Fuel and should be able to give you an assist with the festival. However, since you do the job of three managers, he may need some direction with the production side of things should it come to it. I think you two know each other, and you should have his number, but if you don’t, it’s…

Ha,‘I think you two know each other.’Oh, Eliza, if you only knew how well we actually do.

I glance up to share the email with Ian and find his back turned to me, and he’s rubbing at his neck anxiously.

“Is everything okay?” I ask, now worried that his messages weren’t as innocuous as mine.

He looks up at me blankly, seeing right through me momentarily before focusing. “Huh? Oh, sorry. Yeah. It’s just a lot…”

“That doesn’t sound good. Anything I can help with?”

His eyes widen briefly before flashing down to his phone again as he paces away. “No. No. Nothing I can’t handle,” he mutters, unplugging his phone and heading towards the study. “I’m sure you’ve got your own issues to deal with. I need to make some calls…”

Before I can respond any further or remind him that it’s 2:30 a.m. in the morning, he shuts the door, leaving me to exchange glances with Stormy, who has jumped onto the stool next to me. Her beautiful eyes are curious about the sudden bustle and noise.

Maybe I should feel offended that he’s shutting me out of whatever fire he’s putting out, but I know how it is. Sometimes you need to be in private to raise the hell you need to.

I reach over and scratch behind her ear with a shrug. “Men are weird, right?”

Her only response is a slow blink as she starts to purr.

She agrees.

twenty-four

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