Alcohol You Later (20)

“Yo!”

My shoulders tense at the sound of Rhett’s voice. I don’t need his shit right now. “Hey, man,” I say, slowly pivoting in his direction. “How’s Korie?”

“Sleeping,” he huffs, catching his breath from the jog over.

I nod. “That’s good.”

“You, okay?”

“Fuck no.”

His answering laugh is dry and humorless. “Yeah…I can see that.” He gives my shoulder a firm squeeze. “Friend to friend,” he says looking me right in the eye, “you’re about to fuck up the best thing to ever happen to you.”

“Friend to friend,” I snap, shoving his hand away, “mind your own fucking business.”

I’m caught completely off-guard when he twists his fist into the front of my shirt and pulls me within inches of his face. I could snap his ass in half if I wanted, but deep down I know I’ve more than earned whatever I’ve got coming. “This band is my business,” he snarls. “My wife and her friend are my fucking business.” He lets me go with a shove, causing me to lose footing on the loose gravel and fall to my ass. “And whether you like it or not, brother, you are my business, too.”

Jaw clenched, I open and close my fist, itching to slam it into his pretty boy face. “I didn’t ask for any of this,” I grit.

“The measure of a man is in how he handles the unexpected shit life throws at him, and you’re taking it like a whiny little bitch. You need to man the fuck up, Potter.”

After scrambling back to my feet, I slam both of my palms into his chest, because screw him and his judgment. I’m only prepared to take so much abuse, no matter how much I might deserve it. He has no clue what’s going on in my head—none of them do. “Who the hell do you think you are?”

He sucks his tongue to his teeth, breathing heavy. “Your best friend.”

I snort, because that feels laughable at this point.

“We all have our shit, Nick. Every last one of us. Sometimes we need someone who cares enough to step in and make us own it.” He blows out a frustrated sigh. “You were that person when I needed a swift kick in the ass, and right now, like it or not, I’m here to deliver yours.”

I think back to the time we nearly came to blows over Korie a few years back, and my anger eases. No one has been there more for me in my life than this guy right here. “I’m doing the best I can.”

“That’s bullshit and you know it.”

The anger I’ve had directed at him suddenly ricochets back on myself. He’s right, but it changes nothing. “I’m not keeping them.”

He shrugs as if it’s of no consequence. “That’s not for me to decide.”

Damn right it’s not.

“Just remember they didn’t ask to be here any more than you asked to have them.”

“Noted.” Not that it really matters. They aren’t being mistreated—I’d never allow that. Those kids have no clue who I am and will never remember the time they’ve spent with the band once they’ve been returned to their grandparents. The way I see it? I’m doing them a favor by keeping my distance.

He nods with a look on his face that says he sees right through me. “And Raven…that girl deserves to be treated like a god damned queen for what you’re putting her through.”

That one socks me right in the chest. “Now, there’s something we can agree on.”

“Why don’t you focus on that?” he says, backing away toward his bus. “I have a feeling the rest will fall into place.”

“That I can do.”

He looks down at the time on his phone. “We roll out in an hour. Stop running from your problems and get your ass back on that bus. Korie said Raven’s going out of her mind with worry.”





“Well, hello there, gorgeous,” I say, climbing back onto the bus, arms loaded down with groceries. After my little run in with Rhett, I decided to make a quick trip to the Piggly Wiggly with Ron, one of our security guys, so I could whip up dinner for Raven. It’s high time I start showing the woman a little appreciation outside of the bedroom.

“Was starting to think you wouldn’t make it back in time to leave with the others.” Her cheeks are fire engine red, and I’d be willing to bet they’re hot to the touch, her lips set in a firm line. “Or maybe not come back at all…”

The tension on this bus is so thick, I feel like I’m suffocating in it.

“Sorry,” I say, dropping the bags on the floor and gripping her chin in my hand. “I’m sorry, for all of this.”

“It’s fine,” she says, turning away and fitting the kids into some fancy seats that clip to the edge of the marble countertop. “I had these two cuties to keep me entertained,” she says, fastening their seatbelts. “Didn’t I?” she coos, making the most ridiculous faces at them.

I’m green with envy over the attention she’s lavishing on them.

“Got stuff to make steaks and taters,” I say, holding out a microwaveable package of her favorite garlic and herb mashed potatoes.

“You remembered,” she says, a slow smile spreading across her face.

“I remember everything about you, Ray.”