Total pages in book: 76
Estimated words: 76205 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 381(@200wpm)___ 305(@250wpm)___ 254(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76205 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 381(@200wpm)___ 305(@250wpm)___ 254(@300wpm)
Rory bites her lip.
“I’m so sorry,” I say to Jett. “He’s been clean for so long. If it’s any consolation, I don’t think he took anything. I think he was drugged by the two women he was with.”
“That’s been known to happen,” Jett says.
The look on his face is unreadable. Is he being understanding? Or is he just mad as a hornet? I’m guessing the latter.
“So,” Jett says, taking Heather’s hand. “I owe you an apology, Jesse.”
My mouth drops open.
I play his words over in my head, wondering if I got them right. I’m exhausted, freaked out, worried for Dragon, worried for the band.
Did he just say he owes me an apology?
“Pick your jaw up off the floor, Jess,” Rory says.
I close my mouth and swallow. “I’m sorry. I think the only one who owes anyone an apology around here is me.”
“Why?” Jett asks. “Did you force your drummer to take drugs?”
I shake my head. “What… I don’t understand…”
“Zane came to me early this morning. He told me what happened between him and your sister and her friend last night.”
Right. Zane. Maddie and Brianna. All the anger I was feeling last night—all the anger I channeled into fucking Brianna when I should’ve been with Dragon, talking him out of bedding two randos.
“Zane feels terrible about what happened. He says he didn’t know Maddie was your sister.”
I still have no words. I probably look like a moron sitting here with my mouth half open.
“I won’t lie to you,” Jett says. “Zane can be a player. He has a weakness for groupies—not that those two are groupies. He also has a weakness for beautiful young women. I’m glad nothing happened.”
“Yeah.” I finally speak. “Me too.”
“I’m sure that put a bad taste in your mouth about the band.”
“Why?” I say, echoing his own sentiment. “Did you make him do it?”
“Of course not!”
Does he think I was serious? Man, I’m screwing this up big time. If they weren’t thinking about sending Dragonlock packing, they probably are now.
“I didn’t mean—”
“I know you didn’t.” Jett gives me a smile as he nods. “I think we’re all a little on edge at the moment. Ease up. We’re going to work this out.”
I raise my eyebrows. “We are? How?”
“Jesse,” Rory says. “Jett may have a solution to our problem.”
My eyebrows rise farther. Why the hell would he want to help us? Surely not because he feels bad about Zane going after my sister and Brianna.
“Oh?” is all I say.
“I know I’m not Zane’s keeper,” Jett says, “any more than you’re Dragon’s keeper. But you’re the leader of your band, as I am, and you, like I do, probably feel a sense of responsibility to the whole group. You’re feeling like you’re at fault.”
So he gets it. He really gets it. “Man, I sure as hell do.”
“I have to tell myself the same thing about the band. But they’re all grown-ups, and I can’t control Zane’s actions any more than you can control Dragon’s.”
“I’m sorry.” I shake my head. “What exactly are you getting at?”
Jett smiles. “We travel with a large staff, as you probably already know. That includes extra musicians who can pick up the slack if something happens. In other words, we have a drummer for you.”
“But you… Our contract…”
“Yeah, your contract. All five of you signed, and Dragon is unable to perform. But rather than make a huge issue of that, why not find a solution? And I think we have one.”
“But your drummer… I’m sure he’s great, but he doesn’t know any of our stuff.”
“Derek’s not the backup we normally travel with,” Jett says. “Our backup was unavailable, but Derek is amazing on percussions. He’ll pick it up. You can rehearse this afternoon. You know I wouldn’t be traveling with subpar musicians.”
“No, of course not.”
“Jesse,” Rory says, “this fixes our problem.” She looks at Jett. “I can’t thank you enough.”
Yes, I should be thanking him.
“Yeah, of course, man. Thank you. You don’t have to do this.”
“That’s where you’re wrong,” he says. “All our contracts with all the venues specify an opener, so if we don’t have an opener, we’re in breach of contract. This fixes it for all of us. And Dragon will probably be back to work soon. But if he can’t do the rest of the UK tour, he’ll join us when we get to Paris.”
I’m still in shock. “I… I just never imagined…”
“Dude,” Jett says, “don’t you think I’ve been where you are? People helped me along the way, and I try to pay it forward when I can.”
“You’ve already done that by inviting us on this tour with you.”
“Yeah, and I want you and your sister up there singing your hearts out tonight. You two are fabulous together. You don’t need a specific drummer to make that work.”
“There’s more good news,” Brock says.