Chapter 17
Jett
Dylan’s scowling his way through dinner. Shayla has hardly spoken two words. Like I’m not tense enough already. We’re bringing everyone else down, too.
It doesn’t help that Bailly chose the restaurant, and the food is terrible. At least we have some privacy in their single secluded room that they keep in the back. The table’s so small and crowded, everyone’s bumping elbows as we try to eat.
At least the beer’s pretty damn good. I swallow about half of my glass while nobody’s speaking. This is no way for us to be hanging out before a show.
Zac gets right to it. “What’s up with you guys?” He’s staring at me. I know what he’s talking about. Just like he knows what I’m going to say already.
My throat suddenly going dry, I take another long drink of beer before I answer. I’m not exactly nervous. Not entirely calm either.
“There’s something I want you guys to know about.” Seth glances up at me, but Bailly doesn’t. “Shayla and Dylan and I are together. Like a…couple.”
Now I’ve got their attention. Bailly and Seth look like a bomb went off. Their shock is so plain and evenly matched, they could be twins. It’s kind of funny.
“What?” Bailly nearly knocks his glass off the table. “What’re you talking about?”
I was thinking we’d been obvious enough that they’d figure it out for themselves. But he and Seth really do live in their own little world most of the time. And I guess I have to admit, a threesome isn’t exactly the first thing anyone would come up with by looking at us.
“The three of us are all together.”
“Together? You mean fucking?” Trust Bailly to keep it extra classy. Jesus Christ.
“Yeah, that’s what I mean.”
“Oh.” Seth goes back to his dinner. Unlike the rest of us, he’s not finding anything wrong with the food.
“All of you?” Bailly’s eyes stray from me to Shayla to Dylan. Dylan glares at him and he turns his attention back to me.
“Yes. All three of us. Got a problem with that?” I don’t mean to sound as confrontational as I do. Bailly’s not even being an asshole right now.
Still. Every damn thing is fucking well grating on my nerves right now.
He shrugs. “No. Never knew you were into guys, is all.” He picks up his fork again, diving into his food just like Seth is. Maybe my meal’s the only bad one tonight.
I don’t like to admit it, but Bailly’s basically a good guy. He’s a jerk a lot of the time, but under it all, he’s okay.
It means a lot that my band mates don’t have a problem with us being three. Except Zac is the one who’s eyes are narrowing.
He frowns at me. “You really think this is the best time to go public, Jett?”
“We’re not going super-public. Not now. But I figured everyone else in Tailspin should know.”
“That’s good. It makes sense not to come out about everything now. At least not until after the festival.” Zac’s voice goes low. “Ian isn’t someone to mess around with.”
“I know.”
“So you’ll keep it quiet?” Zac’s more serious than I think I’ve ever seen him.
“Sure. We haven’t quite figured out exactly how we’re going to keep him out of our business. But we will.”
He stares at me. “Don’t fuck things up.”
“I won’t.”
My head’s starting to ache at the thought of Ian and what he might do. I don’t want to think about an asshole like him. Especially not before a big show. I take another stab at my food, shoving a forkful of mashed potatoes into my mouth. I’ve never felt less like eating.
“How’s your dinner?” Shayla’s trying to get us off this subject. She’s sweet. But not even Shayla being herself is enough to unwind the tension coiled up inside me.
“Fine.” It actually is getting better. Especially as I drink more beer.
Maybe that’s the secret to this conversation too. I grab for the pitcher.
Dylan hasn’t said a single word. Matter of fact, he hasn’t so much as glanced over in my direction since we sat down. Shayla looks like she has a helluva lot to say, but she’s holding it all in. That won’t last forever, not a chance. I don’t know what’s up with either one of them.
“Isn’t it time to get going?” Seth breaks the tense silence.
“Yeah. It is.” Zac pushes his chair out. He grabs my arm before I can stalk out. Shayla glances back, and then disappears. Leaving us alone.
“You know I’ve got your back, man. We all do. It’s not about that.”
“I know.”
“And you know now that Ian can be a vicious little fucker, right?”
“Yeah. I checked up on him.”
“All I’m saying is, watch your back. He’ll stab you in it as soon as he’d look at you, if you get on his radar. He’s not above taking down as many people as he can at the same time. It’s like his hobby or something. I asked a couple friends of mine who’ve been on their tour this time around. Whatever you’ve read about him doing before, it’s gotten worse. He’s way out of hand.” Zac pauses, running a hand through his hair. “Even more than usual. Be careful.”
“I will.”
Zac claps me on the back as we walk out and join the others. Shayla shoots me a concerned glance. Dylan still won’t look at me.
Fuck.