Avenging Us - Gina Whitney Page 0,80

do for you or Gia…I hope you’d let me know. We’re brothers. Sometimes, I think you forget that it’s not all on you. We’re here for you, Abel,” he continued as he watched Ender text. It was almost as if he were reminding himself of something as well.

“Well, it goes both ways,” I reminded him. “Friendship isn’t a one-way street.”

“Yeah, I’m not the one who needs reminding,” he said, almost under his breath. I didn’t know what to make of it, but I had a feeling it had to do with Jessie.

He needed a distraction, which brought me to my next question. “You doing the interview with Giselle for Rolling Stone?”

A pained look came over his face, but it was quickly replaced with a frown. I long suspected he had feelings for her. Jake was a faithful friend, and would never cause anything that would add any conflict to the group. He was the mediator. However, I wondered what that had cost him at the end of the day…if he missed an opportunity he could have taken.

“I don’t have a choice now, do I?” He gnawed his bottom lip in silent suffering.

“We all have choices. If you don’t want to do it, just ask Woody.” We both laughed. On a good day, we could hardly understand him. Dave would have a meltdown at the mere suggestion, and our label would drop us.

Jake picked up his phone, murmured something, and threw it on the table. He lit a cigarette, blowing the smoke through his nose. Woody walked over, sticks in hand, and grabbed the cigarette out of Jake’s mouth, putting it to his own. “Shite will kill yer.”

“You’re such an asshole sometimes,” Jake said, reaching into his pack and lighting another.

Ender edged into the conversation slowly. “What are you fucks going on about?” he asked, nervously playing with his brow piecing.

Jake’s stance tightened as he neared. Oh, this was going to be a fucking great day. These two assholes fighting over a woman. Threesomes were notoriously bad on a friendship. The girl almost always fell for one over the other. I’d double down that that’s exactly the problem here. It’s obvious to anyone with at least one functioning eye that Jessie and Ender have something independent of Jake. The relationship is an emotional tie that all three share, and when one severs it, it’s one big mind-fuck of emotions.

“Are we going to finish recording this album or what?” I asked impatiently. Jake grabbed his guitar and nodded. Woody clapped his drum sticks together and hit his snare. Ender pulled his strap overhead. I guess that answers my question.

I motioned for Dave and the boys to start the session. “Cue it up.” There was no better therapy for us than music. It calmed me, transporting me to a peaceful world, and quickly, everything seemed more simple and natural at once. I felt more relaxed and ready for whatever the day held ahead of me.

We spent the next week living and breathing this album. I wanted it to be done in time for the wedding. Maybe take some time off and spent it with my girls. That was the plan, and I already told Dave and the boys. I was the first of us to go down the road of matrimony, and despite my love for Gia, they looked at it like I was suiting up for combat…leaving for war. I wasn’t nervous one bit. I was fucking impatient.

At the end of the eighth day, we were a sweaty, gnarly mess. Woody was dying for a beer, Jake was looking to get the fuck out of here, and Ender was on his phone, tapping away. I yanked my T-shirt over my head. Fuck, I needed a shower. I was just about to text Beauty when she strolled in. “You just got here?” I captured her lips with mine, my hands already skimming along the outside of her clothes.

“Nope, I’ve been here for thirty minutes listening to my favorite band.” She smiled up at me, cupping my face in her soft hands, and it made me think of other things she could cup with them. “I have a crush on the lead singer. Totally full of himself, and hot as fuck.”

I loved that she was teasing me. It meant she was having a good day. I’ve been worried with her highs and lows. I thought after her mother’s death, there’d be an issue. Even if it were something subconscious stirring around, causing trouble in