Fight, Jamiee - Ellie R. Hunter Page 0,68
it up anytime.”
“What bullshit,” I mutter. “It’s time we gave him the ultimatum, then. It’s the only way he’ll go.”
“And if he doesn’t?”
Damon responds with, “Then we kick him out until he does.”
We all nod our agreement.
“We’ll go grab a coffee and wait for you in the family room,” Alice tells them.
As soon as they’re gone, River looks at me, frowning. “What’s with the tension?”
I shrug, pushing the door open to Baz’s room. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
The fucker’s sitting on the bed, angrily flicking through the TV channels. “Oh, look! More people to tell me how to live my life.”
“Cut it out, Baz. Being a prick really doesn’t suit you, and we’ve all had enough.” I drag a chair closer to his bed from the corner of the room.
“I’m a prick? You’d be the same if we started telling you how to live, where to go, what to do.”
“Probably. But if I was fucking up big time like you, I’d want you guys to do the same. So, we’re here to tell you, you either get your ass to rehab or you’re out.”
He continues flicking through the channels and snorts. “Out?”
“Out of the band. We’re not putting up with this shit any longer,” Damon informs him, and the channel hopping stops.
“You can’t kick me out.”
His arrogance is starting to piss me off. “We will if you force us to. We’ve all agreed it’s your only option.”
“I’d like to see you try.”
I shake my head. “The label’s working on a statement as we speak. You have until we leave this room to agree or you’re out—today. And by tonight, the whole world will know it too.”
He jumps off the bed, looking frantically at the three of us.
“You need help, brother. You’re killing yourself. Fuck, you almost died at my fucking wedding!”
“Fuck you all. You’d turn on me now?”
“This is us helping you,” River assures him.
“I don’t have a fucking problem!”
“You think it’s normal to suffer a heart attack before you’re thirty?” I snap, losing all patience. It’s time to cut the shit.
“What’s it to be, Baz? It’s now or never.”
His chest heaves with anger.
“Fine, have it your way. Come on, let’s go. We can’t do anything more for him.”
Being closest to the door, I open it, letting River walk out first, with Damon trailing behind him. This fucker’s going to let us walk out of here and run the risk of being booted from the band.
River and Damon turn back once they’re in the corridor, their faces saying it all. This is it. This is how the Four Fallen Souls fall.
With one step out of the room, I’m about to take another when I’m jolted back and spun around. “Fine! Shit, whatever. I’ll go to rehab.”
Closing my eyes, I forget the shit between Jamiee and me, and my shoulders sag with relief.
“Today? Straight from here to there?” I ask, making sure he knows the rules.
“Yes,” he hisses like a damn snake.
River pushes past me and envelopes Baz in a hug. “Thank fuck.”
“I’ll have Slate finalise the arrangements.” Turning, I walk out of the room.
Digging my cell out of my pocket, I scroll through my contacts until I hit our manager’s name. Bringing up our last text conversation, I shoot him a message, telling him Baz has agreed, and then Damon’s in my face.
“This isn’t her fault.”
“I know.”
“Then why aren’t you talking to her?”
I don’t have any excuses.
“I’m angry, okay.”
“So am I, but I’m not being an asshole to her. She wanted to fly out to Lacey’s yesterday, but I talked her into coming with us. So I’d say this is your last chance to fix this before you really do lose her forever.”
His words hit home, and I head for the family room. Inside, Alice sits alone, flipping through a magazine.
“Where is she?”
“She wanted to be alone. She’s still in the cafeteria.”
Making my way to where they serve the worst coffee in the world, it’s easy to spot her, seeing as the place is empty.
Sitting at a table, her coffee untouched, she rubs her finger where my ring used to sit as she stares off into space. She doesn’t hear me approaching, and barely acknowledges my presence when I pull out a chair and take a seat.
I deserve it. Of course I fucking do.
“I’m sorry.”
Ever so slowly, her eyes meet mine and she sighs.
“For what, exactly?”
“For everything. I should’ve been the one there for you, and I’m angry with myself for being a dick. Everything you said yesterday