Lifting a bottle of whiskey from the scuffed stage, Everett took a swig, muttering something into the mic as Graham segued into the next song. With a harsh shake of his head, Everett placed the bottle down, his large hands returning to the guitar strings, and his eyes closing again.
There’s a blunt edge to the tray filled with ash,
And it sings to that open wound
You call a gash
Night after night,
You feel it coming,
Day after day,
You feel like running
But it’s all your fault,
That empty bottle
The overflowing ashtray
It’s all just salt
On the festering guilt you made me carry
From city to city
Skipping dreams and solar beams
Yeah, it’s all your fault…
I felt every hair on my body rise with his voice as he carried the melody to the rafters, and the room swelled, the audience bottled inside for the minutes Everett held them captive for.
The thundering rumble of Graham on the drums drowned out half the cheering, and when he hit the cymbal with an ending clash, that was when it happened.
Red eyes opened, and Everett looked up. One look made sure I felt it all. Everything I’d tried to suffocate clawed straight back to the surface, and Aiden steadied me as my knees quaked.
I shouldn’t have ignored his calls, was the only thing I could think as Aiden turned me to face him, asking again if I was okay.
“I’m fine.” Blinking away the mist in my eyes, I waved a hand toward the stage. “I just…” I blew out a trembling breath, knowing I’d have to be honest. “I know them. It’s my…” I stopped and licked my dried lips. “My brother’s band.”
Aiden’s dark stare held mine a beat longer, and then his hands left my face as he was wrenched back and shoved into the bustling crowd.
“Everett,” I yelled when he advanced on Aiden, predatory intent in every step.
“Who are you?” I heard him growl over the noise.
Thankfully, no one besides the few people at the bar seemed to be paying us any mind.
That changed when Aiden’s eyes gleamed. “Her boyfriend.”
“Aiden,” I pleaded just as Everett swung.
He missed, which was probably thanks to the whiskey and the flask peeking out of his back pocket, but Aiden still tipped, almost falling to the floor when he ducked and lurched back.
“This is the guy you were talking about, Petal?”
“Petal?” Everett snarled, sending a heated glare at me over his shoulder.
It was all I could do to nod, but when I caught sight of my brother and the others heading this way, I made a move for the exit, grabbing Aiden. “Come on. We need to go.”
Ignoring me, he sidled right up into Everett’s face, and though they both seemed evenly matched, I knew Everett wouldn’t fight fair, if he could even fight in his state, so I tugged on Aiden’s hand. “I mean it, Aiden. Please, let’s go.”
Everett’s nostrils flared. Though he kept his gaze firmly on Aiden, he no doubt heard me.
“Fine,” he gritted, eyes trained on Everett. “Lead the way, Petal.”
I didn’t like the way he put extra emphasis on the nickname to rile Everett up, but I was just relieved he’d relaxed enough to head outside with me.
Any relief I felt withered and died. We weren’t on the street for two seconds before I heard Everett. “Clover!”
Aiden’s hand was tense and clammy around mine as we kept walking, rounding the corner to where a group of people were standing around, talking and smoking.
“Clover, don’t fucking walk away from me.”
“Clover?” Aiden asked, halting.
“Jesus,” I said, my hand releasing his to rake through my hair. “I can’t believe this.”
“You didn’t know your brother was coming to town?”
“No,” I said, tears starting to resurface. “He’d tried to call, but I didn’t want to hear about the band, or anything to do with…” I flapped my hand to where Everett was stalking toward us, a lit cigarette dangling between his fingers. “I didn’t know it was to tell me he was coming here.”
Aiden cursed. “Want me to go?” I looked back at him, and what he saw on my face had his dropping. “Yeah, okay.” He laughed low, shaking his head. “Call if you need me, Stevie.”
My feet tripped forward. “Aiden, wait.”
He turned, walking backward with his hands tucked into his jean pockets. “That all depends on what you decide to do tonight.”
I closed my eyes, inhaling deep and getting hit in the lungs with the acrid scent of tobacco. Turning around, I was met with the bloodshot eyes of