“I got a job!” Chrissy exclaims, displaying a huge smile.

Placing the bass down, I stand up and hug her tight in my arms. God, I love the smell of her. “That’s great. Where at?” I ask, sitting back down and placing the bass on my lap.

“Ryland Davis’s studio.” She sits on the other stool and crosses her legs.

“With Jessa?”

“Yeah, it will only be while she’s on maternity leave. It gives me three months to save up and make a start fresh.” That whole secret she doesn’t want to tell me still lingers overhead.

“Fresh start from what? And please, Chrissy, I’ve been patient, but I have to know.” I keep the details of my internal struggle about not knowing whether she’s safe or not when she leaves the house to myself.

Her mood changes, and she pulls her legs tight into her body. She places her head down to her knees, and then looks up and pins me with her hazel eyes. “If I tell you, there’s no fixing it. You can’t do anything, okay?” When I keep quiet, she urges me again. “Promise, Dex.” She cocks her head to the side, showing me how serious she is.

Placing my two fingers up, “Scouts honor,” I joke, and it eases the seriousness slightly.

“Let’s just say, things didn’t pan out like I thought they would when I left after graduation. I went back to my dad’s four or so months ago. Anyway, Nico made a move and got a little forceful with me.” I stand up suddenly, and the stool crashes to the floor. Chrissy stands and places her hand on my chest to calm me. “Nothing happened, you know I can take care of myself. But that’s when I came up here to The Loft. But I just couldn’t throw all this on you. Especially after I …” She doesn’t finish what should be after she left my life. “I’ve been in my car, in and out of cheap hotels the last few months, trying to dig my way out of it. I’m so ashamed you found me at Weddle’s, drunk off my ass, owing money. Somehow I lost myself for a brief moment.” She swipes her finger along the bottom of her right eye. “But thank you for bringing me here.” She pauses, taking a deep breath. “I promise this is the last time you have to rescue me.” She lets out an empty and uncomfortable giggle.

“Jesus, Chrissy. Why?” I ask, pulling her into me. “Why the fuck wouldn’t you call me?”

“Because I needed to stand on my own and I did … I was. I had this job and an apartment on my own. It was a studio, but it was mine. I even took a few classes at community. But then the shop closed, and I couldn’t find anything else. My apartment got broken into. It was like one thing after another,” she says into my chest, which I feel starting to slowly get wet.

“I would have helped you, you know that,” I continue to reassure her. I don’t know when I decided to be her protector, but all of a sudden I took that role. It’s crazy that this girl in my arms has no idea she’s number one in my life. Whatever she wants, I’d wrestle a lion for.

“I know, Dex, but you had a life to live and didn’t need me there.” She pulls away from me, wiping the last of her tears. I watch as her shell veils her once again, and I know in an instant our conversation is over. She’s finished discussing anything further.

Like fucking clockwork, Rob barrels down the stairs and stops in his tracks at the bottom of the stairs. “Hey, friends,” he sarcastically sneers, and I roll my eyes at him. “It’s practice time. You should stay down here, Chrissy,” he says directly to her.

She doesn’t have the opportunity to answer before Sadie and Brady are behind Rob. Then Trey comes down, waiting behind all of them. “What’s the hold up? I’ve got about two hours, and then I’m outta here, so let’s get this practice going.”

“You could have brought some of them with you,” Sadie comments and turns around.

“Okay, then I’d have more like an hour to actually practice, because I wouldn’t be able to keep my focus purely on this. Anyway.” He nudges past them all to escape behind his drum set. “Hey, Chrissy, nice to see you again. Kailey said you were in town,” he says while grabbing his sticks, starting to pound out some beats.

“Hi, Trey. Nice to see you, too,” Chrissy responds and quickly leaves the room, moving to the couches with Sadie. I watch the two of them sit down, and Sadie starts in on a conversation immediately, but Chrissy’s eyes veer to me every few words.

“You better decide what the hell you’re doing with that one,” Rob says, squeezing by me to reach his guitar.

Ignoring Rob, I pick up my stool and finish replacing the string on my bass. Brady gives us a list of songs we’re practicing, and when the music begins filtering out, I notice the girls are too enthralled into their own conversation to worry about us.

TOSSING ON A new shirt, I leave the confines of Ace’s bathroom to find we drew in a good crowd tonight. Mostly girls as usual. They all say hello to me as I walk down the hallway to The Invisibles’ usual booth. Giving a small wave to be pleasant, I steer clear from engaging because, let’s be honest, our fan base seems to be growing younger as we’re getting older. I mean, one of our members can’t even play because he’s married and his wife is about to pop a baby out any minute.

Even our booth is getting crowded. I remember when Brady claimed it as ours the first time. Only the four of us sat there drinking and bullshitting. Then Brady invited Sadie, and it all slowly grew. Now as I walk up, after a pit stop at the bar, it’s Sadie, Brady, Kailey, Trey, Rob, Chrissy, and now, me.

“Thanks for getting me one, dipshit,” Rob says, snapping his fingers to Veronica, the waitress.

I slide in the booth and my knee brushes Chrissy’s, making her fidget slightly. My hand twitches with the thought of placing it on her bare knee. Downing my beer, I sit it down with a thud, and they all stare at me. Rounds of drinks are ordered as everyone tells stories that embarrass someone else. Everyone except for Rob, I doubt that guy could get embarrassed. Then Veronica says it’s time, and Brady’s the first to stand. He kisses his fiancé, and she lingers a little longer on his lips, like usual, to let the vultures know he’s taken. Likewise, Kailey does the same with Trey while I stand and Chrissy turns her attention to the girls. Rob hops over the booth wall and then on stage like some American ninja warrior. Girls clap, and I have to say ever since he returned, our crowd has increased.

He playfully bows, and I catch Chrissy laughing at him. Jealousy of their friendship has been eating me alive lately and I’m not sure how much longer I can let it slide. Bending down, I ask one of our fans to go fetch me a beer and hand her a twenty. The hot, little brunette gladly does it, and when she returns to the edge of the stage, she holds it hostage until I kiss her on the cheek. When I rise to my feet, my eyes automatically go to Chrissy, who’s staring intently at the display in front of her, me kissing another girl on the cheek. Reminding me again, I’m an asshole and she should demand someone better.

It’s like I can’t get enough alcohol in me tonight. During the gig, the brunette is my personal waitress, fetching me beers and shots anytime I request one. When the set ends, I have a really good buzz going. We put our instruments away, and before I even change my shirt, Trey and Kailey are halfway to the door.

“Where are you guys going?” I scream after them, and Trey turns around, walking backwards.

“We’ll be up at seven. Not everyone can sleep in,” he says over the crowd.

Brady waits outside the booth for Sadie, who doesn’t really know what she wants to do at the moment. Her eyes shift between Chrissy and Brady until I sit down and place my arm around Chrissy’s shoulders. “We’ll be fine, go ahead, Sadie,” I permit her and she smiles while scooting out.