Total pages in book: 72
Estimated words: 67227 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 336(@200wpm)___ 269(@250wpm)___ 224(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 67227 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 336(@200wpm)___ 269(@250wpm)___ 224(@300wpm)
Xander winced. “I knew they died in an accident, not the details.” He rubbed his hand along the back of his neck, a signature move when deep in thought.
“She told me when I asked her to set up the event. Nate, the manager, expects the call around this time every year,” Dash said. “He’ll gladly work with her.”
“Somehow I don’t see Cassidy holding anything against you. Most kids do drugs at one time or another. It wasn’t your fault you bought bad shit.” Xander shrugged, meaning what he said.
Dash sucked in a breath. “But Dad—”
“Was an asshole most of the time. In this case? I think he did you a favor. Just be honest with her. It’s all you can do.” Xander slapped his hands on his thighs, dropped his feet to the floor, and stood.
Dash rose, too. “You out of here?”
“I’m tired. My eyes hurt and I want to grab Sasha and go home.”
Dash pulled his brother into a one-armed hug. “Thanks, man.”
“Always.”
He waited until Xander and Sasha had left before pulling out his phone and texting Cass. If she was up for company, he’d spill his guts before tomorrow’s event.
How’s your head?
He saw the dots indicating her typing a reply.
Cass: A little better. I took some Ibuprofen and I’m already in bed.
Shit. He knew she’d had a full day and tomorrow would be busy as well. He didn’t want to overload her with emotional crap when she wasn’t operating on all cylinders. Besides, he could use the time to figure out what the hell he was going to say.
I’ll let you rest. Talk in the morning? he asked. But he hoped she’d tell him to come over anyway, even if it was just to hold her.
Those dots showed up, then he saw her deleting before she started typing again.
Cass: Sounds good. I could use a good night’s sleep.
Fuck. “Sweet dreams,” he typed, feeling every inch the pussy he was becoming. All for this one woman who didn’t believe in him. And that was before she learned about his past.
Chapter Eight
Dash left his Ferrari in the garage, and the guys loaded Mac’s bass, Jagger’s guitar, and Axel’s Pearl compact drum kit into the back of Dash’s Range Rover. Since Axel couldn’t take his full set, he needed at least his snare drum for the sharp rattle and the heavy boom to keep time.
They would take requests, play a few songs, and talk to the people who were staying at the center. Inpatient consisted of people sixteen and older, and it was the younger kids Dash liked to sit with and tell his story. His drug use had been recreational, but who knows what would have happened if he hadn’t been hit with tragedy?
Given the Twelve Step Program of Narcotics Anonymous and the promise of total privacy, his identity was protected, and he’d always felt safe at the center. The people he talked to were just happy to hear they weren’t alone and their addiction could happen to anyone in any walk of life.
Dash hadn’t been an addict, but he had been forever affected by drugs. His past made an important point and he needed to share it. He found it easier to talk in small groups of like-minded people who wouldn’t judge.
The guys piled into the back seat, and Cassidy took the front for the short ride to the center. Dash wished he and Cassidy had had time to talk before today’s event, but she’d slept in and arrived at his house in just enough time to leave.
She seemed brighter this morning than she had when she’d left his house yesterday, and he didn’t sense her retreating emotionally. She’d even caught him alone in the kitchen and greeted him with a long, sweet kiss.
Maybe she’d just needed a night to herself, and didn’t everyone deserve one of those? He knew her reasons had been because of the conversation about the tour and the groupies, and it was something he could talk to her about later.
They arrived at the center, a beautiful building with well-maintained landscaping. Dash knew from past visits there were gardens in the back with benches to sit on and pathways to walk.
Everyone except Axel had done these with Dash before, and when he’d asked the newest member to donate his time, he’d gotten no pushback. Axel wanted to fit in with the band and so far, so good.
Dash parked close to the building. They all climbed out of the Rover, doors slamming as they exited. While the guys collected their instruments, Dash came around to Cassidy’s side, meeting up with her after she’d exited. Then he strode to the back and grabbed bags filled with promotional items for signing and giving away.
The weather had cooled, and his blue Henley was comfortable without a jacket. Cassidy had dressed down, wearing jeans like the rest of the band. Regular clothes to meet regular people. It was the way they preferred to look anyway.