Page 7 of The Only Thing That's Real
“Nope, I’m stripes, he’s solid. Just gonna sink this eight ball and then I’ll be ready to kick your butt.”
“You are your father’s son, aren’t you?”
“If you mean handsome and charming, why yes, yes he is,” Matt says, wrapping his arm around his kid’s neck and giving him a gentle noogie on his floppy haired head.
“I was thinking, competitive. Maybe a little arrogant.”
Connor snickers. His dad flips me off.
“Heard you brushed Ryan off?”
Here we go. I may have escaped the woman herself, but she seems to be all anyone I know wants to talk about.
“You’re all a bunch of little hens clucking away, aren’t you?”
“Eight ball, corner pocket.” Connor sinks the ball, ending the game. “Next.”
“Buddy, give Knox and me a minute.”
“Come on,” the preteen whines.
“Five minutes.”
“Fine.”
I follow Matt down the hall and into some kind of office. I swear this penthouse is bigger than my place in New York. There’s a room for everything. Apparently, this is the room you take your best friend to when you need to scold him.
I’m so damn tired of all the lectures.
Hopefully, this is it for the day.
Fingers fucking crossed.
“Listen, Knox. You know you can talk to me.”
“Sure do.”
He looks at me for a beat, running a hand over the scruff on his face. A tell-tale sign he’s frustrated but is trying with all his might to keep it contained.
“Dude, what is with you?”
“I’m here to play pool with Con. I’ve been here two-minutes. What could I have done to make you think something is wrong?”
Stalling.
That’s what I’m doing.
Not sure why I bother, he’ll say what he needs to say now or thirty seconds from now.
“You haven’t been yourself for a while and I don’t know why you won’t talk to us about whatever it is.”
I lean against the desk. “I appreciate the concern, but I’m all good.”
“I don’t believe you.”
Of course he doesn’t. My bandmates know me better than I know myself.
“Don’t get me wrong. I’m glad you’ve cut back on the drinking and partying, but what’s the reason behind the change? I’m worried about you. Especially, after last night.” He takes a step closer, clasping a hand on my shoulder. “If you won’t talk to me, talk to Sean. Talk to Jay. Trevor. Anyone.”
