“Since you don’t have children, I know that you can’t possibly understand how it feels to want to protect them, even from themselves.”
“I have a niece, and I can’t imagine telling her that her choices are wrong the way that you do.”
Nasreen didn’t flinch, but she didn’t argue either. Instead she took in his words and after a moment said, “Sometimes, when we are worried and care deeply, we do not make the wisest choices.”
Jax snorted. “That’s one way of putting it.” They sat in silence for a moment. “So did you enjoy the show? Since you came to get a second look.”
“It was… educational. Interesting too. You are very charming on stage, and your friends are very talented also. I found myself enjoying the songs.”
“All of them?” He arched an eyebrow. “You enjoy ‘S&M.’”
“Yes. Though not as much as the last one, I’m not sure of the name. I never heard it before.”
Jax’s stomach wobbled. “Don’t Speak?”
“Yes, that one. Your performance was very authentic.”
If anyone else had made that observation, Jax might have tried to hide his broken heart, but from Nasreen Darvish…. “I think we both know why.”
She inclined her head but didn’t say anything, which pissed Jax off. “Since you’re not here to apologize or even admit your guilt, why are you here?”
“Curiosity.”
Jax barked a laugh. “God, I probably should have anticipated the arrogance. But somehow I didn’t, even though Ari warned me. I guess I was a fool for giving you the chance to chase me away.”
Her eyes flickered, the tiniest of flinches. “I probably deserve that. I love my children, but I can be stubborn.”
“You know,” Jax said, angry but willing to give her this, “it’s too bad you hate me, because we have a lot in common.” Nasreen tilted her head in silent question. “We’re both dicks who love your son.”
Then he stood and walked away.
“EARTH TOAri. Come in, Ari.”
Ari pulled himself out of his deep contemplation. He was supposed to be deliberating the relative acoustic merits of Buffalo’s potential concert venues, but thoughts of Jax kept intruding. Jax had said he fell in love easily, and their relationship was over now. Ari wasn’t allowed to be upset he was seeing someone else seriously enough to do a grocery run for them.
He definitely wasn’t allowed to ask Jax about it when he arrived to pick up his things.
He took a deep breath and tried to engage his memory, but for the life of him, he had no idea what Afra had been asking him. “Sorry,” he said. “Coffee?”
“Yes,” Theo said fervently.
The three of them had been sitting at Ari’s kitchen table, Ari and Afra mostly planning a tour, Theo learning through osmosis while studying for his final exam, which seemed to be mathematical in nature. Every so often he uttered a curse under his breath. Ari could relate.
“I was asking if you want to go to Tennessee,” Afra repeated. “Because Noella forwarded your rough cut, and you’ve got an invitation to play Bonnaroo.”
Theo swore again; apparently Ari wasn’t the only one who hadn’t been paying attention. “Are you kidding me? That’s incredible.”
It was certainly the biggest festival Ari had ever been asked to play. He tended to prefer low-key events, but he couldn’t deny that the opportunity to perform for an audience of that size appealed—if only from a professional standpoint. And maybe if he played there, his parents would finally realize he was serious about his work. “Do you think I should?”
“Yes,” said Theo emphatically, pulling his textbook closer and highlighting something, though Ari couldn’t tell what the purpose was, because the entire page was yellow. Then he lifted his head again. “Also, coffee?”
Ari didn’t bother pointing out that Theo was the intern here; he looked like he hadn’t slept in three days. Besides, Ari was fussy about his coffee maker. He got up to start a pot.
Afra picked up the thread. “Do I think you should play one of the most popular music festivals in North America? In a word, yes.” She rolled her eyes. “We’ll have to reschedule a few of the other tentative tour dates, but it’ll be fine.”
All right. Afra could work out the details. “Fine.” He paused and watched the carafe fill. “But… can we do a few smaller events on either side of it?”
“Smaller ones?”
