10
Sean
Our performance is flawless.The crowd, albeit way more subdued than any concert goers, still dance along and applaud as if they truly enjoyed our show. I try to focus on the task at hand, the reason we’re here, but even raising money for sick kids can’t chase the bitterness of seeing how Coy treats Jess when he thinks no one’swatching.
The last chord of our set list strikes and our band exits the small stage. I don’t miss how Coy avoids eye contact with me.That’s right, fucker.I saw you. I see you for who youare.
Coy hustles over to where Jess waits with open arms and a smile. He picks her up, swings her around, and claims her lips with a kiss that tells everyone in this room exactly who she belongs to. I’d do the same if she were mine. Her lips—lips too precious for such punishment—are swollen and bruised when he pullsaway.
Jess lifts her gaze over Coy’s shoulder and finds me staring. I hold her gaze, though I’m not sure why, but my shoulder’s met with a jostle. It’s only then I lookaway.
“Dude, tonight was fucking awesome.” Austin’s arm slaps around my shoulder and pulls me toward the openbar.
“Yeah, felt great to help these kids.” I glance over my shoulder, but Trent approaches and blocks my view of Coy andJess.
Austin chuckles as though he can’t believe our good fortune. “And Coy fit in perfect. It’s like he’s always been a part of the band. He even handled “Raw” like he wrote the drum solo. Fucker didn’t even break asweat.”
Trent smiles as we step into the short line to the bar. “Yeah, I like him, too. He fits in well. I’m glad we pickedhim.”
No one asks what I think, but if they did I’d tell them Coy’s the worst kind of man possible. The kind who uses his words and strength to make a woman feel powerless. I don’t want to get involved with anyone’s drama or relationships, but that shit’s not cool. I knew there was something off with him from the beginning, and his behavior toward Jess tonight only proves I should always trust mygut.
He wants to belittle his girlfriend? That’s not okay with me. From here on out I’ve got my eye on that motherfucker. Bandmate or not, I won’t let that shit fly. I glance over my shoulder oncemore.
“Dude! The fuck, Sean!” Austin’s voice brings my attention back to the task at hand. I hadn’t realized we moved up in line soquickly.
The bartender regards me with patience even though I’m holding up his line. “What can I get for you,sir?”
“Got any IPA backthere?”
He nods and glances around. “Sure do. You ever try BallastPoint?”
I love events like this. They always stock the good stuff. “Hell yeah. I love everything theybrew.”
The bartender reaches into a bucket of ice and dries off the bottle. “Glass?” he asks. I shake my head in thenegative.
“Hey, let’s go bid on shit before dinner starts.” Austin points at the rows of displayitems.
Trent nods and sips his drink. “I’m down withthat.”
I grab my beer and drop a five in the tip jar before catching up to Trent and Austin. It doesn’t take long before Lexi joins us. It consumes all my willpower to not look back over my shoulder toward our table to see whether Jess is still there with Coy. The need to make sure she’s okay pulses at the forefront of my mind, even though realistically there’s nothing I can do. It’s not my problem. But still, I can’t stop thinking about it. Why she would allow someone to treat her that way. Maybe I’m naïve, or maybe I’ve been raised around strong, take-no-shit women and the men who wouldn’t dream of treating anyone thatway.
Austin bids on a few items. An African safari—don’t know when the hell he’ll have time to squeeze that in. Skydiving tour—Ha! Boy must be dreaming. There’s no way Bedo lets that godown.
Trent and Lexi walk ahead, hand in hand, and never stop talking. I’m glad Lex has a few days’ break on her tour. Trent’s been missing her like crazy, and he’s uptight as fuck. This stuff with Iz and the entire process of finding Coy when we’d planned on coasting down Easy Street until our next tour has been stressful on all of us. But Trent always mellows out after their timetogether.
They stop ahead at a framed print up forauction.
“You like her?” Trent nods at the oversized photograph and kisses the top of Lexi’shair.
“I do.” She doesn’t look away from theportrait.
He leans forward to reach for the pen on thetable.
Lex grabs his arm to pull him back with laughter. “I don’t want you to buyit.”
“I will if you likeit.”
Lexi pulls out of Trent’s reach to roll her eyes and settle her hands on her hips. The average onlooker might expect she’s pissed, but we all know better. Her eyes hold humor. “That because she’snaked?”
