“None of us have.” Trent tips his head toward me. “Sean just gotback.”
Bedo lifts his gaze and meets my stare. “How good of you to join us. Have a nice littlevacation?”
“Peachy.” I pop the word with a forcedsmile.
Bedo’s attention drops to his phone and his fingers race across the keyboard. “So, we’ve got what? Iz gone AWOL. Coy’s in jail? We pressing charges?” We all nod and he rolls his eyes, “Thought that might be the case, so add in finding a new drummer. Oh, and we’ve got thespreadof Jess and Sean all over magazine stands. Anything else I’m missing? Please. Tell me. Because as it is, I’m not sleepingtonight.”
“Hey.” Jess enters the kitchen, her chin down as she walks to Deb’s side. “I’m reallysorry.”
“Don’t apologize for him.” Trent’s stern reply mirrors my thoughtsexactly.
“Yeah. Besides, I’ve always wanted to knock someone out.” Austin winks and her lips turn up at one corner as if she might laugh. The smile doesn’t quite reach her eyes when her gaze lifts to meetmine.
I want to rush to her. I want to wrap her in my arms. Kiss her gently; kiss her hard. I want everything when it comes to Jess, but instead, my feet cement to the ground with indecision because what I want most is for her to return my affection. I don’t want any of it if she doesn’t feel thesame.
“Excuse me.” An officer comes to the doorway. “We’re about ready to wrap up. We have everything we need for now. Expect a few follow up calls in the coming weeks. You all have my card.” Deb slides a business card into Bedo’s hand before he can even ask. My friends all nod and the officer settles his hands at his waist. “You all have a goodnight.”
Bedo shakes his head and snaps his laptop shut. He stands from the barstool and levels us each with a stare before settling on me. “You know, sometimes a little heads up would benice.”
“Like you telling us about Iz?” I challenge right back. I don’t know what he’s trying to pull, but I won’t allow him to lay a guilt trip when he’s done thesame.
Austin lets loose a long whistle. “He’s got you there,Bedo.”
“I didn’t tell you about Iz because I was hoping we’d have him back in rehab before anyone noticedotherwise.”
I don’t buy it, but I also have no proof otherwise. “So, tellus.”
Bedo’s jaw works back and forth before he slides back into his chair. “Here’s what we know. Iz checked himself out of rehab yesterday. He doesn’t have much money, maybe a few hundred bucks to his name. The facility advised him to stay, but they had no legal right to hold him without hisconsent.”
“We need to find him.” Trent runs a hand through his hair and tucks it behind his ear. “I called Lexi, but she hasn’t heard from him. He called me yesterday and left a message. I should have picked up.” Remorse etches into the lines of hisbrow.
“Priority is finding him before someone else does.” Bedo picks up his phone and taps across the screen. “If he shows up strung out and some reporter gets a hold of that, the deal I’ve been working on is toast. As it is, Sean’s romp in the garden didn’thelp.”
“Yeah, Bedo.Yourbig deal. That’s the most important thing here.” I roll my eyes as anger pulses through my veins. “Fuckingunbelievable.”
Bedo meets my hard stare. “You don’t pay me to be your best buddy, so let’s cut the noble shit here. I do a damn fine job for you guys. Think you can do better, have atit.”
“Hey.” Trent holds up his hands. “Calm down. No one is getting fired. Well, except for Coy. Let’s all check our egos and focus on findingIz.”
Deb sets her mug on the counter. “Sean, you’ve been to see him. Where do you think hewent?”
“Honestly? To score and gethigh.”
Bedo’s lips settle into a hard line. He shows no empathy, but I guess from his perspective Iz only causes more headaches. He’s part of this band, though. We can’t stand by and donothing.
“And in a city like Los Angeles . . .” Trent shakes hishead.
Deb smiles sadly. “That could beanywhere.”
“Maybe we should wait here. It’s pointless to drive around. It’d be like looking for a Mercedes in Beverly Hills.” Austin taps his fingers on thecounter.
Deb raises an eyebrow. “You mean needle in ahaystack?”
His expression puzzles. “I’ve never seen a farm in LosAngeles.”
“So, what’s the plan?” I draw their attention. “I can’t just sit around here. We need to findhim.”
“Weneedto stay focused on the tour. Which just so happens to need a new drummer in less than a week, thanks to more problems.” Bedo’s gaze lands on Jess, and I’d like to wipe that look right off his face. This isn’t on her. If anything, it’s onme.
