“Yesterday,” Drake said.
“I’m being serious,” I said, with a giggle.
“So am I. But, if you want a realistic timeframe, we could call ‘em tomorrow. Have your stuff in here before you set off to work again on Monday.”
“I’m glad you’re not fighting me on that anymore. I love working there.”
“What does Sophie do again?” he asked.
“Stacia?”
“Cindy?”
“Stacia, Drake,” I said.
“You mean Savannah.”
“Now you’re being a dick. Where’s that room I was promised?”
His chuckle filled my ears as his stubble nuzzled into my neck. I fell apart in a fit of laughter, feeling him leaning hard against his truck door. He gathered me up in his arms and slid from the truck, my body leaning against his frame as he kicked the door shut. He walked me up to the porch and I dug his house keys from his pocket, making a show of massaging his thigh as a groan escaped from his lips.
“You’re gonna get it tonight, beautiful,” he said.
“That a promise?” I asked.
I unlocked the door before his hand threw it open. We walked into his dark house as we made our way to the couch. I could hear his chest lightly panting with his efforts. I could feel his arms trembling as he settled me down onto the cushions. His body was draped over mine, his lips hovering millimeters away from my skin.
Then, the lights came on with a flash.
“Congratulations!”
People started popping out of every corner as Drake ripped me up from the couch. Elsie and Tammy walked in from the kitchen and Hank was standing in the hallway. Paul was on the fucking loveseat across from the couch we almost got naked in the dark. Even Stone and Landon were there, standing on the damn staircase grinning like idiots.
“Where the hell have you guys been?” I asked.
I saw Drake quirk an eyebrow as I stared the guys down hard.
“Been takin’ care of Ma,” Stone said. “And possibly getting some help with some things. Drake’s night that night sort of—well—to be honest? It scared the shit outta me.”
“I ain’t gonna bea
t around the bush. I checked myself into rehab,” Landon said. “Drinkin’ wasn’t really my problem. That was just fun since Drake was doin’ it. But those pills I was slingin’ back with my shots? Definitely an issue. And don’t let Stone fool ya. He’s still gettin’ counselin’ for this sex thing he’s got goin’ on. Did ya know you can actually be addicted to sex? I thought that was just him bein’ a dude.”
“Asshole. It’s a real thing,” Stone said. “And I’m managin’ it. With some help.”
A round of chuckles reverberated across the room as my mind tried to wrap itself around everything taking place. His bandmates hadn’t abandoned him?
“Hank? Did you know about this?” I asked.
“Yeah. Because he told me Landon and Stone weren’t tourin’ because they told him I wouldn’t be any fun sober,” Drake said.
“What?” Landon asked.
“The fuck kind of excuse is that?” Stone asked.
“I didn’t have a lot of time to improvise, okay?” Hank asked. “And I knew a little bit. But at the time, you were going through your own shit, Drake. Just out of rehab. Floundering around with what to do about Delia. Hell, all three of you needed to cool your jets, if you ask me. I didn’t think it would be good for him to know his bandmates had just checked themselves into rehab, too. You know, triggers, distractions and stuff,” Hank said.
“I can tell you as someone who’s got a degree in all this that knowing his friends were struggling could’ve given him a great support system,” I said. “You should’ve told him, Hank.”