Second Chance at the Riverview Inn (Riverview Inn)

“There’s always someone who is going to talk shit about the band,” Micah said.

“Fine, but they’re not going to do it to my face. Look at what we’ve done. What we’re doing. Opening Madison Square Garden in September.”

Right. Because this was the truth. It wasn’t just the past they had, it was the future. And everything Micah had ever dreamed of came true with Alex.

Those were the real ties that bound them together. Not just the promise he made to mom. But the promise they made to each other every time they walked on stage together as Band of Outlaws.

“Right,” he said, reminded of what was important. “Madison Square Garden.”

“Hey,” Alex said. “About Danny.”

“You went, right?” Micah took a deep breath, still pissed about what Alex had said to Danny. The kid didn’t deserve that shit. And the whole point of this trip had been for Alex to go up and apologize to Danny.

“No. Actually.”

“Alex!”

“Look, I mean it. The kid doesn’t belong in the band. I know Sean agrees.”

“No, he doesn’t.”

“Have you asked him? Really asked him?”

Yes. Of course. Probably.

“This is bullshit, Alex.”

“Look, I’ll apologize to the guy, but the bigger issue is that he shouldn’t be in the band. You know it. All of us know it.”

“So who plays bass?”

“Miguel—”

“Miguel can’t walk up a flight of stairs without needing a break.” He’d gotten COVID at the very beginning and was still getting his strength back.

“That’s not true anymore,” Alex said.

“How do you know?” Micah demanded.

“I talked to Sandra.”

“You called his wife?”

“Yeah, and he’s doing better. He’s exercising. She said his lungs are functional. He gets tired, but the tour is still months away. He can come next week to rehearsals.”

It all made sense, suddenly. What Alex said to Danny, and then agreeing to come up here so he could apologize, only to predictably get in a fight and bail on him. God, why didn’t I see this coming? “You planned this. You got all this in order and then you said that shit to Danny.”

“You’re not the only one who takes care of the band, Micah. In fact, I’d go so far as to say, I’m the one protecting it from you, right now.”

“The fuck—”

“Band votes. You know that. Talk to Sean.”

Alex hung up and Micah swore. Loudly.

And then he texted Sean.

Be honest. Danny? Yes or no?

Sorry mate, the answer came back immediately. But it’s no. He’s a sweet kid and the road will eat him up.

Fuck. Just…fuck.

Chapter Twelve

Helen

She woke up to the buzz of her phone. One quick buzz, which meant an incoming text. Really bad stuff didn’t come in as a text.

Eyes still shut she reached out from the cocoon of blankets she’d absolutely fallen into after talking to Josie and grabbed her phone.

Coffee?

The text was from Micah. He must have walked to a coffee shop.

Yes. Please. Lots of milk. No sugar.

He sent back a thumbs-up.

She rubbed the sleep from her eyes and called her mom real quick.

“Hi honey,” Mom said when she answered. “How are you doing?”

“Fine. I’m just getting up.” Before falling asleep, she’d texted her mom saying it would be a few more hours.

“That was smart not driving when you’re tired.”

Helen chuckled. Yes. It was. But sometimes she thought Mom might say anything she did was smart. They’d fallen into some weird coping mechanisms the last few years.

“How is Bea?”

“How is Bea every day?” Mom asked, her voice radiating joy and love.

“Covered in jam and bossy?” Helen said.

“Well, that, but she’s also a delight. She’s watching a cartoon while I get her dinner.”

“I should be home…I don’t know…” She tried to do the math, but without coffee it was very difficult to add numbers.

“Don’t worry, honey. She’s fine. We’re fine. Take as much time as you need.”

“Well, I shouldn’t need more than today. I’m hoping to be back tonight.”

“So…” Mom dropped her voice. “How is he?”

Smart. Funny. Mercurial. Difficult. Kind.

“He’s nice, Mom.”

“Nice like what?”

Helen laughed. “What does that mean?”

“Nice like a hot cup of coffee. Or nice like…you know, sex.”

Helen sighed. Both, she thought. He’s nice like both. But she wasn’t about to tell her mother that.

“Goodbye mom. Kiss Bea for me.”

“I will. Oh, hey, Jonah is, like, obsessed with finding out how Micah heard about Haven House. Find out, would you? And then text him so I’m not hearing about it all the time.”

“I will, Mom.” There was a knock on her door and she felt her heart spike. Her face flush. Just knowing he was there, outside the door, made her feel…buzzy. “I need to go, Mom, we’re getting on the road.”

Mom hung up and Helen kicked off the blankets, put on her clothes, took one look at herself in the mirror and thought…well, there’s not much I can do about that. And opened the door.

Micah Sullivan leaned against the doorframe with his baseball cap pulled down low. He wore a flannel shirt over an old faded gray shirt, the lettering all but worn off. His jeans…his jeans were nearly indecent. Worn and kind of crumpled, it was like they were hugging his junk.