Rock Star Returns: Carlie's Story (Access All Areas 2)

"Nothing, Mum." Jeez, I felt like a kid again.

At least the glass hadn't broken. I lifted the window again.

“Stop throwing rocks.”

"Carlie," Holden hissed. "Come out."

He'd been drinking and was trying to sound like he hadn't. I could tell. I sighed and climbed out the window to the garden. Holden ducked out from the shadow of a tree.

"I really need to talk," he said. "I don't know what else to do. Carlie..."

He sounded wrecked. What the fuck had happened?

"Not here," I said. Mum would be out in a flash, investigating what was going on. Hell, if she saw Holden, she'd probably invite him in for coffee so she could pump him for information.

"I've got my car."

I glared him, not that he could see the daggers coming from my eyes in the dark, but how stupid was he?

"Give me the keys," I said. "You are not driving in that state."

He fished his keys out of his pocket.

"Where are you parked?" I asked.

He nodded down the street and I walked off. He caught up and walked beside me.

Then he stopped. "Carlie..."

"What?"

He looked me up and down then took off his jacket and put it on me. I'd totally forgotten my skimpy pajamas. His jacket didn't cover much of my legs, but at least my boobs weren't flashing everyone in town.

I got in the car and adjusted the seat.

"Where to?" I asked. I didn't want to drive back to the lookout.

"There's no one home at my place," he said. "They're holding some kind of pre-funeral wake at Uncle Jacko's. They'll be there all night."

"Have you been there?" I asked.

"Hell no. That's the last place on earth I want to be. I'm staying in the hotel out on the highway."

Obviously, since that was the only hotel in town.

"Okay, but are you sure you want to go back there?"

Holden nodded. “I need to.”

The memories would hurt like hell for both of us but if he wanted to go there, I'd drive. He leaned over to the backseat and grabbed a bottle.

"Haven't you had enough?"

"I've not even started," he replied.

I sighed but didn't say anything. If he needed something to cope with this, I wasn't going to fault him. Hell, if a guy can’t get crazy-drunk the night before his dad’s funeral, when can he?

I turned the stereo on to break the silence. Country town radio with ads for tractors and fertilizer. Then they went to a song.