Wicked Beat

Trey crossed his arms over his chest. “If you all don’t stop it, I’m going to have to start making out with Dave here, and no one wants to see that.”

“I do,” Aggie said and emitted a husky chuckle.

Damn, that woman was delightfully wicked. Eric could only imagine what she’d made him as a birthday gift. It turned out to be a custom-made black leather corset with blue butterflies embroidered down one side for Rebekah. Eric totally approved.

Sed and Jessica had bought him a personalized license plate frame for the Corvette that read Drummers Do It with Rhythm.

Myrna and Brian gave him a box of sex toys that came with their stamp of approval.

Trey didn’t get him anything. “I practically gave you that wonderful woman of yours,” he explained with a wink.

Dave gave him a new cymbal for his drum kit, which he had to try immediately.

Rebekah handed him yet another gift.

“You’re spoiling me,” Eric said. He laughed when he opened the box and found a pillow shaped like a pair of br**sts.

“So when you’re on the road, you’ll have something to remind you of me. Something you can play with while you’re sleeping alone. And you will be sleeping alone, Eric Sticks!”

“No, he won’t,” Sed said.

“What do you mean he won’t?” Rebekah bellowed.

Before Eric could assure her that she had absolutely nothing to worry about, Sed said, “You’ll be there with him. The band talked about it, and we decided we want you to stay on as our permanent soundboard operator.”

Her smile could have lit the heavens, and then she glanced at her brother. “Dave—”

“Dave will also be our soundboard operator. That job is big enough for two people. There are things he won’t be able to do for a while yet, so you can help him, but honestly, with both of you on the job, Sinners is gonna rock everyone’s face off,” he said in that front man roar that made the crowds go wild.

Eric was so happy he could’ve kissed Sed. So he did. He got slapped alongside the head for his misplaced affection, but he didn’t care. He wouldn’t have to be away from Rebekah for weeks on end. Or ever. She would always be by his side.

“So do you want the job?” Sed asked.

“Are you kidding?” Rebekah cried. “Of course I want the job!”

Sed didn’t slap her alongside the head when she kissed him, but Jessica’s eyes flashed a warning.

The doorbell rang. Eric glanced at Rebekah in question.

“Happy twenty-eighth birthday, baby.”

“Did you get me a stripper?” Eric teased.

Trey slapped himself in the forehead. “Why didn’t I think of that? Then I’d have someone to play with too.”

“Go get the door,” Rebekah urged.

Eric gave her a strange look. Everyone he knew was already here, but he went to answer. Jon stood on his threshold. Well, Eric’s birthday had been going perfectly. Only seemed fair that something would f**k it up. Why would Rebekah invite him?

Jon smiled slightly. “Hey,” he said.

“I already told you, the band is finished with you, Jon. You’re not going to weasel your way back in.”

Jon offered a curt nod. “Yeah, I get that. That’s not why I’m here. What is that in your hair?”

Eric touched his hair and found a hunk of cake in the row of spikes down the center. “Birthday cake.”

“Oh yeah. Happy birthday.”

“Thanks. So what do you want?”

“Can we talk outside? It’s kind of… personal.”

Eric sighed. Why couldn’t he just tell this guy to f**k off? To get out of his life and stay out. Maybe because he remembered him before he’d become an addict.

“Yeah. Okay.” Eric closed the front door and went to sit on the porch swing.

Jon perched beside him, clasped his hands in his lap, and stared at his thumbs. “My rehab counselor said it would help to make amends.”

“You’re in rehab?”

“Outpatient.”

“Obviously.”

Jon chuckled. “When I called the house looking for you yesterday, Rebekah said I could come tonight. Own up to everything.”

Eric wondered why she thought this was a good birthday present.

“I’m sorry I lied about the money in the lockbox,” Jon said. “I did take it. Blew it all on a weekend’s worth of quality cocaine.” He looked up and met Eric’s eyes. “I don’t expect you to forgive me. I wouldn’t forgive me. Everyone else gave up on me years ago, but you never did.” His defeated smile made Eric’s heart pang. Just a little. “I didn’t know how else to keep you in my life, Eric, so I manipulated you into thinking you owed me. All I really wanted was to hang out with you again. Like we used to before I completely f**ked up my life.”

“You don’t have to be in the band to hang out with me.”

Jon rubbed his forehead and stared across the immaculately tended front yard. “Don’t enable me again, Eric. It honestly doesn’t help.”

“I don’t want you anywhere near me if you’re using, but…”

Jon glanced at him.

“But if you get your shit together, maybe we could put a little band together. Play gigs at local bars. I’ve been working on some alternative rock songs. You never were heavy enough for Sinners.”

Jon smiled. “That would be awesome.”

“But I get to sing.”

“And drum?”

“Nope, just sing. I’ll need you to find a good drummer. A couple of guitarists. I won’t have time. I’m f**kin’ busy, you know?”

Jon’s eyes sparkled with hope. “Are you serious?”

“Yeah, it’ll be fun. We’ll jam. Just when I’m off tour with Sinners, of course, and only if you keep your nose clean. I’m not putting up with your bullshit anymore, Jon.”

Jon punched him in the arm. “I don’t expect you to.”

Eric nodded. “Do you want to come inside?”

Jon shook his head. “Nah. I’ve taken enough of your time. You’ll probably get a long, boring letter from me in a couple days. Another part of my therapy. You don’t have to read it, if you don’t want to.”

Eric laughed. “That’s why you’re really here, huh? To keep me from reading that letter.”

“No,” Jon said sheepishly. “I’m not like that anymore.”

“Whatever, dude,” Eric said, laughing. “I don’t expect you to change overnight.”