Page 98 of Never Forget

“Look, man. You’re getting off easy, a slap on the wrist and some paperwork. Trust me, it could be a lot worse.”

“Paperwork?”

“Consider it your exit interview. Standard stuff. NDAs, acknowledgement of breach of contract, that sort of thing. And you’re going to agree not to try to contact or come within a hundred yards of Naz or any of the members of the band.”

Cory hands me a folder with actual documents inside. Real termination documents, copies of the contracts and non-disclosure agreements I signed when I first started, plus a written record of misconduct.

“Blake should have had you sign these in the office the other day, but you left without finishing the meeting.”

“You can’t do this to me.”

“You did it to yourself, Scott. I’m just following orders.”

With Cory on one side, and Eric on the other, I’m forced to my feet and escorted out of Naz’s trailer, across the gravel drive, and into a waiting car. I don’t fight it. I never would. Even if I wasn’t the one in the wrong.

Inside the dark tinted vehicle, I stare out the window, so far past dumbstruck I’m not sure my brain is functioning. I can’t be sure of anything. Of what’s real or not. If this is all part of the plan, or if finding the listening device in the cell booster that I brought and installed was the last straw and they decided to make things real.

I’m not sure how long I sit there while the vehicle idles. The door to the trailer slams shut again, but I don’t look back to see who it is or what’s happening. I can’t bear it any longer.

Finally, the driver and passenger doors open, then shut again before the vehicle starts moving. The partition is up, blocking me from seeing or talking to Cory and whoever is up front with him. I don’t particularly want to talk to them either, but I do deserve an explanation or some reassurance. The unknown is killing me.

As the SUV drives by the big house, I look at the lights still on and imagine the people inside. I wonder how Naz’s grandparents are doing with their space being full of rockstars. I wonder if said rockstars are behaving or giving Naz grief. The thought makes me smile.

Maybe someone else would be angry in my situation, but all I can think is that I let them down. And I really hope I have a chance to make it all up to them.

TWENTY-FIVE

SCOTT

We’re on the highway for a little over five minutes before the partition lowers. It’s dark outside, and there isn’t much light in the vehicle, so I can barely make out Cory’s silhouette in the driver’s seat, illuminated by the dashboard and passing headlights.

“Are you going to explain to me what’s going on?” I ask, doing my best to keep my composure.

A familiar voice tells me to hold my damn horses, then the shadow of a large body starts to climb through the partition from the front seat.

“How about you hold your damn horses and give me a chance to pull over to the side of the road so you can use the door?” Cory complains, swatting at the knee that gets too close to his face for comfort.

“There’s no time. This is fine.”

“Naz?”

“Yeah,” he grunts. “Gimme a sec.”

I reach over and press the overhead light. Soft amber light floods the cabin just in time for me to see Naz halfway through the partition, looking like he’s regretting his choice. He ungracefully grips the back of one of the reversed second row seats and proceeds to try and pull himself the rest of the way through, but he seems to be stuck at the hips.

“Are you stuck?” I ask.

“No. I’m… momentarily inconvenienced.”

A muffled snort comes from the front of the SUV, then a sharp hiss as we swerve onto the shoulder, the vibration of the rumble strip jolting everyone to attention before Cory straightens the wheel. “Watch it!”

“I have regrets,” Naz groans, trying to twist himself through the partition to no avail.

A laugh escapes me before I can stop it. It’s brief, but it’s the first genuine moment of relief I’ve felt all day. He’s here.

Naz lifts his head and glares at me. “I’m glad you’re finding this amusing.”

“Hold on,” I chuckle and slide off the bench seat to crouch in front of him. “Okay, um. Let’s try…” Pushing my shoulders under his chest, I lift him enough to get my arms around his waist. “Okay, now hold onto me.”