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“I’m serious, dude. I’m drunk as hell, but I don’t want to watch you destroy yourself. I couldn’t handle that.”

Liam looks at me like he’s not sure he heard me right. Then he grins and slaps my thigh. “Let’s talk about something else, okay? How about your sister?”

I make a face. “You’ve just been waiting for this moment.”

“Is the timing bad?” He gestures at the stripper. “You’re drunk. That’s my advantage.”

Unfortunately, he’s right.

“I asked my sister to check on Sophie for me.”

“I’m done with that chapter,” I try to convince him. “Can we drop it?”

Liam sighs. “You’re a family guy, Aran. Always have been. And if you’re too ashamed to reach out yourself, then I’ll have to help. Trust me, this conversation isn’t over.”

Thankfully, he changes the subject and tells me about his drum school. He even offers me a job as a vocal coach, which makes me laugh—but also sparks my interest.

I have no idea how the party ends. Maybe I did a few lines after all.

Maybe not.

The metallic crash of cymbals rips me from sleep. The sound hits my brain like electric shocks, and a sharp pain stabs between my eyes.

“Fuck… what the hell?” I turn away from the light and bury my face in a cushion.

“Rise and shine, boys! Time to go!”

Leslie.

“Fuck off,” Liam groans from the other couch.

“We said noon. Sam called and told me to come drag you two out of here.”

I can’t move. Every tiny movement sends painful tremors through my body. I feel sick and useless.

When Leslie shakes my arm, a death-rattle groan escapes me.

“Please, Les… spare me.”

“If anyone gets spared today, it’s definitely not you, Aran.”

Her voice drills into my skull, and I drag the pillow over my head and turn my back to her.

“Aran. This is important. If you’re quitting the band, at least do it properly.”

“I did,” I mumble.

“As much as I hate to say it, sweetheart, someone with your history and your past draws too much attention. You can’t just sneak away. The press wants answers. The sooner you give them, the less they’ll harass you later.”

“Ugh… you’re right.”

I haul myself upright and rub my eyes. The rehearsal room looks like a bomb went off, but from the way Leslie is staring at me, I’m the bigger disaster.

“Here.” She hands me a glass with a dissolving Alka-Seltzer. “Drink.”

“Thanks.”

I gulp it down, but I still feel dehydrated.