Chapter Ten

Nico

N ico’s frustration with Jace reached its peak, causing him to storm out of the café in a fit of rage. How could he have been so wrong about Jace? Despite knowing Jace loved him, there was a lingering hesitation that clouded his mind. Was Jace asking for an open relationship? Nico would never agree to anything like that, and Jace knew that. As he walked to work off some of his frustration, he could feel the failure weighing heavily on his shoulders. His timing was off, or perhaps there would never be a perfect moment for them. With each lap around the long block, he took in the sights and sounds of the bustling city before finally making his way back to the hotel room. He desperately tried to push thoughts of Jace out of his mind. Nothing would ever become of them as a couple. Jace had made that clear. Mark and Sammie sat around the table eating breakfast.

“Where’s Jace?” Sammie asked.

“He’s at the café.”

“Did you eat?” Mark asked.

“No. I left Jace there.”

“Did something bad happen between you guys?” Sammie adjusted his earring.

“I don’t want to talk about Jace. Mark, have a back-up plan in case Jace doesn’t show up tonight.”

“Why?” Mark asked.

“I don’t know what the fuck he’s doing. He’s too busy trying to score a different fuck every night and pickle himself in alcohol. He might not show. That’s all I’m saying. Be ready to take the lead.”

“Should I talk to him?” Sammie asked.

“No. Leave him alone. I’m getting my own room, so I’ll be there until we leave for the show.” Nico packed up his things. “Call if there is a problem. I’ll have my phone on.”

“Things must be bad for you to get your own room,” Sammie said.

“You know what an asshole he is. I swear I’m ready to leave this group.”

“You can’t leave us. That’s why it’s not good to fuck people in the band. You put us all at risk.”

“Nobody fucked if that is what you think happened in the shower. I’ll see you at eight.”

Nico stormed out of the room, his heart pounding with a mix of anger and hurt. He needed to be alone, away from the tension that had been building between him and Jace. The ultimatum he had given Jace still echoed in his mind: stop smoking, drinking, and partying if he wanted to be with him. Jace’s uncertain response had cut deeper than he expected. He took the elevator to the desk to arrange for a new room.

Once he entered his own room, Nico slammed the door shut and leaned against it, trying to steady his breathing. He felt a knot of anxiety tightening in his chest as he thought about the gig they had to play that night. The fear that Jace might not even show up gnawed at him, making him feel even more helpless. That little fucker!

Nico paced the room, his thoughts spiraling into worst-case scenarios. What if Jace didn’t come? What if the performance fell apart because of the tension between them? He could almost see the disappointed faces of their fans, hear the awkward silence that would follow a botched song. The pressure was suffocating. It wasn’t fair to Mark and Sammie, either. As the band manager, he was supposed to keep the band functioning and at peace with each other, not try to fuck the lead singer.

He threw himself onto the bed, staring up at the ceiling. The anger he felt towards Jace was mixed with a deep sadness. He wanted so badly for things to work out between them, but he couldn’t ignore the destructive habits that Jace clung to. It hurt to think Jace chose those habits over him.

To distract himself, Nico picked up the phone and ordered some food. He had little appetite, but he knew he needed to eat something. As he waited for the food to arrive, he tried to focus on the music, on the performance they had to deliver. But no matter how hard he tried, his thoughts kept drifting back to Jace and the uncertainty of their relationship and how all this would affect the band.

Nico felt a tear slip down his cheek, quickly wiping it away. He hated feeling this vulnerable, especially when they had a show to put on. But the pain was too raw to ignore. All he could do was hope Jace would show up, and that somehow, they could make things right.

After he finished eating and took a long nap, his phone rang, breaking the silence. He picked up the phone with the hope it was Jace.

“Nico,” Mark said. “Jace hasn’t been here since you two left. We both called him, and he didn’t answer. The limo is going to pick us up in an hour. ”

“Oh fuck! Are you ready to take over if he doesn’t show up?” Nico said. His pain again turned to anger. That no good pain in the ass! He could only imagine all the shit Jace was into when he was a kid. He had to figure out a way to save him from himself. Where the fuck was he all day? He had friends here, so he must be with them.

“I’m always ready for that, but this is Jace’s hometown and they’re expecting him. You heard them chanting his name last night as if he was the only one in the band.”

“Yes, well, he jumps all over the stage. They eat that up and his voice…”

“We’ll meet in the lobby.”

“See you then. And thanks.”

Nico stood in front of the mirror, pulling on his favorite pair of jeans and the Sacred Fire T-shirt he had been wearing became a second skin. He removed the shirt and put on a green one. His outfit had a draped, layered look, with a scarf over one shoulder, also adorned with gold patterns.

He meticulously fastened his large, gold earrings, which had an intricate design, resembling traditional Indian jewelry. They hung from his ears and were quite ornate. He put on multiple necklaces, including one with large black beads and another with smaller green and gold beads. Each one a small piece of his identity, followed by an array of bracelets and necklaces that clinked softly as he moved. The most time-consuming part of his routine was fitting his colorful turban over his long hair, ensuring every side strand was perfectly tucked away and leaving the rest down his back. Finally, he slipped into his black boots, feeling their familiar weight and comfort.

Once he was satisfied with his look, Nico headed to the lobby to meet Mark and Sammie. The absence of Jace was a heavy cloud over their heads as they climbed into the limo, each of them silently fuming and worried .

The tension in the limo was suffocating, but as they arrived at the club and walked inside, they spotted Jace at the soundboard. He was dressed in black leather, his hair streaked with blue, a sight that instantly washed away Nico’s worries. A wave of relief rushed through all three of them as soon as they laid eyes on him, knowing that their band was complete and ready to rock.

Jace ignored all three of them as if they weren’t there. He wasn’t noticeably drunk, and he had a Coke can in his hand. Jace staying sober was a relief on many levels. Nico walked over and smiled.

“You look hot tonight! Glad you could make it,” Nico said, then went to his drums without waiting for a response from Jace.

Mark and Sammie were approaching Jace when the girl from last night unexpectedly appeared, jumped on stage, embraced him, and planted a kiss on his lips.