Chapter Sixteen

Nico

A fter they practiced all morning and afternoon, Nico wanted to spend more time with Jace. He still looked unstable from his mother’s rejection and one thing about Jace, he had to be busy all the time. Nico planned to keep him so busy he couldn’t think on things making him sad.

Nico’s phone rang, and it was a club nearby asking if they would play tonight for a few hours. He told the club owner yes. Then he called the guys into the living room and told them the news.

“The Thunder Club asked if we would play since their regular band had too many sick members.”

“What did you say?” Mark asked.

“We’d do it. Make sure you’re ready by seven.”

“Aren’t we here to practice and rest?” Sammie asked.

“Think of it as practice.”

Nico followed Jace upstairs to their bedroom. He had said little to anyone, and he ate less than normal.

“Jace, did something else happen? ”

“No. Nothing happened. I just feel like I have a chain around my neck.”

“Because of me?”

“I feel trapped here in the cabin and not able to get away.”

“Where do you want to go?”

“Anywhere but here.”

Nico took the keys on the dresser and threw them to Jace. “You can go anywhere as long as you come back in time to leave for the gig.”

Jace turned around and left Nico standing there alone in the room. Maybe he was crowding him, and he really did just need some space.

Nico got a phone call from his cousin.

“Hey, when will your tour be over?”

“What’s it to you?”

“Nothing to me, but your father is coming to visit you in California.”

“If he wants to see me, then have him call me. I’m not making plans with you.” Nico ended the call.

He practiced with the others downstairs for a while. Jace was still gone when they stopped to get ready for the gig.

Nico paced back and forth in the cabin, his frustration mounting with every tick of the clock. The van was gone—Jace had taken it, needing space. But they had to leave for the gig at seven, and with the time nearing six, there was no sign of Jace.

Mark slouched in a chair, idly strumming his guitar, the tension clear in his posture. “He’d better show up soon,” Mark muttered, his tone a mix of worry and annoyance.

“Typical Jace,” Sammie said from the corner, his fingers tapping nervously on the edge of his keyboard. “Always disappearing when we need him most. ”

Nico clenched his jaw. “He needed space, but knew he needed to be back for the gig. We can’t keep doing this. He’s so damn selfish at times. We have a responsibility to each other and to the band.” He glanced at his phone for the hundredth time. Still no message from Jace. “If he doesn’t show up in the next five minutes, I’m calling an Uber.”

They fell into a tense silence, each lost in their own thoughts. Nico’s anger simmered beneath the surface. This wasn’t the first time Jace had pulled something like this, and it was starting to wear thin.

Just as Nico was about to pull out his phone, the door burst open. Jace stumbled in, looking disheveled but unapologetic.

“Where the hell have you been?” Nico’s voice was sharp, the worry in his tone overshadowed by anger.

Mark stood up, guitar in hand. “And why didn’t you answer any of our calls or messages?”

Sammie joined in, eyes narrowed. “We’ve been freaking out over here, man. We’ve got to leave for the gig soon!”

Jace held up his hands defensively. “I needed a break, okay? Just some space.”

“A break?” Nico’s voice was incredulous. “I let you take the van, Jace, and you know we rely on that to get to our gigs. You can’t just disappear without a word and stress us out.”

Mark nodded, adding, “We’re a team, Jace. If one of us screws up, we all feel it.”

Sammie crossed his arms. “You can’t keep doing this to us. We need to know we can count on you.”

Jace looked around at their angry faces. “I’m sorry, okay? I didn’t think—”

“No,” Nico cut him off. “You didn’t. We’ve got a gig to get to. Get your stuff and let’s go.” Nico couldn’t believe Jace’s audacity. He had put them all in a stressful situation, and his nonchalant apology was infuriating.

As Jace headed to his room to grab his gear, Nico exchanged a weary glance with Mark and Sammie. It was clear they all felt the weight of Jace’s actions, but for now, they had a show to put on. The rest would have to wait.

Nico scanned the club, taking in the aged but grand space buzzing with energy. The place, despite its years, kept an allure that pulled in a full crowd. The room hummed with anticipation, and the scent of spilled beer and cheap cologne wafted through the air.

As Sacred Fire took the stage, Nico positioned himself behind his drum set. The stage lights cast a halo around Jace, who clutched the mic with a casual confidence, Mark cradled his guitar with a focused intensity, and Sammie was at the keyboard, fingers itching to bring the keys to life.

The first notes ignited the audience. Jace’s voice cut through the din, raw and melodic, as Mark’s guitar riffs sliced through the rhythm. Sammie’s fingers danced across the keyboard, weaving a tapestry of sound. And Nico—he hammered the drums, his heartbeat syncing with the rhythm of the night.

Nico’s eyes flicked from his drum set to the stage where Jace was in his element, embodying pure energy. The song they played was one of their best—infectiously upbeat, with a groove that gripped the crowd and refused to let go. Jace’s voice soared through the club, each note clear and powerful, blending seamlessly with Mark’s electrifying guitar riffs and Sammie’s resonant keyboard chords.

As the song intensified, Jace transformed into a whirlwind of motion. He didn’t just sing; he performed. His dancing was chaotic yet captivating, each movement in tune with the beat Nico pounded out on the drums. Jace leaped onto the bar, the crowd’s cheers escalating into a roar. With every step, he flirted with the audience, his eyes locking with theirs, his smile making hearts flutter. His little flirty lover who sparkled this evening. Happiness poured into Nico witnessing the Jace’s success.

Nico’s drumming was a solid foundation, and he couldn’t help but watch Jace work the room. It was moments like these—when the music and the energy of the crowd melded into a single electric current—that made all the grueling hours of practice worthwhile. Jace, Mark, Sammie, and him—each played their part to perfection, and together, they created something truly spectacular.

When the set ended, the crowd’s roar echoed long after the last chord. They moved to the bar, euphoric and soaked in sweat. Jace reached for his third drink, but Nico intercepted it, eyes narrowing.

“You’ve had enough, Jace,” Nico said, voice steady yet firm.

“Back off, Nico,” Jace slurred, irritation creeping in. “I’m celebrating.”

“Celebrating or drowning?” Nico shot back, tension lacing his words. The bar lights flickered, casting shadows on Jace’s face. “Remember you said you wanted me to tell you to stop at the third drink?”

Mark leaned in, his guitar slung over his shoulder like a silent observer. “He’s got a point, Jace. Can’t afford to mess up.”

Sammie added, “We need you sharp, man. One drink too many and we all go down.”

Jace’s eyes flared with stubbornness, but he knew they were right. He mumbled something under his breath and dropped the drink back on the bar. Together, they headed out, the weight of their words hanging in the air.

The silence was thick on the drive back to the cabin. After putting away their instruments, they met on the porch, each sitting in a rocker. Sammie brought out some fresh lemonade .

“Just trying to look out for you, Jace,” Nico murmured, settling into an rocker.

“Yeah, I know.” Jace sighed, running a hand through his hair. “Sometimes it’s just hard to stop once I start.”

Mark said, “We’re a team. We gotta keep each other in check.”

Sammie nodded, a thoughtful look in his eyes. “We’re in this together. One falls, we all fall. Let’s keep our heads in the game.”

Nico could see the understanding dawning on Jace’s face. The band wasn’t just about music; it was about holding each other up when the lights dimmed, and the crowd’s roar faded into silence. Jace stood to stretch.

“We need to talk,” Nico said to Jace.