Chapter Twenty-Two

Jace

J ace pulled Nico’s van in at the airport, the engine humming softly as he waited. His stomach churned with a mix of anxiety and hope. When he spotted Mark coming out, he gave a small wave, trying to gauge his friend’s mood. Mark hesitated for a moment, then offered a tight smile as he climbed into the van.

They drove in silence at first. The tension between them was intense. It wasn’t until they reached a little pub on the outskirts of town that Jace felt the weight begin to lift. The familiar setting—a cozy place with wooden beams, low lighting, and the comforting scent of pub food—felt like neutral ground.

After ordering drinks and some lunch, Jace finally broke the silence. “I’m glad you came, Mark. We’ve missed you.”

Mark nodded, sipping his beer. “Yeah, I’ve missed you guys, too. Things just…got out of hand. ”

Jace nodded, choosing his words carefully. “We’ve had a lot of fun times, man. Just because Nico and I are together doesn’t mean it has to change. We’re still a band. We’ll still have fun.”

Mark looked down at his drink, the tension in his shoulders easing slightly. “I guess I just felt like I was losing my place. It’s been tough.”

Jace reached out, placing a hand on Mark’s shoulder. “You’re not losing your place. You’re like a brother to me. Brothers fight sometimes, but it doesn’t mean we stop caring about each other.”

Mark took a deep breath and finally met Jace’s gaze. “I’m sorry, Jace. For everything. I was out of line.”

Hearing those words, Jace felt a rush of relief and a pang of sorrow. “It hurt, man. That guitar means a lot to me. But I get it. Emotions were running high. What matters is that we move forward from here.”

They sat for a while, reminiscing about their best moments on the road, laughing about the crazy adventures they had shared. The tension gradually melted away completely, replaced by a sense of camaraderie. By the time they left the pub, Jace felt a renewed sense of hope.

As they drove back to the hotel, Jace couldn’t help but feel grateful for the chance to mend things with Mark. The apology had meant more than Mark would ever know. It was a step towards healing, towards bringing the band back together. And for Jace, that was worth everything.

They were making good progress back toward the hotel when Jace noticed he was speeding a little. Before he could slow down, another car suddenly appeared from a side street, and there was no time to avoid it.

The impact wasn’t severe, but it was enough to dent both vehicles and bring them to an abrupt halt. Jace’s heart pounded as he quickly checked on Mark. “You okay, man?”

Mark nodded, looking shaken but unharmed. “Yeah, just a bit rattled. ”

Jace’s heart pounded as the red and blue lights flashed around him, casting an eerie glow on the aftermath of the accident. An officer approached, his expression stern.

“Have you been drinking tonight?” the officer asked, his voice direct.

Jace swallowed hard, nerves on edge. “No, sir,” he lied, hoping his fear didn’t show.

The officer studied him for a moment before nodding. “Do you or your passenger need a doctor?”

“No, we’re fine,” Jace replied, glancing at Mark, who gave a quick nod of agreement.

“Alright, step out of the vehicle and walk a straight line for me,” the officer instructed.

Jace’s legs felt like jelly, but he managed to step out and walk down the line, focusing on keeping his steps steady. He could feel the officer’s eyes on him, scrutinizing every move. Somehow, he managed to pass the test.

The officer handed him a ticket, his expression not softening one bit. “You were clocked at eighty miles in a sixty-mile zone. Pay attention,” he snapped, the reprimand stinging.

Jace’s mouth went dry, fear gnawing at him. He took the ticket, feeling the weight of his actions.

As the officer turned to leave, he paused, looking back at Jace. “You’re from the band Sacred Fire, aren’t you?”

Jace nodded, uncertain where this was going.

“Great band,” the officer said, a hint of a smile breaking through. “But drive better.”

The comment left Jace feeling both relieved and chastised. Once the officer left, Jace took a deep breath, trying to steady his racing heart. The reality of the situation hit him hard—they had been incredibly lucky .

Jace assessed the damage. The van was scratched up, and the engine was smoking. It would need to be towed. The driver of the other car was also unharmed, just a bit frustrated. After exchanging information, Jace realized the van would have to go to the garage.

Jace pulled out his phone and called Nico. “Hey, Nico. We’ve been in an accident, but everyone’s okay. The van’s a bit banged up, and it’s being towed to a garage.”

Nico’s voice was tense, but relieved. “Thank God you’re both okay. Do you need help to get back?”

“No, it’s alright,” Jace replied. “We’ll take an Uber back to the hotel. We’ll see you soon.”

After arranging for an Uber, they rode back to the hotel in silence, each lost in their own thoughts. When they arrived, Nico and Sammie were waiting in the lobby, worry etched on their faces.

Sammie immediately moved to help Mark with his suitcase. “Glad you guys are safe.”

Jace nodded, feeling the weight of the day’s events settling over him. “Yeah, it was a close call. Let’s just get upstairs and try to relax.”

The way Nico looked at him had him worried. He and Mark had had three drinks. Before they left the pub, he’d brushed his teeth in the men’s room and stuck two mints in his mouth to ward off the smell of alcohol. He should have paid more attention to the speed limit instead of daydreaming. He’d broken the rule of not driving after consuming alcohol. That was Nico’s rule for anyone who used his van.

They all headed up to Nico and Jace’s room, the atmosphere heavy but filled with a sense of relief that things hadn’t been worse. As they settled in, Jace knew they still had a lot to discuss and resolve, but for now, he could breathe a little easier with Mark back.

“What do you guys need?” Nico asked .

“Need a strong drink,” Mark said.

“Coke, please.”

Once everyone was situated, Nico started his questions. “Can you explain how the accident happened?”

“I drove too fast, and I couldn’t stop when this guy came out of nowhere and hit the van. It caused the engine to smoke. So, it had to be towed to the nearest garage for repair.”

“When you say too fast, how fast were you driving?” Nico asked.

“I don’t know.”

“Where were you two coming from?” Nico asked.

“We went out to lunch,” Mark said.

“Where?”

“Murphy’s Pub,” Jace admitted.

Nico nodded then turned to Mark and hugged him. “I’m glad you’re back. We couldn’t make it without you.”

“Thanks.”

Nico turned to Sammie. “Thanks for spending the day with me. We’ll have to do it again. Jace and I have things to talk about. We need to leave for Black Rock City tomorrow at noon.”

Sammie and Mark said their goodbyes for the evening, leaving Jace alone with Nico.

“Tell me everything.”

“I did.”

“What’s hanging out of your jeans pocket?” Nico asked.

The last thing Jace wanted was to show Nico his ticket, but he pulled it out and handed it to him.

“It says you were driving at eighty in a sixty-mile zone.”

“Yes, that’s what the officer said.”

“And you don’t agree? ”

“I didn’t realize how fast I was going.”

“I see. Did you have anything to drink with lunch?”

“Three beers. I promised you I wouldn’t drink over three beers.” Jace knew he sounded pathetic, and Nico would never buy his story because it had nothing to do with drinking and driving. That was a long-time rule.

“I’m proud of you for sticking to your promise. It doesn’t go unappreciated, but you broke my rule for anyone who uses my van not to drink and drive at all. This means you’ve lost your privilege of using it again. You could have killed yourself and Mark or someone else. Never drink and drive.”

“I knew I couldn’t please you, no matter what I do.”

“Jace! Don’t act like an immature teen. You fucked up. You’re lucky you all came out okay.”

“I have nothing else to say.”

Nico pulled his phone out and called the garage to discuss the van. He walked out of the room into the hallway and left Jace alone with his thoughts. He was worried about the van.

Nico returned to the room with his phone in hand and a sour expression on his face.

“The van needs extensive work, and it won’t be done when we need it. I have to rent a van.”

“I’ll pay for it. I’m sorry.”

“Jace, you had an accident. Whether it was your fault doesn’t matter now. You got Mark back, so I’ll take care of it. I’ll be back later.”

“Where are you going?”

“To rent a large camper with air conditioning to accommodate all four of us.”

“Really? ”

“Not one of us can be stressed and you guys aren’t ones who can deal without air.” He pulled Jace into his arms. “I still love you. I know you’re trying, but, Jace, no drinking and driving ever again.” Their lips met in a gentle, lingering kiss, sending a rush of warmth through Jace’s body.