Read Online The Things We Knew by Catherine West - Free Book Online Page B

“Move over.” She sat beside him, handed him his coffee, and pointed at his cigarette. “One would think now would be an opportune time to quit, given the cause of the trouble you’re in.”
    “One would think.” Gray took a last drag, dropped his smoke to the ground, and stomped on it. “I didn’t do it on purpose.”
    Marshall grunted, tapping the tops of his black leather shoes together. “Of course you didn’t. Nothing is ever your fault, is it? Thankfully, they decided not to sue. What were you doing out in that barn in the middle of the night anyway, Gray? Singing to the cows?”
    A chuckle snuck out of him. It wasn’t funny. Not really. But how many places he’d stayed in had barns on their property? Hotel, guesthouse, B&B, or whatever they called it, it intrigued him. He’d just taken a night stroll, sat down for a smoke. He hadn’t meant to send the barn up in flames.
    Victoria aimed the pointy toe of her red boot at his ankle and fired.
    “Ow. Physical violence is not necessary.” Gray bent over and rubbed the sore spot. “Nobody got hurt. I thought I stubbed it out, okay?”
    “We hear you.” Victoria pulled on a pair of sunglasses and shuddered. “Wow, it’s cold here. Good thing we’re going home tomorrow.”
    Gray twisted to face her. “We’re what?”
    Marshall sighed. His hard stare made Gray squirm like a toddler put in time-out. “I talked to Neil this morning. You can’t tell me you didn’t see this coming. Two DUIs last summer, drunk and disorderly on New Year’s. Where was that again?” He shook his head, disgusted. “Doesn’t matter. And now you burn down a barn.”
    “Don’t forget the past couple shows where you almost fell off the stage.” Victoria wouldn’t look at him.
    She stared straight ahead.
    Seeing the same things he saw.
    Seeing their past. Their mistakes.
    No. His mistakes.
    Gray scratched his head and tried to ignore the ache in his chest. His agent wouldn’t drop him. Unless Neil was finally so sick of all his crap. And could he blame him?
    Gray stayed silent awhile, then forced out the questions. “Neil won’t drop me, right? What about the new album? What about the gigs in Europe all summer?” His first record with Sony released last year and they said he had a chance. Said he could actually make it in this business.
    He’d almost begun to believe it.
    “No gigs.” Marshall pulled on a pair of gloves and donned his shades. Gray half wondered if the dude had a double life working for the Feds. “They’ll find someone else. The new album is on hold for now. Neil wants you to take some time off. He’ll call you later. Get your head together. Get some rest and get yourself off whatever it is you’re taking, Carlisle.” Marshall stood, pitched his cup into a nearby garbage can, and nudged his dark glasses downward. Looked at Gray through eyes that were a smidge softer. “You only get one go-round in this life. Make it count.”
    “Yeah.” Gray cracked his knuckles and rubbed his hands to warm them. He took the hand Marshall extended and shook it. “Thanks for coming, man.”
    “Take care of yourself, Gray. You’ll be in my prayers.”
    Figures. Of all the lawyers in New York City, he had to land a religious one.
    He’d started out so well. He was young, but he had the drive and determination. And he’d been clean and sober. Playing gigs because they were fun, the fans were cool, and he loved hearing his stuff on the radio. Living the dream he’d had since high school.
    He’d always hated the confines of the classroom. Always wanted to be someplace else. While his siblings studied, took courses for extra credit, and placed overly high expectations on themselves, all Gray ever wanted to do was sing.
    And then he got scared.
    Gray watched the tall man stride away, expelled a long breath, and bent over, head in his hands.
    Victoria rubbed his back. “It’s not the end of the world.” The tremor in her voice told him it probably