Page 32 of Bad Habits
Dade frowned. “Uh, I don’t know if that’s such a good idea, buddy. Cece’s probably right on this one.”
I narrowed my eyes at my friend, wondering what was going through his mind. “Do you need an assistant?”
“Uh, yeah, but…” He scraped a hand over his face, looking uncomfortable, which was so unlike Dade. I’d never met a man more comfortable in his own skin, except maybe Knox. “You know how sometimes you see someone, like across the room or whatever, and it’s like a gut-punch?”
Uh oh. I didn’t like where this was going. “Uh huh. What are you saying? That’s how you felt when you saw my sister at one of your concerts?”
Knox masked his laugh behind a cough when I glared at him.
Dade seemed lost in his thoughts when he said, “I even had my stage manager go after her, but she was already gone.”
“Hey,” Knox said, looking at me. “Why didn’t you get her backstage passes? Some sister you are.”
I was the one who’d gotten her and her friends front row seats and that almost came back to bite me in the ass. “I couldn’t trust her,” I muttered, pointing at Dade. “Any more than I can trust you.”
He closed his eyes before shaking his head. “You’re right not to trust me. My track record with women says it all.”
Aw. Now I felt like a crappy friend. Dade was a great guy. He just sucked at relationships and so did my sister. I didn’t want them to hook-up only to watch it go up in flames.
I grasped his wrist. “Come on, Dade. You just need a little break from relationships, that’s all. Take some time to get over that mess with Tonya.” The little bitch who drank too much and punctured holes in the condoms so she could trap Dade with a baby he didn’t want.
He looked from me to Knox before he said, “I just wish I could have what you guys have, ya know? Someone’s who’s always there for me, loves the same things I do, and actually listens when I talk.” His gaze drifted down when he said, “Someone I can laugh with and…” He shook his head, sighing. “You know what? This is stupid. I don’t mean to bring you guys down.”
“You’re not.” I had no idea he was feeling so low. Dade was always the life of the party and his failed relationships were usually a running joke, not a reason to get depressed. “Hey, I get it. I know it’s not easy to invest so much time in a relationship, only to realize it was time wasted. I hate that Leo—”
“Ugh,” Knox said. “Please don’t mention his name.”
The waitress returned with Knox’s drink and Dade ordered another.
“I’m just saying, I know what he’s going through.”
“No, you don’t.” Dade looked me in the eye. “Trust me, you don’t, Cec. I’m a freakin’ laughing stock on this business. Two failed marriages, a failed engagement, and I’m not even thirty-five.”
The country music business was still pretty conservative. People divorced, for sure, but probably less than the national average. Knox was convinced it was because a lot of us grew up with the same morals and values, and we’d been taught marriage vows were sacred.
“You’re not a laughing stock, honey.” Though I knew he’d been the butt of a lot of jokes, both online and inside the industry. Everyone respected Dade’s talent and accomplishments, but his taste in women… that was the punch line.
Knox looked like he’d rather be anywhere else when I gave him ‘the look’ that let him know I expected him to chime in.
“Uh, Cece’s right, man. We’ve all had shitty experiences with women. You can’t let it get you down.”
I rolled my eyes. Knox’s idea of being a supportive friend was basically telling him to grow a pair.
The waitress delivered the pizza and drinks, but as soon as she left, Dade threw a hundred down on the table and started to slide out of the booth. “You know what, guys? I’m not all that hungry anymore. Sorry. I’m just not gonna be great company tonight and I don’t wanna bring y’all down.”
“You’re not bringing us down!” I reached across Knox for his hand. “Seriously, stay, please. We haven’t had a chance to catch up in so long. We won’t talk about relationships anymore tonight, I promise.” I sealed the invisible zipper closing my lips.
He smiled before kissing the back of my hand. “I love you, Cec. You’re the best. But I’ve been a little messed up lately. I need to just figure some stuff out, on my own. Understand?”
I wanted to remind him that we were his friends, and were here if he needed to talk, but he’d made it clear he didn’t. “I’ll call you next week, okay?” I was worried about him and didn’t want him to feel alone. I’d always had Knox when I needed someone to talk to. I got the feeling Dade was feeling really alone, and that wasn’t the case. He had an army of friends who loved him.
“Yeah, sounds good. Thanks.”
Knox stood, shaking his hand and pulling him into a half-hug. “Listen, you know I’m always here for you, man. You ever need to bend an ear, holler at me, okay?”
“I will,” he said, slapping Knox on the back. “Thanks. I’ll catch you guys later.”
I watched Dade try to leave the bar, but he’d been cornered by a group of pretty girls begging for selfies and asking him to sign body parts. Par for the course, for him, but I wanted to march over there and tell them to back the hell off and give the guy some space. He was only human and was clearly having a shitty day.
