Page 79 of Scandal
“You did what?” I say, unable to believe the words that just came out of his mouth.
“I know, mate. I know. But she didn’t look that young. And besides, she came on to me.”
I run a hand down my face. This can’t be the same man I grew up with. It just can’t be. “Are you fucking kidding me? You can’t put the blame on her, Mitch. You are a fucking adult!”
He rolls his eyes, like he doesn’t understand the gravity of what he’s done. “Oh, come on, like you’ve never?—”
“I’ve never,” I snap, disgusted by his accusation. “I would never.”
“Whatever.”
My jaw tics as I try to keep my cool. “What are you going to do?”
“I don’t know,” he says, a panic in his voice I don’t recognize. “I tried to offer her money, you know, to take care of it.”
My eyes widen in horror. “Please tell me you’re joking?”
“I didn’t know what else to do, Ash!” he seethes. “Not all of us are fucking perfect. But she said she didn’t want my money, and now her parents are threatening to sue. You’ve got to help me.”
I swallow hard, hating what I’m about to say. “I can’t.”
“What do you mean, you can’t?”
“I mean, I can’t, and frankly, I don’t want to. The band can’t be caught in the middle of this, Mitch. This is something you need to deal with on your own.”
“What are you saying?”
“I’m saying you’re fired.” My eyes squeeze shut as my voice trembles. “You’re no longer a member of Manic at Midnight.”
“And you?” I ask. “How can you say I didn’t fail you? After everything we went through with Mitch, the three of us were supposed to be closer. But you’re right—I did change. I pulled back, withdrew from the only family I knew. And because of that, I didn’t see the signs. I didn’t know?—”
“I didn’t let you see, Ash. I didn’t want any of you to see that I was struggling.”
I contemplate his words as I think back to that first world tour we did after Mitch left. We’d just signed Zander, and things were finally starting to settle, or so I thought.
“There were signs, though, weren’t there?” I say, remembering how I thought it was odd that our quiet bassist was suddenly going out more and staying in less.
“Yes,” he admits with a solemn nod. “At first, I just wanted to feel numb. That was the depression talking, or so my therapist tells me. So I’d go out and party, drinking until I blacked out. But eventually, even the numbness wasn’t enough.”
“I’m so sorry, Evans. We should have talked about this more when you came to me last spring and said you needed help.”
“I wasn’t ready then. I don’t think I even understood what I was going through—just that I was tired of feeling like shit and knew I couldn’t keep going down the path I was on.”
“Well, I’m glad you did.”
“Thank you for being there for me.”
“Always,” I say, meaning it.
“What about you?” he asks, relaxing a little on the sofa. “You said you were in a bad place. Does that mean you’re doing better now?”
I nod before I even realize it. “Yeah.” I smile. “Yeah, I am.”
A knowing grin spreads across his face. “Would Hen’s sister have anything to do with that?” I wait a beat too long to answer, and Evans shakes his head, chuckling under his breath. “You’re in so much trouble.”
“It’s just a PR stunt.”
“And that’s exactly what you need to keep telling Hen,” he says. “’Cause if he finds out you’re fucking his little sister after you told him you wouldn’t?—”
