When the Music Stops (Mason Brothers Book #2)

Chapter 29

JOLIE

I pulled into the driveway of a familiar house, but I didn’t feel bad or guilty stopping by this time. I called Dakota last night and told her everything that had been going on. The last time I spoke with her was shortly before my time at rehab came to an end. She was the one to visit me on family day and gave me a giant load of tough love. She said that she loved me like a sister, but she couldn’t watch me throw my life away anymore. At the time I was hurt, but looking back on it I understand where she was coming from. Now I’m clean and sober though and I needed an escape. I called her and she answered right away. When I asked if I could stay with her for a bit, she didn’t hesitate to say yes.

I grab my backpack with some necessities, leaving my suitcase for later, and walk up to her front porch. It was weird being back, it was the same, but so different at the same time. I went to knock, but the door flew open and Dakota almost knocked me off my feet with her hug. She was so happy and I felt the tears building in the corner of my eyes. It felt so good to see her again.

“Wow, you look go great, Jo,” she says, pulling me away from her body for a moment to take in my healthier new look. “No longer skin and bones and your hair is looking healthy too!”

“Thanks, I’m feeling really good. I can’t believe what a difference being clean can make.”

“You’ve got that light in your eyes and I missed. Come on, come in and let’s have lunch. I want to hear all about what you’ve been up to.”

I put my bag on the couch and we head into the kitchen. Dakota had a variety of meats and cheeses as well as some pickled veggies and crackers. “This looks really good. I’m so hungry, I just had a coffee before hitting the road. So how is school going?”

“Just finishing this semester and then doing student teaching next year. After all this time there is a light at the end of the tunnel!” She says with an exasperated laugh.

“What about jobs? How is that looking?”

“I’m hopeful, especially if I make a good impression at the school I’m student teaching at. Rumor has it that the lady that will be my mentor teaching is retiring at the end of the next school year.”

“Oh, that would be nice!”

“Definitely. If not, there are a few other routes I could go. Right now I’m working part-time for the art museum doing children’s classes.”

“That sounds fun! Totally something that is in your wheelhouse.’

“It is a blast! Right now I do mostly craft-type things with them, but they have an entire program with camps, after-school classes, and mentorship programs.”

“That sounds so much like something you’d love!”

“It is, so I guess we’ll see what happens. Either way, I see great things in my future. What about you? Besides that YouTube video I saw.”

I groan, “You saw that too?”

“Oh yes, there are a few of them out there. I can’t believe you started singing again. What made you change your mind?”

“I don’t know, it was just something I loved to do and the Mason Jar was the perfect place for it. I’m not looking to sign a record deal or anything. I just want to sing.”

“I hear you, literally,” she laughed. “You sounded great. And you look great. I hate to ask too much about the past, but was it hard getting clean and starting over?”

“It was the hardest thing I’ve ever done. I was sick for what seemed like forever. Like, think about the worst illness you’ve had times two. Then you know about the other thing that had happened and that didn’t help…”

I didn’t need to go into any more detail with her. I had told her when I saw her right after I had it done. Like always, she had given me a hug and love without judgment. I didn’t realize back then how truly amazing she was as a friend.

“But after that was all done?”

“It was weird, everything was just clear. I used to wake up in the morning, well afternoon, with this nagging feeling of my next high. Once everything left my system I just woke up and didn’t need it. I didn’t have to stumble around searching for something to help me function. Except maybe coffee,” I chuckle.

“Nobody should have to go without coffee. And what took you to that bar? I had never heard of it before. I looked it up online and it is in some small town outside Denver, how did that happen?”

“A strange turn of events, I guess. I was in Denver and I met this guy Cade at some bartending courses I was taking. He owned a bar with his brothers and we just hit it off. He asked me if I’d come work for them and I barely hesitated.”

“Is that the one you were singing with? The two of you looked very, hmm, connected during the songs.” I could see the friendly teasing in her eyes, I knew exactly what she was trying to say.

I shook my head, “Cade dealt with employment and the overall business aspect. The one that sings with me is Parker. We’re kind of, together. I think.”

“You think?” She frowns. “Does this have anything to do with why you’re here now?”

“Pretty much. It got really messy really quickly.”

“What happened?”

“Trevor came to town,” I sighed.

“Oh no.” 

“Yeah, exactly. I wanted to help Trevor. I thought if I got him set up in a hotel and he saw how great I was doing that it would make him want to get clean too. What I didn’t do was think about Parker and how it probably looked to him.”

“You didn’t, like, sleep with Trevor did you?”

“Oh god no! I would never cheat on Parker. He means everything to me. But when he tracked me down at the motel with Trev he was so angry and actually accused me of using again.”

“Why would he do that?”

“dropped by the room and saw Trevor with some shit. I guess in his mind he just put two and two together and assumed if I was with Trevor, I must be doing it too. For the record, I wasn’t and I was pissed when I saw him pull it out in front of me.”

“Were you tempted?” Her question was laced with sincere concern.

“I’d be lying if I said no. There is always a nagging temptation there, but now I have the power to say no and to say it isn’t worth losing my sobriety over.”

“Wow…I never thought I’d hear you say something like that. I’m proud of you, Jo.”

“Thanks,” I give her a small smile in return. “But now Parker and I are fighting and then Toni, one of my friends, made a similar comment like she could understand why Parker asked me that. I just felt like they didn’t trust me.”

Dakota reaches across the table and takes my hand, “I’m sure he trusts you, he’s just worried for you. Any good boyfriend would be.”

“I want to think that too, I don’t know. That’s what I need to figure out. I can’t be around people that don’t trust me or who I can’t trust with my secrets.”

“You don’t think you can trust Parker?”

“I don’t know. I just needed some space to figure shit out.”

“Well, you can stay here as long as you need, with one huge rule.”

I laugh, “I’m pretty sure I know what it is.”

“You probably do. I love you like family, Jo, but if something happens and I find out that you were using, even just once…”

I cut her off, knowing how this ends, “I’m out. I know and I would fully expect that from you. I promise you don’t need to worry, I’m not her anymore.”

“That’s good to hear. Let’s get you unpacked.”