𝚂𝙾𝙱𝚁𝙸𝙴𝚃𝚈 𝚆𝙾𝙽𝚃 𝚃𝙴𝙰𝙲𝙷 𝙺𝙸𝙳𝚂 𝚃𝙾 𝙳𝙰𝙽𝙲𝙴 ,, j. b routledge

3I you can't be king of the world if you're a slave to the grind

Chapter Three

Slave To The Grind (Skid Row)

"you can't be king of the world if you're a slave to the grind"

John B panicked when I wasn't sleeping next to him in the morning. He gathered up all the blankets and almost tripped running up the stairs to my deck just to find me playing Slave To The Grind on the drums.

"Sorry, baby. I couldn't sleep. Mom left for work and Nonna sleeps through everything. Figured I should practice." I said, getting up to kiss him.

I learned pretty early on after the move that getting famous was the only real way for a Pogue to get out of here. I wanted to see the world. Like Rafe had told Rose, I was a free spirit. The OBX was great, and I truly loved it there, but there had to be something else. My drumming may be the only way to get there. Favio sure as hell wasn't going to help us out. He was pretty hands off with the rehab situation and being the DA didn't do Vit any favours. In fact, I think her idea of trying to help us out financially just gave Favio a bad name throughout the South Carolina Justice System. Getting into a band was my one shot, and I was not going to blow it. I was gonna go on an American headlining tour and rub my jet-set life in Favio's stuck up hypocritical face.

"No problem." John B smiled, our foreheads touching. His grin faded a little when he said "Wait, is that JJ's shirt?"

I looked down at the Kildare marina shirt that JJ had left under the sink last week when he was staying to get away from his dad. "John B, I fix cars for a living. I don't think you want me getting dirt and grease on one of your prized Hawaiian shirts, do you?"

"You have a point."

"I know I have a point." I grinned grabbing my backpack full of sockets, ratchets and an empty water bottle. Anything too big for the bag was in the trunk of our Toyota. "I've got the Cameron's this morning, the Thornton's this afternoon and the Carerra's at three."

"Sounds busy."

"Well, fixing cars for Kooks pays well. I promise that I will go into the marsh with you guys as soon as I finish at Kiara's. Hell, I'll even bring her back with me."

"Why are you willingly going back to see the Cameron's?"

"Because Rose is making flatbread pizza for lunch and she still gives me free food. I think she feels guilty for how things ended with Rafe."

"Would you mind bringing back some of that pizza?" John laughed, pulling me into a hug

"No problem. Now I really need to go. It's going to take some time to get in to Figure Eight. See you around four?"

He kissed me gently "See you around four."

+++++

When I got to the Cameron's, Ward was already lifting Sarah's SUV onto the jack stand. He did always think I was incapable of doing the heavy lifting. Sarah needed me to change her tire. I would have expected ward to at least teach his kids how to change a tire. I know Favio at least taught Vittoria back when he was still interested in being a dad.

Wheezie was sitting on the steps drinking some glaringly pink beverage and Sarah was waving a tennis racket at some birds. I figured Rose was probably inside and Rafe, well, he was probably God knows where.

"Good morning, Mr. Cameron!" I called, stepping out of the car "I'll take it from here, thank you."

Ward waved at me, and then retreated inside. Good riddance. Something about that man just felt off. Wheezie came over while I was hooking up my stereo.