Lily stopped, slapping me hard across the face. “You know nothing, you spineless little lush. You are nothing to me, less than nothing. You are just like my ex. Get your head out of the bottle and see what you are starting to become.”
“Oh, says youse who drinks as much as I do!” I laughed.
“At least I don’t fuck over my boyfriend talking shit about him in front of everyone at work!” she retorted.
I went to slap her back, restrained by Neil and Cal. “Enough man, let it go. You aren’t thinking clearly. It’s just the drink. You need to slow down dude,” Callum insisted. They held me back until I calmed enough to stop fighting them.
I pulled away, noticing the disgust on their faces. “Oh yeah, thanks guys. That bitch cheats on me, but ye all take her side.”
Shelly stormed over, pushing the men out of the way. “I spend a lot of time with Lily, so does Rose. Does that mean we are having a three way?” she demanded,
“Well no, ye are girls,” I commented.
“And that makes any difference because?” Rose demanded. “Never heard of bisexuals, pansexual, lesbians?”
“She isn’t like that, she likes men.” I stuttered.
“Yeah, I like M-E-N, not cowardly worms.” Lily snapped. “But sure, by your logic I am clearly fucking these ladies, too. There are wild orgy nights on the tour bus while you pretend to sleep.”
“Ye wouldn’t!” I wasn’t sure which of the ladies I was referring to anymore, I was so confused. My head splitting to the point I just wanted to lie down on the floor and sleep for a month.
“Oh, wouldn’t I?” Shelly asked, she took a step towards Lily, pulling her into a passionate kiss. Lily responded in kind, the band cheering them on and more than likely taking photos.
“Hey, share nicely. My turn,” Rose insisted, pulling Lily into a kiss.
When they pulled apart, I would swear I was blushing. “I’m sorry,” I said quietly.
“Little late for that man,” Callum said rolling his eyes as they dispersed.
“Are you two even lesbians?” Harry asked.
Rose winked. “Wouldn’t you like to know?”
Shelly smiled. “What she said.”
“Rehearsal is over, have an extra day off,” Brad said firmly. “Except you, Sparks. I would have words with you in private.”
The others didn’t take any time to question the action, cleaning up their gear.
“Not cool, not cool at all,” Ted, our new keyboardist, hissed.
“Get a life, freak,” Rose snapped.
I knew it was bad if that normally quiet little mouse was angry with me. I would have a lot of apologising to do after this, I would kill for another beer. Anything to take the edge off how my head was feeling.
“Wait up everyone, there is something I would like to say given what happened today so there are no more mistakes,” Harry said, “I am not with Lily, I could never be, she is a sister to me. I can’t be with Lily or another woman. I have a boyfriend; his name is Levi. I am gay. I am sorry it took me this long to tell you all, I hope you can accept it in time.”
“Yeah, we all know,” Callum answered.
Ted nodded. “Hey I’m the new boy and even I know.”
“Ladies, did you both know?” Harry asked.
Shelly laughed and looked at Rose,.“Hey babe, he thinks his boyfriend got hired as crew by ‘accident’.”
Rose smiled. “Totally accidently of course.”
“Wait, what?” Harry exploded. “How did you two even know about me and Levi?”
“Oh, you sweet innocent young man, ‘mother’ always knows best,” Shelly promised, looping an arm around him.
Rose was flicking through websites on her phone. “There’s a gay bar three streets over that opens in ten minutes.”
“Coming out par-tay!” Callum shouted. “We are gonna cover you in rainbows and glitter!”
“I have loads of glitter makeup,” Lily commented. “My make up case is full, take some with you guys.”
“I’m taking you too, little sis, come on. This is a family affair, which means no diva lead singers allowed.” Harry glared at me as he grabbed Lily, throwing her over his shoulder. “Time to scream Sam Smith on karaoke with my family.”
They filtered out leaving me and Brad alone. I stood there waiting, exhaling a heavy sigh when I realised there was no beer in this rehearsal room. “I fucked up,” I commented. Not sure if I meant by not bringing more beer or by what I had said or both. Oooh beer, I found an open bottle under the drum kit and took a swig.
Brad snatched the bottle off me. “You need to get yourself together and stop drinking like this.”
“I’m grand.”
“Adrian, you just nearly hit a woman who you claim to love while you are on a bender. That isn’t you, you know who it is. You have a choice, get yourself right by yourself or I’m pulling the tour to send you to rehab.”
“I don’t need any fucking rehab, I have my band, my friends.”
“Not for much longer if you keep this up. I did not bail your ass out after your parents died to have you throw away everything we have built together.”
I stormed out, heading back to my hotel room to drink even more. Passing out on my bed, only waking up when the gang came back from the all-day party, covered in glitter, foam and god knows what else. It hurt me, knowing that I missed a huge part of Harry’s life. That my own band hadn’t wanted me at the coming out party. Brad was right, this wasn’t me. I certainly did not want to be like that other man.
Next morning, I came down to breakfast more sober than I had been in months, everyone was
