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Oh. This just got better and better. “Great. I can’t wait.”

Not!

Why did I have the feeling this inferno would destroy me?

Chapter 11

LEWIS

By mid-February, recording was done. After the long, tiring weeks in the studio, a booze-filled night with the guys to celebrate Slip’s birthday...and remember Phil on the anniversary of his death...exhaustion ached every bone in my body. But wow...we’d recorded my song. And it would be released as a bonus track on the deluxe edition of the album. If I didn’t live another day, I’d die a happy man. I was beyond stoked and overwhelmed, and most days, I felt like I’d landed in a parallel universe.

Working with The Flintlocks, Everhide, and the team at EH4 Records had blown my mind. Their attention to detail and production skills were phenomenal. The marketing group at Ashlem had been scheduling the promotion for The Flintlocks’ singles, the album, and the tour dates from the moment the guys had signed with them back in early December. Now I’d passed milestone one and was going on the promo tour with the guys, I’d been brought into the mix of meetings and media preparation. They wanted to include me in interviews, photoshoots, and the filming of video clips. Our first single would drop in late March. The album’s launch date had been locked in for May.

My head spun, trying to keep up.

Everyone treated me like I was truly part of the band. But it was hard to stop feeling like an impostor. The weight of replacing Phil pressed on my shoulders as April, our publicist and PA, prepped me for dealing with reporters and our media releases. Questions about who I was, where I’d come from, and whether I was worthy of taking Phil’s place were addressed, and carefully worded responses were prepared. I’d never had media training before.

This shit was next level.

So much was happening and at an astonishing pace.

Life had changed.

I hoped I survived the ride.

Over the past few days, I’d had dinner with friends in Brooklyn and caught up with Reg, Basil, and even Kilt to tell them about my new ventures. All wished me good luck. But yesterday, on a snowy bleak day in Manhattan, saying goodbye to my best friend Hayden made me question if I’d made the right choice to move across the country. Every time I’d made big changes before, everything had turned to shit. Music. Relationships. Boston. Love. I couldn’t afford to fuck this up. I had more milestones to pass. I had to keep my excitement and fears on a tight leash and pray that my track record wasn’t set on repeat.

But I was done with New York.

I loved my new band.

I was ready to move to LA.

As I took one final look around Pop’s empty condo, my chest shuddered. The dark timber floors, small picture windows and tiny kitchen with stained yellow countertops seemed to shed a tear from missing Pop too. So many memories had been created inside these walls—memories I’d treasure forever. Pop teaching me to play card games by the small gas heater. The stories he’d told me about Gran before she’d gotten sick with cancer. Living here with Emilio because we couldn’t find or afford anywhere else. The Sunday morning laughs Pop and I had over bagels and coffee. Those last few weeks I’d spent with him, just the two of us, would be moments I’d always cherish. He’d passed away peacefully in his sleep, but his spirit was still here. I felt it.

I blinked away my welling tears, picked up my bass, and reached for the door handle. Looking back over my shoulder at the bare living room, I whispered, “Thank you, Pop. Thank you for loving me. Saving me. Being my friend. Hope you’re winning Bridge in Heaven. I love you. And miss you every day. Oh...and don’t haunt the new owners. They seem like nice people.” But Pop would get a thrill out of that.

As the van drove me and the guys toward the airport in New Jersey, the Manhattan skyline disappeared behind us. New York had given me life, years of music and amazing friendships, but she’d broken me too. It was time to start again...for the fourth time.

But the idea of living with Cole and Tia made me nervous. Cole wasn’t the issue—Tia was. The thought of seeing her again after a few weeks apart had my stomach tied in knots. I didn’t understand the effect she had on me. Confusion slithered through my head like a snake in the grass—I didn’t know if it was dangerous or not. But I was moving to LA for the music. The guys. Nothing else.

As I stepped onto Ashlem’s private jet at Teterboro Airport, my heartbeat boomed like an amp set to max. I’d never been on a chartered flight or a plane this flashy before. Not ever. I’d been catapulted into a world I’d only ever dreamed about. I’d fallen into the life I’d always wanted. And I’d found the perfect band to do it with.

I slid onto the plush leather seat beside Flint.

“You ready?” He slapped my thigh.

“Yeah. I am.” Overcome with exhilaration and fear, I rubbed at the tightness lingering in the depths of my chest. I was leaving my friends and hometown to embark on a new adventure. I had to keep it together. Just breathe.

“You’re one of us now. Any time you want to jam, drink, or jump off a cliff, we’re here for you.”

“I hope I never want to jump off a cliff.” Although I’d come close a few times.

“No. I mean if you are ever up, down, need help, or want to just hang, we’ll be there. Promise.”

“Same.” I wasn’t going to waste this opportunity. I had years of experience behind me. There’d be no foolish mistakes. I wouldn’t let my heart lead me astray. Not again.

Flint rested his head against the back of the seat. “This is a new chapter for us too. We’ve never done anything this big before.” He smoothed his hands over his jeans. Excitement rippled in his voice. “We did a ton of promo for our first two albums, but nothing on the scale that Everhide and Ashlem have planned for us. The promo alone for the three singles tops what we did for our entire second album. We’ve never toured internationally. That’s gonna be wicked. Our fans will love you.” He nudged me in the arm. “So enjoy the last few weeks of being anonymous. Get out and see LA while you can. At the end of next month, life will never be the same again.”