Page 104 of Hard Rock Deceit

"It's going to be hard," Noah warned. "You can't just out-stubbornthis."

August nodded, a determined expression on his face. "I know. But I want to get better. I don't want this to control my life anymore. No more lies. No moresecrets."

"We're all here for you," Cameron said. "Whether you need to talk, or whether you need someone to kick your ass,we'rehere."

August chuckled. "Thanks, Cam. I can always trust you for a good asskicking."

"There's one more apology that needs to be made." Ian turned to me. "I'm sorry we acted like assholes toward you. We were upset and needed someone to take it out on. None of this was your fault." He flicked his eyes between me and August, gaze softening. "You're good for him. He's lucky tohaveyou."

My cheeks burned. "Youknew?"

"We all knew," Damon said easily, leaning back in his chair. "We didn't say anything because we figured both you and August wanted to keep it quiet. None of us wanted to embarrass you. Well," he snorted, "Cam did, but we out-votedhim."

"Now that the secret's out, does that mean I can start teasing them?" Cameron looked eager, like a puppy waggingitstail.

August raised an eyebrow. "You want to be the next onekickedout?"

"Have we decided, then?" Noah spoke up, his quiet voice cutting through the laughter. "Is August doing thesurgery?"

The room went heavy withsilence.

"We can't make this decision for you," Ian saideventually.

"But we'll be here to support you the whole way," Damoncontinued.

August took in a deep breath. He let it out slowly. Henodded.

"I'll do it," he said confidently. "I'll do the surgery. And after that…" He looked each of his friends in the eye and squeezed my hand tight. "We'll figure out what to do fromthere."

ChapterThirty-One

"Surprise!"

A chorus of cheers and claps greeted August and I as we stepped from his front foyer through the arched ceiling leading to his living room. The members of Darkest Days and Cherry Lips, along with some other friends and loved ones, had gathered at August's to welcomehimhome.

"You guys are aware it's not really a surprise if I know you're going to be here?" August askedwryly.

His friends crowdedaroundhim.

"Let us have our fun," Cameron grinned. "We needed an excuse toparty."

"Since when do you need an excuse?" Augustlaughed.

Cameron thumped him heartily ontheback.

"It's great you're finally out of the hospital," he said. "Noah almost murdered me about a dozen times without youaround."

"You need to stop torturing thepoorman."

"Never." Cameron flashed us acheekygrin.

"Stop hogging our drummer." Ian elbowed Cameron out of the way. He and Damon gave August one of those half-bro-hugs on each side. "Cameron's right. We nearly fell apartwithoutyou."

"You sure you're okay?" Noahasked.

"I'm better than I've been in alongtime."

August's surgery had been a complete success. He'd healed and completed his in-patient therapy quicker than anyone had anticipated. We'd all been bracing ourselves for him to be there for a handful of months or longer. We shouldn't have been surprised. August never failed when he put his mind tosomething.