Page 74 of Sustain

“If a man is in love, like brutally, heartbreakingly in love, with someone he knows he doesn’t deserve, should he tell her?”

She’s silent and her body freezes at the question. Snapping her gaze up to me, she searches my eyes intensely. Looking for the lie I know isn’t there.

“It’s me, Mackenzie. I’m the man in love…with you.”

Her entire being changes, and she softens somehow, all of her hard edges blurring as my words sink in.

“I love you, too, Ian.”

And with that, my whole life changes.Ourlives change. And I won’t fight it anymore. I can’t.

Screw going back in time, I want to see where this goes.

Note to self in the fresh mental notebook: Readjust the time machine coordinates to the amazing future ahead of us.

All of us.

epilogue

. . .

We Are

Mackenzie

"Alright boys, let's get this murder started!" I announce brightly, eliciting the expected round of groans as the band piles into our rehearsal space. Another year, another strategy session to map the chaotic road ahead. But for once, my optimism seems to outpace the anxiety I carried into last year.

I gaze fondly around the circle of familiar faces. Most of them constants after a decade together now post-tragedy and triumph. We came perilously close to splintering for good when Andy's senseless drunk driving death sent shockwaves through our tight-knit musical family. I honestly didn’t think Jake would recover from that, but since he and Cassidy got together, he’s been nothing but solid.

Then, when we found Skyler to replace Andy, things changed for all of us again. Especially for Logan who found his long-lost soulmate in her. Watching them connect, or reconnect, as it were, was inspiring. And it never gets in the way of the band or the music. And now with them married, it almost seems even more meant to be than it ever was.

Cooper’s recovery from being labeled a ‘bad boy’ to now earnestly in love with his fiancée Sloane after meeting at themusic program he tutored has been a transformation I never saw coming. He was a particular target of the late Nyx’s media assault on the band, but he came out the other side of it better than ever. Out of everyone, I never saw Cooper settling down. And yet, I think he might be next in line to make their wedding official. I know Sloane’s been busy making the arrangements in between her own blossoming music career, and continued work at the music foundation.

Remy’s love story might be my favorite, though it was painful to witness firsthand. He fell so hard for Monroe who, at first, couldn’t take the pressure that being in a relationship with a rockstar requires. But somewhere off in Italy she found a way within herself to deal with it and has happily put Remy out of his stupid misery without her.

Man, he was so fucking miserable to live with for a long time.

These people are like brothers and a sister to me. And despite the bullshit they’ve put me through over the years, I wouldn’t trade them for the world.

The cell next to me buzzes with Ian's incoming support text for conquering this yearly meeting.

IAN: Go get ‘em, tiger. :D

And there’s my own soulmate. My unsuspecting hero. My lips quirk remembering the frigid day I first barreled into his world on those stupid skis...

God, I love him.

"Earth to fearless leader..." Jake teases in his smooth voice. I flick a spare guitar pick at him without malice. We've braved much worse than meetings planning tours and singles.

As long as we cling to this bond, our musical parade marches on, stronger for the storms we’ve weathered together.Tragedy struck cruel blows, but this year’s sunlight already glints promisingly through the clouds drifting past us.

I get up, and hold my arm out, palm down. “Okay, c’mon. You assholes know the drill.” I stifle the smirk, playing on my lips as they each pull themselves up and over to me.

Logan and Skyler put their hands on top of mine first, wedding rings glistening and giving each other affectionate looks. Remy and Cooper eye each other with smiles as they do the same.

Jake steps up, but hesitates, looking at each of us in turn without a word, but nodding to himself thoughtfully before placing his hand on top of the pile.

The crow tattoos on each of our hands now nested.

“Let’s do this, fam,” he says solemnly.

“Murderous Crows, mates for life!”

--THE END?—