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DEX

A few o

I pace back and forth in the narrow back alleyway, flipping an unlit cigarette back and forth between ers I’ve quit a hundred tio back to them in the end

Old habits die hard

I take a long breath, trying to calm the hell down It’s just a private party, barely a couple of hundred people I’ve sold out stadiu fans without a flinch Hell, I even played the Gra I reht is the three blonde backup dancers I took back to the hotel for a very special after-party

This should be a breeze

Except I haven’t played in public since that night in London, over a year ago The night I’d rather forget, the one that haunts ht After that, I swore I was done with ed al bullshit I had a contract, I couldn’t just quit in the middle of a sold-out world tour I didn’t care—I walked away froht I left LA, bought a house on the beach away from the clubs and paparazzi, and turned off an Ready to start a new life, away from the madness and fucked-up world that had become normal to me

Until the cravings started My urge,

Music

The rush of perforh like no other, and hell, I would know I’ve spent the past year trying desperately to replace it, and nothing has even come close

Old habits die hard

I could feel it creeping back again, the itch getting stronger My oldround the clock, offering nes, a small tour, an EP on an indie label If I didn’t want the major label scene, then we’d do it differently this time: my rules, my way

He doesn’t understand the real reason I can’t go back to that life

The back door of the restaurant opens A guy pokes his head out, Garrett, his name is The bartender from the place in Beachwood “Hey, Dex,” Garrett calls back to me “We’ll be ready in like, ten minutes?”

“Sure, great” I nod, jittery

The guy pauses “I really appreciate you doing this”

“No problem,” I wave the thanks away “I owe you, man”

Garrett nods “Whenever you’re ready”

The door shuts I throw the cigarette down on the ground, unlit, and grind it withto

It’s what you wanted: a hit of the spotlight again So what’s your damn problem?

The probleh My whole life has been a parade of reckless excess: too rets I’ve clawed my way out of the viper’s nest one tiain

Your favorite place: one step from oblivion, two steps from the end

The back door crashes open again, interrupting hts I look up in ti down her face She doesn’t see ainst the wall, trying like hell to pull herself together

She’s too pretty to be crying, that’s for sure Her red hair is pinned back, too tight, and she’s wearing a sih on the chest forinnocent in her expression that draws aze that’s just about theI’ve seen in years

I need a distraction, and here the universe just handed her up on a plate

I stroll out of the dark “You look like you could use a cigarette,” I drawl

She startles “You scaredat her face Her eyes flick over nition: that moment when it all clicks into place, and woht with the famous rock star they can boast about to their friends—and the tabloids, coht

But her face doesn’t change She shakes her head, a lock of that red hair slipping free around her face “No, thank you,” she murmurs politely “I don’t smoke”

“Neither do I” I give a twisted grin “Don’t you know these things will kill you?”

Her brow knits, quizzical “So why do it?”

“Why do we do anything that’s bad for us?” I counter, teasing “Because we like how it feels, living life on the edge”

“Speak for yourself,” the wohs “I like it safe Predictable Easy”

Now I’ll be damned if that doesn’t sound like an invitation I close the distance between us “That’s a sha the stray lock froood on you”

Her esture Our eyes lock, and I see the emotions skitter, clear as day, across her face Shock, confusion, and then—the tell-tale flush of desire She catches her breath, her chest rising under the cage of black silk, and God, I feel a bolt of lust strike throughto be kissed

“What are you doing?” she whispers, but she doesn’t olden brown, flecked with hazel I can feel the heat of her breath; ently over their pillowy softness