Out of Chances by Shona Husk

you know. Not everyone is in a burning rush to leave town like you.’
    That meant that Jay had no plans to go and Emma wouldn’t go without him. It wasn’t her problem, but she didn’t want Emma to end up like their mother.
    â€˜Just …’ What could she say? There was no point in arguing. Her sister needed to see more of the world, to live, and to realise there was more to life than the wide streets and pubs and mines of Kalgoorlie. Other guys than the dope-smoking idiot she’d been dating for the last two years. ‘Take care.’
    Indigo hung up, knowing that one way or another she’d be dipping into her precious savings.
    The band had gathered in the Vincent’s garage as they had so many times before. This time there was no pressure to get an album written and everyone seemed a little less edgy. Dan smiled. Today he had plenty to smile about and nothing was going to kill his mood.
    Ed had picked up a bit of a tan while on his Bali surfing holiday. He also seemed more relaxed. However, before the holiday he couldn’t have got more tense without snapping. Mike said nothing as he walked in. It was as if their private conversation had never happened. Dan flicked a beer cap between his fingers. It wasn’t his first for the day, but he was celebrating getting his name off the lease.
    The property manager had been more upset than he was about the ending of his relationship with Lisa. They’d had a conversation about the effects of long distance relationships. He had no idea what she thought he did, maybe FIFO on the mines, and he didn’t care.
    He was still quietly simmering at his father’s bribery. He’d obviously given up trying to cajole his son and had started on the girlfriend. Ex-girlfriend. Did he need to make it official?
    Yeah. He should announce it.
    He tapped the cap on the glass and got his band mates attention. ‘I’d like to thank Mike for a kick in the pants. Lisa and I are officially over. I have moved out and quit paying a share of the rent.’ He gave a small bow and waited for the applause.
    There was none. His smile faltered.
    â€˜I thought you’d done that.’ Ed frowned.
    â€˜Nah … it was too hard.’ And he was still avoiding seeing her face to face. He had no need to see her in the flesh ever again. ‘New-found freedom.’ He raised the beer.
    Gemma and Mike both lifted their water bottles, Ed had a beer. At least he wasn’t drinking alone.
    â€˜I’m going to be scarce this weekend as Ripley is in town. That okay?’ There wasn’t much for them to do right now and it was Easter.
    Ed nodded. ‘Yeah. Enjoy the downtime and too many chocolate eggs.’
    Mike grinned. ‘You going to do a Gemma and come out of the closet?’
    Dan threw the cap at him. ‘You are a dumbass. Besides you’re more his type, he likes men who are good with their hands.’
    That drew some laughter, and for the first time in months he didn’t feel the weight he had been dragging around. Here he was just Dan, he wasn’t some loser boyfriend or son. When they’d started touring last year they had all expected him to be engaged by the time they got home. He hadn’t looked at rings once.
    He shuddered. If not for the ultimatum he might have caved and bought her a ring … he’d have put the problems down to the separation, not their growing differences. They weren’t the same people they had been when they’d got together.
    He wanted to be able to share the whole story, but when he looked at Gemma he didn’t know if he could trust her. She shouldn’t have told Mike or Ed about Lisa and the baby. Lisa had finally managed to come between them. He tried to ignore the pain that caused, because he didn’t know how to fix broken trust. But he didn’t want to give Lisa that victory. Gemma was a band mate as well as friend. Things couldn’t be left to