If I recall, and I’ve studied that book thoroughly, there isn’t a picture in it full-face or solo of Leeanne Brewster. Only shots of her in the background or partly hidden by someone or in profile and out of focus.

Yeah, all I can say about that is, Trelane had her number.

I think the only one who didn’t was Tim.

I’m not ever sure he really saw it.

In the end, Tim just picked the band.

Gig after that, I remember it was Houston, we get to the hotel and, since no one is doing anything, I figure I gotta man up and not wait for Preacher or Tom to take care of business.

So, I go to Dave’s room and knock on the door and we haven’t been there an hour and he’s already cleaned out the tequila in his minibar and had more brought up.

I’m all “Dave, Tommy can’t wake you up? Dude.”

I’m also braced for him to get pissed and for there to be a fight.

But he just goes to the couch, sits down, all folded into himself.

[Grimaces]

This does not fill me with happy feelings and now I’m wishing he’d fight ’cause this is worse.

I sit with him and I’m all “What the fuck, man?”

He stays folded, but turns his head to look at me, and he says, “I can’t do it anymore.”

Now, this tweaks me because never, not ever, have any of us said shit like this.

I don’t know if any of us have even thought shit like this.

I ask, “Can’t do what anymore?”

He says, “I’m in love with her.”

I say, “In love with who?”

Then he says, “Lyla.”

Now…

[Draws word out] Shit.

I feel his pain.

You know I feel his pain.

Trying to find what Preach had with Lyla led me to Cynthia and then Tiffany and after her Miranda.

And it wasn’t that none of those women were Lyla.

It was that I was looking for my Lyla, when I should have just been looking for what was mine.

But at this point, or any point, for Dave, that’s just not gonna happen.

But what do I say to the guy?

And remember, I got a sister who’s a functioning alcoholic.

Good thing, by this time, she scraped off her first husband.

Bad thing, she’s now with a guy who has the personality of a wet dishrag.

Can’t have someone in her life who actually gives a shit and has a backbone, because if she does, he might want her to lose the booze and face her demons.

[Takes deep breath]

I blew it with her, repeatedly, and would continue doing it.

With Davey, I gotta find my way to sort his shit.