Sebastiannodded. “And they teach you shit.”
“Oh,yeah? What’dy’alllearn from this one?”
“ThatMeg Ryan was hot as fuck,”Sebcommented, his voicelight and airy.
“Insightful.”A chuckle erupted from my chest as I shook my head.
“Anyway,”Ty segued, pushing himself off the couch, “I’mgonnatake a nap. Wake me up when we get there.”
Therewasthe last stop on the tour in Indiana. Tomorrow morning, we were flying home toour respective states out of an airport in Ohio, and Ty would be catchinghimself a cab. I couldn’t wait. Inall ofmy previoustours with the band, I had reluctantly stepped back into that world, knowingwhat awaited me once I stepped off the plane. But now, I had Molly, arelationship I could be proud of, and what felt like a real future. And, Icouldn’t forget, I’d also get a reprieve from the scrutiny and sympathy.
Everythinghas the power to go viral in a world where news travels fast, and hate isn’texempt from that. Look at Nickelback. Somewhere along the line, it had becomeanother punch in the cool card to dislike them, even if nobody can tell youexactly why. Never mind the fact that they continue to have an enormousfollowing—they still became thelaughing stockof themusic world, at least for a while. And now, I guess, on a lesser scale, it wasmy turn.
God,I couldn’t stand it anymore.
“I’mgonnatake a nap, too,” Greyson announced, his voiceheavy and tired.
“Don’tsleep too long,” Sebastian reminded him, easily slipping into his fatherlyrole.
“Thenwake me up,” Grey retorted, nudging his foot toSeb’sshin before heading toward the hallway.
“I’mnot alwaysgonnabe around to wake your ass up,” hisdad replied, tossing the pillow at the back of Greyson’s head. It bounced off,landed on the floor at my feet, and I snatched it up.
“Wow.Morbid, Dad.”
Sebastianraised his hands in a shrug. “What? Who’s talking morbid? I was talking aboutwhen you go away to college, you little shit.”
“Yeah,yeah,” Grey muttered, climbed into his bunk and drawing the curtain.
Nowalmost alone, I shoved the pillow at Sebastian and asked, “You ready to gohome?”
Myfriend closed his eyes and nodded slowly. “Four months is alongtime,” he replied solemnly.
“Yes,it is,” I agreed.
Seblooked to me and lifted hismouth in a half-smile. “You don’t know it yet, man. Right now, you’re travelingwith your woman. You’re still getting fucked on the regular. You’ve got youradorable little routine. You don’t know what it’s like to leave her behind. Notyet.”
Igrunted sardonically. “Idoknow whatthat’s like.”
“I’mnot talking about a weird phase you went through in high school, and I’m nottalking about your ex.” He pointed toward the door at the end of the hall,where Molly was sleeping. “You don’t know what it’s like to leaveher, the way things arenow. I mean, I love the fuck out of thisjob. And hell, I love the fuck out of you guys, too. Butdude, I miss mywife.”
Iknew what he was saying was the truth. I did know what it had been like toleave Ali, but there hadn’t been much to leave. Now, the sheer thought ofwalking away from Molly, to embark on a four, five, six-month tour around theworld, jolted my heart with an instant shock of agony. For one stupid, selfishmoment, I thought we could just bring her with us forever. She could alwaysopen. She could always behere. But reality is a cold-hearted bitch andI knew I couldn’t do that to Molly. Her career was only now just taking off.She had a future as a successful solo artist waiting for her, and I couldn’thold her hostage.
“You’llmake it work,”Sebcontinued, reassuring me with aslow bob of his head. “But dude, yougottaput a ringon that girl.”
Theold comment lured a chuckle from my chest. With a sidelong glance, I asked,“You don’t think it’s too soon?”
Witha snort, he shook his head incredulously. “Too soon? What the fuck? You’veknown her since you were, what? A fetus?”
“Youknow what I mean.”
“Okay,”he nodded thoughtfully, “then, let me ask you this: do you think you’regonnamarry her?”
Withouta moment’s hesitation, I answered, “Yes.”
“Youthink you’regonnamake beautiful baby bearstogether?”
Isnickered and nodded. “Yeah, probably.”
