“Mm,you were never fat,” I protested, amazed to find sleep rolling in so quickly.
“Yeah,right,” she mumbled flatly.
“Nah,”I grunted groggily. “You were always fine, Molls.”
Betterthan fine, even. I’d say, damn near perfect.
Andwith that thought, I smiled and fell asleep.
13
Rideon a Plane
MOLLY
THETHREE-HOUR LAYOVERin Orlando had left me antsy. I wanted a beer,a comfortable bed, and a good nights’ rest. Sitting for so many consecutivehours was making me restless and cranky, and no amount of stretching my legswas making the situation any better.
Andthen, there was Chad.
He’dbeen spending more time in the men’s room than resting, and I could tell he wasphysically, mentally, and maybe even emotionally exhausted. Whenever he satback beside me, with his arms crossed, eyes closed, and breathing labored, Iwrapped my arm around his shoulders and pulled him to my shoulder. I wasn’tsure he wanted the comfort, but I needed to feel useful and he never resisted.That made me feel a little better, to know I could be there. Helping inwhatever way I could.
Bythe time we boarded our flight to Connecticut, he seemed to be improving a bit,with less frequent trips to the restroom, and a return of his appetite. So, ashe fished through his backpack for snacks, I looked out the window and down atGeorgia. We were onlystatesaway from Connecticut,just a couple more hours now, and good Lord, I was nervous and about ready topuke.
“Wantone?” Chad asked, finally producing a granola bar from his bag, and I shook myhead. With one look at my face, he smirked sympathetically. “Oh, great. One ofus gets donerunnin’ to the bathroom, and the otherone starts.”
“No,I’m fine,” I insisted, but holy Hell, I really wasn’t.
“Yeah,I’ve heard that one before,” he grunted, unwrapping the granola bar and takinga bite. His face twisted with sour disgust. “God, this tastes like fuckin’sand.”
Isnorted, relaxing just a bit. “Then why’d you bring it?”
“BecauseI had afeelin’ I’d be at war with my stomach today,so I thought packingsomethin’ bland would be a goodidea. But this just tastes like crap.” He wrinkled his nose again and droppedthe bitten bar unceremoniously into the backpack. “I want some fries and areally good burger.”
“Yourealize when you do see a doctor, you might have to change your diet, dependingon what’s wrong,” I mentioned lightly, and he reluctantly nodded.
“I’llcross that bridge when I get there.” He nudged my arm with his elbow and asked,“So, what’re youlookin’ so nervous about?”
Irolled my eyes at the pitiful churning in my stomach as I sighed. “It’sstupid.”
“Maybe.”He shrugged. “But tell me, anyway.”
Withanother glance out the window, to the nighttime world below us and the starsabove, I said, “This is just feeling really … real right now.”
“Believeme, Molls. I’ve been there. I was barely out of college when Devin brought meon. It wasfreakin’ insane.”
Ishook my head slowly, pressing a point I hadn’t yet made. “But, Chad, I feellike you were always destined for this. Nobody was surprised when you gotnoticed. You wereborna star, andI’ve just always beenstandin’ somewhere in thebackground.”
“Molly,that’s not—”
“I’mnotcomplainingabout that.Seriously,” I quickly continued. “I’m happy, and I’ve been perfectly contentwith my life, doing exactly what I’mdoin’.”
Heleaned his elbow against the armrest we shared. His skin brushed against mine,and a wave of goosebumps broke out along my arms.
“So,areyathinkin’ you don’twant this, then?” he asked. There was no mistaking the concern in his words.I’m sure he worried he’d pushed me into something I wasn’t ready for, maybesomething I didn’t even want.
“No!No, that’s not what I wasimplyin’. I’m so gratefulfor the opportunity, and I’m excited, really.But,I’m scared shitless, too.” Iturned to him, finding the affectionate worry in his eyes both sweet andendearing. “What if I find I’m just meant to play dive bars in little,middle-of-nowhere towns? What if I find I was never supposed tobeastar?”
Hehummed thoughtfully as his eyes narrowed. “Do you feel like, once people knowyour name, you’re suddenly in competition with everybody in the world who alsosings and plays a guitar?”
