Reid
Two Years Later
The hustle and bustle of backstage is a familiar chaos that I breathe deep into my lungs. Stagehands run around, dragging lights and pushing amps that probably should’ve been in place an hour ago but got lost in the shuffle of preparing for the show.
Arun chats with the stage manager. The two of them are huddled over a clipboard as Arun gestures repeatedly to a line on a piece of paper.
The knowledge that he’s here to take care of all the logistics for us is something I never fully appreciated during our career but now am so grateful for. He’s been our biggest cheerleader these last couple of years as we’ve geared up to re-establish ourselves, but on our own terms.
He and Jane together have gone to bat for us over and over again with the label executives whose greedy handstried to snatch us back up the second they heard the four of us were back in the studio together.
This fifth album, this reunion, this new chapter in our careers, came together on our terms. With only our, and our families, best interests at heart.
A citrusy scent hits my nose a moment before Aspen is in front of me, wrapping her arms around my waist. She smiles up at me, brighter than the stagelights I’m about to step under. “Craft services is awesome! They have an entire cheesecake back there for you guys!”
That would be Walker’s request. I snake one hand through her hair and hold her waist with the other. “A perk of the job.” I grin.
“That’s a hell of a perk. Will there be a spread like that in every city?”
“Yep. It’s in our rider.”
“Well then I’ll be ready to feast when I come out.”
Aspen’s not coming with on the bus for the tour and instead will be flying out to most of the shows. Between the cats and her job at the shelter, she couldn’t take months away. But it’s nice that she’ll still be able to be at most of them.
“Thank you for being here tonight.” The feeling of having her in my arms, the knowledge that at any point during the show, I’ll be able to look to the side and see her standing there, is a balm to my blazing nerves.
Her lashes fan across her cheeks as she blinks up at me. She cups my jaw, gently rubbing her thumb along the stubble. “I wouldn’t be anywhere else in the world tonight.”
She rises on her tiptoes to kiss me, but I duck my head and beat her to it. Her lips part for me, welcoming me home. “Besides,” she says once we break apart, “it’s aboutdamn time I seetheReid Keely in action after all these years of wondering.”
“I think you’ll find I live up to all expectations.”
Her chest rumbles against mine with laughter. “Big talk for a rusty old rockstar.”
“Whatever.” I punctuate my words with a swift slap on her ass.
Her eyes widen and she quickly glances around to see if anyone’s watching, but everyone is wrapped up in their own world right now. “You’re gonna pay for that later.”
I grin at my wife. “I hope so.”
There’s a mischievous glint in her eye as she presses one last quick kiss to my lips. “I love you. You’re going to kill it. And the kitties are all cheering for you back home, look!” She pulls up her phone, one of our house cameras shown on it. This one has a view of our living room, where Macaroni, Midnight, and Boo Bear are all sprawled across the couches. Midnight and Boo Bear are snuggled in with one another, while Macaroni spreads out his full body length across the black couch.
He knows that one shows his fur the most, so I swear that’s why he always chooses to sit on that one.
Little fucker.
Arun’s voice calls out from my left. “Ten minutes to showtime!” He’s in a new maroon suit for the occasion. “Let’s not be late for the first show back, alright?”
He gives me a pointed look, and I give him an affronted one back. “I’m never the one who’s late!”
He purses his lips. “Mhmm.” With that, he takes off toward our green room.
“Good luck. Save a pick for me, will you?” Aspen winks at me, tapping my pocket where I keep my stash for the show.
“I’ll be sure to toss one your way.”
We kiss again before I stride over to the side of the wings where my favorite blue electric guitar waits for me. The dust has long since been rubbed off on it. Even though it sat stagnant for a couple years, this baby recorded every song on our new album beautifully.
