CHAPTER TWO
Travis Fontana lay flat on the roof ofReckless’ tour bus and stared up at the sky. The cold metal on his back, the cool breeze dusting over his body, and the bright stars shining down from above, washed away his anxiety and filled him with peace. He wished every moment of the day held such tranquility. These were the moments he longed for and cherished. Solitude often brought an avalanche of unkind thoughts that tore him down, but thevast universe above set him free. Staring at the stars exonerated him from the hell inside his head and covered him with peace.
Filled with rows upon rows of cars, not a soul walked the deserted parking lot at 2:00 in the morning. He held up the notebook in his hand so he could read the lyrics he’d written, and chewed on the end of the pen. He had the chorus and the first and secondverses – barely half a song. The words came quickly, and then disappeared as thoughts of the time he’d spent with Derek MacAlister last night stole his concentration. He’d been a fan of Bulletproof for years, captivated by their gritty heavy metal sound, drawn in by the throaty scream of the lead singer, and enamored with the grungy riffs of the guitar player. Never had he thought he’d be openingfor the internationally-acclaimed band.
The tour wasn’t exactly the red-carpet treatment he had expected, but he understood that Reckless needed to earn their place. They weren’t among the ranks of Bulletproof. Just because Reckless had one hit single and an EP didn’t mean they were at the top of the game. They needed to put in the time and the work, even if it robbed him of his soulsometimes. The nonstop agenda, constant deadlines, and expectations felt like the weight of the world on his shoulders most of the time. As lead singer and frontman, the responsibility always fell on Travis. And it sucked. Stardom had its price.
He glanced back at the lyrics he started three hours earlier. Writing while on the road seemed impossible, yet he was tasked with the challenge,having to produce enough songs to present to the label for the release of their first full-length album in a few months. He couldn’t entirely blame Bulletproof’s sexy lead guitarist for his lack of concentration. Pressure from the short tour supporting Bulletproof, one that brought all eyes on Reckless, put a ton of stress on Travis. They weren’t the opening band for the opening band, as theyhad been on their first go round as a touring band. Reckless was direct support for Bulletproof. They’d be playing for a full house at every gig.
It was easy to put words on paper when he worked at his own pace, but when he needed to meet a deadline it became a race against the clock. The words wouldn’t come as easily as they should. He fumbled over them. He thought about them toohard. Struggled too much.
Returning his gaze to the sky, he wanted to get lost in the solitude of the universe staring down at him with its blissful nothingness of empty space, where time didn’t exist. He let out a contented sigh, lost in the black sky with its pale moon and sparkling stars. Everything seemed so simple up there, free from the pressures of the world below. He quietlysang the lyrics toThe Sky Is A Neighborhoodby Foo Fighters, imagining life among the planets, and it transported his spirit to another realm where nothing existed except tranquility.
Placing the notebook back on his chest, Travis thought about the success of Bulletproof, and wondered if Reckless would ever achieve that kind of worldwide fame. The idea pumped up his adrenaline, butnothing made his heart beat faster than thoughts of Derek MacAlister. He let out a dreamy sigh at the memory of their night together and the kisses that jumpstarted his heart. Derek proved to be the exact opposite of what Travis had predicted. He had expected the sexy rock star to take advantage of his vulnerability and lure him to bed. Never pushing the issue, Derek presented a nobility that Travishadn’t envisioned. The guitar player’s reputation and tumultuous sex life were common knowledge, so Derek’s decency and chivalry really registered with Travis, bringing with it a plethora of respect for the man.
The image of Derek, with his long length of black hair that fell down to his elbows, those cat-like green eyes, the strong arms covered in tattoos, and a reputation for havinga crazy fucking attitude that matched Travis’, made Travis regret not sleeping with him.
An introvert his entire life, Travis never opened up to people easily, but somehow he and Derek connected on a heightened level right away. He hadn’t planned on exposing his inner thoughts and fears, but once he started talking, the words flowed effortlessly. Maybe it was the lack of judgmentfrom Derek or the willingness to just listen that put him at ease. Whatever the reason, it felt damn good to talk to someone.
Travis thought back to his lonely childhood and lack of friends and no family. He was a loner. It really didn’t matter – before. Being with Derek woke something inside him that wasn’t there before. He suddenly craved the company of this man, not just as a friend,but as a lover as well. Derek could be the best of both worlds. He wondered if he should move forward with the idea. He didn’t want to be perceived as another groupie, just a quick or convenient fuck. He didn’t want to be used. He wanted to matter in someone’s life, for once. Casual sex was all he’d known, and in a way, he loved it. No strings. No commitments. No obligations. No one to lethim down.
