These guys? In suits?
Phew. I’m getting hot just thinking about it.
Once I saw Travis in his suit, I had this brilliant idea for them to wear them for their last show. A little formal goodbye to end their first but definitely not last tour.
My eyes seek out Travis. He’s got Cinnamon on his lap, letting her nibble on his pizza.
“Excuse me?” Everyone’s attention comes to me except him. He’s in his own world. If I didn’t find it kind of gross, I’d find it sweet. Ok, what the hell, I still find it cute. I had no idea he’d be so...nurturing. My ovaries are not equipped to handle it. There are no babies growing inside of me any time soon, so they need to calm down.
Travis kisses the cat’s head—and there they go acting up again—then finally, he looks up. “What?”
“If you continue to eat that pizza, I’m never speaking to you again.” Tanner stares at him, completely disgusted.
“Promise?” Travis grins, bringing the slice to his mouth.
“Jesus.” Penn sighs, slapping the back of his head, making the pizza fall to the floor.
“Hey!”
“Ok, I have to go now. I’ll see you all tomorrow,” I say, trying not to laugh.
“You’re not eating with us?” Travis asks.
I keep my back to him as I answer, “No, I’m exhausted.” I exit the bus as my phone starts ringing, and I consider letting it go. It’s probably Travis, but when I slide it out, I see the name and rush to answer.
Terrible parentsis how I saved Travis’s parents’ number inmy phone. I hadn’t expected a response at all after my message earlier.
“Hello?”
“Ms. Williams?” Travis’s dad’s voice is clipped. Shit, Mom called in the big guns on me.
I smile to myself, ready to unleash my wrath. Bring it on, Daddy Beckett.
62
TRAVIS
“This is it,guys, make it count. Leave everything out there on that stage. Soak it up, you did it!” Ellie isn’t normally one for pep talks before a show. She lets us have our space. That’s what we like, but this is different. Our last show.
Four months and fifty-five shows later, we’re done.
What a trip. Exhausted and burnt out doesn’t begin to describe it. But also elated and…fucking proud, too. Because yeah, we did it.
I almost didn’t. But thanks to the girl standing in front of me, tearing up as she leaves the room, I made it. She leaves the room, and a nagging feeling prickles the back of my mind.
Something’s not right.
Last night when she dropped our suits off, she didn’t stay and would barely look at me. I rushed after her, but she was on the phone outside the bus. I stayed back, trying not to eavesdrop. She was agitated and arguing with someone who was “letting her down,” and she “couldn’t believe he’d do this.” It felt like a knife to the chest. I have no clue who she was talking to, but I didn’t like it. Then she texted me laterand asked me not to come to her room because she was too tired. She’s never too tired to come.
I trust Ellie, but I’m…fuck, I’m scared. And my first instinct when fear sets in is to run. I’m trying like hell to fight the urge, though. I want to see this through.
I finish doing my vocal warm-ups. When Tanner gives us the signal, we file out the door. The crowd is roaring as we approach the stage. I hadn’t so much as peeked to see how many people were here. I just wanted to live in the moment tonight. I’ve been so checked out half of this tour. Tonight, I want to be present. Soak it in, like Ellie said.
The screams pierce my ears, giving me chills. When the bell that signals our arrival dings, a hand slaps my back. Tanner comes close, and we huddle together, a familiar look mirroring my bandmates’ eyes as we stare at each other.
This is it. It’s over.
We can go home after this. Everyone can go back to their families. I can go back to my bed.
