(6 months later)
Itoss themic to our sound guy and run off the stage. Midway through the tour, I feel better than ever. A stagehand hands me a bottle of water and a white hand towel, and I head down the long hallway for the secured exit. Max rounds a corner and catches me.
The changes I’ve made have been hard on him, but I think he’s finally getting used to them. In his casual suit and tie, he drops one arm around my shoulder. “Great, man. Incredible. I don’t know how you do it, but you’ve never been better.”
He had to cancel six shows for me when Tildy came into the world. Charlie and I named her Matilda Renee Forrester. That’s right. Forrester.
Webber wasn’t interested in having any rights once he discovered they’d cost him monthly child support. After a private wedding ceremony, I signed the final adoption papers. Charlie and I have a daughter.
I’m a dad.
“My girls waiting for me?” I ask Max. There are only two girls I’m interested in seeing when the lights go down.
“The two blonds on the bus?” Max won’t admit it but he’s somewhat smitten with them too. At first Charlie got on his nerves. Max didn’t like that I’d missed those concerts for her. He resisted again that she supported me as I set up boundaries.
No more parties in my dressing room.
No drugs backstage. Period.
I’d given autographs and met with a few VIP fans before going on. Now, I’m ready to go home.
I’d never thought life could be this good. This sweet.
“Wanted to let you know. I added the missed cities to the end of the tour. People are eating this marriage stuff up. They love that Colt Forrester is a daddy now.”
I grimace. I really don’t give a shit about that side of the business, but I suppose it doesn’t hurt. When this tour is over, I’m gonna focus on what really matters.
I’m gonna focus on Charlie and Tildy. They’re my life now. I can’t wait. Charlie has a way of giving everything meaning. She’s helped me find my way again. I’m excited about writing music again. Anxious to record the new stuff.
I wave Max off and exit the building.
With only six months left on the tour, Charlie and I plan to move into a home near my mom’s when it concludes.
For now, the bus is home.
I step on and am met with soft lighting and the aroma of something that smells delicious. Charlie steps out of the back bedroom and touches her fingers to her lips. She’s wearing a long T-shirt and… nothing else. “She just fell asleep. How’d it go?”
She wraps her hands around my neck, pressing her body against me. “Good. Better now.” I bury my face in her neck. Clean, warm, woman. I can’t wait to make love to her tonight. Slow, I think. My hand clutches her sweet ass, and she grinds against me. No panties.
I love coming home.
“Hungry? I ordered Thai.” Nimble fingers work to unfasten my belt.
I growl into her mouth. I love this woman. I love everything about this woman.
Maybe it wouldn’t be so slow tonight. She tugs at my jeans.
Nope. Definitely not slow.
I lift her against the wall and slide into warm, wet, silky heaven. “Fuck.” With me holding her thighs, we move together, knowing exactly what the other needs.
Her muscles contract around me, and I know she’s already coming. “Colt, so good. So good.” Her whispers feather across my skin. And then she’s clutching me, shuddering. I capture her cries with my mouth and increase my own pace.
We’ve done this before. We don’t want to wake Tildy.
Shaking and satisfied, I collapse us onto the couch.
We hold one another and we catch our breath.
