“At this point, it’s a superstition. I feel like if I don’t call, somethin’ will go horribly, horribly wrong.”
Luke smiled at her fancifulness but didn’t tell her he thought the same thing.
“Where’re you headed to next?” she asked.
“Don’t you have my concert schedule taped to the fridge?” he asked.
“That’s beside the point. I like to hear you tell me about it.”
He took a deep breath. “Let’s see. Tonight and tomorrow in L.A., then two nights in Las Vegas, one in Phoenix, one in Albuquerque, Cheyenne, and I’ll finish up in Denver.”
“You sound tired.”
“Yeah, a little.” He slouched down into the couch and set his guitar on the cushion next to him. “Five months on the road—you get a little worn out toward the end.”
“You should come home and take a break.”
“I’m gonna try. As soon as we’re done in Denver,” he said.
“You know Rowan’s still in Denver, right? Maybe you should take some time to see her.”
His whole body tensed at the mention of the one person he’d been trying to avoid thinking about. Even as her image had taunted him while he’d been singing earlier.
“That’s probably not a good idea, Mama. We haven’t spoken to each other in years. Besides, I don’t know her address.” He knew Mama wouldn’t let that stand. Whenever she phrased something asmaybe you should, it meantyou’re going to do it whether you like it or not.
“I’m sure I can get her address from her parents if you wanted to drop by and say hi. I still don’t understand what happened to you two. I thought for sure I’d have a bunch of grandbabies by now.”
Nope. She wasn’t going to let it go. “Mama.”
“I know. I know. It’s none of my business, but her mama doesn’t know why y’all broke up either or why Rowan moved all the way out to Colorado.”
“We just drifted apart.” More like had swerved off in opposite directions.
“Well, I think that’s a load of bad bologna. You two were as thick as thieves since you were twelve years old. You don’tjust drift apartwith that kind of history.”
“Mama.” He thought briefly about telling her it was his fault. That he’d walked away. He’d walked toward his dream, but it had been away from her. It didn’t matter that he’d thought it was only going to be for a little while—until he’d made it big and hisimagewasn’t as important—he’d still picked being a hot, single country music singer over being with her.
The one regret of his life. The one dream that didn’t come true.
“And who’s this latest girl you’ve been seen with lately? Some floozy groupie you picked up at one of your concerts?”
“Please stop reading the tabloids. She’s the new PR manager the label hired.”
“Mmm-hmm. I know what happens backstage. I was young once too, ya know.”
“Mama, I don’t even want to know what you think goes on backstage other than taking pictures and signing autographs and I sure don’t want to knowwhyyou think you know what goes on backstage.”
Someone knocked on the door in the middle of the bus before it opened and his stage manager stuck his head in. “Luke, ten minutes to sound check.”
He moved the phone away from his mouth. “Be right there,” he called. “I gotta go, Mama.”
“All right. Sing your heart out tonight. I love you.”
“Love you, too. Tell everyone I said hi. Bye.”
He ended the call and threw the phone back on the cushion. Pulling the drawer of the bedside table open, he pulled out his wallet. No need to carry cash or credit or a driver’s license on him when he was on tour—if he wanted something, three different people would get it for him.
Lifting the inside leather flap, he took out the worn photo and brushed his thumb over the couple in the picture. Sophomore year of college. Rowan had run onto the field with everyone else when he’d scored the winning home run in the last inning of the championship game. She’d thrown her arms around his neck and he’d picked her up to kiss her. One of her friends had taken the picture at the perfect moment their mouths met.
