There’s a pause on the other end of the line. I can almost hear him thinking. “Okkaay,” he says slowly. “What’s on your mind?”
I take another deep breath, steeling myself. “I want to cancel the tour.”
“What?” Nigel sputters, clearly caught off guard. “Axel, you can’t be serious. We’ve been planning this for months. Everything is at the last stages—”
“I know, I know, but nothing’s finalised,” I cut in, rubbing a hand over my face. “And I’m sorry for the short notice, but I need to make some changes. I want to focus on sharing my music in a different way. More intimate venues, smaller crowds. Something that aligns with who I am and what I want to put out into the world.”
Nigel sighs heavily. “Axel, I get where you’re coming from, but this is going to hurt the bottom line. We’re talking about a lot of money here.”
I close my eyes, Kyle’s thoughts echoing in my mind.
You were born for this sort of performance. Such an amazing way to share your music with the world.
“I understand that, Nige. But life’s about more than money. Sometimes, you have to prioritise other things. Like happiness, and authenticity, and doing what feels right in your heart.”
“Are you sure you aren’t rushing the decision? You’ve had a lot on your plate with everything going on. Maybe just take a bit of time,” he says.
“I don’t need any time,” I reply.
There’s another long pause, and for a moment, I worry he might try to talk me out of it. But then he chuckles softly, a note of resignation in his voice. “You always were a stubborn bastard, Zelman. Alright, if this is what you really want, we’ll make it happen. But you owe me a drink for the headache this is going to cause.”
I grin, relief flooding through me. “You got it, mate. Thanks for understanding.”
We say our goodbyes and I hang up, feeling lighter than I have in ages. In all honesty I know he’ll give it at least one more chance to try to change my mind next week when we meet face to face, but fuck it, I’m going to stick to my guns.
I grab a couple of Cokes from the fridge and a bag of chips from the pantry, then head back out to the living room.
Rick looks up as I enter. “Everything okay? You were gone a while.”
I hand him a drink and drop down beside him on the couch, tearing open the bag of chips. “Everything’s great actually. I just got off the phone with Nigel.”
“Oh yeah?” Rick takes a swig of his Coke. “What did he have to say?”
“I told him I want to cancel the tour. That I’m ready to start making some changes in my career.”
Rick’s eyes widen. “No shit, really?”
I nod, feeling a swell of excitement in my chest. “It feels right, like it’s time for me to start doing things on my own terms.”
Rick clinks his can against mine, pride shining in his eyes. “And you think I’m the one with guts.”
I shrug, but I can’t keep the smile off my face. “I couldn’t do it without you, you know. Having you in my corner means everything.”
His expression softens, and he reaches out to squeeze my shoulder. “I’ll always be in your corner, Axel. No matter what.”
“Thanks.”
We sit in comfortable silence for a moment, sipping Cokes and munching on chips. Then Rick clears his throat. “You know, sometimes I wish I had a clearer idea of what I want to do with my life. Like you do with your music.”
“Hey, you’ll figure it out, Ricky. You’ve got so smart and have so much passion, it’s only a matter of time until you find your thing.”
Rick smiles, but it doesn’t quite reach his eyes. “I hope so. I just feel kind of… lost, sometimes. Like I’m drifting without a purpose.”
I hold his gaze. “Listen to me, Rick. You’re not lost. You’re on a journey, just like the rest of us, and I have no doubt you’ll find your way.”
The whole conversation reminds me of Kyle’s advice. Maybe Rick needs space to clear his head—some thinking room. He’s been cooped up in the city, dealing with the fallout from his mistakes and living with the pressure of all the publicity.
The idea hits me like a lightning bolt. I’m going to take him away for a break while we sort out next steps together. And then, a daring thought takes hold. What if we took a trip to the area Kyle loves so much?
