There are many things I could do right now to unwind, but since I’m in a hotel, I head straight for the shower. It’s not that I’m not appreciative of the space on the RV, but I always enjoy a few nights in a hotel room, mainly to soak up these little moments of luxury like taking showers for as long as I want.
The water hits me like a soft drumbeat, steady and constant, and the heat soothes my aching muscles, immediately loosening the tension in my back, arms, and shoulders. I’m not as young as I used to be, and I feel every beat long after it’s over.
I let the steam rise around me, closing my eyes for a second and feeling the heaviness of the night dissolve. I focus on the silence and slowly, the noise in my head starts to quiet.
I step out of the shower, dry off, and stand in front of the bathroom mirror where I brush my teeth and pull on my sweats before collapsing into bed.
The clock on the nightstand beside the bed tells me it’s now after one in the morning, but I’m not even close to tired yet, my mind still not ready to shut down, so I decide to check my social media apps. I’ve always felt like technology is both a blessing and a curse. I remember the days before everything was at your fingertips, and most of the time, I long for those days. The days where you could walk away from the constant barrage of information and people’s unsolicited opinions.
However, one of the things I promised myself when I joined the band was that I would always take time for the fans. They are, of course, the reason I am where I am, and I never want to take any of it—any ofthem—for granted. I love searching for posts from the night—seeing what they experienced and what their favorite moments were. I like a few, comment on a few others, and share my favorites to my stories.
I check the time again. A full hour has passed, but I still feel restless. Sometimes, when the quiet is too much, I end up pacing, and tonight feels like one of those nights.
Just as my feet hit the floor, I feel the faint buzz of my phone in my pocket, and my heart squeezes in my chest when I see the message from Ty.
Ty: How did it go tonight?
Eric: Good. Crowd was rowdy as hell.
Ty: You still all wound up?
Eric: I love that you know me this well already.
Ty: Needme to come over?
Yes,I think to myself. I do need you to come over. And then never, ever leave.
My eyes immediately drift to the bed next to me, flashing back to the last time I had Tyler in my hotel room alone. I groan as the rest of my body catches up to my mind and type out my reply.
Eric: Thanks, but I’ll be alright. You, on the other hand, need to
rest.
Eric: You should already be asleep.
Ty: Needed to check in with you first.
Warmth spreads through my heart as I read her words, and I rub at the tattoo on my chest and smile knowing she wanted to stay up until she talked to me.
Eric: I appreciate that, but you need to rest.
Ty: OK dad ??
Resisting the urge to reply and play off the “dad” comment by telling her that I have no problem coming to her room and punishing her if she refuses to listen, I tell her goodnight and when I place my phone on the nightstand, I realize my mind is quiet, and I can feel the heaviness of sleep pulling at me. I’m not sure when it happened—if it was hearing from Ty or something else—but the restless energy has finally dissipated.
I close my eyes and am not at all surprised that she is the first thing I see when I finally fall asleep.
****
“Okay, so where were we?” Ty asks, sipping her coffee as she looks over her notes. Our final Nashville show was last night, and we’re now en route to Atlanta. It’s a quick four-hour drive, so we all got to enjoy one more glorious night in the hotel before climbing back onto the RVs this morning.
“Right,” she says, finding her place. “So, you got your kit and swore to make Andrea Smith regret the day she kissed you on a dare and not on purpose.”
“Doyouregret kissing me on purpose?” I ask, and her eyes dart to mine.
“Technically,youkissedmeon purpose,” she counters.
“Alright,” I say, chuckling. “Do you regret letting me kiss you on purpose?”
