“I’m sorry for getting you all wet with my tears,” she whispers as Tristan and Zach step up behind me and I move to stand while Keaton gets out of her car.
“This is Tristan and Zach,” I inform her, pointing to each man in question as she gives them a small nod.“Tristan, load her car once we get the baby out of the backseat.Zach, bring the SUV closer so she doesn’t have to walk with the baby that far.”
Zach and Tristan move at my words and I step closer to Keaton.The need to be near her is overwhelming as I keep my eyes locked on her.Zach moves the car right up next to hers and we get the car seat switched over carefully without waking Bridger up.Keaton climbs in the passenger seat with my help because I don’t want to leave her alone.I know Zach will protect her, but I want it to be me.It’s almost like I feel he won’t do as good of a job as I will when it comes to the safety of Keaton and Bridger.Two people I just met and already want to see every single day.How the fuck can I feel this way twice in such a short period of time?
I walk over to my bike after helping Tristan load the car on the flatbed.Once it’s been secured, Tristan climbs in the truck and waits for me to pull out.I’ll follow behind the SUV which will follow Tristan back to the garage.As soon as I start my bike and rev the engine, Tristan pulls out and heads to the garage with us behind him.My attention is on the SUV in front of me as I call Greyson and let him know I won’t be heading in to work just yet.I don’t tell him why, just that I’m dealing with something and might show up later.If not, he can close up and he’s in charge while I’m gone.Greyson might be a Prospect, but he’s been with the club for a while now and I trust him at the strip club.He’s never let me down when I’ve left him in charge previously and I don’t see it happening tonight.For now, I want to stay with Keaton and Bridger as long as possible.
Chapter Twelve
Keaton
TWO WEEKS HAVE flownby in the blink of an eye.Every single day I miss Nora more than the previous one.I need her words of wisdom and help with Bridger.I love my Godson like he was my own, but I don’t know what the hell I’m doing here.He’s still so young and dependent on me for everything.Thankfully, my mom calls me every day to talk to me and I’ve called her in tears more than once when I can’t get Bridger to calm down.I’ve tried everything in those moments, including what Ice did on the side of the road the day my car died.Nothing seems to work.My mom says it’s because I’m nervous and scared I’m doing things wrong and Bridger can sense it.But, I think I’m finally starting to get the hang of things and putting a routine in place that works for both of us.
I have Bridger in bed by eight each night after giving him his dinner and a bath.He sleeps for about four or five hours before waking up to eat again.Then I change his diaper and rock him until he falls back asleep for a few more hours.In the morning, I feed him breakfast and then he has tummy time in the living room while I clean the kitchen and anywhere else where I can still see him.While he naps, I write songs and have actually sold three of them to other artists.Including one to the Wicked Angels.Memphis heard the song and loved it.He played it for Knight and the rest of the band.Onyx is the one who called me and asked if they could record it.This is what works for us at this point, and I’m doing everything in my power to ensure each day remains the same so Bridger has a sense of stability and a new normal in his life.
Memphis calls me every other day when he gets a free minute to check on me.He knows how much I’m struggling with everything and simply listens when I need to vent or cry.I’m not sure what I’d do without him and my mom.They’ve become my rocks at this point in my life when I need them the most.Memphis has also assured me the second he has a few days free, he’ll fly in to see me again.I think they have a break coming up this week or next and I’m really looking forward to seeing him again.I know part of the reason he wants to come to Briar Glen is because it’s his way of getting off the road for a while so he can simply breathe and take a break he won’t get otherwise.Jagger knows what he plans on doing and has told him to come to me whenever he needs to as long as they don’t have a show that night.Our manager has truly stepped up and given Memphis the freedom to leave when I didn’t think that would happen.Especially when I know they have media appearances and all the other stuff that comes with being on tour.
I’m still waiting to hear back about my car.Judge did call me yesterday and they finally found the problem.My fuel pump was going bad and made it so the engine wasn’t getting the right amount of fuel to keep the car running.They ordered the part and are waiting on it to come in so they can fix it and return the car to me.Judge also asked if I had another vehicle because they would make sure I had a ride or a loaner car if I needed one.I told him I had two other vehicles to use but thanked him for his kindness.Judge really is a good guy.Tristan and Zach are too.Especially Zach.He ran me to the store, walked through the aisles with me, and then loaded everything in the SUV before bringing us home and helping me bring everything inside.He didn’t have to do any of it, but said he didn’t mind and liked helping others around him.
Today, after checking on Bridger to make sure he’s still sleeping, I jump in for a quick shower.I’ve mastered the art of showering in the least amount of time possible now that I have Bridger with me full time.I can be in and out in about ten minutes while I keep the baby monitor so I can watch the baby on the screen the entire time.After drying off and dressing in a pair of workout shorts and one of Memphis’ tank tops from tour, I brush out my hair and throw it up in a messy bun.I’m not doing anything but working around the house today and writing more songs.I’ve been in contact with another artist who wants a few songs from me.We’ve worked together in the past a few times and I know exactly what she wants so all I have to do is write them.
As I head to the kitchen for a glass of juice and something to snack on, there’s a knock on my door.Switching directions, I head for the front door and look through the peephole because I’m scared Dillon will get to us somehow.They did catch him and he’s currently sitting in jail waiting to go to trial, but it doesn’t mean much when he associates with such criminals.I won’t be surprised if he sends someone else after me and then tries to play it off like he’s not involved.The guy is a fucking scumbag.
Memphis is standing on my porch as I scream and open the door.Without hesitation, I jump in his arms and he catches me.I bury my face in his neck as the tears start to fall.I’m not even sure why I’m crying right now, but seeing him for one second has broken the flood gate open again and I don’t know how long it will take for me to stop this time.
“I’ve got you, Sweetheart,” he tells me, rubbing my back while moving us in the house.There’s no need for words when I’m with Memphis.He knows what I need and gives it to me without hesitation.It’s what I always imagined a big brother would do if I had one.“You should know I’m not alone.Couldn’t fuckin’ ditch him no matter how hard I tried.”
Lifting my head, I look over Memphis’ shoulder to see the last person in the world I want in my home.Camden.I let Memphis know I want down and he releases me once I’m steady on my feet in front of him.Standing before Camden, I expect to feel my heart break again.Or to start crying even harder as silent tears still fall.Nothing happens though.My heart doesn’t even skip a beat as I look at the man who owned my heart for two years.It’s like I don’t have a past with him and that the truth of our situation didn’t completely devastate me.Looking at Camden doesn’t provoke any kind of response in me as I realize nothing about our situation matters any longer.He’s simply a guy I used to know.
“What the hell are you doing here?”I ask Camden while folding my arms over my chest and glaring at him.
“I wanted to see you, Keaton.You’ve been through hell and I know you’ve been here alone.Despite everythin’ that happened, I care about you.You don’t have to believe me, but it’s the truth,” Camden says as he takes a few steps close to where I stand.
“Younevercared about me, Cam.If you did, you wouldn’t have spent two fucking years lying to me.You would have told me the truth of the situation from the very beginning so I didn’t love you.What makes everything worse is you knew how much I loved you and it never mattered to you for a single second,” I state, my voice full of ice as Memphis places his hand on my shoulder in comfort and steps up behind me.
“That’s not true, Keaton.Yes, everythin’ between the two of us started as a job for me.I won’t stand in front of you and say it didn’t.When I first started to spend time with you, I came in with a bias, thinkin’ you were a spoiled princess who only gave a shit about herself.I didn’t see all the time you give your fans, the way you brighten up the lives of children by takin’ a few minutes with them, or how you give more of yourself to everyone around you than what you hold back.The more time I spent with you, the harder it got to distinguish between you bein’ a job and the woman I was fallin’ in love with.I do love you, Keaton.But, I also know you can’t stand liars and that whatever we had between us will never happen again.It doesn’t mean I won’t do what I can to protect you.They didn’t need me on tour right now, so I came with Memphis to try and clear the air between us and explain my side of the situation,” Camden tells me as my heart remains hard as stone against his words.
