Chapter Two
Keaton
MEMPHIS FLEW IN earlyand I picked him up from the airport a few days ago.We spent time at my home writing songs and had dinner with my parents.They love Memphis and enjoy spending time with him.My parents honestly treat him like their son instead of the rockstar he is.I know Memphis appreciates that from them because there’s really no way he can hide who he is when he’s trying to find some downtime.That’s why he’s been here with me a few times.We hang out at my place and hardly go into town.I live far enough away from everything no one even knows he’s here.It’s also a plus that I have a huge fence around my property that’s tall enough no one can see inside.I’ve done it in case my identity accidentally got leaked and I needed a privacy barrier for when I’m home.Even more for when I’m not home.I can’t imagine what would happen if my fans knew where I’m from.I’ve always been very nonchalant about my hometown and never given away any information they can’t find online.
Camden did reach out once a few days after I left.He sent me a message saying he’s sorry.Nothing more than those two words.I didn’t bother responding to him and I blocked his number so he can’t call me while I’m home.I’ll need to unblock him when I get to the festival because he is a member of the security team.Memphis has assured me he’ll make it very clear Camden is not allowed to randomly text or call me for any reason other than work.Since he’s not on my security detail, there’s no reason for him to get in touch with me.At the festival, I’ll have my regular security team along with a few guys from Knight’s Rebellion MC.Jagger has brought them in a few times in the past and I really like the ones I’ve met so far.
Memphis and I have been working almost nonstop on a new song.It’s a duet and our voices mesh perfectly together for it.This doesn’t feel as if it’s work to either one of us though.The song is something that hit me when I got home and I wasn’t able to get it out of my mind.I started writing the lyrics and soon had the entire song down on paper.When it came time to work on the melody, I got stuck.It doesn’t always happen, but there are times I simply don’t believe anything is good enough for the song.I have it sounding one way in my mind, but can’t seem to capture what I want to hear when I play it.Over the course of days when I was working on it, I switched from playing the guitar to piano and back again to try and break the block I was under.Nothing worked.It wasn’t until Memphis showed up that the song really became what I heard in my head.He’s so damn talented and completely got me out of my head.We even sent a sample of it to Jagger and he’s excited.He even mentioned us performing it at the festival when I’m done with my set.And wants us to record it as soon as possible so it’s the next single I release.Memphis is happy to help me and get the song recorded.
“Keaton, are you ready to head out?”Memphis asks, walking in my bedroom where I’m placing the last of my clothes in the suitcase I’m packing.I decided to bring more comfy clothes with me since I won’t have to haul my suitcase back to the jet and can have it loaded directly on my tour bus when we show up.
“Almost.I have to grab the new strings we bought, the picks that Jagger had delivered for the fans, and a few more things.Do you have our passes and stuff so we can get in the venue?”I return, grabbing the last of my things and loading them in so I can close my suitcase.
“Yeah.They’re in my bag.Rex already loaded our instruments and my bags.He’s waitin’ on yours.You have a fan event tomorrow when we get there?”he asks me, laughing when I launch myself on the suitcase so I can zip it closed.
“Yeah.A meet and greet for two hours I think,” I tell him when I finally get my suitcase taken care of and stand back up.
“Damn.What a way to end your little mini break.You gonna be okay to be there for that long?”he asks me as he walks over to grab the miniature trunk from my bed and pull up the handle so he can wheel it out to Rex.
After grabbing my phone, keys, and wallet, I’m ready to go.Memphis and I ordered a bunch of groceries yesterday to bring to the bus with us.He doesn’t plan on leaving my side unless Wicked Angels has something to do or they’re in rehearsal.So, we ordered all of our favorite snacks and drinks.Memphis has been cheating on his diet the last few days and needs to get back on it.He doesn’t always allow himself to eat junk food, but there are times he just eats what he wants instead of monitoring himself as closely as normal.I love those days because he truly lets go and we share all kinds of food he doesn’t normally eat.
Memphis and I walk out to the SUV to find my parents waiting for us.
“Mom, Dad, what are you doing here?”I ask them, not sure what’s going on as they pull us in for hugs.
“We wanted to come say goodbye before you both left.We’ve gotta head out on a business trip so we won’t be able to make this performance.Neela will be there, though.She’s already at the venue with Jagger,” my mom says when she finally releases me from her hold.“Did you ever get in touch with Nora?”
“No.I’ve tried calling and messaging her every single day so I can see her and Bridger while I was here.She answered one message with some lame excuse about being busy and she’d get in touch with me when she could.That never happened.Nora has never been too busy for me.Something’s going on, but I don’t know what it is.I even told her a certain member of Wicked Angels was in town and didn’t get a response.She has a ticket at the festival, but I don’t know if she’ll show up,” I tell her, feeling a deep sadness settle in my soul.
Nora and I met when we were in elementary school.We were at recess and bonded over a game of kickball.Both of us were excellent and talked about playing soccer when we could.We also both loved to play softball.Anyway, whenever we weren’t chosen to be captains of teams against one another, we always did whatever it took to be on the same team.Our friendship only grew with every passing day.We shared everything, all of our hopes and dreams of the future, celebrity crushes, and anything else we had going on in our lives.There wasn’t a single thing the two of us didn't know about one another.At least that used to be true.Nora was always there when I needed her.Especially when I was on tour and needed a friendly voice to take the edge off of whatever was going on.Since I left school to start my career, Nora has been my only friend.I’ve brought her on the road with me a few times and was there the day Bridger was born.I was the first one to hold him.
Things started to change with Nora when she got with Dillon.He’s an asshole and I’ve never liked him.The very first day my best friend introduced us, he started hitting on me the second Nora’s back was turned.I went off on him and assured him I’d never hurt my best friend for some random asshole who wasn’t going to last long at all.Unfortunately, he’s lasted a lot longer than I thought he would.It’s been three years of hell for my best friend.I only say that because I’ve seen bruises on her a few times and I know they’re from him despite the terrible excuses she gives me about running into doors, tripping and falling, or whatever else she comes up with in the blink of an eye.Dillon has changed her in ways I never thought possible.My fun-loving, outgoing, best friend has become a shell of herself who rarely lets her son out of her sight and doesn’t let anyone close to him or her.I’m the only exception to the rule and she’s pushing me away suddenly.
“She’ll come to you when she’s ready,” my dad says as he gives me a kiss on the top of my head.“Nora will never let go of your relationship completely and she knows Bridger and she can count on you for anything at all.Give her some more time.”
“I’m trying to remember that.When she’s ready to leave Dillon, I’ll be at her side to help in any way I can.Maybe that’s what’s going on and she can’t talk to me right now,” I say, hope filling me for the first time in days about my best friend and her situation.
Memphis and I get in the SUV as my parents wave us off.I’ll miss them at the festival, but I knew they were going to have to leave.They pushed their trip off this week because they wanted to see me and explain the situation from their side of things.Yes, I’m still upset, but I understand everyone’s reasons.It still doesn’t change the fact that I ended up with a broken heart.That’s what my parents truly didn’t want to happen, but it did anyway.Now, I’m just trying to move on.It’s why Memphis helped me get rid of all of Camden’s things and place them in a large box to be delivered to him when we arrive at the venue.Memphis will handle it so I don’t have to see him.He’ll also let him know I don’t want anything I might have left behind back.He can toss it all in the garbage so I don’t have to see it ever again.
Our driver leaves my property and we make a stop for food and coffee on the way.I won’t get through the day without a coffee.I’ve been trying to cut back on them, but it hasn’t been easy.Not with all the bullshit going on and the lack of sleep from my breakup and then trying to write the new song.Today is no exception as Memphis laughs at me while drinking his cold tea.Something new for him as he gets back on track with his diet.I know the second we get to the venue, he’ll find a gym and get a workout in.At least one of the guys from Wicked Angels will join him.It happens all the time when we’re on the road.Yes, I’ve gone with them a few times and always end up either too exhausted to move or hurt myself somehow.I’m slightly clumsy when it comes to things like that.Gym class was always full of laughter because at least a few times each class I was falling, landing wrong, and something would go wrong no matter what I tried to do.
***
We’re finally at thevenue and I’m more than ready to get out of the SUV.It’s cramped with everything we brought with us and I wasn’t planning on having Memphis with me on the way there.I’m glad he is, but it made things a little tighter than before.That’s okay, I never mind if it’s because of Memphis.It would certainly make things a lot easier for both of us if we were attracted to one another, but that’s not the case when it comes to us.We’ve had that conversation when he’s chosen to ride on my bus with me and we just don’t have those feelings for each other.I view him as an annoying brother and he sees me as a little sister he needs to protect.Still, everyone who sees us together feels as if we’re hiding a relationship.Camden did at one point like most everyone else.He was very jealous of our relationship until we sat down with him and explained our friendship to him.
“I’ll meet up with you later?”I ask Memphis when the driver pulls over behind my bus so no one can see me climb on so I can get showered and changed.
“Of course.I’ll grab us dinner when you’re done with your meet and greet.If you need me, send a message and I’ll be there,” he tells me and I give him a quick hug before he jogs over to the Wicked Angel’s bus to climb on and change.
Getting on my bus, I take a long shower.I really don’t try to take long ones on the bus, but today I’m taking my time.Once my hair and body are washed, I rinse out the conditioner and dry off before heading in my room to get ready.Mindy, my make-up artist, is already waiting for me as I slide a robe on.
“Feeling any better?”she asks me as I take a seat in her chair so she can get to work.
“Not really.Memphis and I wrote this amazing song though.Jagger loves it,” I respond as she starts brushing out my hair.
