ALL MY EX'S LIVE INTEXAS
12
Jude
As Jude stuffedthe last of his things back into his bag, his cell phone rang. He didn't have to look at the name to know who it was. Cade Summers, the lead singer of Silverlight and one of Jude's closestfriends.
"Hey man," Jude said as he answered the phone. "I don't have a lotoftime."
"Oh? She that hot?" Cade said. "Maybe Black can find a place for me on hertour,too."
"Shut up, it's not like that. Besides, you know touring is the last thing I want to do, especially forsomeoneelse."
"Who are you kidding, Jude? You loved touring. All that road pussy," Cade said with a sigh, "I missittoo."
"You know it was never like thatforme."
"Yes, yes, everyone knows, Jude Morrison is always falling in love. Who is it this time? Is itthekid?"
"She's not a kid," Jude said. "Plus she has talent. Something I know you'll find hard tounderstand."
"Oh, I bet she's talented. I hear all the chicks nowadays areeasierthan--"
"Shut up, Cade," Jude said sternly. "Be seriousforonce."
Cade sighed. "You take the fun out of everything, man. Just admit it though, you had to have been with thousands of women over the years. You loved every single one of them,didn'tyou?"
"At the time I really thought I did, but I don't think I knew whatlovewas."
"But whatabout--"
"Don't say her name. Not now, okay? But yeah, I did love her. I think after her I kept looking for that same feeling and confusing what my dick wanted with what my heart was looking for," Jude said. "Not that any of that matters. You know how it is, you fuck up out there on the road and everyone knows about it. To this day, all anyone talks about is who I've slept with. I'm different now from that kid I was on the road. Igrewup."
"Wealldid."
"Ha! Gimme a break, Cade. You haven't changedabit."
"Nah, you'd be surprised. You really would," Cade said. "Enough about me though, it sounds like you gotitbad."
"I do," Jude said. "She's perfect. Which is exactly why I need to stay awayfromher."
"Man, you confuse me. So you love her, but you'restayingaway?"
"I've made a lot of mistakes in my life, you know that. I don't want this girl to be oneofthem."
"Jude, let me tell you," Cade said. "Take some advice from me. We've both left plenty of broken hearts on the road, and we've both experienced plenty ofheartache."
"Don't bullshit me, Cade. You've never had your heartbroken."
"Fine, you got me there, but you know what's worse? Never having the chance with that one you know is the girl for you. You want to be a pussy and worry about getting hurt or whatever, then fine, be a pussy, Jude. But after you see her with someone else, trust me, you'll be wishing all you had was a brokenheart."
Jude was silent. He wanted to be angry with Cade for what he said, but there was more that hedidn'tknow.
"I'm not being a pussy," Jude said. "I'm being a man. Lucky hasn't been out in the world like you and me. All of this is new to her. I love her. I've never admitted that before, not even to myself, but it's true. All I think about is her. My days are brighter now that she's in them. And all I care about is her happiness. But she needs to experience the world and maybe even other people. I know you don't understand, man, and that's alright, but I'd rather be her last than herfirst."
"First? Well, you know that's my specialty," Cade said,joking.
Jude laughed. "Thanks, you always know the right thing to say.Talksoon."
