Page 13 of Madd Love

“Not John?” she asks and smiles.

I shake my head. “No, not John.”

“Disappointing; I was hoping this baby would buy me a private island for a retirement gift one day. You know, that child support check would have been fat.”

“Ugh, right.” We both laugh for a moment, and she hugs me again.

“It’s okay, Jen. Baby rock n’ rollers are awesome, too.”

“Yeah, I guess I need to tell you what has been happening.”

“Nothing to tell. We already suspected you all were sneaking around. You liked to disappear from our group functions too often, and it didn’t take Scotland Yard to figure it out. Plus, you know I’m on top of a good mystery, murder or otherwise.”

I laugh again, “Thank you for making this easier for me, Ev.”

“Always, girl. You’re my boo.”

TEN

Maddox

Today has just gone by so damn slowly. After tonight’s show, we head back home for a week.

I am ready for a break butanxious to return home.

I have to see Jen. If nothing else gets done, if I can’t make time for anything else, I have to see her.

My phone alerts me there’s an incoming message. I dig it out of my pants pocket and open it to see Jen’s name flash across the screen.Thank God!But I don’t know why just seeing her name makes me nervous, but it does.

Nevertheless, I click on the notification. I can’t look at it right away. I have to prepare myself for what this could say. I sit up straighter in my chair. I’m so damn nervous to read what she says. Okay, here goes.

Jen: We need to talk.

Maddox: Yes, we do. Let’s talk now.

We absolutely need to talk; it’s past due, beyond past due. But I am terrified that she and I aren’t about to have the same conversations. It’s time I let her know how I truly feel about her, once and for all. It’s time to let the chips fall where they may.These thoughts and feelings aren’t going away, and they are only growing stronger. I can’t shove them down anymore.

I don’t know how to tell someone she’s my entire world, but I guess I will have to figure it out real damn quick.

Consequences be damned.

Not having her isn’t an option. Whatever she needs, whatever I have to do to make her see that I want her and her alone, then that’s what I’ll do. I can be the person she needs in life. My phone alerts me of another message, and I look at the screen.

Jen: I need to see you in person. Can we meet up on your week off?

This sounds serious, and Jen isn’t ever very serious with me. Mostly because I don’t think our interactions have allowed for that. Jen is always lighthearted, fun, and slightly sarcastic, but when she is serious, that is when I worry. She is serious for a reason, and if she needs to see me in person, I’ll do whatever the hell I need to do to get my ass there.

Maddox: I will be there tomorrow.

For her, whatever this is, if she needs me, if she wants me, I will be there. Because if my girl needs to see me, then it’s urgent. I’ll be damned if I keep her waiting. I open the travel app I like to use and book a flight after tonight’s gig. The band, roadies, and equipment will have to drive back home. Usually, I’d be on that journey, but right now, I have a different path to take.

And yes, there is a possibility I am flying home just to get my heart broken. She may want to tell me that things are serious with her and John, and if that is the case, I will hate it, but I will respect the hell out of her. She has to make the best decisions for her life. If that isn’t me, I will have to deal. John seems like a fantastic guy; I’m not going to lie. There are worse men out there that I could lose her to; I know that fact.

I get my flight booked, hop up from the table, and start packing my shit because tomorrow I will see my girl. A knock sounds at my hotel room door. Beck and I share a room, so he would have a key. I head toward the door, and when I open it, our tour manager, Larry Henry, stands there. He’s an older man who, despite his age, has perfectly styled blond hair and only wears jeans, tennis shoes, and a pocket T-shirt, but he is the best damn tour manager in the world. Larry has been at this for a very long time. We managed to snag him while ZZ Top was on hiatus. Lucky fucking us. Larry is the best in the business, and this tour has run better than any tour we’ve ever had.

“Hey, Maddox. Just stopping by to let everyone know we picked up a date on the way home. We’ll be playing Oklahoma City in two days, and it’s a Veteran’s Benefit concert, and the main headliner had to cancel. If you see Beck, let him know.”

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck..

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