Page 20 of Breathing Wisteria
“Have you ever needed to worry?” he questions sharply.
I hold my arms up with a low chuckle. “Point taken. You should take the night off though, go get some sleep.”
“Yeah, I will after I’m finished here.” He motions to the chaos behind him where an army of roadies are dismantling the set in record time. “Say hi to Brax and Mel for me.”
“Will do.” With that, I turn and make my way through the winding corridors of the auditorium, meeting two of my bodyguards at the exit door.
“What’s it like out there?”
“Not too bad.” Zane, the larger of the two and the head of my security, reassures me. “Maybe a hundred, but they’re a pretty easygoing bunch. At least they were before they see you.” He smirks.
“Giselle’s out there though,” Connor warns.
“Shit.” Giselle Cross, owner of the blogGiselle’s Inside Scoop. She knows everything from the last person you fucked to the type of laundry detergent you use, she has a fucking vicious mouth and the female equivalent of a hard-on for me.
I have no idea how she hasn’t dug up the fact that I’m still married, but I sure as fuck am happy that she hasn’t.
“Alright, let’s get this shit show over with and get me to Brax’s place.”
I take my position behind Zane and Connor, slide my sunglasses down to block the glare from the flashing cameras and take a deep breath.
This is the part of my job I hate the most. I have no desire to have my picture splashed on the covers of magazines or to be on television. I just want to be a musician. Unfortunately, this is the shitty price I have to pay for people to hear what I create.
“Okay, ready.” On my word, Zane pushes the door open and the crowd, who had seconds before been a quiet mass, turns into a hysterical mob.
The flashes from the cameras blind me despite my sunglasses. The crowd, mostly young girls, pushing to get past the barricades, scream shrilly until I feel like my eardrums are going to burst. It’s an overwhelming barrage of sensations that prickle along my skin like a fucking nightmare. But, I suck it up and get to work. I sign autographs, pose for selfies, answer the most ridiculous fucking questions you can imagine, and I do it all with a grin on my face that hides the fact that I would literally rather be anywhere but here.
When I’m finally nearing the car and I can practically taste my freedom, I’m pulled up short by a quiet but commanding voice.
“I heard you were in New York for a few days, Flynn. Was it business or pleasure?”
I look up into Giselle’s icy blue eyes and I swear to God I have never wanted to harm a woman before today, but the antagonistic expression she’s wearing sets off all of my protective instincts. Make no mistake, my need to protect Wyatt is powerful.
“Just checking out some possible venues for some smaller gigs. Have a great night.” I get a glimpse of her narrowing eyes at my brush-off before I’m ushered away to the waiting SUV.
I spend the twenty-five-minute drive to Brax’s Pacific Palisades home going over everything I did in New York and kicking myself for being so careless. After my talk with Charlie, I just booked the first flight I could get and took minimal precautions to prevent getting recognized.
Getting to Wyatt had really been the only thing on my mind.
The large gates in front of Brax’s impressive home open wide allowing us to enter and I spot Mel by the front door straight away.
Tiny, with a messy blonde bob blowing in the light breeze, she waits with a smile on her face and a wriggling toddler in her arms. As I step out of the car, Brax walks up behind them and whispers something in Mel’s ear. The monster takes full advantage of her distraction and works his way free, racing to me faster than any two-year-old should be able to move.
“Billy! How’s it going, little dude?”
He throws himself at my legs, clinging on, mumbling into my jeans.
“Hurry up and get your ass in here, it’s two hours past his bedtime and he point blank refused to go until he’d seen your ugly mug.”
I laugh and throw Billy up into my arms, making my way inside. Mel wraps her arms around me, squeezing tight. This woman gives massive hugs for someone so little.
“It’s so good to see you.” She reaches across to take her son. “Okay, Billy Bug, it’s time for bed.”
Saying goodnight to the indignant toddler takes longer than you’d think but as soon as we’re settled in the huge living room, bourbon in hand, I let out a sigh of relief. My eyes wander around the room taking in the comfortable furniture, an eclectic mix of Mel and Brax’s different styles which somehow work together to turn this monstrosity of a house into a home.
“You ready to come back yet?” It’s the same question I’ve asked every time I have seen him since he left the band last year, to work as a session musician.
His answer is the same as always. He laughs in my face.
