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“You can’t give up, Sean.” Shane’s voice has that coaching tone to it. “When you meet the person that makes you feel theway you just described, giving up isn’t an option. You talk to her, and you fight.”
“Since when are you a picture of optimism?” I don’t even try to hide my annoyance.
“Since Maggie showed me that sometimes people stay. Even when it’s hard and complicated and totally messed up, sometimes we actually matter to someone else enough that they hold on to us when we are scared shitless and think it’s better to just let go before they do. Don’t be that guy. Call Mark and ask him how life is going. He’ll tell you to man up and do whatever you need to keep her.”
I don’t need to call Mark. We’ve already had that heart-to-heart, and I don’t need to hear his sad, dismal story again.
“Take it one day at a time. Right now, you need to be focused on the game. Go out on that field and get down to business. Then, you can worry about how to make this work.”
“Alright, if I have to listen to your quiet and stoic ass be upbeat and positive one more second, I’m going to want to shove toothpicks through my eardrums.”
The sound of a rare laugh comes through my speaker. “I’ll be watching when I’m not coaching. Good luck tomorrow. When you put that helmet on, your mind needs to be on that field, nowhere else. You got it?”
“Yeah. I got it, coach.”
“Sean.” His tone is a bit softer. “Love sticks around. Give it a chance to before you convince yourself it won’t.”
He hangs up, and I look around my empty rental, knowing he’s right…about all of it. I need to get my head straight and down to business. Once tomorrow is over, I’ll fight distance to make sure it doesn’t destroy the very best thing that’s ever happened to me.
I drag myself to the bedroom. The issue is I have to sleep, but when I close my eyes, I only see Andie’s beautiful face standingin my doorway. It’s what I want for the rest of my life, but every past experience screams and hollers that it’s never going to happen.
Chapter 54
ANDIE
The smell of exhaust and diesel wafts around me as an inaudible voice crackles over the intercom. I stand next to the town car parked against the curb in the departure lane. The evening air is chilly as dusk is just starting to settle in.
Ax is strapped to my chest, content chewing on a toy. There’s a cart piled high with two large suitcases, a car seat, a stroller, my guitar, and everything I will hopefully need, while Sniper sits with his vest on patiently awaiting orders to proceed inside.
“This is a horrible idea.” I put a hand on my forehead, trying to regain my sanity. I let out a cackle of nerves, needing a paper bag before I hyperventilate. “I’m just going to show up there and…this is ridiculous. Just put everything back in the car.”
Snipe's head whips in the car's direction, but he stays put.
Nora slides one strap of the diaper bag over my shoulder and then the other one. “We’ve been over this. It’s time, Andie. You need to go after what you want. No more hiding. No more wasting time.”
“What if he doesn’t have room for us?”
She moves to stand in front of me, her shoulders slumped, looking at me over the rim of her glasses. “He has a house. After tonight, you’re going to stay there with him, and he’s going to be so happy to see you. In fact, he’s going to be so elated you’re notonly going to stay with him, but you’re going to be staying with him…in his room.”
A devilish smirk moves across her face, and I want to smack it away for her and Gem encouraging me to do this.
I’ve completely lost my mind.
I don’t know what I was thinking. I got off the phone with Sean last night, and after hearing his sad, lonely, and downtrodden tone, I booked a plane ticket without thinking it through.
Now, I’m standing outside of the airport with a cart piled high with all of my stuff, about to make either the worst or maybe best decision of my life.
Crap! What the hell was I thinking?
I spin back to Nora. “What about finishing the album?”
Ignoring my panic, she grabs the last bag and throws it on top of the pile.
“You’re finished, Andie. Jonesy is all set. He’ll be sending files for you to listen to. I’m rolling with promotions and preorders, which are fantastic. This is going to be so big, Andie, and you’re going to sit back and watch from Phoenix. No offense, but we don’t need you for this part.”
I huff. “This is my album, Nora. It’s my first time putting myself out there, and I can’t mess it up.”
She grabs my face. “It’ll be perfect. Everything is going to be fine. That big dreamy hunk needs you out there, and Andie, you need him. So quit stalling and get in there. Get on that plane and go be happy.”
