AllFreeNovel
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Ben did as his dad asked, as though he was on autopilot. Paige sat on the other side of him, leaned forward, and put her hands on his.
“You need to go back out on tour.”
“I already told you I wouldn’t leave.”
“Son, there’s something Paige needs to tell you.” Bud looked at her. “Go ahead, Paige.”
“Liv told Billy that you promised each other. I’m guessing you know what she meant by that.”
Ben nodded.
“You know in your heart that Liv wouldn’t want you to miss this opportunity. This is your tour. Your shot. Your year. We will be here with her, and so will Renie. We’ll contact you the minute there’s a change.”
“No, Paige. I’m not leaving. The tour doesn’t matter. Nothing matters but Liv.”
Ben’s father shook his head.
A nurse came out to the ICU waiting area and told them that Liv couldn’t have any more visitors today. They’d already exceeded the number permitted.
Bud talked Ben into going to the hotel.
“Before you say anything, I’m not going back on tour, Dad. Don’t try to talk me into it.”
“It’s your decision.”
“But you think I should?”
“I didn’t say that.”
“What would you do, if it was Mom?”
“I always do what your mother wants.” Bud laughed and so did Ben, almost.
“I can’t leave her.”
“What can you do to help her?”
He wanted to be there when she woke up. Until she did, he would hold her hand and talk to her, and sing to her. Anything to help her.
“What if she knows you’re here?”
“Then it’ll be one more reason for her to wake up.”
Jimmy called and told him they’d posted on the website and social media that the concert in Cleveland had been canceled due to a family emergency. Once they had, the response from the fans had been overwhelming. Posts of support came from everywhere.
“Support for what?”
“For Liv.”
“How does anyone know about her?”
“You live in a fishbowl, Ben. We’re on a national tour, and it’s sold out. The fan response to the new album has been phenomenal.”
Jimmy was right. At the beginning of the tour, they were booking smaller venues, and they’d sold out in minutes. The tour promoters pushed for bigger venues, and they sold out too. Ben had a hard time wrapping his head around it. All the years they’d dreamed of success and suddenly, inexplicably, it was happening.
A few months ago they’d played the Paramount in Denver, and now they sold out Red Rocks—where they’d been an opening band a year ago, and where he first met Liv.
There was a knock on the door, and his dad walked over to it. When he saw Paige, Ben told Jimmy he’d call him back.
