AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I’m not.” Her voice wobbled.
“I can’t make you tell me, but so you know… this.” I pointed between us. “Is all that matters to me. If the fame, the band, my life is too much, and it’s pushing you away, then I meant what I said, I will give it up. I would do anything to keep you happy.”
Cupping my cheek like I was the most precious possession in the world, she leaned in and kissed me lightly on the corner of my lips. “And I would do anything to keep you happy, Arch. Anything.”
We’d meant to be in the studio this week but we’d pushed it back so I could spend it with Ionee, but now I needed to get on a plane and travel to Canada before going to Europe to finish recording the album. Addi had offered to cancel it all, but Nee refused.
Curled up against me, my arms wrapped around her tightly, we snuggled in bed enjoying the early morning sun that blazed in through the windows. “What do you need? You want to stay here, you want to go somewhere warmer and relax for a couple of weeks with Lea? Tell me, beautiful and I will make it happen.”
“I want to come with you,” she complained, still looking sad and exhausted.
“You know you can’t. Doctor's orders. Your head injury—you can’t be on all those flights for a few weeks. They will let you do one flight and one flight only. So where do you want it to take you?”
“Somewhere warm where I can get creative while staring at the sea.”
“Look, Dawson has wiggled everything around, so we will get everything done in the next three weeks. Why don’t we find you a house on the beach and I will meet you there once I’m done?”
Pushing her fingers through my hair, she smiled, but it wasn’t like an Ionee smile I was used to. “That sounds perfect.”
“Okay, leave it with me. You want Lea to come? I don’t like the thought of you somewhere on your own.”
She thought for a second. “Lea needs to get back to work. I’ll be fine. I’ll check in with you all the time, so you don’t need to worry and you’ll be back with me in no time.”
“I can cancel it all you know… the studio, the gigs—”
“No way. No way at all. Your fans already hate me, canceling a gig because of me won’t help.”
Staring at her bruised face, I hated how hurt she’d gotten.
“Fine, but you’re taking security.”
“Nope. No one knows who I am or cares unless I’m with you. I’ll be fine. I promise.”
“I hate this.”
“I hate this too, but it’s the only solution.”
“I’m going to miss you so much.”
A big fat tear rolled down Nee’s cheek. “It’s going to feel like forever.”
“But it’s not. It will fly by. I’ll talk to you every day. And once I’m back with you, I’m going to marry you, so you never leave my side again.”
I waited for a happy smile or one of those kisses she gave me that made my toes curl, but instead, she buried her face in my neck, sobbing so quietly I think she thought I’d not notice, but I did and every tear she shed ramped up my worry levels that something was wrong and she was lying to me about it.
Me: Have a safe flight. Let me know when you land. I wish you’d taken one of the label’s planes.
Nee: I’m not taking a private plane on my own. My carbon footprint would never recover.
Me: I love you.
Nee: I love you too. Always. Even when you think I don’t.
Me: I never think you don’t love me.
Nee: I’ve been so grumpy. I’m sorry.
Me: And I still love you. No matter how grumpy you are. Rest and sun will help.
