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It will be a new, interesting dynamic sharing living quarters with so many people that I don’t know well, but if I can survive living with Josh, then this will be easy as pie. Plus, Noah would never let me stay anywhere I wasn’t safe. That’s something I’m certain of.
“Are you ready for this, sweetheart?” Mom asks softly, setting her hand on my shoulder.
I tear my eyes from Noah and focus on the familiar silver eyes in front of me. They’re wet, glassy with tears like the last time we were together, and I frown, pulling her in for a tight hug. She smells like home, like comfort.
“Not really,” I breathe into her shirt. “Maybe? I don’t know.”
She leans back enough to kiss the side of my head, then rubs up and down my arms. “You are. You’re going to come home with a title belt and a million stories to share. Enjoy this, my girl. Don’t fear it.”
“You didn’t give me your fearless gene, Mom. Apparently, you saved them for Easton.”
She laughs, taking a step back to stare at me. There’s so much confidence in her eyes, so much clarity, as if she knows my future and that everything will be okay.
“I’m far from fearless, Tinsley. I just don’t let you see me when I’m feeling weak. Do you think that I wasn’t scared to leave my life in Vancouver to follow my dreams? I was scared shitless, but I forced myself to do it anyway. Fear is inevitable; you just have to find the strength to tell it to kiss your ass and push past it. And you, my love, have that strength. I’ve seen it every single day of your life.”
A mix of pride, doubt, and appreciation have tears filling my eyes. “Thanks, Mom.”I’ll make you proud.
She strokes a gentle hand over my hair. “Three months feels like a long time to be away from home, but we’ll visit. You can’t forget about your birthday and Christmas either. Time will fly by, you’ll see.”
I scoff a laugh, wiping my wet cheeks with the back of my hand. “I’m twenty-five. I shouldn’t be so scared to leave home.”
“I was the same age when I left, and I cried just as much.”
“You had also just had your heart broken by Dad and were pregnant with me. It’s not exactly the same,” I tell her.
“Maybe not. But that doesn’t change the fact I was terrified to leave home. Just remember that you always have a place to come back to after you’ve lived your dream. You have a family that adores you and that will be cheering for you each step of the way.”
Warmth floods my senses, encouraging me to steel my spine, determined. “You’re right. I’m going to make this season my bitch. Three months isn’t forever.”
Her eyes fill with approval and pride. “That’s my girl.”
“Thank you, Mom.”
She waves me off, glancing to the sky for a brief moment, as if to collect herself. “We should wander over to your father and Noah. It’s never good when they end up having to fight on the same side.”
“Are they on the same side? I know Noah wants us to have our own bus, and I highly doubt Dad wants that. I’m surprised he isn’t trying to push for a crowded bus.”
We start walking in their direction, and Mom shakes her head, the corner of her mouth twitching with the tease of an evil smile. “Your father would rather you sleep in a cushioned box where he could stand guard and make sure nobody gets within a foot of you. But while that’s not possible, I think we can all agree that he would rather you be with Noah than any of those bandmates of his. And in his defense, there’s a man named Dagger! You have to understand his hesitation.”
“Trust me, I get it. Dagger’s name is the least scary thing about him, but he’s here to work. I doubt he’s planning on ways to terrorize us. I don’t know how often I’ll even be staying on the bus. Hunter mentioned wanting to book me a few hotels throughout the first couple of weeks to get me more comfortable with the whole travelling thing.”
Mom reaches for my hand and squeezes. She uses her grip to bring me closer and then rests her head on my shoulder as we walk. With a sigh, she says, “Try not to stress about it. Everything will work out the way it’s meant to.”
“You sound like a fortune cookie.”
“I am a sucker for some Chinese food,” she teases.
“Sometimes I don’t know who’s worse with their unseriousness. You or Dad.”
“Ow, that hurts.”
She pinches my side, and I squeal, drawing Noah’s attention as I slap her hand away. I roll my eyes at him when he cocks a brow, turning his back on my dad and Garrison, bringing the conversation to a dead stop. I glance at Dad and find him watching me and Mom, his expression softening. Garrison’s scowl deepens before he stalks away, attention moving to the two buff men carrying parts of a dismantled drum around to the other side of the bus.
When Mom and I stop in front of Dad and Noah, Dad is quick to pull me under his arm for a hug. Over his shoulder, I see Noah continuing to watch us, his jaw growing tense. Guilt swells like a balloon in my chest. I offer him a small smile before giving my dad a final squeeze and breaking the embrace.
Noah’s family isn’t here to wish him off, which shouldn’t make me as sad as it does. It’s not like it makes sense for them to fly here to wish him luck just to fly back home after. The circumstances are different with him, and I try to remind myself of that, but it doesn’t do much good. I feel like I’m waving my family in his face, and it makes me feel like the world’s worst best friend.
I don’t hesitate to move to his side, hoping my presence will help him feel not so alone. Easton said his goodbyes last night, and now that Mom has said hers, there’s only Dad left. He’ll be the one person I see most often, with his plans to meet me at my first fight and then every three after to train. Apparently, he doesn’t trust anyone besides himself to keep me in peak shape. He will never admit that, though.
