AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“No, not like this. My dream is to make it big with my own band, where I could bring you with me. Not leave my band and you behind to chase after some long shot.”
“You can’t give this up for me, Dane.”
“Yes, I can. I’d give up everything for you. Don’t you know that?”
She shakes her head. “No, not this. It’s too important. If you do this, and it works out, you could be getting paid to do what you love every day for the rest of your life. Not to mention going on tour, being famous.”
“I don’t care about fame. I don’t care about any of this! I care about you. I. Want. You. I don’t want anything else. You are more than enough for me, Alissa.”
She stands and starts pacing. “No! If you pass on this chance, you’ll resent me, maybe not today or tomorrow, but it will happen. I can’t let that happen, Dane. You have to go. I won’t hold you back.”
I stand and close the distance between us. “You can’t make me go. This is my life. It’s my decision, and I’m staying here. We’re getting married, and we’re spending the rest of our lives together.”
“There’s nothing I can do to change your mind, is there?”
I smile. “I’m afraid not.” I pull her against me, kissing the top of her head, but something feels off. “Plus, I wasn’t lying when I said they probably already found someone. A chance that good, not many people can pass on something like that.”
I take her hand and lead her toward the bedroom. I spin her around and pull her shirt over her head and litter her skin with kisses. I fall to my knees and remove her shoes. I look up at her, and a sad, glossy look is still evident on her face. I stand and tangle my fingers into her hair. “Stop that.”
“Stop what?” She finally meets my eyes.
“Stop thinking that you’re not enough. You’re all I want.” We fall onto the bed, tangled up in each other for the rest of the night.
* * *
I’m completely overwhelmed waitingon so many tables. There’s this big poker run that comes through town for some benefit. All the local motorcycles go from bar to bar to collect their cards to try winning a prize while raising money for their cause. I don’t pay much attention to what their cause is because I’m so swamped. The worst part is since I’m not twenty-one, I can’t handle alcohol. I have to take their order and pass it along to someone who’s old enough to handle booze. This wouldn’t be so bad if I didn’t have to chase down someone who’s already busy to get the drinks for me.
I notice Sean is sitting at a table in the corner, eating lunch. When I clock out for my break, I grab a soda and head over to him just as he’s pushing his empty plate away.
“Hey, wanna go outside and talk?”
“Yeah, sure man. What’s up?” he asks standing and following me outside.
I lead him around the building and take a seat at the picnic table. I sit down, light a cigarette, and take a drink, hoping to cool off.
“Listen, I’ve been meaning to talk to you for a while now… I just don’t really know how to say what I need to say.”
He places his arms on the picnic table and leans in. “We’ve been best friends since grade school. Just tell me.”
I take a long drag from my cigarette. “I don’t want you around Alissa anymore.”
“What? Why?” he asks with his brows raised.
“I fucking see the way you look at her. Always laughing, flirting, and checking her out.”
He lets out a puff of air. “That’s crazy. I mean, yeah, I check her out because she’s hot. You check out girls all the time. Why’s it different when I check her out?”
“Because she’s mine,” slips out of my mouth. I take a deep breath, hoping to clear my thoughts. “Look, it just makes me uncomfortable when I’m up on stage, and I look over at her and she’s looking at you and laughing. I’m not saying you’re trying anything, but if you are, I suggest you back off now. We’re getting married. It’s serious. She’s not just some high school girlfriend for me to pass the time with.”
He leans back and shakes his head. “I’m not trying anything, Dane. And you know what?” He stands, towering over me since I’m still sitting. “It really pisses me off that you think I’d do that to you. We’ve been friends for years. You really think I’d go and steal your girl?”
I flick my cigarette into the gravel. “I’m not saying you’re trying something, I’m just letting you know that if you do, you’ll regret it.”
“Fuck you, Dane.” He turns and walks toward the parking lot.
I sit back and watch him go, pulling out another cigarette and lighting it. Am I overreacting about this? Probably. But my anger and jealously have always gotten the better of me. I try my best to control them, but I can only hold back so much before it breaks free.
Mason jogs up from the shop and sits across from me. “Hey, Dad said you had some good news. What is it?”
