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Chapter Nine
Alissa
It’s almosttime to leave for the show. I’m in the bedroom getting dressed while Dane is in the shower. His wallet is on the dresser, and I pick it up and open it. I flip through until I find what I’m looking for. The card that Link from Busted Lip gave him.
I call the number on the card and someone answers. “Hello?”
“Hi, is this Link?”
“Yeah, who is this?”
“This is Alissa, Dane Reynolds’ girlfriend.”
“Oh, right. Dane from Empire of None. How’s he doing? Has he made up his mind yet?”
“Yes, he’s made up his mind, and he wants to join. When and where can he meet up with you?”
“Really? That’s great news. We’re doing a show in Miami tonight, but we’re heading back up the coast next week. We can just swing by and pick him up.”
I smile with a tear running down my cheek. “That would be great. I’ll let him know. Thank you.”
“No problem. I’ll talk to you two next week.”
After I hang up the phone, I put the card back into his wallet and crash on the bed. I know Dane says he doesn’t want to go, but he has to. I can’t hold him back. I refuse to hold him back.
He’s done so much for me already. He’s the only person to ever love me. He’s saved me from being abused by my foster father, he left his own family behind, so he could buy a house for us, and he works himself to death trying to support us. I have to give something back to him.
He’s going on that tour.
I know the only way he’ll go is if I’m not here. If I wasn’t here right now, he would’ve accepted that night. He’d be long gone by now.
I have to go. That’s the only way he’ll take this opportunity.
My heart sinks to my stomach, and I feel like I could vomit. I have to leave Dane. He’s going to hate me. I hate myself for even thinking it. But what else can I do? He can’t pass this up. He has to, at least, try.
The water in the shower shuts off, so I wipe the tears away. I stand and finish getting dressed to go to the bar and grill. I need to have a plan. I have to leave.
I’m quiet on the way to the grill. I have been for the past week just from thinking about how I’m ruining his life. He’s picked up on it, and he thinks he did something wrong. I hate he feels that way, but I don’t know how to fake it. I hate myself so much for holding him back.
My whole life, all I’ve ever done is get in the way.
I love Dane more than life itself, and I refuse to be another bad decision for him. I’ll make him hate me if that’s what it takes.
When Dane takes the stage. I walk up to Sean sitting at the bar. “Can we go outside and talk?”
He won’t look at me. “No, Dane told me to stay away from you.”
I take a long breath. “Please, you’re the only one that can help me.”
He looks at Dane on stage who isn’t paying any attention to us. “Alright, but it better be quick.” He stands and we both walk outside to the back-picnic table.
“What’s up?” he asks, taking a seat.
I sit down across from him. “Dane has to go on this tour.”
“I know! This could be it for him. Why isn’t he going anyway?”
“Because of me,” I whisper.
