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Sid and I sauntered into the practice space, laughing at a dumb joke, but instead of the guys riffing on their guitars, everyone was sitting around with glum expressions on their faces.
Ghost stood up. “Instead of practice today, I wanted to have a meeting.”
I immediately sobered. I felt the ominous weight of change pressing down on me.
Sid and I exchanged troubled looks before we pulled the rickety chair and remaining stool up to the couch that Knox and Ryder were hogging.
No one looked happy, and I had the unsettling feeling that we were staring down the barrel at the end of Ghost Parker.
An ache exploded in my chest. It was the end of a really fucking good time. We’d had a tremendous run. We’d all grown since the five young men who’d come together and known next to nothing about the music business. We weren’t the same guys who partied like it was our last night on earth and fucked anything that moved.
Against the odds, we’d made it big. None of us needed the money any longer. Individually, our needs and goals had changed. We all had our own families now, which were even more important than touring with the band. We each had to fulfill our own dreams and do what made us happy.
I understood it. Hell, Lacey was pregnant, and I’d been questioning how I could make it all work for myself. Still, it hurt. The reality of Ghost Parker breaking up felt like a body blow.
Ghost started off hesitantly, “We’re obligated to do one more album for BVR. I’d like to start working on it. There’s no rush from the label, but I’d like to get it out of the way. I’d like for all five of us to collaborate on it, from start to finish. I’m up for recording anything. All top 40 hits. We could get Sid to write some more bubble gum pop. Make some bank with the catchy tunes. Do a modified tour. Finish up our obligations and go on hiatus for a while.”
Knox ran his hand through his hair. “You’re talking about the end of Ghost Parker?”
I wasn’t surprised. I knew that Ghost wanted to do something different with the music. I saw it coming. We all did. I was more surprised that I wasn’t quite ready to let it go.
“Not the end.” Ghost sat on his stool and his leg began bouncing. “A hiatus. A year. Maybe two where we could each explore some other projects.”
Ryder picked at a ragged thread on his jeans. “We won’t be signed again so easily if we drop out for two years.”
The words started coming out of my mouth before I could stop them. “I’m thinking of starting a boutique label with music that I want to produce. It’s been on my mind for a while. I’m going to build a studio in my pool house. It won’t be as elaborate as Beaufort’s, but it’d be enough for unknown talent just starting out. Maybe I could produce some of that weird shit that you’re dying to write, Ghost?”
Ghost looked at me with surprise. “Fuck, Bash. You should do that.”
Ryder looked around the room. “I could use a break. Maybe fool around a bit with a different band for a year or two. But I don’t want to lose you guys.”
The intensity in Ghost’s eyes was crazy. “Ghost Parker will be forever. No matter what; it’s the five of us.”
I felt a lump of sadness forming in my throat. It was happening. We weren’t ending today, but our days were numbered.
“The twins are wearing me down,” Sid spoke up from next to me. “Kay and I are trying to get pregnant again and we’re applying to be foster parents. It’s a lot, man. Touring is going to be rough.”
Knox tapped the side of the couch. “I’ll keep playing no matter what, but it’s time that I wifed up Summer. I want to take her to Scotland to meet my family before she’s too far along to travel.”
Ghost nodded as he studied each of us. “Let’s vow to always stick together, no matter what life brings. Even if the band’s not actively together for a few years, let’s stay in each other’s lives.”
We all nodded our agreement and Ryder added, “I don’t think the girls will let us drift apart.”
It was true, our wives and girlfriends had all become great friends with us and to each other. We were a pretty tight group, so even if we drifted apart musically, it didn’t have to mean the end of our friendship.
“Remi’s pregnant.”
Ghost dropped that bomb into the room, but he was the one that looked shell-shocked.
We all congratulated him, but I could see how shaken up he was about it.
Ghost stood up and picked up his guitar and began strumming some chords. “I’m fucking excited. But I’m freaking out. I’m not sure I’m father material. My dad was a piece of shit, so I didn’t have a good role model. But Remi is going to be a great mom, and I’ve never seen Greyson so excited.”
Sid stood up and walked over to Ghost. “Man, everyone is nervous as fuck when they find out they’re going to be a father. It’s a tiny little person that you’re completely responsible for. But, shit, there were never two more unprepared people in the world to be a father to a child than Bash and me when Kody came along. If we could do it, trust me, you’ll be fine. Especially with Remi and Grey helping.”
Ghost closed his eyes. “I felt myself pulling away from them, thinking I’m not good enough, but they won’t let me. Talking to my therapist about it helps.”
I stood to add my support to Sidney. “I know your father was a fucking bastard, but you’re nothing like him. You don’t have one selfish bone in your body, Ghost. You can’t even imagine right now the enormous amount of love you’re going to have for that baby. You’ll be a great dad and you’ll have all of us standing behind you and supporting you.”
