More Than My Hometown

This Town's Not Big Enough: Part II

Brantley's POV

If I clenched my jaw any tighter on the ride into Nashville it was going to crack. I was squashed onto a seat with Luke and Caroline with a PJ and Aaron sitting across from us watching my every move. To say I had been under surveillance from these four from the time I opened my eyes today was an understatement. My leg kept bouncing up and down while my throat was dry and scratchy. Don't even get me started on the raging headache behind my eyes. I paused from adjusting my dark sunglasses again when a small hand landed on my arm. I turned my head meeting Caroline's blue eyes full of much more compassion than I deserved.

"You okay?" she asked me quietly. At least she wasn't yelling at me at this particular moment. In the last year, I don't know which one rode my ass more. My management, my family, or my friends. I understood they were worried. But at this point, things were so broken why bother fixing them. I deserved every mean thing my soon to be ex-wife thought or said about me right now. Hell, my son or a bottle were the only two that didn't try and "fix" me. When I bit my lip not answering, Caroline gently tugged my beard making me look at her. "I want the truth Brantley Keith, are you okay?"

"Define okay Caroline," I grumbled making a sigh come from Luke and Aaron followed by a snort from PJ. My hands were shaking and I wanted a fucking drink. But that was being denied to me at the moment because I needed to show my face somewhere other than onstage and parade myself down the fucking red carpet like a show pony. What I really wanted to do was step out of this limo and show my ass. My life and Kay's were the cause of all our turmoil. Would things be this bad between us if we were just a normal, everyday, married couple? Probably not.

Those types of relationships didn't make multi-national headlines if they had a falling out. Didn't get blast all over Twitter for cheating. Didn't have two very rabid fanbases keeping the story going by defending each of us. "I have to put myself out there tonight and pretend things are half-ass normal. All the while praying I don't run into fucking KiKi and her new boy toy. So no, I am not okay. Somebody just let me out. I'm the disappointment of the bunch so what is one more if I don't show up like I am supposed to."

"Being as you missed a show last weekend," Luke growled narrowing his eyes at me in warning to watch my tone with Caroline. "You are out of fucking options. So shut the fuck up for once and let us help you. Goddammit BG, do you even want a career to keep up with when you pull yourself out of this hole? Because keep it up and you won't."

"At this point what does it matter?" I snarled back at Luke. Caroline sighed about to butt in when Aaron saved her the trouble.

"You may not give a shit anymore," he roared pointing a finger at me. The next words sent shame washing over me. "But there are a multitude of people that depend on you for a job and will be without one if you keep fucking up. So think about that."

Twenty minutes later, I nervously stepped out a couple of moments behind Luke and Caroline realizing we were the last artists to arrive. Knew that was perfectly planned between Aaron and Kerri no doubt trying to keep Kaydence away from me. I was torn as I adjusted my glasses raising a trembling hand to wave at the crowd. I was itching for a drink, yes, but I was terrified of seeing Kaydence. The last time I laid my eyes on her face to face, had been horribly bitter. She'd stormed into the house in Georgia wild-eyed and radiating with anger that I had no right to up and leave. Especially with our son. The vicious argument had rocked on for an hour.

Thankfully Braxton had been over at Dad's asleep. Was also the night I buried myself in a bottle of whiskey for the first time in over a decade just to cope with my life falling apart. Oh, I had seen some photos here and there when memories got the best of me. Partly evil enough to be glad she looked almost as miserable as I felt then there was that glimmer of concern there. Aaron fell in step with me guiding me down to pose for certain photos that there was no possible way I could muster up even a smile for. Interviews were declined other than a brief stop by Cody Allan to mention the new single that just dropped.

I let out a sigh of relief reaching the inside of the arena knowing that other than making sure I was seen on camera maybe once; I was finished with my obligation to be here. I just wanted to go find a drink. A voice sounding and a figure stepping in front of me had Aaron cursing under his breath.

"Well look what the cat drug in from the dead?" Morgan said with a snicker taking a sip from the red cup in his hand. The smell of whiskey teasing my senses making my mouth water. "Surprised you showed your face BG. Been the talk of the town for a while now haven't you."

"You'd know something about that wouldn't you," I hissed clenching my fists tightly. How this fucker had even thought he could breathe the same air as my wife let alone have a chance with her was beyond me. "But guess she is out of your league, isn't she. Never gave you a second look."

"Seems to me she isn't looking your way anymore either," he sneered rolling his eyes. I growled taking a step closer feeling Aaron throw his arm up to stop me. "Her good buddy Chase has been the one picking those pieces up, hasn't he. That friendship all these years was the perfect....." He didn't even get the chance to finish his sentence before I dove for him snapping his head back with a hard right as we crashed to the floor. While I was bigger, my hangover was making me slow letting Morgan get a couple of quick shots to my jaw before I pinned him down with one hand drawing back to punch him again. "Least someone is taking care of that wife, oh I mean ex-wife of yours since you failed at it." I drew back punching him repeatedly hearing yells and people moving as we rolled around the arena foyer trading licks.

Blood was flying along with dripping down into my eye, but I didn't stop at least until a flash of red captured my attention out of the corner of my eye. Caught off guard, I paused mid punch with Morgan's flannel bunched in my fist. There about ten feet away stood a vision in a plunging red dress covering her mouth in shock. Kaydence's gray eyes were huge at the spectacle in front of her. That halo of blonde hair curled around her shoulders. My heart cracked that she had seen this along with the tears in her eyes. Here I was yet again fucking up in front of her. God, I was just showing yet again why I didn't deserve her.

A figure appeared at her side wrapping an arm around her waist pulling her close as Chase stared me down in disbelief himself. He leaned down whispering in her ear guiding her away just as Kerri appeared sending me a glare doing the same. Aaron, PJ, and Luke wrestled my shocked body off of Morgan as the adrenaline from anger faded. But then the stupid asshole stood up, smirked, spit blood out towards my boots, and winked.

"You know," he said turning to walk away. "Too bad those photos were all for show and someone well-timed them. She really is a hot piece of ass. But I never did anything other than hug her. Your stupid ass bought it hook line and sinker just like he said you would."

Hmmmm.....wonder who snapped those photos