Connected: Part 4 of the On The Edge Series

Chapter 42

"So," Billy flung himself down on the bed and settled his gaze on me as I continued to unpack my clothes.

"So..." I teased back.

"Why must you torture me? What did your mom say?"

"She is very excited to see us in a week," I smiled.

"A week?" Billy's eyes furrowed.

"We're getting married in two, so she wants to help; how could I say no?" I shrugged.

"Of course, of course... planning." Billy's mind tore in multiple directions.

"Don't worry. You focus on the tour," I offered.

"No," he shot up on the bed. "I want to be involved. This is my wedding too," he protested.

"Okay, but neither of us can do everything. I have to work; you have to prepare for the tour. We have to let people help us."

"It feels weird getting this lecture from you. Just last week, you wouldn't let me help you with your luggage," Billy teased as he flopped back on the bed.

"Many things were going on that day," I griped.

I hung the shirt I held before letting my eyes fall on Billy, staring up at the ceiling. His brows knitted and smoothed as thoughts spun through his head. After a moment, one hand lifted to his hair while the other settled on his stomach.

"Oh boy, what's happening?" I said as I settled in next to him.

Instinctively, his arm surrounded me and tucked me further into his side.

"What is happening?" He murmured as he kissed the top of my head.

"You're spiraling. What are you worried about?"

"Not worried," he corrected. "Two weeks is not that long."

"Yep, it's fourteen days, but really thirteen since I think we can both agree that we don't want to get married and then immediately fly out for a show."

"Agreed." Billy's eyes still clung to the ceiling.

"But it's also thirteen whole days. What do we need to do? We did the falling madly in love part."

"We did do that." A laugh broke the tension coursing through Billy.

"What?" I poked as a broader smile filled my face at his change in mood.

Billy dispelled his tension with a heavy sigh. "When the kids were little, I used to bring them into the studio with me. Everyone, including me, used to tell them they had to be quiet, but they were kids, so, you know, they weren't. More often than not, takes with them giggling or dropping something made it onto albums. People don't hear it so much because they don't expect it, but I hear them."

"That's cute. Fairly unrelated, but cute," I teased.

Billy pulled me tighter to his chest. "I stopped telling them to be quiet. If they wanted to giggle or clap, then that's what the music made them do. If they dropped something, life."

"Um, so, I'm still not on the train," I added.

"I'm tired of doing what I think we should do. Let's do what we want."

"Wait, isn't that what I said? I'm pretty sure that very lengthy tangent was just agreeing with me."

"Maybe." As he spoke, he popped up, flinging me to the side.

"Ow," I recoiled.

"Sorry," he mumbled as he leaned down and kissed my forehead before returning to his goal.