Star Crossed

Gavin

I stare at her text message before setting my phone down on the counter. The house feels so much emptier without Luke here. At least she let me know he's okay. 

I debate turning my phone off but decide against it. Lacey told me to keep it on for when she calls with news. That was four days ago. Four days. 

Cash left a message yesterday telling me he had an appointment at the courts today. I never replied. I was surprised she agreed. 

Sitting at the counter I spin my empty glass of whiskey. 

I must doze off because when my phone vibrates my eyes feel like lead. 

"Yeah?" I sigh not bothering to check the caller ID. 

"Wake up sunshine. Pack your shit and bring the kid." Lacey states.

"What are you goin on about?" I mutter sitting up. 

"Tour. Tomorrow, we leave!"

"Huh?" I ask wide awake now. 

"Yep. Your single hit number one overnight stud. Pack your shit. See you tomorrow night." The call drops and I stare at my phone in disbelief. 

I check my email and see the itinerary. The first show is in Texas and the last in Seattle. 

Standing up I rinse my glass and head upstairs to pack our stuff. 

After the cases are packed, I set them by the door and lie on the bed, but my minds too wired for sleep now. 

This is what I spent half of my life praying for yet now that it's here I have nobody to celebrate with. Funny how life turns out. 

Getting out of bed I sneak into Kai's room I sit beside his bed until I feel myself drifting off. Yet my dreams are endless cries of agony from Anna-Leigh. 

When I wake up drenched in sweat, I take a cold shower and make some coffee. In an hour Kai will be up and I have to make him breakfast. 

I pop some aspirin and hope the butterflies in my gut drown in my coffee. 

By the time Lacey arrives in a limo I'm antsy. I keep fidgeting in the seat. 

"Relax." She scolds. I glance at my sleeping son. 

I wonder how she's so calm. 

We make it to the hotel late and I crash hard. Waking up for the busy schedule that we have to stay on Lacey scolds. 

Kai's in good hands though, so far, he loves my crew. They're not terrible. 

After sound check and rehearsal, I'm ushered to a dressing room to eat and drink and change. Kai stays with me until the last moment. 

Stepping out onto the stage the lights blind me at first and I think I might hurl. 

Picking up my guitar I focus on that. Fingers moving to their own accord. 

By the time I'm finished with the concert I am completely drained. Lacey says I need to meet fans and sign autographs and take photos. I just want to crawl into bed with Kai, but I listen to her. 

By the time I finish up Kai's already asleep in the bed. I feel uncomfortable. Nobody's ever put him to bed beside Luke or me. I shower quickly and crawl in bed beside him. Kissing his forehead, I drift off to sleep to the sound of applause. 

The entire week goes this way. When we finally make it to Seattle, I'm exhausted. My nerves have pretty much disappeared. 

"Welcome to Seattle, boys." Lacey grins. 

"Whoa." kai says, mouth gaping. I grin and ruffle his hair. 

"Your concert tonight is shared. You're the closing act." Lacey informs me. I nod along not listening to anything after that. The city is huge. 

We make it to my room and settle in. I order us room service and let Kai watch tv for a little bit. After he eats, I give him a bath and we head to the venue. 

I pass him off to Lacey who follows us to my dressing room. 

When I enter my eyes bulge. It's huge. 

A familiar figure has her back to me. Furrowing my brows, I shut the door. 

"Hey there cowboy." Syd grins turning around. 

My mouth moves but no sound comes out making her laugh. 

"I've been tracking your tour all week. What do you think? Crazy huh." She says sitting on my chair. 

"It's a lot." I agree finally. 

"You get used to it." She shrugs. "How are you liking the big city?" She muses.

"Also, a lot." I admit. 

"Where's mini cowboy?" She asks looking around as if he's hiding.

"With Lacey." I nod toward the door. She pouts and stands up. 

"Break a leg." She winks. When the door closes, I feel the tension leave my shoulders. Instead of staying in the room I change and head to the backstage area. I see Syd with Kai playing with trucks and laughing. Behind them I see Luke laughing with Lacey. 

Lifting his head, he meets my gaze. He nods subtly and I nod back. Syd stands up and Luke replaces her on the floor. 

"Come to see the show, cowboy?" Syd asks cocking her head. 

"Who's on first?" I ask.

"No idea." She shrugs. Nodding I watch the crowd. It looks like a full house. "Nervous?" She teases.

"Little bit." I admit making her laugh. 

"You'll do fine." She sighs. 

When Anna-Leigh's introduced the crowd goes completely insane.  Syd beams with pride. 

Instantly the sound of a piano fills the space and all the hairs on my body stand straight up. Julliard's got nothing on her. 

'And now that I'm done, cryin into the pillow that smells like you I decided to care bout how I look again. Not sayin this contentment makes me gain weight, but I look like two times me. I'm gonna get so hot, everyone's tinder will see me. But if you swipe left long enough the picture may show me cryin. I'll look damn good on the beach; it will be named after me. Ooh, I plan to look distinguished, instead of extinguished, and violent. I want to climb the trees and chop them all down. Yeah, make statues come alive, slap each other and smash the times. Who knew spontaneous combustion was a thing. Get a camera, watch me burst into flames.'

The crowd roars for more. She leaves them wanting for sure. When I get announced Lacey and Syd whistle making me roll my eyes. I take center stage with my guitar. 

Getting lost in my lyrics I forget everything about where I am.