I had some help

Twenty-six

Once the concert ended, Alex went and grabbed Bailey to take him backstage to her changing room.

"Alex, I didn't know you were gonna sing!" Was the first thing Bailey said once they made it to the room.

"No one did, just Michael and I. It was a surprise for everyone." Alex explained, smiling.

Bailey pulled her into a tight hug, lifting her off the ground slightly. "You were amazing. That song was incredible."

Alex laughed, wrapping her arms around his neck. "Thank you. It felt really good to finally perform it."

They stood there for a moment, wrapped in each other's arms, before Alex pulled back slightly. "Come on, let's get out of here. I want to celebrate with you."

Bailey grinned, taking her hand. "Lead the way."

As they walked out of the room together, Alex felt a sense of closure. The song was out there, and she was ready to move forward with Bailey by her side.

Sadly, Alex didn't have a hotel tonight, so the pair only had an hour and a half to do whatever they wanted.

"Bailey, we only have an hour and a half before the bus leaves. What do you want to do?" Alex asked, looking Bailey in the eyes.

"I think you know." Bailey whispered into Alex's ear, pulling her into a kiss.

As they separated for breath, Alex opened her office door again, pulling him in and pushing him onto the couch. The small room felt even smaller as the intensity between them grew. Bailey's hands roamed over Alex's back as she straddled him, their kisses deepening with each passing second.

Alex's mind raced, a mix of excitement and urgency. She wanted to make the most of their limited time together. She broke the kiss briefly to look into Bailey's eyes, her breath coming in quick gasps. "We don't have much time." She murmured, her fingers tangling in his hair.

"Then let's not waste it." Bailey replied, his hands gripping her waist as he pulled her closer.

Their clothes were discarded hastily, the small office becoming their private sanctuary. The urgency of their movements was matched by the tenderness of their touches, each moment filled with a mix of passion and love. They lost themselves in each other, the outside world fading away as they focused solely on their connection.

Afterward, they lay tangled together on the couch, their breaths slowly returning to normal. Alex rested her head on Bailey's chest, listening to the steady beat of his heart. She felt a sense of contentment wash over her, grateful for this stolen moment amidst the chaos of the tour.

Bailey's fingers traced lazy patterns on her back, his voice a soft whisper. "I wish we had more time."

"Me too." Alex replied, lifting her head to look at him. "But we'll make the most of every moment we get."

Bailey smiled, leaning down to kiss her forehead. "I love you, Alex."

"I love you too." She whispered back, her heart full.

They reluctantly began to get dressed, knowing their time together was coming to an end. As they stepped out of the office and back into the bustling backstage area, Alex felt a renewed sense of determination. She would hold onto these moments with Bailey and let them carry her through challenges ahead.

"Bailey, I have to go." Alex said, standing up from the couch with a heavy heart.

Bailey reached out and pulled her back towards him, still sitting on the couch. He looked up at her with a mixture of sadness and determination. "I love you so much, Alex." He said, his voice filled with emotion. "I can't be at the next show, but keep an eye out for me. I'll be at different ones, that's a promise."

Alex felt a lump form in her throat as Bailey kissed her softly, his lips lingering on hers for a moment longer than usual. She could feel the sincerity in his words, the depth of his commitment to her. "I'll be looking for you." She whispered against his lips, her own eyes misting over.

Bailey stood up and grabbed her bags, his grip firm yet tender. "Let's get you to the bus." He said, leading her out of the office and through the bustling backstage area.

As they walked, Alex held tightly to Bailey's hand, savoring the last few moments they had together. The reality of the tour's demands pressed down on her, but the love and support Bailey provided gave her the strength she needed to face it.

When they reached the bus, Bailey set her bags down and pulled her into one last embrace. "Stay strong, Alex. I'm always with you, even if I'm not there physically."

Alex hugged him back tightly, drawing on his strength. "Thank you, Bailey. I love you."

"I love you too." He replied, his voice full of promise.

With a final kiss, Alex boarded the bus, her heart heavy with the weight of their parting but also buoyed by the love they shared. She watched Bailey through the window as the bus began to move, his figure becoming smaller until he was just a memory to hold onto until they could be together again.

The late afternoon sun filtered through the trees, casting soft shadows on the porch as Alex sat with a guitar in her lap, her fingers awkwardly fumbling over the strings. Bailey sat across from her, his own guitar resting against his knee, watching her with a mix of patience and amusement.

"Okay, slow down." Bailey said, leaning forward. He reached over and gently adjusted her hand on the fretboard. "You're pressing too hard. Relax your fingers a little. The sound will come easier."

Alex sighed, her brow furrowed in frustration. "I haven't played in forever. I feel like I'm just making noise at this point."

Bailey chuckled, his voice easy and warm. "You're not. You've still got it, trust me. It's just like riding a bike, right? Once you know, you know."

Alex glanced at him skeptically but nodded, letting her fingers settle back into place as Bailey guided them. He played a few notes, his fingers moving effortlessly across the strings, producing a soft, melodic tune.

"See? Just like this." He said, slowing down so she could watch his movements. "Try again, but take it easy. Feel the rhythm, don't force it."

She exhaled deeply, focusing as she attempted the chord progression again, this time a little more relaxed. The notes still weren't perfect, but they sounded better-more like a song and less like the jumbled mess she'd been playing before.

Bailey smiled encouragingly. "There you go. That's it."

A small smile crept onto Alex's face, the frustration easing as she hit a decent chord. "That's a little better."

"Way better." Bailey said, his voice soft as he leaned back in his chair, strumming his guitar lightly. "You just gotta get back into the groove. Once you stop overthinking it, it'll come naturally."