MENDED

fifty-eight

alex

"i can't wait to see my wife!" jessie grinned as she plopped onto the couch beside me.

i looked up from my phone and over at jess. "last time i checked, only two people on this bus have a wife, and neither of them are you," i teased with a shit eating grin that i knew would piss her off.

they let out a frustrated huff. "yeah, well, official or not, she's still my wife!"

"you tell them, jj," saylor mumbled sleepily from my lap before she pressed her face into my stomach and fell right back asleep. i couldn't help the soft laugh that escaped my lips as i looked down at her. i gently combed her hair out of her face with my hand.

"see, saylor agrees, so it's only right that you should too," jessie told me.

"i don't have to agree with everything saylor says."

"mm, yeah, you do," saylor gave another sleepy mumble as she reached around blindly for my hand. once i gave it to her, she gave it a soft squeeze.

"i thought you were asleep," i teased as i spoke softly.

"i've definitely been trying to," she grumbled.

"i'm sorry, my love," i murmured. "why don't you go to your bunk? it'll be quieter there."

"nuh-uh. i want to sleep in your lap," she said; i could practically hear the pout in her voice.

"okay, that's fine," i told her. "go back to sleep then, angel."

she gave a stubborn, sleepy huff and cuddled even closer to me. she sighed against my stomach.

"i really can't wait to see billie," jessie let out a deep sigh as she watched mine and saylor's interaction, though she now spoke in a whisper.

"you really miss her, huh?" i quizzed quietly as my eyes scanned her face.

they pouted pitifully. "i really do," she confirmed. "long-distance is a bitch," they complained as they slumped onto my shoulder.

i frowned. "i'm sure everything will work out. you two have never not been a long-distance relationship, so this is your normal," i said, but i pursed my lips as i paused. i wasn't sure if that was the right thing to say. "and hey, once tour is over, i'm sure you'll have plenty of time to go see her and be with her."

"you think so?" her brows furrowed. "what about the band?"

"i think we deserve a little break, no? i mean, we've worked our asses off since laura signed us. i'm sure if we ask, she'd be cool with it."

"yeah. laura's nice; i like laura," she nodded against my shoulder.

i let out a laugh. "yeah, me too."

we both looked up as we heard miguel walk in. he looked between the three of us. "sup?" then without another word, he laid across jessie's lap, like how saylor was laid across mine, and he promptly fell asleep.

"i say we follow their lead and go to sleep too; we'll be in la by the time we wake up," i said.

"sounds good to me," she murmured.

•

the next day, the band is in the venue preparing for the show. billie just got here, and she brought her brother finneas with her. we all greeted each other; i think saylor might have hugged billie longer than jessie did. almost. billie then introduced us to finneas, who, like his sister, was extremely nice and easy to talk to.