Centre of His World

Chapter 14

Water splashed on him, causing him to wake up. Luke opened his eyes to see a cute five-year-old girl giggling. He smiled. "Hi, mister. You okay?"

"I'm fine, what's your name?" Luke asked her, sitting up.

"Oh, I'm Kiana," she smiled, sticking her hand out to Luke. He gladly shook it.

"Hi, Kiana. You certainly aren't a shy one, huh? Why'd you splash water on me?"

Kiana shrugged. "You were sleeping. I wanted to see if you would wake up. Sorry."

Luke picked her up and smiled. "Awe, darlin', you don't need to apologize. I needed to be woken up. I got kinda upset and ran away from my family and friends. You did a good thing."

"Yay! I'm glad I did!" Kiana cheered.

Luke looked up as he heard someone walk into the clearing. He was a young man, a little younger than Luke. Probably thirty-five. He looked like he was in panic. "Excuse me?" Luke called out.

The man looked towards him and breathed a sigh of relief. "Oh, thank God. Kiana, we need to get to the show."

Luke handed the man's daughter to him. Seeing the man's panic made Luke think of Caroline. She must be worried sick. Luke walked out on the woman he loved, the woman who had the problem. Sure, Luke did too, but it was Caroline who was getting her rights in this country taken from her.

Luke checked his pockets, but then realized that he was standing in nothing but his track pants. No pockets. No pockets meant no phone. No phone meant that he couldn't call Caroline to let her know that he was fine.

He looked up to the little girl's father, in hopes that he had a phone on him. "Sir, do you-"

"Call me Adam," the man cut Luke off.

"Oh, sorry, Adam, do you have a phone on you? I need to call my girlfriend. She's probably worried about where I am."

Adam shook his head. "Sorry, buddy. I would, but there's no reception out here. I have already tried to call my wife."

"That's fine. I'll let y'all go," Luke sighed, looking down.

Adan wanted to say something, but he didn't know what he could say. What do you say to a complete stranger? Sure, he may be in trouble with his girlfriend, but what could Adam do? He didn't know him or his supposed girlfriend. If he was even telling the truth, that is. All Adam wanted to do was get his daughter away from this stranger.

But, however, the more Adam looked at him, the more he began to resemble Luke Bryan. Was he this man? This was where Luke was performing tonight after all.

Adam decided to just leave, shaking his head, but then two guys appeared. "Luke!"

Luke looked up to see his two buddies, Kent and James. "Oh, my gosh! Guys!"

"Where were you? You have Kerri, Carter, and Caroline worried sick. They formed a search party. Kelly's hysterical. She misses her daddy," Kent explained.

"I came here to pray. You know, it's the closest thing I got to Muckalee out here. I asked God to let Carol's dad see the light so that Kelly and I don't lose her. I love her so much. I can't lose her. She's my everything," Luke explained. "But, I guess I got tired, because I fell asleep."

Kent rolled his eyes. "You, my friend, are in one horrible place. Her dad seems strict."

"I don't even know why he doesn't like me. I love his daughter, I haven't hurt her. Well, I have, but not like that. It was just small feuds. It's not like I'm her high school boyfriend who did her wrong. It's not like I'm a guy with loads of tattoos and piercings. I'm just Luke. I'm a country boy. I am a romantic. I kept one strong relationship until mother nature happened, I can do it again," Luke argued.