rich ✰ brantley gilbert!

25

c a r t e r

the next morning, i find myself blanketed over, and arms wrapped around me, with a familiar hold.

i look up to find brantley already awake, looking down at me, "mornin' Darlin"

"morning."I stifle a yawn, as his hands go up the back of my shirt, and rub my back, "How you feel baby girl?"

"not shitty, but not amazing, ok, or somethin' around that."I hug his waist, as he kisses the top of my head.

"no headache? no dizziness?"He questions and i shake my head.

"i'm just exhausted. physically and emotionally."I mumble the last part, and brantley nods, "that's why your not playing tonight."

"what?"i snap a glare towards Brantley who nods.

"your goin' to sleep tonight and see how you feel tomorrow."He lays down, and i growl, and get up, only to have brantley yank me down, and hover over me.

"you aren't fuckin' playin' tonight, you can't always be on the go Carter mae."he growls, and i narrow my glare towards him.

"last time i checked, you weren't my keeper."I snap.

and just like that i got a sharp smack on the ass.

and that's just sends me over the edge.

i elbow him in the guts, making him fall on the other side of the bed, before i grab my phone, and stomp off towards my bus, locking the door.

"mother fucker thinks he can go all caveman on me. guess what asshole.."I start to mumble some, not so nice things before getting on the phone with Kerri.

after a few rings she picks up and i don't even let her speak.

"I'm playing tonight, weather caveman likes it or not."i hiss, rubbing my ass, which might i add is still in pain, and i can hear Kerri stifling a chuckle.

"I can't carter, and you know that, but BG's right, you've gotta rest, he told me you didn't feel good last night so i'm givin' you the night off."

i love Kerri to death, but she's getting on my last fucking nerve.

"I didn't want the night off Kerri, never asked for it, BG doesn't make my decisions for me. i make my own."I sneer, and kerri sighs.

"I'm sorry carter, your already out." and just like that, the lines dead, and i fucking go on a rampage.

i chuck my remote into my bedroom, and start to grab something else, before i find my keys, and grab those instead, before heading out.

i get in my truck, and drive towards a special spot i have near the winder area, and going there.

once i get to the wooded area, i shut off my phone, and i finally after months on end start to relax as faint old country music plays.

i start to drift off, as friends in low places plays through the radio, so i grab a blanket from the back of my truck, wrapping it around me, before i officially pass out.

oh the calm before the storm.

♕

my eyes flutter open, and now it's dark.

fuck.

i turn back on my phone, to find i've got a shit ton of messages from Kerri, Brantley, Luke, Thomas, Cole and a shit on of other people that are on tour with us.

but one that sticks out is from another unknown number, and my eyes widen as i read it.

'i saw that smack on the ass carter, it was a nice one too, credit to BG. but i'm coming.'

my hands start to physically shake, along with my body, and i shake my head, before deleting the message,  and reading the other ones, before texting PJ, asking him if they were still at the venue, because honestly, i don't even know what time it is.

i quickly get a response back yes, and to get my ass back fast, and so i do.

i push the seat back up, before flooring it back to the venue.

when i get back, i actually check the time to find it's around nine, so the guys are still playing.

i turn off my truck, and go to get out, when a hand cups over my mouth, and the voice i never wanted to hear again, i hear, "You scream, i beat you, you try to get out of this car, i beat you. got it?"

i nod as John slowly uncovers his hand from my mouth, and my chest is falling and rising at a million miles a second, "What the Hell do you want?"

"you carter, you fucking left without an explanation."He states and i roll my eyes.

"not without an explanation, you hit me and that was the last straw."I fire back, and he chuckles bitterly.

"you pissed me off. that's why i did what i did,"John explains, and my blood pressure rises.

"it's not right to hit a woman!"I snap, earring me a slap across the face.

"i'll see you again carter, this isn't done."John Growls, before hopping me out of my truck, and i'm left holding my cheek.

i let PJ know that i've changed the pin on my bus, and i wasn't giving it to anyone, i just needed to be alone tonight, before running towards my bus, and locking the doors, and actually changing the passcode.

i grab an ice pack from the freezer, and grab pain meds, taking them, before pressing the ice pack to my cheek, wincing at contact.

tears drip down my face, and i crawl into bed, turning on my tv, before crying myself to sleep.