They're Like Us [Part 3]

19.2

POV Shawn

As soon as I'm done with the show, I drink a few bottles of water backstage with the boys. We'll give each other a hug and celebrate that we have completed another successful show.

"Shawn?" I hear Josiah say. I turn to him and the smile on my face disappears immediately when I see the look in his eyes. "I'm sorry. I don't mean to read it, but I just saw one sentence and I think that's exactly the one I shouldn't be reading." He apologizes. I take my phone from him and quickly read the messages from Indy, my father and mother and sister.

-
Indy: But I'm gonna need some time for myself the couple next weeks
Indy: Thank you for everything... ❤️❤️
*INDY LEFT THE CHAT*
-

That bar at the end destroys me inside. She's gone, she's really gone now.

Josiah puts his arm around me and takes me away from the others. He's quiet until we find a couch somewhere in a small and dark room. I've no idea where we are to be honest, the building is so big.

"What happened?" He asks me. I sigh deeply and put both my hands in front of my face. "I've been an idiot," I start, "I kissed Camila and Indy found out about it. She broke up with me a couple of days later."

I haven't heard from Josiah for a long time. He's engaged with the love of his life and I don't think he can imagine why I would kiss another woman. He loves his fiance so much ... he would never do that to her. I shouldn't have done that either. "I know, I'm an asshole."

"Yes you are," he says without any doubt, "It's a lot to take in. I thought you loved Indy..."

"I do love her," I immediately tell him, "I don'g know what came over me. Indy is the love of my life."

He stares at me for a couple of seconds. Probably thinking of his next comment. He should tell me how stupid I've been. I want him to tell me that I'm the dumbest person on earth. "How are you holding up?" He asks eventually.

Okay, didn't see that coming.

"I have been strong so far, I think. I still don't release we're over after all those years and memories we made. When I started the show yesterday, I wished she was there with me, but she wasn't. That's when I released it dor the first time..." The tears start rolling down my cheeks when I talk about her. The thought that I lost her forever is terrible. My babygirl is gone... "She moved out last week. And I haven't gotten the guts to tell my mom and dad. But what's really gonna break my heart is I've to tell my little sister ..."

Josiah sits down next to me on the couch and opens his arms. He gestured that I should give him a hug. Normally we don't do it that often, not in this way at least, but it feels good to be able to cry with someone.

"Can you please not tell anyone," I ask him, "I want to tell them whenever I'm ready to make it public." He nods and whispers that he will keep it to himself. I know I can trust him. He is one of my best friends and we have already experienced so much together. He has always been there for me.

Even when I just got to know Indy. Andrew and a few others were opposed to me dating a girl from the Netherlands, Rotterdam to be precise. They thought it was too much of a hassle and since I was traveling a lot, I couldn't be with her often. That could've led to a heartbreak and then you have a sad Shawn who can no longer sing cheerfully. Those are their words, by the way, not mine.

Josiah was one of the few who encouraged me to do what felt right ... And look where it took me. I travel all over the world and make music, I have two beautiful children and a beautiful wife. For a little while, until we have signed the divorce forms.

"I'm always here for you, bud. Don't you dare to forget that." He jokingly warns me. I laugh and shake my head and give him a playful move against his chest. "How about a beer?" He asks me when he jumps off the couch.

"I can use that." I take his hand and he pulls me off the couch. "Me too, buddy."