Not in the Same Way

Twenty Eight

The next morning, I wake up and am able to revel in the euphoria that last night's successful date had left me with for about ten minutes.

After those ten minutes I look at my phone and audibly groan.

The billboard charts drop today and nothing has been done, so, our album will be on them a week early and the fans know.

Fuck.

Why can't things just go my way once? Just once I'd like for something good happening to me not to be followed immediately by something incredibly shitty. I feel like I'm always waiting for the other shoe to drop and it blows.

My phone vibrates with Ashton's name across the display and I swipe quickly, stepping out into the patio so as not to disturb the sleeping girls inside.

"Hey, Ash."

"Hey, Cal. I'm guessing you saw everything?"

"Yeah, guess they caught on pretty quickly."

"Well, they tend to be a pretty smart group. The team is sending us a message they want us to put on our socials this morning. Otherwise they said to just do our best to promote the album but steer clear of any talk about the actual situation. They said there's still hope, but if we go off the rails or cause much of a stink it'll crush any chance we have of getting this shit fixed." He says obviously in full business mode.

"Kinda shitty isn't it? They can do us dirty like this and we just have to shut up and keep quiet like good little boys while they dangle things right in front of our faces."

"That's show biz baby." Ashton says in a dark humored tone.

"Ughhhh...I really just wanted one good day. Last night was so..."

"Last night?" Ashton asks and I hear the unspoken request I'm his voice as he waits for me to expand.

"I, um, I kind of put together a date type thing for Darby."

"Oh fuck."

"What? You love Darby." I say defensively.

"Yeah, I do love Darby and that's precisely why I'm concerned. Haven't you hurt that poor girl enough?"

My jaw clenches and I'm surprised that the fence in front of me doesn't burst into flames with the way I'm staring at it as I let my best friend's words wash over me.

"The fuck is that supposed to mean?" I snarl.

"Cal," he sighs. "You know I love you to death, but you haven't exactly made the best choices where Darby, and for that matter Ava Kai as well, are concerned."

"Don't bring my kid into this." I say, my hand that's not holding my phone to my ear balling into a tight fist at my side.

"You know I'm right, Cal. Just...they've already been hurt by you before, don't get into this if you aren't one hundred percent certain you won't let them down this time. They don't deserve it."

"You're supposed to be my best fucking friend Ash. If anyone should be on my side it should be you."

"I'd be a bad friend if I didn't say this to you, Cal. If this is what you want, I'm behind you and I'll support you, as long as you aren't hurting other people I love. For instance, my god daughter and her mother."

"I've changed Ash and you know that." I say, my voice a lot weaker now than when we'd begun this conversation.

"I know you think you have, and I really hope you have, but now you have to prove it."

"Well, last night went great in case you were wondering." I mumble sarcastically.

"That's great, Cal."