Page 4 of Polly

Chapter 2

Polly

“What did that idiot do now?” Polly asked rhetorically as she watched the cops slap cuffs on Flynn on the bar’s TV. The cops shoved his muscular physique into a cruiser.

She pressed her hand over her eyes and shook her head as the blue lights flashed and the cop car pulled away on screen.

“Again? They’re mid-tour. He’ll probably miss some shows. Man, I’m glad he’s not on our tour,” Jade said. She drank a sip of lemonade. Jade had tied her rainbow hair up in a bun and tucked it under a ball cap to lower recognition. Polly wore a ball cap too, her blond hair pulled into a ponytail that stuck from the back of her hat.

Polly and Jade, two members of the popular punk rock band Lovely Oblivion, had dodged the paparazzi to go to an inconspicuous sports bar for dinner in the random town they were staying in for the tour. So far, so good — no one recognized them.

“I can’t believe he got arrested again,” Polly said. She sighed and removed her hand from her eyes. She picked up her fork and continued to eat her dinner, which was tasty glazed chicken and a baked potato.

“At least he’s not our problem,” Jade said. “I worry enough about our crew and the people on our buses. Someone like him would give me a heart attack.”

“He’s not really a bad person, but he makes impulsive choices. They aren’t always great,” Polly said.

Flynn and Polly spent time together as friends when their paths crossed and texted each other regularly. They were close enough friends that his arrest worried her...again.

Someone changed the channel. The new newscast showed the arrest from another angle. Flynn’s face flashed the camera, his crew cut hair, green eyes, and cheeky grin hit the camera as the cops loaded him into the cruiser.

Polly shook her head and breathed a sigh of relief. Okay, Flynn wasn’t worried. She would try not to, either. Still, she hoped nothing bad happened to him.

“We have fifteen more live performances then studio time. It’ll be nice to have a break and stay in one place for a few months,” Jade said, breaking Polly’s train of thought.

“Where are you and Mr. Blue Eyes staying?” Polly asked. Jade didn’t have a residence, preferring to couch surf because of the musician’s lifestyle. Her fiancé Ryker, a former Navy SEAL who the band liked to call Mr. Blue Eyes, had a home in the mountains but it was very rural and hours away.

“While we’re recording, Ry and I will rent monthly or sublet somewhere near the studio. Once the album’s done, we’ll go to his cabin for a while.”

“Mmmm. Okay, so when’s the wedding?”

Jade laughed. “We haven’t decided yet. Soon. Probably not until next year. I’m trying to convince Ryker to do Vegas but he doesn’t want to.”

“Why not?”

“He thinks I would miss the ceremony too much and regret it later. But I wouldn’t. I only want to be married to the guy.” She shook her head and sipped her lemonade.

“We’ll help you plan something soon if you want.”

“Tomorrow, courthouse?”

Polly laughed. “You know what I mean. Something that makes you both happy.”

“The man needs to hurry up and marry me so we can have a billion kids.”

Polly held her hands up in a stop gesture. “Whoa, whoa, whoa. We have to talk about this. I know Bex had a baby in the musician’s life, but she’s our lead singer. You’re the drummer. I doubt you can drum while you’re pregnant.”

“I can! I looked it up. Drumming is considered an exercise. The danger is that it raises heart rate. As long as I was drumming before pregnancy and I’m used to doing it, I’m good. The vibrations won’t hurt a baby.”

Polly looked at her, an eyebrow raised. “You researched this?”

“Yes. I mean, Ryker and I aren’t planning anything right now, but I wanted to know. Drumming is my life. And I adore Chloe.” Chloe was their lead singer Bex’s one-year-old girl. The band was collectively raising Chloe on tour. They all spoiled that baby.

Polly shook her head. “Enjoy life for now. We’ll only be touring for maybe ten years. After that, the musician’s lifestyle is over. Take it day by day, enjoy the unique lifestyle, and don’t rush commitment,” she said.

Jade laughed. “I’m sure Grady appreciates that outlook.”

Polly’s fiancée, Grady, still lived in their hometown. He wanted roots, but he understood Polly’s need for music and travel. He stayed in their hometown, saying he would work on a home for them so they’d have somewhere to go when she was ready to settle. Grady worked a comfortable 9-5 as an accountant. He didn’t have to work because of Polly’s income, but he chose to. Polly’s life was wild compared to Grady’s. The two were the definition of “opposites attract.”

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