Page 17 of Reckless

“I don’t care.”

“You don’t care? Well, start fucking caring because Solene is about to get on a plane to come find you. The record company is losing their shit, and Bill Jane wants to call the police.”

“I’m fine.”

“Oh, you’re fine, great. Let me call everyone and tell them you’re fine. And you’re with her? She said you left.”

“Don’t worry about her,” I say, diverting his attention from Krista.

“I ought to call the cops on her.”

“For what? And you fucking won’t. Leave her out of this. She helped me. That’s all you need to know.”

“Fine, but we need to get back to the hotel. And then on a flight back to LA.”

There is no point in arguing. I haven’t forgotten I promised to get Krista breakfast. After some more arguing, I convince Cody to go wait by the car. Krista has stayed away, using her phone while I was dealing with the asshole.

I’m gonna have to leave. Why does this feel so fucking bad? I’ve known her a few hours, but she’s had such an impact. I don’t want to leave this woman.

We both know I have to.

“Don’t worry about breakfast,” she says when I stop in front of her. She keeps her eyes on me, not sparing Cody a second glance. “You’re going home?”

“Yeah, I should. People are worried, the ones I care about.”

“It’s the right thing to do,” she says.

“Is it?” I ask.

“Only you can answer that, Jude. It was nice meeting you. You can keep the hat and glasses,” she winks, takes a few steps backwards. “Keep rocking.”

My fingers twitch at my side, longing to reach out and stop her from walking away, but I can’t. My current predicament needs to be dealt with, and then I’ll go back to being in a world-famous band. I can’t bring that to her door.

With one last wave, she disappears into the convenience store again.

All the way to Cody’s car, her words play over and over in my head.

‘Only you can answer that.’

Still, I get into the car and ignore everything Cody says as he pulls out of the parking lot. We pass Krista’s RV as we leave. I close my eyes, rather than look at it.

It was a taste of something different, something I’m never going to have.

Chapter 5

I stay at the diner and have a proper breakfast, albeit on my own. It’s for the best. Jude Smallwood is a megastar. I’m kinda famous, in certain circles, successful enough to do this kind of thing and not have to worry about money. Able to make my own choices.

I’m still mad at that asshole manager. I wanted Jude to make a different choice, but he’s had years of living in that environment and no matter how much he wants to change, I’m not sure he can take himself out of it without failing.

It sucks thinking that way. He deserves to be happy.

Not my problem anymore.

Back at the RV, I do a little maintenance and get washed up. Just before I’m about to leave, my phone pings with a text.

Emily

Morning! Are you back on the road yet?

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