Page 50 of Reckless

I never thought of it that way. I glossed over the road trip thing when I first joined Krista and, given I’ve not spoken to Paul, it hasn’t come up. I’m not sure if Solene has told the others I’m with a woman. She’s good at not spreading shit. Although her brother does sometimes get information out of her.

Krista doesn’t deserve to be dragged into any of the drama. The fewer people I talk to about her, the better.

“Anyway, the reason I called. I’m heading up to San Francisco this weekend to work with Isaac Monroe. I’ve been writing new material, and we want to lay some of it down.”

“Things are moving fast. I didn’t even know you’d contacted a producer.”

“Been doing it in the background,” he says. “He’s got other projects coming up in the next few weeks, so this is a good time for both of us, with Reckless being on a break. I’m not calling to ask permission.”

“Never said you were.” I bristle a little at his tone. “You don’t need to, Paul. I’m happy for you.”

He’s quiet and I suspect he doesn’t believe me. He clears his throat. “Solene says she is okay with it, but I’m not sure. I think she’s feeling some kind of way about us all abandoning her.”

“No one is abandoning her.”

“She’s being dramatic. Someone should tell you. Ethan’s handling it, but it might become a problem.”

Solene has been texting me more than usual. Fuck, do I have to worry about her now? Immediately, I feel bad for that thought, but another part of me thinks back on what Krista said to me. I have to think about myself. It’s the only way to heal.

Solene hasn’t outright said she needs me, but Paul reaching out like this speaks volumes about it. It means she’s mentioned it to him. She wouldn’t normally do that. I’m not sure she expected he would call and tell me. I am wondering if there is some level of calculation there.

I’m not mad at her. Things are changing. We’re not all living out of one another’s pockets. I’m away on this road trip. Paul is leaving to work on his solo album. It’s understandable she is getting nervous about it.

“Thanks for telling me. I’ll speak to her.”

“Or don’t. You are hiding away for a reason.”

“I’m not hiding away,” I say.

“You’re doing your own thing. Don’t get all twisted up about it. You do what you need to do.”

This is the most accommodating Paul has sounded in a while. Makes me wonder if he is going to be happier being away doing his own thing. At least my intention is to always come back to Reckless Soul. What if he doesn’t want to?

Fuck.

“Let me know how it goes with Isaac,” I say. “I’m glad you’ve got this to focus on.”

“Yeah, yeah. Catch you later, asshole.”

He hangs up without another word. I set the phone down and turn to the window, watching the other cars driving along the interstate. I used to do this a lot while we were on tour, watching the world going by, wondering what the lives of the occupants in the cars were like.

Right now, I’m that normal guy.

Krista knows I’ve finished my call but doesn’t say anything, and I appreciate that. It’s a side to her I’m coming to enjoy. That and her ass.

Yes. I’m thinking about her ass. So much shit has gone on today to impede me from getting my hands on that ass.

Well, tonight is going to be different. Where things go after that, I don’t know, but if we both want the same thing right now, then I’m going to take Krista’s advice and go after it.

I head back to the front of the RV and sit down. Krista gives me a quick glance, then focuses on the road again. I want to learn to drive this thing, to give her a break. She may be used to driving around for three months by herself, but me being along has changed up her schedule.

She hasn’t done much writing while I’ve been here. I’ve been taking up a lot of her time.

“What time do we get to the campsite?” I ask.

“Well, that’s tricky,” she says.

“Huh?”

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