Page 63 of Revived

“Probably. They send medical professionals out to movie and television sets as well as some other traveling performances. Now that you tested the waters for him, Deacon was looking into making sure we were better staffed for future concert tours. Apparently, there are traveling Broadway productions and aerobatic circus performances that use their services too.”

“Oh wow. I didn’t even know something like this existed out there.”

“Honestly, I didn’t realize it either. They’re not always used as medical staff either. Some television or movie sets call for people to come in and look over scripts, sit on set and help the actors make their scenes look more believable, and whatever.”

I smiled at the thought of doing that. “This sounds like a dream job.”

“So, you’re going to take the interview then?”

“Of course, I am. I don’t even care anymore if I’m getting the job just because I know people who know people. It’s better than not getting a job because of people thinking they know things about me when they don’t.”

“Mel, I was hoping that if you get the job, you’d stick around. I know you’ll have to travel for some of your work, but when you’re home. It would be great if you could be here.”

“Here?”

“Here,” He confirmed. “Home. With me and Chevy, in this house.”

“Gabe, I don’t think that’s the best move to make.”

“Why not?”

“We’re not even together. We’ve never been officially together. We had one real date, and then it immediately went to shit the following day. Do you think that’s the best way to start off a situation where we’re living together?”

“What exactly are you saying?”

“I’m saying that I’ll find my own place to live.”

“What does that mean for us?”

“What do you want it to mean?”

“I want you, Mel. I don’t just want you, I need you in my life. Please, don’t give up on us.”

“Let’s do this like normal people, for once,” I demanded. “How about I move out, then we can date, and see where this goes?”

“I don’t like the thought of you out there somewhere without us around, but if that’s what you need, then how can I argue?”

I didn’t bother to tell him that his answer made me all swoony on the inside. Nor did I bother to discuss logistical things with him, like making sure I had a secure enough apartment considering all the press I received thanks to the band, the crew, and their legal woes that settled around them making everyone in close proximity to them fodder for gossip. That was something I had already talked over with Kendra’s man, Josh, who insisted I call him Hex. He worked closely with Phoenix to make sure that the place I picked I was both within my price range and secure enough that they would be comfortable with me staying there without needing a security detail of any kind.

I earned myself a new job and managed to get moved into my own place within a week. It was only then that I was able to really think about starting over with Gabe.

22 – The Next First Date

Mel asked for a little bit of transition time to get her feet underneath of her with starting the new job and living in a brand new place. It was the most difficult thing I’d ever done, leaving her alone as she found her own place in the world, without me. I managed, but I had my own rules too. We still had to communicate daily. Even if it was just a text to say hello and let one another know we were alive and well.

She agreed. While it was great to hear from every day, it wasn’t the same as seeing her in person. The weeks dwindled away as she worked on the set of a popular television show being filmed in and around Atlanta. Her days on set were long, and she claimed exhaustion at the end of each day. Despite that, Mel also sounded happy with her new lot in life.

I was proud of her and I let that carry me through each and every day where I missed seeing her face, her smile, her eyes shining at me the way they did when she thought I was being ridiculous. Mel’s presence was missing in my life and there was not a damn thing that could be done on my end to change it. Thankfully, my phone chimed with an incoming text just when I was about to go out of my mind.

Chevy: spending the night at Mom’s to hang with Ford and Dak for a bit.

Gabe: Have a good night. Tell them I said hi.

Chevy: I’ll let them know. Love you.

Gabe: Love you too.

Well, shit. That meant I would have the house to myself for the night. Wen and his daughter found a place just down the road, closer to where Kendra’s house was. John had flown back to Los Angeles for some sort of emergency with his wife, and Tim lived in LA so he had gone back a couple of weeks ago.

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