Page 102 of Tortured Tones

Night

She replied:

XO

I tossed my cell phone aside and read Charlotte a book. She fell asleep before I made it halfway through the story. But I lay awake for hours before falling asleep somewhere around two.

Charlotte woke me at five-thirty.

Ergh!

Our shows in Denver were phenomenal. The crowds were mind-blowing. I poured my heart and soul into playing, giving the fans an incredible performance. The moment we came off stage, Flint and Slip took off for three days to see Sutton and Maddy. The rest of us traveled to Santa Fe where Ava rejoined us.

With two free days, I took Charlotte to the Children’s Museum and a park, and I had dinner with Lewis and Tia. I worked with April to plan Christmas for the band and crew members who weren’t traveling home. But there was one person I wanted to do something special for. I wanted to show my appreciation to someone who had helped me out with Charlotte the most. Someone more than Ava. That was Hannah.

“You want me to what?” April snapped at me over a morning coffee.

“Please. It’s one tiny request.”

“Tiny? Cole, are you crazy? It’s the holidays. Everyone is traveling. I’m too busy to organize this.”

“April.” I splayed my hand over my heart. “I know it’s a lot to ask, but you can do this. I know you can. Please?”

She mumbled and muttered and rubbed her smooth brow. She stared at her cell phone and cursed. “Fuck. Fine.” She pointed a finger at me. “My fucking bonus better be beyond my expectations this year.”

“It always is.” I leaped from the dining chair and darted around the table. I gave her a hug and kissed the top of her head. “Thank you.”

“Good thing I love you guys.” She rested her head against my side.

“We love you too,” I patted and rubbed her shoulder. April was a machine. One that was overworked. We were getting to the point where she’d need help. I tried not to add too much to her list, but this was important to me.

At the end of each long day, I crawled into bed. But yet again, I’d fall asleep for two or three hours, then wake. My mind spiraled over everything—the tour, our schedule, Charlotte, Ava, my weird stalkers back home...even new songs and beats drummed in my head.

Fuck, I needed to sleep. More rest.

But it never came.

My body and head ached, but that wouldn’t stop me.

After our concert in Santa Fe, the tour headed to Oklahoma City, Austin, then to New Orleans. We’d be based there for four days for Christmas and a show.

Most of the tour’s crew flew home to see family and friends. Sutton and Maddy had traveled across the country to spend time with us.

As we checked into our hotel late in the afternoon on the twenty-third, I stretched my body from side to side, grateful to be off the bus. Following a late dinner, I crashed in my room. But two hours later, I was wide awake. I tossed and turned, unable to sleep.

Fuck.

At four a.m. I’d had enough.

At home, to distract my mind, bury my guilt, or alleviate my stress, I used to play my drums, have sex, or run. With no drums or girls on hand, running was my only option.

Charlotte was asleep in the adjacent room with Hannah. They were fine.

I crawled out of bed, dressed in some exercise clothes, grabbed my gym bag, and headed down to the hotel gym.

I needed to deal with my shit. I needed to run.

I’d only be an hour, tops.

---