Page 21 of The First Chord

“There is that.”

Watching her beautiful face and the pain she must have been feeling because of him tormented me. I wanted to beg her to leave him, let me help her leave him, because if she stayed much longer I was sure she’d become a shadow within weeks, never mind months. It was a fear like I’d never had before. When my auntie Mo had a mild heart attack I’d been petrified she’d die, but that was for me. This was fear for Amber, and it was more intense than I’d ever thought possible.

“What’s your plan for the week off?” I asked, not sure I’d keep it together if she said she was going to do something with her shit of a husband.

“I’ve got a few things planned. I want to try and get myself a car, so I’m quite excited about that.”

“You don’t already have one?” That surprised me, mainly because I’d have thought Jimmy would expect her to be his chauffeur everywhere.

“Nope. Haven’t had one since my last one died on the M25 three years ago.”

“Shit, not a great place to break down, is it?”

“Especially when you have Jimmy passed out on the back seat reeking of booze and weed.”

So he’d been acting like a prat even before they’d become successful. Can’t say that I was surprised.

“The band had just signed their first deal, so he’d been celebrating,” she explained.

“I’m not judging, Amber.” I totally fucking was. “We went on a two-day bender when we signed our first deal.”

“I’m sure you didn’t hitch a ride on a stag party minibus and leave your wife waiting for the breakdown truck.”

My hands instantly curled into fists inside my pockets, and it took every bit of willpower that I had not to get up, storm down the plane and punch the stupid twat again.

“Did the blokes on the bus know he’d left you behind?” Pieces of shit.

Amber shrugged. “No idea, he’d walked a mile up the hard shoulder before they picked him up.”

“Make sure you get something decent then, won’t you?”

What if maybe I bought her a car? I could get it delivered to her house, say that it was from the record company or something.

“Yes, I will.” She grinned. “I promise.”

I wasn’t sure I’d feel happy unless she was driving some huge accident-proof beast that had been through a million tests. I was ridiculous thinking like that. She wasn’t mine to think like that. We were friends, nothing more.

“Good, good. So, any other plans for the week?”

Stop fucking torturing yourself, Ronnie, you dickhead.

Amber swallowed and shifted in her seat. “Nothing special.”

She was definitely lying but I didn’t want to consider why. “No, me neither. I had thought that I might go to Paris, but now I think I’ll stay home and chill for the week. I might even go and visit my auntie Mo.”

“She’s the one who brought you up in Leicester, is that right?”

“That’s the one.” I smiled thinking about her and how much she’d done for me. “I doubt I’d be here today if it wasn’t for her.” I’d have probably ended up in trouble if she hadn’t bought me my first guitar.”

“Wow, typical bad boy rockstar made good,” she said, giggling.

I shrugged. “I wasn’t that bad. I’m probably exaggerating. It was just a bit of vandalism and nicking stuff from the local shop. Not that I’m proud of it, but even so, I’ve got a lot to thank her for.”

“Every great man usually has a great woman to thank.” Her eyes closed for a few seconds before she slapped on a smile and looked at me again. “I bet you’re desperate for the break, aren’t you? It’s been pretty full on this tour.”

“Yeah, it’ll be good to be home.” It must have been the thought of all that relaxation because I suddenly yawned. As I did, Amber waved me away and then let out her own.

“Oh my god, it’s infectious.”

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