Page 19 of Timeless: Encore

Singer Ajia Stone blows past us and runs on stage. The crowd loses its ever-loving mind.

God I miss this. I miss Ty. I miss my band.

“Are you ready for a couple more?” Ajia throws his fist in the air and holds his mic out to the audience. The stadium goes wild.

The rest of Wycked Obsession take their places and Knox jumps into the opening riff of their hit song, Run.

Ajia shakes out his hair, looks over at me and waves me onstage. “Tonight, we have a special guest. A friend of the band’s. Please welcome Zane Rocks of Less than Zero.”

I strut onstage with my Gibson to the roar of nearly thirty thousand fans. When I strum the counter-melody to what Knox is playing, the crowd goes dead quiet. Fully entranced. Then they go absolutely fucking wild. As the song progresses, he and I are back to back jamming. Dueling solos. Drawing out the song into a full-blown audience participation masterpiece. When it ends, I’m so fucking energized.

Being onstage is like fuel. I need it. Maybe I underestimated how much.

After two songs, I leave the stage to thunderous applause and head straight over to Fiona and kiss her like I haven’t seen her in weeks.

“Gross. Daddy!” Mia tugs at my jeans. “Everyone can see you.”

I lean down. Pull one of her ear coverings out a bit. “Sweetheart, I will kiss your mom wherever I want because I love her. Kissing is not gross. Trust me on this.”

She doesn’t look convinced.

I pick her up and put her on my shoulders. Grab Fee’s hand and watch the final song of the show. Afterward, we hang out backstage. While I catch up with the band, who have had their own fair share of drama, Bree, Ajai’s girlfriend, braids Mia’s hair. Wicked Obsession’s bassist, also named Zayne with a “y,” and I bicker over which spelling is correct. His girlfriend, Grace, is deep in conversation with Fiona, like long-lost sisters. I have to pull her away when I notice the crew’s loaded out all the gear and the place is empty.

On the way back to the hotel, Mia’s sound asleep between us and Fee’s in a great mood. “That was so fun. Mia loved it. You did amazing, babe.”

“It’s always such a rush.” I’m still wound up. Generally it takes hours before I come down after a show. The best natural high there is.

She reaches around our daughter to stroke my hair. “You miss it.” A statement, not a question.

“So much.” I close my eyes and lean back against the soft leather. Just a few more months. I’m calling a band meeting at the end of this year to get the guys back on track. We need to write. Record. Tour. I realize working together will be different now that we all have kids. Well, all but Ty and Zoey.

I think about touring with our families on customized buses. We can truly have it all. Each of us can have our own space. The kids will all have tutors. It will be like a traveling family.

Then I remember. Fiona will be opening Gus. She won’t want to go anywhere. Rightfully, it’s her turn to shine in her own profession. The thought does douse a bit of water on my flame, though.

We arrive at the hotel. I pick Mia up. Fee grabs her purse. Hand-in-hand we walk through the ornate front entrance. Olga had the night off, so Zeke, my bodyguard is with us tonight. He’s a couple paces ahead with my guitar and backpack. All is quiet until a woman sitting in the lobby jumps up and runs over to us before Zeke can intervene.

“Zane. I’m Tawnee. Customer Experience Manager at the Luxe? Max told me you were in town. He wanted me to stop by and give you this.” She hands me a card with a phone number and password on it. “Please let us know if we can accommodate you during your stay.”

I glance over at Fiona, who openly stares at Tawnee, an extremely tall woman wearing a black leather corset and some flowy purplish pants. Her brown hair is pulled back tightly into a ponytail. I can tell my wife isn’t psyched about this interaction.

“Not this time. Thank you for stopping by.” I smile and keep moving, tugging Fee with me. Zeke seamlessly moves to block Tawnee, allowing us to pass without further conversation.

We get into the elevator leaving Zeke behind. “Who was that?” Fee asks the expected question the second the doors close behind us.

“Let’s get Mia into bed.” I shoot her a look. Fee catches my meaning: adult conversation. She’s decidedly not impressed.

Once inside our suite, Fiona changes Mia into her pajamas and puts her to bed in the adjoining room where Olga is staying. I’m already washing the night off in the big walk-in shower by the time she returns. Instead of joining me, Fee sits on the edge of the tub. Rubs her temples with her fingers. “So, are you going to tell me what that shit was down there?”

“Join me.” I hold my hand out to her.

She shakes her head. Sticks her lip out.

I wiggle my fingers and gesture for her to get in the shower.

She just stares. Mouths, “No.”

I decide to take matters into my own hands. Literally. I step out onto the mat and yank Fiona into the shower with me fully clothed.

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