Page 58 of See Her

Jack

Mayzie’s not fooling me.There are a million things going through her head. Matt’s call last night brought news that the song has been gaining more attention and air time each day, and Ron wants to do a conference call to discuss the next phase of the label’s investment with us.In our first meeting, he mentioned it would be going on tour as an opening act. Mayzie was elated, but it definitely shocked the hell out of me. I thought it was a lucky thing just getting noticed and having the chance to record the song, but to have it go off the way it has? I have to be honest, I was not expecting it. I was happy and thankful that we got to put at least one song out in the world, and then officially start my new life with my girl.

The last couple of weeks together have been so amazing.Everything from watching her dance in our kitchen in the mornings to kissing her goodbye before work has made me happier than I ever could have hoped. She’s been trying to get into cooking more now that it’s the two of us, and she’s only set off the smoke detector once. God, I love her. My favorite thing though, is spending every night with her in our bed, her body close to mine. Beneath me, on top of me, or just next to me, it doesn’t matter. Under the covers with her is my happy place.

It's no wonder I’m feeling more amped up about her than I am this call as I make the drive to Matt’s house. My thoughts are all on wanting her to be okay, and while she was undoubtedly excited for me, I could tell that one tiny segment of her feels just a little bit scared.To be truthful, so am I. Our marriage is still so new and needs a lot of attention from both of us. If a tour is in fact happening, leaving without her is just not an option. I need her with me.

“810K?”Josh repeats the number of views Ron just told us the video has already. We’re sitting at Matt’s kitchen table around his phone which is set to speaker, as Ron delivers the news of the song’s success. “In three weeks?” he repeats again. I guess the rest of the guys had the same mentality I did and didn’t pay attention to the charts or YouTube.

“Damn straight 810K, and number 48 on the ‘Hot Hundred’!” howls Chris.

Okay, all of us but him stayed offline.

“That’s right,” Ron confirms, from the phone’s speaker. “That’s higher than the average momentum, the kind we need to take action on, and people are asking all over social media sites how and when they can catch a show. Next step is going on tour, as an opener.” He’s all business, and definitely not dancing around the issue.

“When? And for who?” Matt asks.

“The Shock Wave is set to leave in two weeks, and their opener fell through. We want you guys in. Turn it Up is the perfect fit to open for them, and it will get you in front of the target audience.”

“The fucking Shock Wave?!” Chris repeats.

“Who was originally going to open?” Josh asks.

“Is that really important?” Ron retorts.

“Hell no,” Matt answers.

After celebrating with some more howls, back slaps and high fives, Ron calls for quiet.“So get yourselves together, pack your things, rehearse, tell your families, all that. Tour starts in Seattle and leaves from there. You’ll join them for the first six weeks, and if things keep moving steadily upwards, we’ll extend your time on the road with them.”

“Whoa. Ron, one quick question,” I say, leaning forward a little so he can hear me. “Who can come with us?”

“There are six bunks on your tour bus, and you get two rooms at hotel stops. You guys have to agree on how to use them. Why?” I look around at everyone else and am met with a bunch of smirks.

“I married Mayzie,” I say, unable to control my smile.

“What do you mean,you’re not coming on the tour?” I practically sputter at Mayzie. It’s hard to speak coherently when your heart is beating furiously in your damn throat.

“I will not be Yoko,” she returns, matter-of-factly.

“Hey, you are not Yoko,” I hold a finger up at her, “and explain to me how the hell I’m supposed to go on tour for six weeks without my wife – who Ijust married, by the way.”

“I just think it would be better if I stayed out of this, at least for a while.”

“And you think that’s a good idea, why?”

“Because!” She throws her hands down. “This is new territory for you guys with a lot of glitches to work out. You’re going to be living on a bus together and in hotels; you’ll be doing rehearsals and sound checks and set up and whatever else rock bands do on tour.” Her list goes on as she waves her hands in every direction. “This is about theband, and the band was with you long before I came along. I’m afraid if you throw me in the mix I could really get in the way, and, I don’t know, throw off your mojo, your vibe, whatever you want to call it.This is a crucial time for you guys, and you need to have your heads together, focusing on your music.”

“Uh, I hate to shock you, but it’s a critical time for us, too.” I raise my eyebrows at her and move my hand between us.

“I know,” she utters, walking closer and dropping her head to my chest dejectedly, her hands gripping the front of my Henley as my arms circle around her. “I don’t want to be apart, but this is going to be such a crazy time,” she muffles through my shirt.

“I know it is. But we can either spend our newlywed phase completely apart, or on a crazy adventure.”

“But it’s theband’scrazy adventure, not mine.”

“I’m part of that band, and you’re part of me,” I murmur down at her, stroking her chin with my thumb, coaxing her to look up at me.

When her eyes find mine, they look as if they’re searching their depths for something until she heaves out a heavy sigh.

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