Page 174 of Five Summers

“And how did he react to all of that?” I inquire, casually taking a sip from my beer.

“He said he would come back with an offer,” Ace says.

“Maybe whatever he offers won’t be all bad,” Nate suggests. “We can check out their proposals, set our terms, and see if they can meet them. Let them take care of the hard stuff.”

"Yeah, we'll check out their offer, but I don't think they'll give us the freedom we want," says Ace. He then shifts his focus to Theo. “Alright, spill it. What happened to you today?”

All attention shifts towards Theo as he scans the group. “What do you mean?” he inquires.

Thanks to Theo’s sunburnt face, the distinct mustache-shaped white outline, and his disproportionately large sideburns, it’s clear what Ace is referring to.

“Just look in the mirror, dumbass,” Ace says.

Theo rises from the table and walks to the elegant mirror hanging on the wall. I catch sight of his smirk and our eyes meet in the reflection. "This will definitely give the groupies something to talk about," he says.

Ace, with a roll of his eyes, reaches for his beer while I can’t help but smile and shake my head. Meanwhile, Poppy bursts out laughing.

“Don’t encourage him,” Nate says, smiling, as he grabs his beer.

Chapter sixty-six

Xander

Talking to Alex each night is the one thing I always look forward to, as it adds a spark of joy to my day. It’s truly incredible how much love I already feel for this little boy, despite having just met him a few days ago. Whenever we talk, I can’t help but notice the clear disdain and hatred in Poppy’s mother’s expression as she watches me interact with my son.

Despite Poppy’s insistence that it’s an issue solely between us and our child, the disapproval continues to linger. In the past, the previous version of myself would have easily told her to fuck off without a second thought. Though I still feel the urge, I resistthe temptation, knowing I need to be a positive influence for my son now.

Throughout my life, there have been people who have looked at me as if I am worthless, the same way Poppy’s mother does. However, having Poppy and Alex in my life has filled that void. They make me feel worthy, like I mean something. Now I know my behavior needs to be better.

After the recent media interview that brought up questions about the fifteen-year-old girl, Ace has assumed the role of the band's decision-maker, while Reg has taken on the main responsibility of handling the ongoing barrage of inquiries from the media.

Ace recently had a conversation with Lionel, who suggested that once Reg resolves the situation, he will depart on the next flight that becomes available. None of us have taken part in any radio or television interviews since the incident took place, and surprisingly, it’s been to our advantage. We'll have time to do all the fun stuff we've been missing out on.

From what I gather, Lionel doesn’t appear to be excited about us leaving the label, even though he hasn’t officially made an offer yet. Ace believes that there might be something on the table once we return home, but at least Reg is no longer constantly pressuring me or giving any attitude to Poppy. That's a plus.

As the curtains draw to a close on yet another night’s performance, fatigue begins to take its toll on me. Our next destination is Brisbane, and tomorrow we begin a two-day journey, opting for the scenic route and making stops at the towns where our interviews were initially planned.

With Reg now taking care of things and working to fix the mess he made, we now have the opportunity to discover the charm of these small local towns. We can visit the cozy restaurants and friendly pubs, enjoy a few beers, and meet somany warm and welcoming people. I genuinely love the relaxed atmosphere that Australia offers.

On our final evening in our room, before we head back to the cramped bunk beds on the bus, I plan to fully embrace the comfort of the hotel room’s king-size bed. It’s the perfect chance to engage in my favorite activity - getting my girl naked and pleasing her.

As we ascend to the top floor in the elevator, Poppy remains quiet, her thoughts elsewhere. Her mind is consumed by the conversation she had with her mother earlier, while we were driving back to the hotel. The constant disapproval and scrutiny from her mother regarding my relationship with my son not only impacts Poppy, but it also affects me. I struggle to understand why her mother can’t just stay out of it.

I wrap my arm around her waist, pulling her closer to me. Her eyes lift as my knuckles softly brush against her jaw while she studies my face.

“Don’t worry, Princess, everything will work out,” I assure her. “In a little over a week, we can finally be a family.” The mere thought of it brings me immense joy. It’s the kind of loving family environment I have always longed for, particularly after the heartbreaking loss of my mother.

She nods, her blue eyes fixed on mine, and not a single word escapes her lips. As the elevator doors part, Neil, steps out, leading us towards our room.

It has been another long night, but it was worth it. Poppy had such a great time at Walter’s burger place, I reached out to him again. And guess what? He was incredibly accommodating! One thing I really appreciate about him is that he’s not one of those guys who likes to stare; he respects our privacy. Those moments of uninterrupted closeness, just the two of us, hold a special place in my heart. Don’t get me wrong, I love spendingtime with my bandmates and the camaraderie we have, but I also crave those quality moments with Poppy.

Walter was thrilled when I told him I had shared his demo tape with the guys. They were all excited and agreed to it, and we will stay in touch regarding the tour plans. It feels amazing to have the means and resources to help others now. That’s the most fulfilling part of being in the spotlight - the ability to make a positive difference in other people’s lives.

“Thanks, big guy. I really appreciate it,” I say to Neil as I open the door to our room.

Poppy smiles at him, “Goodnight, Neil.”

“Goodnight, Poppy,” he responds, and every time I witness their interaction, I can’t help but notice a gentle smile adorning the big guy’s face. In all the years he’s been with us, I’ve never seen him like this. His tough exterior hides a more tender side.

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