Page 120 of Under the Ink

“I know. I need to tell him I’m sorry for some things I said on tour. I…” Her voice trailed off, because she wasn’t sure just how much she wanted to share with the vocalist.

Kiefer nodded, obviously feeling as awkward as she was. “Do you need his number?”

“No, but thanks. I really appreciate all your help.” Turning, she started to walk through the door but then realized how rude she was being. “Please give everyone my best. It was an honor to be part of your tour, even for just a while.”

“We were glad you were part of it too. You, uh…need anything else?”

“No—thanks, though. I’ll see you around.”

As she walked out of the room and into the hallway, trying to figure out how to get into the bar area, she wondered if she should try texting Sage.

But no. What she had to say she needed to say in person. She wanted to see his face—because faces didn’t lie.

She just had to figure out how she was going to get to Chipeta Springs to tell him.

WINCHESTER, COLORADO

SEPTEMBER 13, APPROXIMATELY 6:45 AM

As Naomi pulled the Shock Treatment tank top over her head, she questioned why she’d even tried to sleep. If she was lucky, she’d gotten half an hour total. The shower this morning, along with a strong cup of coffee, had helped more than any amount of shuteye had afforded her.

Instead of painting her eyes with her typically heavy hand, she decided to go lighter. She was inspired to try something different, thanks to the work the woman Ginny had hired for hair and makeup for her wedding had done yesterday. Sure, less on her eyes made her feel naked at first—but so did the tank top. Somehow, both felt like they would communicate to Sage that she was ready to bare her soul.

To lay everything at his feet.

Herfeet were still aching, especially after walking back to Ginny’s place last night after the concert. Naomi was no stranger to hoofing it everywhere but the blisters on her heels weren’t doing her any favors—and she wasn’t about to use something like Uber. The last thing she wanted was to ride in a stranger’s car. With someone like Sage, no problem. But on her own, she’d prefer walking.

Before putting her boots on, she searched through the medicine cabinet in the bathroom and found that Walker and Ginny already had Band-Aids—and antibiotic ointment. After dabbing a little on each pad, she applied them to her heels.

Much better.

Once fully dressed, she headed back downstairs. The sun was starting to peek through the huge window at the front of the house, reminding Naomi again just how beautiful her best friend’s life had become.

But she didn’t dare hope that for herself. Peace…that would be enough.

And that would begin with an apology to Sage. She couldn’t expect him to give her another chance, not after all the shitty things she’d said to him. Half of what she’d said she couldn’t even remember, but she couldn’t live with herself if she didn’t at least clear the air.

She had to tell him the truth about how she felt.

Heading toward the side door near the kitchen, Naomi took several long breaths while staring at the dangling hearts keychain. And, before she could talk herself out of it, she grabbed them.

The keys to Ginny’s Subaru.

Had her friend somehow known it would come to this? Naomi swallowed again, fighting her body’s protests. Had she eaten anything over the past twelve hours, it would have already come back up. Could she drive around Winchester? Sure. That was where she’d learned to drive and, although she’d never felt one-hundred percent confident with her abilities, she could have done it. The license was just a formality she’d never bothered getting.

At least that was the pep talk she was giving herself.

Driving to another place entirely, though?

She could do this.

Standing outside in the cool morning air—a bittoocool for no sleeves—she stared at the white Subaru sitting innocently on the cobblestone in front of the garage behind the house. How the hell was she supposed to get it out from back here, much less all the way to Chipeta Springs?

Pulling it up on the maps app on her phone, she entered Chipeta Springs as her destination from where she stood—and prayed that, once she made it to town, she could locate Ray and Sue’s house.

Forty miles.

A little over an hour to get there.

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