Page 31 of Edge of Forever

I’m prepared to do the long-distance thing, and I think she is too, but there are going to be a lot of hurdles to get over. I could spend the holidays here in Vegas with her, and if Sydney isn’t cool with me staying at the house, I’m almost positive Tyler or one of the guys from Nobody’s Fool would let me crash with them.

Again, it’s impossible to make those kinds of plans because we don’t know how things are going to go. Will our album do well? Enough to get us on another tour when this one ends? Will money be pouring in? Or will I be as broke as ever?

The indecision and uncertainty is killing me.

I’m a proactive kind of guy.

Need money?

Get a job.

It’s simple when it’s just me.

Now that there’s a woman in my life, I’m trying to plan.

And it’s not going well.

Partly because of my own situation but partly because of hers.

I came close to telling her I loved her last night but caught myself in time. Not because I don’t want to, or because I don’t genuinely feel it, but because I don’t want that to influence what she decides going forward.

We’ve taken the last month to just be together.

Spend time together with no set expectations.

And it’s been wonderful.

But now it’s time to have another difficult conversation.

I know I’m overthinking things, but she’s too important to screw this up.

“Dude—Kirsten’s here.” Jonny sticks his head in the door of the bathroom.

I frown. She was going shopping with Gina today and we’re supposed to have dinner together, so I hadn’t planned on seeing her until later. “On my way.”

I follow him into the hallway where I find Kirsten waiting for me.

“Hey, baby.” I lean down and kiss her. “What are you doing here?”

“Lexi said she needed to talk to me and said to meet her here.”

“Huh. I hadn’t heard anything about that.”

“There you guys are.” Lexi comes down the hall. “You want to walk with me? I have a question. Mostly for Kirsten, but you can join us, Sam.”

“What’s up?” Kirsten asks as we head toward a small, private office in the back.

“I have a question,” Lexi says, closing the door behind her.

“Sure.”

“What would you think about going on tour with us until you have to leave for college?”

“I…” Kirsten blinks and stares at her. Her gaze moves to me before going back to Lexi. “I’m confused.”

“I know.” Lexi hesitates. “Look, here’s the thing. If something happens with my health or the pregnancy, and I don’t make it on tour until Halloween, it’s going to impact both bands if we have to just abruptly end the tour. Then it occurred to me—what if you were my insurance policy? If you tour with us now, for five or six weeks, you’ll be able to perform with me and for me. You can sing back-up, take my place singing the duet with Crimson Edge, and have the perfect opportunity to learn the entire show. If something happens, you could step in. Hell, I might get the flu or something—and you could fly out for a night or two. I understand you’ll be in college, but if there was a way to make this work, would you be interested?”

“Yes. Of course I’m interested.” Kirsten doesn’t even hesitate. “I just… I mean, I don’t know if I’m ready to leave yet. I have some things planned… and I have to talk to my sister.”

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