Page 75 of Higher Notes

“Mom?” Jason deferred to Dana.

“You do but I want that fancy phone charged and on you at all times. I want at least one call a day to check in and I want you on your best behavior. Listen to your brother and Wyatt and Hayden. Understand?”

“Yes, Mom, I promise. This is so freaking cool!” Gabe hugged Dana then launched himself at Jason. The two rolled back on the couch all happy smiles. What neither Snipe nor I expected were hugs as well. This trip was a great opportunity for us to build a better relationship with Gabe. What we had wasn’t strained, but we’d never really clicked as we had with the twins, and I wanted a better connection with Gabe, and I knew Snipe did, too.

“If I don’t answer right away that means I’m working but first chance I get I’ll call you back or text you,” Dana assured him. One thing none of us wanted to do was disappoint Gabe but at the same time our guilt over what happened to him couldn’t run the show. Love and boundaries were what our therapist told us when we first talked to her about this. Dana and Gabe had a video session with her and were in the process of setting up a follow-up appointment. May be a bit tricky with him on the road but Snipe and I made it work so I knew the same could be done for Gabe.

“River loaded your phone with all the important numbers you’d need. Mine, Mom’s, Wyatt, Hayden and he put Fizzbo’s in there, too, but only use it for emergencies and please do not give out any of our phone numbers. Got it?”

“Got it, Jase. And I can text everyone, except Fizzbo, when I want to, right?”

“Absolutely.” Jason clapped Gabe’s shoulder. “Now, charge up that Switch so we can check it out.”

“Easton said he can have the plane ready for us tomorrow morning at Seatac. Looks like we’re flying Masterson style, gentlemen. He’s sending a car to pick us up at ten a.m. We’re meeting the bands in Dallas to finish out the southwest leg of the tour.”

“Sounds like a plan. I’ll start dinner. Snipe, why don’t you get the laundry done then we can pack. Gabe, if you have any dirtyclothes bring them down to the laundry room and Snipe can wash it with ours.”

“Will do. Wait, on tour do I call you Wyatt and Hayden, or Sikes and Snipe?”

“Great question. I’d go with Sikes and Snipe, or no one will have a clue who you’re talking about.” I loved this kid and couldn’t wait for this trip, though I’d miss the twins.

“Got it.” Gabe darted up the stairs to his room and returned with his laundry before Snipe came down with ours.

“The two of you have brought so much joy to our lives,” Dana opened up when it was just the two of us. “I’m so happy you’re part of our family.”

“Believe me when I say, so are we.”

Chapter Twenty-One

Snipe

“Holy moly! This plane is insane. Ooops, um, hi.” Poor Gabe was so excited about this trip, he didn’t think others would be on the plane with us.

“Gabe, this is the main man in charge of everything, Easton, and his husband, Diamond, who happens to be the drummer for the band Social Sinners,” Jason introduced them. Gabe looked like he was about to pass out.

“You’re-you-retheDiamond? Social Sinners is like my favorite band.” From the look on Jason’s face, he had zero clue about that. Guess we were about to learn a lot about Gabe.

“I am, nice to meet you again, Gabe. Glad you could join us.”

Diamond and Easton will be great parents. Easton would definitely be the rule maker and family patriarch, and D would be the fun dad who got them into all kinds of mischief. I was excited to be a part of watching that soon-to-be reality TV show.

Gabe was in awe, immediately taking a seat beside Diamond and chatting away like they’d been best friends forever.

“I love this side of him,” Jason whispered as he took the seat between Sikes and me. “He’s so excited. This is good for him.”

“Yes it is, and you’re a fantastic role model for him as well. He’ll be okay, you gotta believe that.” I snuck in a quick kiss. When theeww, you kissed my brotherdidn’t come I marked it as a successful mission.

“You guys will have him while I’m on stage, are you sure you’re okay with that?”

“More than okay,” Sikes chimed in. “The twins took to us immediately, Gabe didn’t. This is an opportunity for him to get to know us better and vice versa.”

“What he said.” No reason for me to repeat what Sikes said, it was exactly how I felt.

“Good morning and welcome aboard,” the stewardess’s voice come over the speakers. “Please secure your bags and seatbelt in for take-off.”

Gabe glanced over at his, holding both sides up like he didn’t know what to do. Poor guy was a little nervous.

“It’s his first time flying,” Jason whispered.

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