Page 65 of Starstruck
“I’ll see you in a few weeks, Lenny girl.” He holds me tight, as if he’s trying to glue all the broken pieces of me back together before he leaves. It causes tears to well in my eyes, even though I know I’ll see him again soon. “Don’t miss me too much while I’m gone.”
With my arms wrapped around his waist, I look up to meet his eyes, forcing a small, sad smirk on my face. “I won’t.”
He chuckles before pressing his lips against my forehead. Ilet my eyes flutter shut as he holds his lips there momentarily, the silence between us saying what neither of us will.
Wearegoing to miss each other.
We already do.
[29 ]
WHEN I’M GONE
BAXTER
“LIGHT ON” BY DAVID COOK
The dark night haunts me as I stare out the window of my tour bus, a pen in one hand and a glass of whisky in the other. Colt sits across from me, strumming his guitar, while Levi is crashed in the back. It’s just after two in the morning, and we’ve been driving for about four hours, meaning we’re set to get to Foxborough around seven a.m.
I haven’t slept, and at this point I’m probably not going to. I never sleep well on the bus, so I’ll sleep at the hotel when we check in. Right now, I’m too busy running on pure adrenaline, knowing that tomorrow, I’ll be back on stage for the first time in nearly eight months.
This is the longest I’ve gone without performing in a stadium since my first big tour when I was twenty-two. It’s unusual for me—typically I try to do at least one show a month, because performing is the one thing that makes me feel safe.
The stage has always been my favourite place, and it’s been weird without it. Hearing the crowd scream my name, performingfor people who love and appreciate music as much as I do—it’s always been a dream come true for me. After the accident, I was desperate to get back out as soon as possible, but then between working on my album and meeting Lennon, I stopped craving it as much.
Probably because I started craving her instead. I found myself tangled in bedsheets with the leggy brunette, and now instead feeling the urge to find a microphone, I feel the urge to drown myself in her.
I never thought saying goodbye to Lennon would be so difficult, but damn. It’s only been two months of our arrangement, and I’m fucking hooked. I can’t get her out of my head, and I don’t know how I’m supposed to go these next five weeks without seeing her.
Talking to her.
Fucking her.
Shit. I’ve never gone on tour and not found myself with a different woman on my dick each night, so that’s new for me, too. But I told Lennon I don’t share, and even if we are just friends with benefits, if she’s not hooking up with anyone else, then neither am I.
Besides,no onemakes me feel the way she does. So even if I wanted to, I know it wouldn’t be the same as when I’m with her. And that’s half the enjoyment.
I turn back to the notebook in front of me, examining the page filled with Lennon’s words.
Before she left yesterday, we managed to get some more lyrics down. She gave me her ideas for how it should sound and told me the rest is up to me.
I’ve never felt the need to impress someone so much.
I scribble down some notes then pull a pack of Marlboro Blacks out of my pocket. I flick the top open and look across the table at Colt, holding them up.
He reaches out to grab one, and I hold the lighter to the end ofhis before doing the same with mine.
Inhaling deeply, I meet Colt’s sombre gaze. “What’s on your mind?” I ask, my brows furrowed.
He shrugs, a puff of smoke leaving his mouth. “Sadie, mostly.”
I nod in understanding. She’s set on leaving town after the benefit concert in August, and I know Colt’s beating himself up over it. All the guy wants is to protect her, and all she wants is to spread her wings and fly—hopefully without upsetting her brother, which is proving to be difficult.
It’s a lose-lose situation for both of them, though at least Sadie gets something good out of it.
“Wanna talk about it?”
Colt shakes his head, taking another hit from his cigarette. “I’m good, but thanks.”
