Page 10 of Crimson Desires

“Something wrong, honey?”

I sat down on the couch. The worn-out springs beneath the cushion groaned. I rested my elbows against my knees and clasped my hands together.

“So, I got fired,” I said.

I quickly explained everything that had happened to Dad. He listened to my story without interrupting. Once I’d finished, he took a deep breath to process everything. Then, he smiled.

“You’re going to go with them, aren’t you?” he asked.

“I don’t know. It’s a job, but it’s only for four weeks. Plus, I have to think about you. And on top of that-,”

“Honey, let me rephrase. You’re going to go with them.”

“What are you talking about?” My brows knit.

“This is the opportunity of a lifetime. I mean, think about it. This could be a huge opportunity for you.”

I scoffed. “An opportunity to what? Travel in a cramped bus and deal with egotistical rock stars?”

Dad shook his head. “An opportunity to live your life.”

“Dad. I’m living my life right now. This is my life.” I gestured between us.

Dad’s face took on a shade of sadness. “Honey, when’s the last time you went out with friends? Hell, when’s the last time you had a boyfriend? You know that I’ll always be grateful for the way you stepped up to take care of me—but I can’t lie. I feel guilty as hell about it sometimes.”

“Dad, no-,”

He raised a hand to silence me. “Aster, you’re twenty-four. You should be discovering yourself right now. You should be going on adventures and making memories. I know it’s not my fault, but I can’t help but feel like I stole that opportunity away from you.”

I grimaced. I wanted to argue with Dad. I wanted to tell him that I was taking care of him because I loved him—not because I felt obligated to him.

But deep down, I knew he was right.

I was twenty-four. Soon to be twenty-five. And I had less life experience than the average college graduate.

Still, I wasn’t willing to give in without a fight.

“What about you? Who will take care of you, Dad?”

“I have Melinda on speed dial,” Dad said. “I can call her if I need anything.”

Melinda was our neighbor. She was a kindhearted woman if not a bit of a busybody. Ever since my father fell ill, she’d started coming around the house to help me take care of things. Partly because she cared deeply about my father and I; and partly because she was a divorcee with nothing better to do. I loved Melinda, even if she could be a little overbearing at times.

Honestly, she was more of a mother to me than my own mother was.

“I don’t know...” My resolve was weakening. I could feel it crumbling away, bit by bit.

“Honey, I’ve never told you this, but when I was your age, I worked with a touring band, too. They were called Sweet Regents. They weren’t very famous, but I liked their music enough to give them my free labor.” He chuckled to himself. “The working conditions were godawful. And I drank so much, it’s a wonder I don’t have liver issues. But you know what? It was one of the best times of my life.”

I won’t lie. The thought of traveling around the east coast with a rock band for the next month sounded amazing. Minus the fact that I’d be traveling with Jack Maverick, of course.

I’d always been into music and concerts. When I was a teenager, I dreamed of being a band photographer or a music journalist. And now, the chance to do the next best thing had fallen right into my lap. The only thing holding me back now was... myself.

“Aster, if you don’t take this opportunity because of me, I will never forgive myself,” Dad said. “Go. Make memories. Do the unexpected. I’ll be okay on my own for a month.”

I swallowed hard. Fine. I was sold. “Okay.”

After saying goodnight to Dad, I headed to my room. I grabbed the duffel bag that I had used for track in high school and filled it with clothes and toiletries. Then, I set three alarms on my phone to make sure I woke up in time to get to the hotel before 8:30. I flopped down on my bed, and promptly passed out.

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