Page 32 of The Comeback Tour

“Well, I am sort of a songwriter, you know.”

“True.” A man whose words make my heart sing.

“Are you going to be writing any songs while you’re cooped up on the bus?”

“I always write when I’m inspired.”

“And what inspires you?”

“Secret meetings with a girl I’m not allowed to touch in public.”

“Ah, I see. And how do you see these secret meetings working out when we have so many people around us? You have a pretty big crew.”

“Don’t worry about those guys. Every city stop is like a new party for them. They’ll be wasted at night and sleep all day until it’s time for work.”

“Even Hayley?”

“I did a few shows back in the day with Hayley. She’s motivated and a hard worker. She also takes great photos. I have used a lot of her behind-the-scenes shots for my social media.”

“She seems really nice. Though she is trying to set me up with some of the band guys.”

“Whoa, back up.” I can tell that right here is when Jax realizes there might be more than a few kinks we need to smooth out.

“Obviously, that’s not going to happen. She just asked me if I was in a relationship and I told her I’m recently divorced.” Oops. I let that slip. But it’s fine. He needs to know and sooner is better, rather than later.

“Divorced, huh?” Jax takes it pretty well. “Looks like there’s a lot about Cailin McCall that I need to learn. Like why someone would ever divorce her.”

I’m starting to feel like a broken record. “It was mutual. I don’t look at it as a failure, just a life lesson that took a really, really long time to play out.” I laugh trying to lighten things up. No one wants to start a new relationship—or whatever this is— by dragging up the past. I just want to address it and move on to what’s really important.

“I get it. I was never married, but I came pretty close. And I’m happy I got out of it before I spent any more time on something that wasn’t going to work out. People think that being a celebrity, dating is easy and you can get anyone you want. But sometimes even if you’re a celebrity, the thing you want most can be out of reach.”

“Does that mean you still have feelings for her? I mean, I know we talked about it a little before, but…”

But now I really am crushing on you so I need to know.

“No, absolutely not. Did you listen to track ten?”

I quickly scan my brain but can’t recall track ten. I’m losing my talent. “I did indeed listen to track ten, but now I’m going to go back and listen again.”

“Good,” Jax says. “There’s a subliminal message in there if you listen really closely with headphones on while sitting in your underwear.”

Now he lost me. “What are you babbling?”

Jax laughs with me. Together, our voices intertwine and create a new melody that I wouldn’t mind playing on repeat.

“Nothing. Just thinking of you in nothing but underwear with headphones on, listening to my songs.”

“Oh, you’re going there. What kind of underwear are you picturing?”

“The kind I can easily slide off.”

Trash the Dress Online Chat

Tori:Do you guys have a code word when you go on first dates? Like when a friend calls to check in?

Alexandra:The only first dates I have these days are playdates.

Harper:You can just tell the guy you love him if it’s not going well and that will pretty much send them out the door.

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