“This isn’t, like, a big tour. We’re not headlining yet. Our first single is scheduled to drop next week then we’re going to be playing a lot of local shows and festivals. Then we’ll go on tour to open for The Metal Heads. That’s just a short six-week tour. After that, we’ll come back and take three months off while we release more singles, then the real tour will come. It will be a solid six months of touring the United States and Europe.”
Riley’s eyes stretch wide. “That’s so exciting.”
Luna forces a smile and nods. “It is,” she replies, but the tone of her voice is off. She doesn’t sound as excited as she should, and I make a mental note to talk to her later and find out how she’s feeling about the tour and us.
We finish our dinner and leave for the night, heading to our hotel. The four of them offered us a bedroom in one of their homes, but I didn’t want to impose. Plus Luna and I need a little alone time. I guess, in a way, I’m using this weekend to live out my regular relationship fantasies that will never come true. This could be our last chance to do something like this . . . especially if the band’s first single is dropping next week. She’ll blow up before our eyes.
When we get to our hotel room, I pull the curtains closed and set down our bags. She uses the bathroom before coming back out to dig around in her bag for something more comfortable to wear.
“Want to go down to the hot tub?”
“Yeah, okay. I could use some relaxation,” she agrees, pulling out a swimsuit.
We both quickly change, grab some towels, and head downstairs for the hot tub. There’s an inside and an outside pool, with a hot tub on the inside. The place is deathly quiet, but according to the sign on the door, the pool is still open. I push the button on the wall and get the jets going, then I slide in beside her.
She stretches out her arms along the sides of the tub and leans her head back, enjoying the heat and the massaging jets.
“Can I ask you something?”
Her head pops up with my voice. “Shoot.”
“Tonight at dinner, you didn’t seem all that excited about the tour. May I ask why?”
She sucks in a long breath and lets it out slowly. “Honestly, I don’t know.” She rolls her eyes and sits upright. “I should be happy. Hell, I should be downright excited. The band and I have worked years for this. And I’d worked years for this before even forming the band. I mean, even as a kid, I slept, ate, and breathed music. I didn’t go outside and play after school. I went to the music store and took lessons, worked off my first guitar, and gave lessons when I got better at it. My life has never been normal and I’ve always been okay with that. Until recently. I met you and all of a sudden, all these things that used to feel awesome no longer do unless you’re there to do them with me. And that’s so . . . I don’t know, stupid. No offense. But we’re still so new. This might not work out at all, but I’m already trying to fit you into the picture any way I can. And I know that isn’t fair. This isn’t your life and I wouldn’t expect you to give up anything for me. But I also can’t give this up for you. I have people who wouldn’t let me even if I wanted to. So I just kinda feel stuck. No matter which way this goes, I know I’m not going to be completely happy.”
I nod as I think about her words.
“You seem surprised. Why?”
I shrug. “It’s just that you’re always so cool and collected that I didn’t know if this was anything more than just fun for you. I didn’t realize things had gotten so serious.”
She starts moving closer as she crawls into my lap. “Does it scare you that we’re getting serious?” Her arms wrap around my neck.
“A little. This whole time, I thought it was just me—that I was falling for you faster than I’d ever fallen for anyone. But if you feel the same way, then I guess we are stuck.”
She presses her lips together and nods once. “Yep, but I’d rather be stuck with you than free and alone.”