Rockstar Romeo - Abbie Zanders Page 0,17
Black Raven doesn’t have the pull they used to.”
“He should. It was his antics that drew the bad press.”
“Yes, well, you and I both know that my brother has issues with taking responsibility for his own actions.”
“You said he was doing better.”
“He is,” Ross confirmed, though his voice didn’t hold the conviction I’d hoped. “Brian and Tommy will be fine, Eva,” he added as if reading my mind. “I wouldn’t let them go if I didn’t believe that. I would, however, like to get them involved sooner rather than later, while the band’s still on relatively good behavior.”
I heard what he wasn’t saying—that if the boys didn’t join the tour soon, they might not get the chance. Comeback tours were iffy; they could go either way. “I know; I’m just second-guessing myself on this, Ross.”
“I know, babe, and I don’t blame you. They love you, and you’ve done a wonderful job raising them, but they want to get to know their father better. I don’t think that’s unreasonable.”
As much as I didn’t want to admit it, Ross made a good point. Ian hadn’t been a big part of our sons’ lives. Some of that could be attributed to the fact that fatherhood didn’t rank high on Ian’s priority list, as well as the fact that Ian’s constant touring didn’t put him in the same zip code often.
That was fine by me. Ian could have been the poster boy for the sex, drugs, and rock and roll lifestyle and, as such, not a model parent in my eyes. The fact that he wasn’t around made it easier for me to raise them with a better set of values.
I’d never lied to them about who their father was, but I had downplayed certain aspects over the years. Brian and Tommy weren’t stupid though, and they had access to all kinds of information on the internet. After some major incidents, Ian had been forced to clean up his act or spend an indeterminate amount of time in prison. I certainly hoped, for everyone’s sake, that he had.
“When?”
Ross cleared his throat. “Tomorrow morning.”
“So soon?”
He nodded. “I know they were planning on heading out next month, but yeah, I think it’s best they get in at the beginning.”
Before Ian has a chance to succumb to temptation, I finished silently.
“Do they know?”
Another nod. “I talked to them on the way here. They asked me to tell you.”
I set my still-full glass down and stood. “Thanks for the heads-up.”
“You okay?”
Not really. Aloud, I said, “Yeah, of course. I just expected more time to come to terms with it, you know?”
“It’s a great opportunity.”
Yeah, I knew. Because I’d been in their shoes once.
And there it was, knocking me on the side of my head. What a hypocrite I was! How could I blame them for wanting a chance to do what I had been willing to sacrifice everything for?
And what if my parents had managed to stop me then, the way I wanted to stop my boys now? God knew, they’d tried. They reasoned, they yelled, they pleaded for me to abandon my dreams and go to college—just like I was hoping my boys would. And when none of that worked, they grounded me and forbid me to play in the band.
I left anyway. Snuck out in the middle of the night with nothing but the clothes on my back because it was the chance of a lifetime.
Afterward, when things hadn’t worked out, I’d been too ashamed to go home. As a result, I hadn’t seen my family in over twenty years.
I would not let history repeat itself. I didn’t want my boys sneaking out and never coming home again. I had to let them fly.
And they wouldn’t be alone, like I had been. They’d have their uncle looking out for them. I didn’t trust Ian, but I trusted Ross implicitly.
I attempted a smile. “Yes, I know. I think I’m going to leave early though. If this is their last night at home for a while, I want to make them their favorite dinners.”
“Of course.”
I nodded and went to gather my things.
Chapter 6
Dear Ida,
I’ve just discovered that the woman I’ve been trying to get to go out with me is the same woman who unknowingly changed my life forever twenty years ago. She’s my inspiration, my muse, the one I’ve been searching for all these years. Should I tell her? Or would that be weird? – Inspired & Elated Rocker
* * *
Dear Inspired & Elated,
That depends. If your