“Someone has to be strong.”
“Listen to what Kellen is trying to warn you about,” Gabe said. “If you never bend, you will break, Jacob. Don’t you see that? We’ll figure out what to do after we talk to Adam.”
They listened to Jacob’s solution that Kelly play lead or that they replace Adam outright with a new guitarist. Neither option was a solution as far as Owen was concerned.
“I just want Adam gone,” Jacob spat. “And not temporarily. For good.”
Owen shook his head. How could he even think that was the best solution, much less suggest it? “What’s wrong with you? I’m sure he’ll explain everything when he gets back. He deserves a second chance.”
“A second chance?”
Owen nodded, and Kelly’s hand tightened on Owen’s leg. At least he and Kelly were on the same page. He still wasn’t sure about Gabe, who’d withdrawn completely into himself.
“He’s already had a hundred second chances,” Jacob said. “Or more! He’s gone too far this time. I’m not putting up with his shit anymore. So if you won’t get rid of him, then I’m out of here.”
“What?” Gabe’s head snapped up as he stared at Jacob, looking stunned.
Best idea Jacob had had all evening as far as Owen was concerned. He was currently beyond his limit with the inconsiderate jerk. “There’s the door.” He jabbed his thumb in the direction of the exit.
Jacob’s jaw dropped, and Owen was glad to see something had derailed him. He was on a collision course with the band’s demise. This decision of his affected everyone, not just him. Not just Adam. Not even just the band members, but the crew, the fans, and even their record label.
“So Owen chooses Adam over me,” Jacob said. “What about you, Kellen? I’m sure you’ll go along with whatever Owen says since you can’t live without each other.”
“Fuck you, Jacob,” Kelly said.
Indeed, Owen thought, glad Kelly had his priorities straight.
“Don’t do this, Jacob. It isn’t worth it,” Gabe said.
Jacob’s shoulders sagged as his last possible ally chose the other side. He bit his lip and nodded. “I guess this is goodbye then. Good luck with Adam. He’s only going to drag you down with him. I guess you’ll just have to see it for yourself. I’m through being his buffer. None of you have any idea how bad he can get—you have absolutely no clue. But you’ll figure it out soon enough, and I might have already moved on.”
Jacob grabbed his overnight bag and headed to the front of the bus, where he instructed Tex to pull over.
After some argument, Tex eased the bus onto the shoulder of the road.
“What do you think you’re doing?” Gabe asked.
Owen exchanged a concerned glance with Kelly. If the band was really breaking up, that was one thing. But tossing Jacob out on the side of the road in the middle of nowhere was unquestionably wrong.
“I’m leaving,” Jacob said.
“Be reasonable, Jacob.” Gabe tried to soothe him with a hand on the shoulder, but Jacob shrugged it off. “We can work through this. Stay. Let’s talk about it.”
“Open the door,” Jacob said to Tex.
Before Owen could even rise to his feet, Jacob was off the bus. Gone. Jacob was gone.
“Great fucking plan, Jacob,” Gabe yelled out the door. “This doesn’t solve a goddamned thing. Jacob!”
“Let him go if that’s what he wants,” Kelly said. “God knows he’s a stubborn son of a bitch.”
“He might get hit by a car,” Owen said, but Jacob didn’t return. Instead, Tex pulled back onto the road, and Owen watched in disbelief as the dark figure walking up the deserted shoulder disappeared from view.
“What the fuck just happened?” Gabe asked, turning from the exit to stare at them. “What the fuck just happened?”
“Jacob just screwed us all, that’s what happened,” Kelly said.
“Did Sole Regret just break up?” Owen asked, grabbing Kelly’s arm to steady himself. “Did he actually leave? He’s coming back, though, right? After we find Adam and Jacob clears his head, he’ll be back.”
“I’m not so sure,” Kelly said. “I think we’re through.”
This could not be happening.
Chapter Seventeen
Caitlyn blinked awake, her mind scrambling to identify the sound blaring from the nightstand by her bed. She rolled over and slapped around for her phone, noting that according to her clock radio, it was after midnight. Her phone rang again and slipped out of her fumbling hand, landing on the floor with a thud. Groaning, she rolled out of bed and lay flat on her belly, reaching under her bed to find the damned thing. This had better be important.
“Hello?”
“I’m sorry,” Owen said. “I know it’s late. Were you sleeping?”
Caitlyn rolled onto her back and rubbed at her eyes. “Yeah. But I’m awake now. Please don’t tell me you woke me up just because you were thinking of me.” Which would have been a nice gesture and something totally Owen, but she was tired and had to be up early for a staff meeting.
“My band broke up.”
Caitlyn sat up and bumped her head on the corner of the nightstand. Ow! Wincing, she rubbed the smarting spot and flipped over to her knees. “What? What do you mean your band broke up?” Last she’d talked to him, Sole Regret was preparing to go on stage in New Orleans and he’d called just to make sure she was safe. Another very Owen thing to do.
“I mean Sole Regret broke up. Our guitarist took off right before the show, and we had some kid take Adam’s place onstage, and then Jacob decided he’d had enough irresponsible behavior and he left.”
“Did something happen to Adam?”
“I’m not sure. We still haven’t heard from him. But I’m used to Adam doing stupid shit. This isn’t like Jacob. He left us.”
“Maybe once he cools down—”
“You sound like Kelly,” Owen said. “I told you I had a bad feeling tonight. I should have expected something like this to happen.”
“Where are you?” she asked. “You sound like you need a hug.” And she had the sudden urge to be the one who gave him what he needed.
“We’re on our way to Jackson. Sally is trying to get this shit sorted out and figure out if we’re going to play tomorrow or if we should just cancel the show before all the fans show up and we have to turn them away.”
“Sally?”
“Our tour manager.”
“Do you want me to meet you in Jackson?”
He was silent for a long moment. “You’d do that?”
“Of course. I’d have to rearrange my schedule a little, but I’ll be there for you if you need me.”
He was quiet for another moment before he said, “I’m okay. Kelly and the guys are here with me. I just wanted to hear your voice.”
“Are you sure?” She wouldn’t have offered if she wasn’t sincere about seeing him.
“If this show doesn’t happen, we’ll fly home to Austin tomorrow. Maybe you could . . . Never mind.”
“I’ll be there,” she said. “Just be sure to give me a little warning so I can sort out my schedule and travel plans before I come running to you.”
He chuckled. “You’re so obsessed with my happiness, almost like you love me or something.”
His tone was teasing, but she knew he wanted to hear her say the words. However, she’d wait until they saw each other in person to make that kind of confession. Eventually. Her head was still telling her to slow down, even if her heart was racing in the fast lane.