“Oh, I have my insecurities too, but what can I do? This is his dream so I can’t really be a needy wench all the time. And besides, I get to travel around the country with him, and I love the music. The girls come with the territory.”
“Yeah and he totally loves you. You’re completely safe.”
“You girls gonna gossip all night or are we going to try and graduate next week?” Brent breaks in trying to act put out.
“Let’s get to work, if we finish this early we can grab a beer.” Kyle adds, and I nod in agreement. A beer sounds great.
A few hours later, we’re all confident in our notes and ready to leave. I text Declan we are going to a bar up the street, and Mari will bring me home. He doesn?
??t answer, so I figure he’s busy.
The bar is a very local college hangout. I recognize several people from classes the last two years. We find a high-top table in the back and order a pitcher of beer. We talk about what are plans are after graduation and I learn Brent is going to work with my dad full time. Mari and Kyle are unsure what their plans are, but both have interviews in June. They both listed their work with Sayge’s social media presence last year on their resumes and local PR and Advertising Firms have reached out to them.
My phone dings with an alert and I pull it up to see a picture of Declan onstage at The Steamroom singing. His hair is crazy wild like he has been running his hands through it. The caption reads “Better get here soon” and it’s from Blake.
“Hey guys? I know it’s not cool to break up our group thing, but you think we can take this to The Steamroom? I promise free beer.”
They agree, and we pay the tab. On the way there, I ride with Mari, and there is a clenching in my gut. What could have happened in the five hours I’ve been gone?
I lead the group through the backdoor and see all the guys sitting on the sofas in the back. For once there isn’t a horde of girls surrounding them. They look to be in a serious conversation and drunk. I stand with my friends for a few minutes until I can’t stand the suspense anymore.
“Hey, baby, you okay?” I run my hands through his hair lightly. He reacts to my touch and pulls me into his lap.
“Thank fuck you’re here. Please talk to this pussy before he completely loses his mind.” Cooper tells me.
The guys’ faces are filled with concern as they get up to give us some privacy. I cup Declan’s face in my hands. “Talk to me.”
“Raven, I wonder if going on tour is really what I want.”
“Whoa! Where did that come from?”
“Being here tonight. The crowd, the support, the comfort, all of it made me realize maybe I’ll be just as happy staying here.”
“Honey, I hate to say this but Sayge has outgrown this. Small bars on college campuses were a great way for you to start, but it’s time. You’ve got a national following now. You’ve all worked so hard and deserve the success. I actually think it’s normal to be nervous and hesitant but quit second guessing your decisions. Why now?”
“Because there’s not a risk of you and Jay falling through a stage at a small bar on campus. What if we don’t live up to expectations? And what if you get on the road with us and realize you hate it? What do we do then?”
“What? You can’t blame yourself for what happened. It was clearly a safety issue. And as your new manager, I have already requested a safety report at every venue we go to. Even though most of them are inside, I still want to see it. And as for me, I’ve actually grown on the idea of traveling with you guys to all these cool places and living the rock star lifestyle. Don’t you ever worry about me, Declan Collins, because I’ll tell you if I’m unhappy. Sayge has come a long way and accomplished so much. I look forward to the next twenty or thirty years of watching more accomplishments. You know, if you want a baby in six months, I have to live it up now.”
“God you’re so right, I don’t know what happened to me tonight.”
“Understandable, but we should probably tell the guys you had a lapse in sanity. I think they’re pretty freaked out.”
All three guys are with my friends at the bar. I smile and wave them over.
“We’re all good. Just a small nervous breakdown. But I’ve got to tell you, if we’re going to be together all summer nonstop, you’ve got to learn to talk to each other better.”
“Hell no, that’s why we have you.” Blake jokes. “But in all seriousness, I think we’ve all had doubts and insecurities.”
“Completely normal guys. But no more. We leave in four weeks. Buck up, game on.”
“You okay man?” Nate looks at Declan.
“Hell yeah, Raven just told me we’re gonna try to have a baby. Fucking thrilled.”
“REALLY DECLAN!! That’s what you took from our heart to heart? Don’t listen to this idiot. We are not going to try for a baby for a while.” The horrified expression on their faces is priceless.
“If you have his baby, does that mean I have no chance?” Nate falls on the sofa next to us.