“I’ve already ordered, I hope that’s okay.”
“Yes, fine.”
The spark was definitely there. Had he asked me to marry him in that moment, I would have said yes, without a second thought.
Not just because of his clothes, though I did appreciate the gesture, but Jonna was right. It didn’t matter what other people thought. I didn’t hide her or her interests, so there was no reason to be embarrassed by Ragnar and his lifestyle.
It took all kinds to make a world. And a proposal would put my mind at rest about our future. We could be together, with our baby and have a happy little family.
“I have something to tell you,” he announced.
I could tell from his tone that the news was not good. I took a breath and prepared myself for the worst. It was a mistake to get my hopes up. Something usually went wrong.
“I’m going away for a while. Not back to Norway, at least not for a while— we’ll be back, but there are only about nine other countries to visit first.”
“We?”
“The band. Seth is getting ready to launch the album and has somehow managed to book us on a tour.”
“That was fast.”
“The recording was done in five days. That’s not common but it’s possible, particularly when a band is as practiced as we are. We just went in and did it live, and he recorded us. It was maybe three takes per track. He’s already taking pre-orders and wants to take copies with us to sell at the merch table on tour, particularly in the countries it could be difficult to get shipping to. The importation fees can be a killer.”
“I know it. That sounds like Seth, always thinking of the fans.”
“That’s what I thought too.”
“So, how long will you be gone?”
“About six months.”
The tears were pushing up against the dam, but I fought bravely to hold back the flood. It was good news, in a way. At least I knew.
It wasn’t he conclusion I wanted, but at least one had been reached.
There was no way in hell I was going to burden him with the news of our child now, though. He had other responsibilities, to his bandmates, to their fans, to all the people who counted on him.
It wouldn’t be easy, but I had to let him go. He had his own life to live, and it didn’t look like it could include me.
“We’re playing here tonight,” he said. “The last show before the tour starts, we’re getting the plane to Iceland tomorrow. The it is across most of Europe, and then down to New Zealand and Australia, before heading back into Europe for Norway. I want to see you again before we go.”
“Are you asking me to the show?”
“I’m inviting you— guest list and everything. It’s already getting pretty hard to get tickets. After the album and the tour, it will probably only get more difficult.”
I forced a smile.
“I’d love to.”
Chapter Eleven - Ragnar
Psychic would be putting it too strongly. The connection I had with Stephanie hadn’t yet reached telepathic levels, but I still knew that there was still something wrong. A sort of disturbance in the balance as unsettling as it was indescribable.
There was just something that was off, and I didn’t like it. I’d started to feel very protective of Stephanie in the time that we’d known each other, at least partly because she felt like she needed it.
Even though the recording was long done, Seth still insisted on regular practice. We really had to wow them on tour. It made sense, since we were a new band few outside Bergman or Seattle had heard of.
We were just one band in a sea of many, particularly online. To get even half the attention it was possible to gain before self-recording, we’d have to work twice as hard, and outshine everyone else in a crowded field. Not as crowded as some, with metal still largely seen as a fringe kind of music, but there was more than enough competition to make existence difficult for those who didn’t stay aware.
We were never going to beat the classics. Sabbath, Metallica, even Mayhem, would always have fans and outsell us by miles, what we had to do was make ourselves look like a viable option among those who were left with when the giants of the genre were already considered. But we could do well enough.
If there was one thing Seth knew how to do it was taking worthy bands, who really had something from the garage to glory. The very reason we decided to send him our demo.
The gang was already gathered when I got to the space. I still wasn’t completely confident with the buses but could get where I needed to be. If a few minutes late, though usually no more than forty-five. Sixty on the outside.