The Boy Next Door

A few moments later, the waitress returned to the table with a sheepish expression on her face.

“Are you ready to order?” she asked, obviously embarrassed by her oversight and hoping she could just gloss right over it and we wouldn’t notice.

Jayson and I ordered, and the waitress disappeared again. When she was gone, Jayson turned his attention back to me.

“There’s something I wanted to talk to you about,” he said.

“All right. Go ahead,” I said.

“It’s time for the band to go on tour again. But this time, you’re coming with us,” he announced.

“Oh, I am?” I asked.

He gave a single sharp nod as if it were a forgone conclusion.

“Yes. As our manager.”

I laughed. “What kind of craziness are you talking now?”

“Luke has been trying to manage us alongside our agent, but it’s really not working out now that we’re as big as we are. Let’s face it. You’ve been doing a lot of the work, not to mention doing a hell of a job tracking our expenses. So, I’ve talked to the guys and everyone agrees. You’re the new manager.”

“Just like that? No talking about it or anything?” I asked.

“Nope.” He shook his head, and I laughed. “And I’ve managed to negotiate for a bus to be just the three of us. I know it will be hard at times, but I can’t be separated from my family. Would you be willing to give being on the road with me a shot?”

I nodded. “I knew you’d be on the road when we got together, and I expected you to be gone for stretches of time. It means a lot to me that you’d ask us to come. I don’t want to be without you, and I don’t want to deprive you of being able to watch your little girl grow up.”

“Really? You’ll come?” he asked, sounding excited.

“Yes. As long as Harper and I get some undisturbed sleep.”

Jayson grinned. “I promise to make sure you do. And if I fuck up, you have my permission to call the landlord and have me evicted.”

I laughed and leaned over the table to kiss him. I would live with all the noise in the world for a lifetime of those kisses.

THE END