Chapter 18
eighteen
ZACK
M y hand flew out to the side of the mattress where I knew Estrella would be, and I groaned as I found it cold. Not a trace of warmth was in the mattress. My eyes remained shut as I moved my other arm out, thinking she had probably switched sides. Only, I frowned when I found it equally as cold.
My eyes cracked open, and I grunted as sunlight hit my vision immediately. After blinking a few times, I glanced at the clock and cursed. 11:11 a.m.
The time to make a wish.
I wished my wife was still in fucking bed with me. Even my brother would have been a comfort after last night.
My brother…
Jesus, I was going to rot in the absolute depths of hell.
But man, was it absolutely worth it to have the love of my life back in my life.
Sighing, I tossed the comforter off me and walked over to the suitcase. In seconds, my boxers were on, and I walked out into the living room space of the suite. Only, I nearly tripped over myself as I saw Theo sitting at the kitchen counter with his head in his hands, shoulders tense, staring down at something.
“What’s going on?” I asked, and he jumped. Any other time, I would have given him shit for the way he spooked so easily, but something felt wrong.
And where the fuck was Estrella?
He only shook his head.
I walked towards him and peeked over his shoulder. Right in his hands was a napkin with, undoubtedly, Estrella’s handwriting. I grabbed it from him without a second thought and read the words, smeared after being touched by Theo so many times, and my heart dropped into my stomach.
I’m sorry
It was too much. Too soon.
I’ll always love you too. Both of you.
Estrella
Theo sniffled as he wiped at his nose with the back of his hand. It was only then that I realized he had been crying. “We fucked up, man.”
I reread the words over and over again. As if there was any other meaning in the words.
As if I hadn’t done this exact same thing to her years ago.
I somehow wanted to tear the napkin in half, yet hug it to my chest at the same time.
Theo continued again, and his shoulders shook. “She’s gone. I asked the hotel staff if they had seen a girl with green hair leave this morning. They said yes.”
No.
No, no, no.
Fuck no.
I slammed the napkin on the countertop and stormed back into the room. In seconds, in both fury and panic, I had reached the side of the bed where my phone was on the charger and went to dial our media manager. If worse came to worse, I would be the asshole in the situation and pull the, our photographer dipped out on us, where is she card.
A low blow.
But I meant it when I said I was never letting this girl go again.
Except, as I scrolled through my text messages to find her contact information, I stopped short at a group chat at the very top of my texts labeled “Heart Attack Helpline” with a picture of Theo’s contact info in it, too.
I clicked on it with a furrowed brow.
Unknown Number
Bet I scared you, didn’t I? Payback is a bitch.
Alas, I have not run away from you brooding men. I just have morning plans with the drummer of Obsidian Static. AND I have to buy a new shirt since SOMEONE ripped mine.
I’ll see you at your show tonight 3
PS: I am sore as fuck. One of you is giving me a back massage tonight.
“Theo!” I yelled, even as I found myself smiling down at my phone. “Check your phone, dumbass!”
As I typed up my response, I heard his footsteps nearly running to his own bedroom.
Me
You gave us a heart attack.
I changed her contact name in my phone right as my phone buzzed, telling me she had already responded.
Estrella
Duh. Why do you think I labeled this group chat the way I did?
Gotta keep you old men on your toes.
Theo
I’ve been crying, princess.
I thought you left.
You’re coming back?
Estrella
Obviously. If I wanted to ghost you, I would do a better job than this.
International…..SUPERSPYYYYY
I burst out into laughter as Theo walked back into the room shaking his head.
She hadn’t left.
We would be okay.
I typed out my own response before tossing my phone on the bed.
Me
We deserved that.
You’re still being punished later for this stunt though. Maybe. Maybe I really am just the asshole.
See you tonight, pretty girl.
* * *
“Estrella!” I called out as I saw a flash of black and green hair jogging towards our security tent. She stopped dead in her tracks at the sound of my voice and turned around slowly. “Can I talk to you for a second?”
I had been debating the course of action and how I wanted to give her something for hours at that point, and I was sure that one of the guys was about to behead me. Especially as I kept droning on and on during our practice round of the additional song.
I needed to rip the Band-Aid off.
I couldn’t help but feel like I was about to propose again though.
She walked towards me until she was in ear shot. “Am I in trouble?”
Theo, who stood at my back, chimed in, “Yes.”
“Then, no.”
I rolled my eyes as I shoved Theo. “We’ll talk about your little stunt this morning later. We deserved it though, so no, you’re not in trouble. I just wanted to give you something before the set starts.”
Her eyebrows squeezed together in confusion. “You’re giving me gifts? Why?”
“Because you’re my wife?”
Theo snorted before tapping my shoulder sympathetically. “Good one.”
Her eyes bounced between the two of us. “I’m confused.”
I only shook my head as I took out the small envelope out of my back pocket.
The envelope that I had brought with me to every single concert for years. As a good luck token.
As a…what if?
But a gift she had sent me herself, along with another round of divorce papers, years ago.
“It’s technically not a gift if it’s already yours,” I said before handing it over to her. She took it gently before peeking inside, and it was mere seconds later before her lip started to wobble and tears filled her eyes. “You don’t have to wear it. I know…we’re all a package deal now. So, I will understand. But you’re still my wife. So, if you do want to wear it, it’s yours.”
She took the wedding ring out of the envelope slowly.
Her wedding ring. Encrusted with obsidian diamonds in a silver band, in the shape of her star-sign constellation.
Theo spoke slowly as she gazed at it, wiping away her tears. “If you do decide to wear it, I have dibs on getting you a fat diamond for your other hand. It’s only fair.”
Estrella burst out in a fit of tearful giggles. She looked at me as she spoke though. “You mean it?”
I nodded before slinging my arm across Theo’s shoulder. “Deep end, baby girl. Till death do us part. Told you I was never signing those damn divorce papers.”
“Yo!” We heard a voice shout behind us, and I craned my neck to see Elijah, Alex, and Tyler staring at us with a mix of disgust and happiness. Disgust…somehow behind the main emotion.
The dickheads.
Tyler droned on. “We kinda have a thousand people waiting on us. Can y’all continue this later or something? Emotions are weird and I am uncomfortable.”
Theo shook his head as he headed towards them, but not before he pressed a kiss to the top of Estrella’s head. “Thank you for staying.”
She hummed her response.
I snaked my arms around her next. “We’ll see you out there. We’re even playing you a song.”
Her head quirked to the side at that as she fiddled with her wedding ring. She slid it onto her left-handed ring finger smoothly. Right where it belonged. “Oh? What’s it called? I didn’t know you all had any new music.”
I smiled before leaning down, grabbing her hand, and placing a kiss on her wrist. I stared right at the ring as I spoke, deciding to give my attention to the day and time period that started it all. “Contrition. I think you’ll like it.”
THE END.