Chapter 25 – Dallas #2
After two hours of lesser-known performers that I completely ignore, Dove Paloma’s stopped singing, but the band continues to cautiously play part of the refrain again while my hearing returns and my eyes regain focus.
A circle of frightened attendees has formed around us as I reluctantly release the man from the chokehold.
He turns to face me, clawing at his neck and coughing as a mixture of fear and anger fills his eyes.
Blade grabs the guy, twists his arm, and hauls him towards one of the exists while mumbling that he’s being banned from the venue for life and will need to meet with the cops for assault. Finally, Paloma recovers and starts singing again but I already know the damage has been done.
I resume my position at the front of the stage, now distracted, anxious and unable to think until Blade comes back to find me a few minutes later.
“You gotta bounce dude, Bex is pissed.”
Fuck, me. She would be.
I nod, accepting the loss for what it is—my emotions getting the better of me in a situation where my singular focus was protecting and avenging Paloma. I wouldn’t apologize for that. At least not to Bex. To Paloma, I would because I swore, I’d never do anything to hurt her or her reputation.
Hopefully, next time someone would think twice before hurling a hard water bottle at the stage, especially toward a small, innocent, and unsuspecting woman. A projectile like that, thrown with enough force, could have seriously injured her.
I head to an exit door and make my way outside of the arena, finally spotting the tour bus that Dove had mentioned she would be returning to after tonight's concert.
I show my ID to the driver and slip inside, heading towards the back where I decide to wait.
When I reach the bed, I collapse onto it and close my eyes.
What the hell am I doing here?
I was in a town I no longer felt a part of, almost killed a stranger who attempted to hurt a woman I’d cared about for over a decade, and putting myself in high stress, triggering situations that I wasn’t ready to be involved in.
I’d moved to Lonestar Junction for peace, solitude and quiet. A simpler life that didn’t demand much from me. Going on tour as Paloma’s body guard would be the opposite of those things where what happened tonight may occur again and next time, Blade might not be there to stop me.
I know I shouldn’t have agreed to a bodyguard gig in the first place, but the problem is that this is Paloma's dream, and her dreams now feel like my dreams. However, I also know that part of respecting and supporting her passions means I’ll do anything, anything, not to stand in the way of them.
Even if that means not continuing on tour with her.
I feel out of control, out of my skin, like I need more space than this overpopulated town, the Texan air, and to be back on my farm sitting by my quiet garden with crickets and the toads.
Another hour spent of staring at the padded tour bus roof and I finally hear the door open to the bedroom and then close gently.
I close my eyes, her presence and sweet smell filling the space instantly with peace. I listen while she removes her stage clothing and then peels back the covers, sliding into the bed next to me completely naked and wrapping her arms around me tightly.
“Hi Dallas.”