Chapter 20
Chapter Twenty
Raelyn
Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
It’s Saturday night and the tour bus is oddly quiet with the guys missing.
I decide to FaceTime Mom. Picking up my phone I dial her number.
“Hey, my girl,” she answers with a warm smile.
Gosh I’ve missed her. “Hey, Mom.” I smile.
“Where’s Holt?”
“He’s in sound check with the guys, getting everything ready to roll later. Kane’s just outside the bus. Holt wouldn’t leave me alone.”
“That’s a good man. Your dad would approve of that, so tell me about the trip,” she gushes. “Rylie has had nothing but good things to say. She’s a big fan of Holt, it seems, and said he treats you the way you deserve.” She smiles proudly.
“Oh, Mom, I don’t even know where to start. This week has been more than I could have ever imagined. I’ve fallen hard for him. I know it may seem too soon, but I love him.”
She gives me a knowing smile. “It’s written all over you how happy he makes you.”
I blush. “He’s pretty special.”
“That makes my mama heart happy. I hated to see you get hurt by love in the past, but I believe this is a different kind of love. Deep down, I didn’t believe Jace was the one for you. I just had a feeling. We have different loves in life.”
I nod. “I’m a firm believer in that, too. I believe God places people in your life in different seasons to learn and grow from.”
“You’re exactly right, sweetheart. Jace never gave you the sparkle I see in you now. When the heart knows, it knows. I’m so happy for you, Raelyn.”
Tears fill my eyes, as I try to blink them away. “Mom, you’re going to make me cry.”
“Oh, don’t go doing that because I’ll be crying next. I can’t wait to meet him, honey.”
I smile. “You’ll love him. He’s hard not to love. How’s Dad?”
The side of her mouth turns up. “Oh, you know, staying busy with all his tasks.”
“He’s got a lot of shit to do,” we say simultaneously, laughing together.
“I think he starts every day off with that saying, it’s his motto in life. When are you coming back?”
“Tomorrow. I’m going to watch Holt perform tonight then I’ll fly back in the morning.”
“Okay, honey. I can’t wait to see my girl. We have some catching up to do. Be safe. I love you, Raelyn,” she says, blowing me a kiss.
“I love you more, Mom,” I reply, blowing her a kiss back as I end the call.
I decide to make a quick call to Rylie next. When she answers, I can hear the live music in the background.
“Y’all are having girls’ night without me?” I pout.
“If I had Holt Hayes in my bed every night, I would ditch us too,” Brynn states.
We all laugh.
A grin breaks across my face. “So I have some news.”
“No freaking way. You’re not knocked up are you?” Rylie asks.
I laugh, shaking my head. “That’s a big negative, but in all seriousness, Holt asked me to move in with him.”
“What?” they all say.
I gush to them about our intimate date last night, and how in love with him I am. I also add in the detail of Holt looking at rings.
“I’m so happy for you, sis. You finally found the love you deserve,” Rylie says.
“We all knew Jace was shit,” Maddie chimes in.
I smile. They know Jace is a good guy, he just had commitment issues.
“Our girl is going to be a celebrity’s wife, probably sooner than later since he brought up marriage. You just make sure my wedding escort is smoking hot and loaded,” Brynn states.
“Cheers to that,” Maddie says, raising her glass.
I look pointedly at Brynn. “Speaking of, what exactly went down with Kyle?”
She sighs. “Oh, don’t get me started. I’ll save that story for when you get home.”
“Okay fine, but I’m holding you to it. I’ll call y’all tomorrow when I make it back. I love y’all!”
“We love you,” they all say.
I hang up the phone smiling. My girls.
It’s almost concert time. My outfit is giving me a whole queen of country vibe. Shimmery gold bell bottoms hug my thighs and bottom, a black crop top with feathers on the sleeves, gold chunky jewelry, and gold cowboy boots to finish it off.
My long hair is down in loose waves, and I decided to go with my new go-to smokey makeup look.
Smiling at my reflection, I pose for a selfie, sending it to the girls and Simon.
I feel like my life is a fairy tale right now.
Walking backstage to find my man I hear the guys’ laughter fill the hall as I approach their room. I don’t think Holt could have picked a better group of guys to play with. You can’t help but love each of them with their different personalities.
Holt looks up smiling, as I enter the room, and pulls me onto his lap. “You look beautiful.”
“You sure have made our boy start writing an awful lot of love songs lately,” Jake says, teasing.
“Is that so?” I ask.
“I smell money off this new one,” Luke adds. “Holt’s been a hit writing machine since you’ve been around."
I tilt my head to the side. “Well, now I’m intrigued.”
“She would be around more if she’d hurry up and move in with me.” Holt grins.
Kyle lets out a low whistle. “Man is a sunken ship. Like, one pussy the rest of his life sunk.”
Jake shakes his head. “You had to go there.”
Holt gives Kyle a warning glare.
Kyle holds up his hands to Holt.. “It was a metaphor, chill.”
I laugh. “I can’t wait to watch you fall for someone one day, Kyle.”
“Don’t hold your breath, sweetheart. I don't know if that’s in the cards for me,” he says playfully.
A worker peeks into the room. “All right guys, you’re on in five.”
“Show time,” Holt says, getting up. He grabs my hand as we walk to the stage. The familiar tingle is still present every time he touches me.
The music sends out a vibration, as it pumps through the speakers.
Leaning up, I kiss his lips, and then give him a slap on the butt. “Knock ’em dead, babe.”
He pulls me to him, kissing me again. “I love you so much, Raelyn.”
“I love you, Holt Hayes.” I smile against his lips.
“See you soon, babe,” he says, as he throws me a wink walking onto the stage.
I stand, glued to the spot, and watch in awe as the crowd eats up their entrance. God, I love watching him command the stage and perform. I don’t think this adrenaline high will ever get old. It’s like my drug, and now I’m addicted.
Toward the middle of the set, Holt grabs the microphone. “I have something a little special I want to do tonight. You see, my girl is here, and I’ve written a new song dedicated to her.”
The crowd goes absolutely insane.
“Raelyn, will you come join me out here for a minute, babe?” he asks.
I’m glued in place. I wasn’t expecting this or being in front of one of his sold out crowds.
I glance at the guys and find them all smiling at me.
Someone nudges me, and I start to move.
Holt pulls out a stool, and then walks me over to it. He places a soft kiss on my lips, melting away the bright lights and people. “I didn’t know what love was until this beauty walked in my life and stole my heart. I love you Raelyn. This one is for you, my girl. This song is called ‘Forever, Lately’.”
The crowd is still going wild.
My heart melts for this man.
The minute his fingers strum across the strings the crowd goes silent. He has everyone, including me, hanging in anticipation of his every word.
“I saw you from across the room, couldn’t help but stare.
Eyes locked, starstruck like we were the only ones there.
Most of the time one drink turns to five and five turns into gone,
But something’s different about tonight, my heart’s open wide,
God don’t let this go wrong.
I wanna kiss you in the rain in the middle of the night,
Set the tailgate down and watch the sun rise,
with some George Strait playing in the background.
Talking ’bout some babies and a wraparound porch.
Nothin’ ain’t never looked so good on you, with those baby blues,
Got me thinking all kinds of crazy,
This love I got for you got me thinking ’bout forever, lately.
Laying in a field out in the middle of nowhere,
Moonlight shining down, kissing your hair.
The fireflies lighting up the sky,
Like the first time we kissed on that Tennessee night.
Thank God, we got it right.
I wanna kiss you in the rain in the middle of the night,
Set the tailgate down and watch the sunrise,
with some George Strait playing in the background.
Talking ’bout some babies and a wraparound porch.
Nothin’ ain’t never looked so good on you, with those baby blue.
Got me thinking all kinds of crazy,
This love I got for you got me thinking ’bout forever, lately.
I wanna hold you all night long,
Until the lights come on.
I kissed you in the rain, in the middle of the night.
Set the tailgate down and watched the sun rise.
All this thinking finally got to me, baby.
Whatcha say we do something crazy?
This love I got for you is gonna be forever, baby.”
My cheeks are hurting from the smile plastered on my face as the song comes to an end. I love this man with every fiber of my being.
Holt pulls me off the stool and into his arms. “Do you like it?”
“I love it! I think it’s perfect.”
He kisses me on stage, and I melt into him as the crowd goes wild.
He turns back to the crowd smiling. “Let’s give it up for my girl!”
I laugh, waving to the crowd as I walk off the stage. His song—my new favorite song—is beautiful, but then again, I wouldn’t expect anything less from Holt. That man owns me.
The set is almost over, so I decide to make a quick trip to the bathroom and grab a drink before he finishes up.
The bathroom is close to the exit, but not too far away for a walk.
I look up to see Kane watching me. “Bathroom break,” I tell him.
He nods.
Walking into the bathroom, I still have a smile plastered across my face as I hum, replaying the lyrics in my head.
Another door opens and my eyes fly up to see it’s not the one I came through, but another entrance. Interesting. I didn’t realize there was another one.
A woman wearing a ball cap and dressed in a worker uniform, smiles at me. She looks oddly familiar, but I have no clue where I would’ve seen her before.
“Hell of a show,” she says.
I smile. “Always is with Holt.”
I turn to go into the stall when something hard smashes into the top of my head. Losing my balance from the blow, I stumble, reaching out for the wall as support. I feel warmth running down my face as a metallic smell fills my nose. Putting my hand to the warmth, I see blood. A lot of blood. What the hell? My vision starts to blur as I turn to face my attacker, and in that moment the lightbulb goes off in my head. I know who she is, but my vision starts tunneling and then the blackness takes over.
Holt
The show is over. Now to go find my girl.
I exit the stage, looking for Raelyn. Usually she’s waiting for me, but I don’t see her. I start to notice all the commotion around me. Kane approaches me wearing a tense expression. I suddenly feel uneasy.
“Where is Raelyn?” I ask.
“Holt, we have a problem.”