32. Alex
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
alex
Briskly walking through the amphitheater, I’m doing my final round of checks before giving the okay to open the gates to concertgoers.
The late-afternoon sun has been brutal, drenching me in sweat and making me wish I had time for a quick shower.
Unfortunately, at this point in the evening, I have no time for anything. Everything is planned to the minute.
My phone vibrates in my pocket, causing me to groan because last-minute calls on the night of a concert always seem to screw up my life somehow.
When I see the caller ID, I immediately decline, not wanting to strike up a conversation with anyone who isn’t relevant to the current task at hand—making sure the show is perfect for Jake and the band.
After sliding the phone into my back pocket, I stroll toward the stage, wiping my brow with the back of my hand.
I’ll never understand why the majority of country music tours are held outdoors in the summer, rather than choosing indoor venues throughout the year.
Sure, there are benefits to the party-like atmosphere a summer concert night creates, but I’m always curious how it got started.
My brain craves knowing the rationale behind how things came to be.
My phone vibrates again, and I’m tempted not to bother looking, confident it’ll be the same person calling me.
They can leave a voicemail if it’s important.
However, my pre-concert anxiety gets the best of me, worrying it could be someone else trying to get hold of me.
A person who doesn’t have comms access to me because they’re not on-site.
When I pull out my phone, all my frustration disappears when I see a message from Chelsi.
I was planning on texting her later, when I had a few minutes to grab dinner, but it looks like she beat me to it.
My heart rate accelerates at the thought of her reaching out to me.
Wanting to talk to me. Thinking about me.
Chelsi
Thanks again for making last night special. I can’t stop thinking about our date and how much fun I had.
Alex
You deserve it. Every minute of the evening is etched in my brain.
Chelsi
Does that mean you’ve been thinking about me?
Alex
Something like that…
Can’t get you off my mind.
Chelsi
I tend to have that effect on people. Impossible to forget.
Alex
I could never forget you, Chelsi. You’re one of a kind.
Chelsi
Are you flirting with me, Alex?
Alex
If you have to ask, I’m clearly not doing a good enough job.
Chelsi
Trust me, you know what you’re doing.
You had me so turned on last night…
My mouth drops open, eagerly waiting for her next message as the three bubbles come and go for a few minutes.
I should be checking the back of house, verifying the venue has provided all the items in Jake’s rider; instead, I’m leaning against the lighting structure and debating how long I should wait until texting her back.
Alex
Just gonna leave me hanging like that?
Chelsi
Yep.
Maybe you deserve a dose of your own medicine.
Alex
Who said I wasn’t feeling the same way?
Chelsi
Care to share more?
Alex
I don’t think you realize what you do to me, Chelsi.
How you make me feel.
What I want to do to you.
Chelsi
Keep typing…
I chuckle, wishing I could see the look on her face. Find out what she’s wearing. Where she’s at. What she’s doing. Watch how her breathing changes when she reads my messages.
“Hey, Alex. We’re going to need to get a medic to the band bus. Jimmy’s throwing up. Looks like he might have food poisoning after eating some questionable gas-station sushi earlier,” one of my crew members says over the comms system.
Fucking Jimmy.
How many times do I have to tell him to stop eating that shit from a gas station?
Or day-old sushi from the grocery store.
Apparently, more than a handful of times, because it keeps happening.
The man has access to catered meals while on tour, yet prefers to eat the most random shit in every town. It’s becoming a real pain in my ass.
He’s a real pain in the ass.
It’s getting to the point where I’m questioning whether we need a nurse on the tour to deal with his shenanigans.
If he’s not getting food poisoning every other week, he’s requiring IV fluids for drinking too much the night before, or my personal favorite: injuring himself in the dumbest ways.
He might be the only musician to cut his hand badly enough on his guitar to require stitches two hours before a concert.
Looks like it’s going to be more of the same shit again this summer.
Dragging a hand down my face, I exhale all the air out of my lungs and prepare myself for dealing with a vomiting, whiny guitarist. One that has to go on stage in less than four hours. There is never a dull moment in this job.
“Got it. I’ll have the venue send someone over to hook him up to an IV,” I reply into my headset, making my way to where the buses are parked.
Chelsi
Are you edging me now? Is that what’s happening?
Teasing me with texts and leaving me high and dry…
Or maybe high and wet is more appropriate.
Holy fuck. This woman is eight hours away and somehow making my dick hard. If she only knew how at her mercy I already am.
Alex
Sorry for the delay. Jimmy decided it was a good idea to eat gas station sushi. You can imagine how that turned out.
Chelsi
Sounds like Jimmy. I often wonder how he survives on his own.
Alex
Same.
I’d love to keep texting, but I have to go deal with this and whatever else pops up over the next few hours.
Chelsi
Go run the show and text me after.
Alex
I won’t be done until really late. Bus call isn’t until 1:30 a.m.
Chelsi
Text me anyway.
Alex
Will do.
Chelsi
Feel free to think of me all night.
Alex
Already been doing that all day. Couldn’t stop if I tried.
The next few hours speed by as I deal with one nightmare after another.
By the grace of God and the maximum amount of IV fluids that can be put into a human body, Jimmy is able to take the stage with the rest of the band and make it through the concert without throwing up.
However, he promptly lost everything in his stomach once he stepped off stage, vomiting all over Shane.
It’s safe to say everyone is over Jimmy’s bullshit, and it’s only the second week of the tour.
Completely exhausted, I haul myself on the bus and head to the back lounge area, so I can have some privacy when I text Chelsi.
Part of me wants to send her a quick good-night message and leave it at that, given the late hour, but the irrational side of me hopes she’s in the mood to chat for a few minutes because I’m already jonesing to hear her voice.
It’s barely been over twenty-four hours since I dropped her off from our date, and it feels like much longer.
Is this how I’m going to feel every time I’m on the road? This inescapable desire to be near her, no matter how much time we spend together.
Once I’ve collapsed on the couch, I pull out my phone and stare at it for a few minutes, contemplating how to start this conversation.
The butterflies in my stomach make me feel like I’m back in high school, talking to my crush for the first time, not a thirty-eight-year-old man.
It doesn’t help that I’m nervous about scaring her away by coming on too strong.
She might talk a big game when it comes to the bedroom, but I have this sneaky suspicion Chelsi could be a runner once things start getting serious.
My feelings for her are the very definition of serious. I don’t know how to live my life any other way. Commitment has never scared me. In fact, I thrive in situations that require long-term loyalty—the last twenty years have been a testament to that belief.
Shit. It’s getting late. I need to go with my gut and send a simple message. Wait to see how she responds before launching into an actual conversation. The last thing I want to do is keep her up talking all night when she has to be at her internship early tomorrow morning.
Alex
Just got back on the bus and we’re heading out for the night. Hope you had a good evening.
I sigh, closing my eyes for a couple of minutes as I wait to see if she’s going to respond. Excitement rushes through me when my phone vibrates.
Chelsi
Spent most of the night waiting to chat with you.
I’m starting to understand how Kate feels the times she stays home when Jake is on the road. Time moves at a snail’s pace.
My heart pounds faster, almost like I’ve run a marathon, or it’s trying to jump out of my chest. Although I shouldn’t read too much into her comparison of us to Kate and Jake, I can’t help but let my hopes soar because they share a love that is truly epic—one I’d love to have the pleasure of experiencing.
If Chelsi longs for me the way Kate does for Jake…
My chest tightens, making it hard to breathe. I never thought I’d have the chance to feel like this. To willingly open up my heart. To find someone who might care about me in the same way I care about them.
There’s so much I need to tell her. It’s a matter of how and when. Finding a way to expose the truth about my past without sending her running for the hills.
Tonight isn’t the time for such serious conversations. We’re still getting to know one another. There are plenty of opportunities to dive into our histories and discuss our dreams for the future once we’ve solidified our relationship. Figured out whether this is something we both want.
Hell, who am I kidding? I’m crazy for this woman and praying she feels the same.
Taking a deep breath, I nervously pick up my phone and try to find the right words to demonstrate how interested I am in her, while also making sure we’re both getting the amount of rest we need.
I’d love nothing more than to stay up talking to her all night, but I was dragging ass after doing that last weekend.
I don’t think my body can handle another weekend of it.
Alex
You occupied my thoughts all evening. Is it too much to say that I wish you were on tour with us this weekend?
Chelsi
Is that something you might want me to do more of in the future?
Alex
If it were up to me, you’d never be more than an arm’s length away.
My eyes fixate on the phone while the three bubbles appear and disappear rapidly. A sinking sensation takes over, making me worry I was too forward. Played too many of my cards about how I feel when she gave me a small opening. Concerned she might start to pull back.
What was I thinking? We’ve only been on one goddamn date, and I’m acting like I’m ready to cement my life to hers.
Fuck. Who am I kidding? That’s where I hope this is headed. I know getting there will be complicated, but I want her more than I’ve ever wanted anything in my life.
Chelsi
That sounds pretty wonderful to me.
I know it hasn’t been that long, but I already miss you. I hope that doesn’t scare you off.
It kinda freaks me out if I’m being honest.
Alex
Everything about you scares me in the best way. I’ve never felt like this about anyone. Ever.
It’s only going to grow stronger the more I get to know you. The more time we spend together.
Chelsi
Same.
I probably should go to bed. Not going to love my alarm when it goes off in four hours.
Any chance we can talk tomorrow night?
Alex
Definitely. We’ll be in the same location for the next two nights, so I’ll be done earlier than normal.
Chelsi
Then it’s a date.
Alex
Can’t wait. Good night, gorgeous.
Chelsi
Night, Alex. Dream of me.
If only she knew how much she occupies my dreams. How I fantasize about having her in my bed. On my arm. In my life.
All in good time.
At least, that’s my hope.