Chapter 37
Wes
Iknow I’m a shit boyfriend for not telling Elli about the tour yet, but I’m still weighing the pros and cons.
Keely’s manager said I had until September to make an official decision, but that they wanted to know what I was leaning towards so they could find another opener if they needed to.
I want to go so badly.
If I were single, I’d say yes in a heartbeat.
I think Elli would want me to go too, but I don’t think my needy ass can be away from her that long.
I asked Misha if partners were allowed on the tour, and he said yes, so now I’m just working up the courage to ask Elli to pack up her life and follow me around like a groupie.
She already packed up and left the life she was familiar with, it feels selfish to ask her to do that again six months later.
Plus, I don’t know if her job would allow that.
So I’m meeting Robin for breakfast so I can work this through.
Elli is finalizing some last minute work stuff before we leave for Utah tomorrow, so now seems like the perfect chance to get a pep talk from my best friend.
I didn’t want Claudia and Ernie to overhear us and spill the beans to everyone else so we’re at a different breakfast spot called Eggz.
Robin is sitting at a table scrolling away when I walk through the door, but she looks up and waves me over with a big smile.
God, I’ve missed her.
I didn’t mean to focus solely on Elli, but it kind of happened that way. I need to make sure I’m better at giving attention to the rest of my friends because they’re just as important.
Robin stands and meets me for a hug as I make it to the table. “I’ve missed you loverboy!”
“Missed you too, Red.” I murmur against her head.
“Just so you don’t freak out, we all forgive you for being in an Elli bubble. We’re just glad you're safe and happy. We knew you’d reach out eventually and feel really bad so I’m telling you to not feel guilt. Got it?” She pokes my chest to emphasize her point.
“I got it. Thanks Robs. And to be fair, I’ve been hanging out with Jess, Luke, Claudia and Ernie. Jess even did Elli’s hair.” and it looks so good. She cut it to just below her shoulder and added some caramel highlights, so it’s like looking at a decadent piece of chocolate filled with caramel.
Good thing it's still long enough to pull.
“I saw that on her insta story. It looks good. And you both seem happy. That’s all we want for you.” Robin gives me a smirk, “Now, I would normally ask how she is in bed, but I respect Elli’s privacy too much. So you can keep the dirty details to yourself.”
I roll my eyes, “Gee, thanks.”
We order our food and coffee, and then catch up on our lives over the last two weeks.
Robin’s been busy, too, with the gallery opening in San Antonio.
I’m sad we’ll miss it, since this is Robin’s first time heading up an opening, but it’s happening this weekend and we’ll be gone.
I promised her we’d come back and come take a look to support her.
Apparently, one of the artists that’s showcasing their work has been non-stop flirting with Robin, and they’ve been texting off and on about non-work related things and they asked her to go out for drinks after the opening.
“I promised I’d never date artists because they’re usually so pretentious, but I don't know. Maybe it’ll just be a quick hookup, but they’re really hot. So that wouldn’t be the worst thing.” She explains.
I know Robs has been burned by relationships too, so I’m not going to push her to date or not.
“So what do you need to work through?” She asks as the waitress brings over our food.
“Why do you assume I need to work through something?” I defend. I sometimes hate that she can read me so well.
She gives me an exasperated look. “You left your little sex bubble to have breakfast with me so obviously something is bothering you, and I’m assuming it involves Elli or else you’d be talking to her about it.”
“Yeah… You’re right. So, you know the band Keely and the Kissers?”
She nods enthusiastically. “Yes! I love them! I saw they commented on your insta reel. That’s fucking cool!”
“Well… after they commented on that, they DM’d me and asked me to go on tour with them.
The tour starts in January and goes for eight months.
They’d pay me a year’s salary, and all the lodging and transportation is included.
It’s a sick gig, and I asked if I could bring a partner and they said yes as long as they share my rooms and stuff. ”
Robin freezes with her breakfast sandwich halfway between her mouth and the plate. Then she drops it and yells. “WHAT?”
“Shhh. Robin. Keep it down please!”
“Sorry,” she says quieter. “My best friend just told me he got offered to go on a tour for eight months with a super cool band, I’m freaking out a bit!”
“I know, I know. It’s pretty rad.”
“So what’s the hold up? If Elli can go with you, why aren’t you foaming at the mouth to take this opportunity?”
“Elli just uprooted her entire life and moved here. I can’t ask her to uproot again and follow me around the country for eight months. That’s not fair to her.”
“Have you asked her to?”
I shake my head.
Robin huffs and mumbles something that sounds like “damn heteros” under her breath.
“Listen, Wes. You can’t make that decision for her. Maybe she would hate the idea and you two are apart for a while. Which would suck ass, but you’d work through it. Or.”
“Or, what?” I prompt.
“Or she agrees to go with you and you spend eight months traveling around with a sick band, playing your music, making industry connections, all with your girl by your side, cheering you on. But you’ll never know unless you ask her.”
She’s right. It’s what I’ve thought too, but hearing someone else say it validates what I was thinking.
“You said ‘I love you’ yet?” Robin questions.
“Yeah. The morning after the club.” I can feel my face turning red. I’m not embarrassed about loving Elli. I am embarrassed about not telling Robin immediately.
She rolls her eyes, “Of course you didn’t tell me! Rude, Wes. That’s rude.”
“Sorry.”
“I forgive you. But only because I’m so damn proud of you.
Even if you choose not to go on this tour, you still got asked.
You were chosen by a big band to open for their tour!
And, you’ve got one helluva girl at your side.
She’s the one that inspired the song that they obsessed over. I’d say she’s your lucky charm.”
“Yeah, you’re probably right.” I finish off my own breakfast sandwich. “I’ve got to go talk to my girl. I’ll see you when we get back from Utah in a week.”
“Have fun! Be safe! Bring me back something cool!”
I wave her off and practically jog to my car, barely managing to go the speed limit as I speed to Elli’s apartment. She gave me a key a few days ago so I just let myself in, and I hear her on the phone in her room.
I knock on the door frame quietly, and she looks up from her computer and gives me a small smile and wave.
“No, Mom.” She pauses and I can hear her mom’s shrill voice talking on the other side. “Do you not want me to come? Because you made it very clear that this was more important than almost anything, and I want to be there to support Spencer.”
Another pause to listen to her mom. I can see Elli’s hands balled into fists, so I gently sit down next to her on the bed and grab one hand and intertwine it with my own.
“I have no control over Izzy and you know that. Izzy is almost eighteen and can make her own decisions. In fact, I specifically told Izzy that I would not be influencing her about the church either way. So if she wants to leave that’s her choice.”
Elli’s mom is full on screaming at her now, and Elli’s starting to cry. Though her voice is calm when she speaks, little drops of sadness fall from her beautiful blue eyes whenever she blinks.
“I’m not canceling my trip. If you don’t want to see me then fine, I won’t come to the house. But I’m not going to make Spencer think he’s unsupported by me. Text me your decision. Goodbye, Mother.” Elli says and then hangs up the phone.
The sobs she was holding back come out in full force as she buries her face in my chest. I gently stroke her back, her hair, her arms, waiting for her to cry it all out. I know she’ll tell me all about it when she’s done.
“Izzy,” she hiccups after her sobs stop, “Izzy wants to leave the church. She doesn’t believe in it anymore, I guess. And mom thinks I’ve ‘poisoned’ her only other daughter against her.”
“That’s bullshit.”
“I kn-know. But my mom thinks that because I left, Izzy’s following my example.
I told Izzy that I wouldn’t be persuading her either way.
That whatever conclusion she came to had to be made independently.
She’s texted me a few times to ask me questions and I’ve given her as neutral an answer as I could.
Now mom’s saying it’s going to affect Gideon and Issac too and it’s all my fault. ”
“Baby, I’m so sorry. I wish I could make some better reassurances but I’m not quite sure how to handle this situation.
Just know I’m here for whatever you need.
I’ve met Izzy. That girl is not going to do something she doesn't want to do. I honestly think even if you hadn’t left, she would eventually. ”
Elli sniffles, “Yeah. I think she would have too. Thank you, Wes. I’m sorry if this ruins our trip. I wanted to have a fun time with minimal drama, but it doesn’t look like that’s going to happen. I understand if you don’t want to go now.”
I shush her, “I’m not going to let you go alone. I’m excited to see where you grew up. I’ve got you, Elli.”
We lay there quietly while she calms down, then she sits up and sighs. “Sorry, that wasn’t how I wanted to greet you. How was breakfast with Robs?”
“It was good. She’s been getting flirty with an artist. I told her we’d come visit the gallery once we were back.”
Elli’s smile is as bright as the sun, “Good for her. I’m excited to see what she’s done. Talk about anything else?”
Do I bring this up now?
I feel like I don’t want to drop another bomb on her after the ordeal with her mom. I think I’ll wait until we get to Utah and have rested after our road trip before asking her.
“Just caught up with each other. Everyone misses us.” I say instead.
“I miss them too. We need to hang out with them again when we get back. Ooo, maybe an ‘end of summer’ pool party? Do you think Matt would be up for that?”
“That sounds good baby. I’ll ask him. Now, what do we need to do to get ready for tomorrow?” I ask, trying to get off the topic of parties and the group. I know Elli gets distracted by tasks so hopefully organizing the final details of the trip will help her.
Sure enough, she gets right down to business.
We pack up the snacks and drinks into coolers and a box and put them in the back of her car after filling that up with gas so we have a full tank.
I’m spending the night here so we can leave at the ass crack of dawn, so our suitcases are waiting by the door so we can pack last minute toiletries.
“I think other than grabbing a coffee before we leave town, we’re all set to go.” She says as she settles in beside me.
“Are you going to be okay when we get there? We can cancel now if you want.” I don’t care if we’d lose money. Her wellbeing is more important.
“I’ll be okay. Thank you for being worried. I love you, Wes.”
“I love you too, Elli.”
And with that, we turn off the light to get some zzz’s in before our long ass car ride.