Straight from the Heart (18 page)

It was our last show at The Majestic Theatre
in Detroit. For the past week and a half while we made the journey
back to Michigan, Cale had made it a nightly ritual to climb into
my bed after I was sleeping. He would stroke my hair and rub my
arms, always scooting me towards him until there was no air between
us. We never did anything other than sleep. We would kiss on
occasion when no one was looking, and when they were, he would just
kiss me on the cheek and play it off like there wasn’t something
building between us.
We were watching the other band before us backstage when Damon
stood beside me. Tapping me on the shoulder I turned around and he
looked at me with sadness in his eyes. “Can I talk to you for a
sec?”

Cale was on my other side, gripping my waist
with a death grip. “You can say whatever it is in front of me too,
Damon.”

Damon looked over from me to him, and back.
“I just wanted to apologize for what you saw and how I’ve treated
you, Bryn. I really hope since this is the last night on the tour,
we can start off fresh and be friends?”

I had no problem with that. He was a twenty
something year old guy who liked to party and watch half naked
women straddle him. I couldn’t get too heartbroken about it.

Squeezing his hand, I shouted back “Sounds
good to me.” Drawing my voice to a dull so Cale couldn’t hear me, I
whispered in Damon’s ear. “It was fun while it lasted.” He smirked,
and Cale looked over with a questionable expression.

“Glad to be almost done, bud?” Cale
asked.

Damon put his hands in his back pockets and
laughed. “Like you wouldn’t believe. Maybe shave my hair before we
finish recording the album. But congrats on being on the major
label by the way,” he said to us. “We’ll have to get together and
maybe collaborate on a song or something. As if we haven’t seen
enough of each other.” Damon chuckled.

Cale joined him, shaking his hand, “Sounds
great dude. You have my number. Get a hold of me anytime.”

“Sounds good. Good luck tonight,” Damon
replied, patting us both on the back and walking away. Seconds
after, I had a text from him on my cell phone.

Damon: Never seen him that protective since
Luce. Must be love, haha

I blushed. But also, I had never really
known the details about their relationship and how serious they
really were when they were together. Not that it was my business
because it really wasn’t, but Lucy had grown to become a close
friend of mine and I was going to miss seeing her along with a lot
of the people I had met on this tour. Before I ever considered
actually having a relationship with Cale, I wanted him to come
clean about his past just like I had told him about mine.

“You ready?” Cale startled me, handing me my
guitar as we got ready for our big entrance. “Relax, B. Last show
is about having fun. Let loose and go crazy tonight.” I wasn’t sure
if he really meant the set we were about to play or afterwards.

“I’m good.” I smiled, and we all group
hugged before running out to our screaming fans.

I followed Cale’s advice. Since this was our
home state, I wanted to give the crowd an entertaining show. I
grinded against Vince as we played our dual lines and had fun with
all of the songs. It was when we slowed things down for “Time” that
I saw
him.
Ethan Donahue in the front row. Looking straight
at me.

“Alright everyone, we’re going to slow it
down for one song,” Cale growled into the microphone, scanning the
crowd as mostly the girls cheered. “This one Queen B’s going to
help me out and sing the words. Right, Bryn?” His head tilted in my
direction and smirked as some people started to cheer my name. That
gave me the chills, but in a good way. People were chanting my
name? Completely unreal.

“That’s right, hope you guys enjoy. This is
‘Time,’” I said with excitement, my eyes doing a double take over
the row not even twenty feet from me. Yup, that was him alright. I
took the front of the stage as Cale stood behind a keyboard and
began to play the opening notes to the song.

You said we needed space

That your heart doesn’t feel the same
anymore

That’s a lie

I can see it in your face

Hiding the truth in a cage

Cale joined me as we sang in perfect harmony
to the haunting melody. As the rest of the band joined in after the
chorus, I saw hundreds of cell phones and lighters out swaying in
time with the drums as we hit our infamous group harmonies people
had come to recognize us for.

Applause erupted as the song ended. Cale
kissed me on my cheek, whispering “Good job babe,” and took back
his rock star persona, riling the crowd up once more. I slipped
back on my electric guitar and let my fingers do their job as
Everlasting played the last song in the set. I tried to forget
Ethan was right there. Forget he was here for a reason. But those
words "I'll be in the front row”, rang in my head the whole
song.

After the set and thanking everyone for
coming, I took one last look and Ethan wasn’t anywhere to be seen.
Maybe I was dreaming, but I seriously doubted that.

“Best set ever boys!” Luke bellowed as he
gestured for all of us to come together. When I crinkled my
eyebrows at him, he corrected himself. “And girl. Sorry Bryn.”

“It’s all good, Luke.” I couldn’t hide the
smile from my face. I’d be seeing these guys a lot more often now
that we had an album to put out and promoting. That meant more time
with Cale.

We separated and I passed Lucy on the way
back to the dressing room.

“Hey what’s the matter, Luce?” I asked her.
She clearly looked upset, even though Ignite was just getting ready
to on stage.

She shook her head. “Must be a stomach bug
or something. But there’s someone who wants to see you back there.
Might want to hurry and see. I’ll try to distract the guys.” I
mouthed “Okay” and walked at a faster pace. The door to our room
was wide open and as I stood in the doorway, I couldn’t believe who
was in front of me, pouring a drink.

“Long time no see, love.”

“Ethan.”

He snickered, flashing his perfect white
toothed million dollar smile. It had won me over one too many
times. In the months since I’d seen him he grew his hair out,
curling around his ears. Looks came easy for Ethan, as  did
women. He wore a plain white t-shirt and jeans that were at least a
few hundred dollars. But they hugged him right. Dammit.

I tried to avoid looking at him for as long
as I could, but knew I would have to face him at some point. “How’d
you know I was here and how’d you get past security or the
bouncers?” I asked, curious.

“Come inside first.” Ethan gestured towards
the door, which I still hadn’t fully crossed the threshold of. Once
I took a step inside, he walked behind me and shut the door.
“That’s better. Your friend said she’d distract the rest of them,
so I have a couple of minutes.”

“A couple minutes for what?” I snapped. “You
humiliated me in front of hundreds of people, Ethan! Who records a
video on their phone of us almost having sex? My parents could’ve
seen that! And then you don’t ever call me or try to find me to
apologize? The fuck Ethan?”

“I wanted to Bryn.” His eyes met mine with
sincerity. “What I’ve wanted to tell you was it wasn’t me.”

“What do you mean?”

“It means that I didn’t hit record on my
phone. Lincoln finally confessed to it a week after and I about
killed him. I was too drunk to even comprehend what happened when
you confronted me. I know that sounds crazy and ridiculous coming
from a guy who hasn’t tried to call you since beginning of summer.”
Ethan explained. “I called your parents once. Your dad said you had
left with your guitar and a suitcase and had no idea where you
went. Said your mom locked herself in her study with bottles of rum
and would hardly come out unless it was for their weekly dinner
parties. Shit, I even tried Gina and Beth, but they were no help.
They never liked me much.”

I was at a loss for words. All of this time,
when Ethan’s best friend confessed to recording the video, he still
never called me or tried to find me?

“Still doesn’t explain how you’re here
standing in my dressing room, Ethan,” I replied impatiently.

He leaned against the wall, taking a sip of
his drink. “Remember that talent show we went to when you told me
you wanted a guitar?” I nodded. “I said to you that night ‘I will
be front row cheering you on. I’ll always be your biggest fan B.
Always’. Two and two clicked for me. You’re a determined girl,
Bryn. I had been listening to Everlasting for quite a while and
when I was checking out a few YouTube videos of them from this
tour, I recognized you. God help me I was so surprised at how you
commanded the stage. Like a pro.”

I smiled for the first time since seeing
him. I wanted to give him a hug for old time’s sake. Part of me
said no, that he’s just lying so I could screw him like he’s always
wanted.

“You came to our last show on the tour,
sneaking backstage to tell me all of this?” I questioned. “What’s
the catch, Ethan?”

Ethan put his hands up in defense. “No no
no, there’s no catch, Bryn, I swear. I wanted to give you an
apology in person.” Then he tried giving me his hand. “And I want
to try and possibly be friends, as crazy as that sounds.”

I took his hand, and he wrapped me up into a
short hug. I had forgotten how nice he had felt, his muscles hard
from working out with his dad on an almost daily basis. “I suppose
that could work. As pissed and hurt as I am at you still I can try
to forgive you, but I won’t forget just remember that bud.” I
chuckled against his chest and he let me go.

“You still have my number, don’t you?” He
asked and I mouthed ‘Yes.’ “Promise next time you’re free we’ll
meet up for lunch at Lozano’s, alright?”

I laughed. He had no idea I had rented out a
loft from the owners. Louisa. I missed her. I knew she’d be glad to
see me more than likely tomorrow at the soonest. “Sounds good. But
you better get out of here before the guys think I have a crazy
stalker fan in the dressing room.”

Ethan threw his head back, striding towards
the door. “Yeah I can tell lead singer boy has the hots for you, B.
Good luck with him by the way.” He left just in the nick of time.
The guys barged in and nearly tackled me to the ground. They
smelled like sweat and wore off cologne.

“Get off of me,” I mumbled in between
pushing them off of me one by one.

“Had to get ya, Bryn. You’re like one of the
guys, it’s only fair,” Vince joked, brushing off his holed up
jeans. “Who was that guy anyway walking in the hallway? Looked too
preppy to be part of the crew.”

I giggled and shrugged my shoulders. “Beats
me, maybe a crazy fan looking for Lucy?” I was surprised Lucy
didn’t fall for the Ethan charm when she saw him. He looked better
since the last time I saw him, but I had to tell myself the past
was the past. As stupid as it sounded, I would gladly forgive him
and try to be friends, but I don’t think I would ever consider
dating Ethan again if he were to ask me.

Cale hugged me again, his hands almost flat
on my ass. His fingers started rubbing in circles, immediately
sending a fire through my belly. “Not here,” I moaned softly into
his ear. “They can see.”

“I don’t give two shits tonight.” Cale
kissed a spot just below my ear. “We’re staying at the MGM Grand
and there’s a huge ass party in Damon’s room. He was just telling
us. And you and I  are getting a room to ourselves.”

“What about everyone else?” I asked him.

“They’ve got their own plans. I don’t give a
shit. All I know is I want you in bed with me tonight.”

“Ohhh I’m gonna vomit.” Luke stuck a hand in
his throat, bumping into us on purpose. “You hit on anything that
walks lately Cale, since Lucy…”

“I
think
I’m going to have another
drink,” Cale interrupted, sliding past us, and drinking straight
out of the bottle. “Or just the rest of this and everything
else.”

I made a mental note: Never bring up Lucy
around Cale. He made every excuse in the book to avoid it and start
drinking. Which I found funny because on a normal day they talked
like they were best friends, but I didn’t care since Lucy had grown
to be a close friend and ally.

After Ignite the Flames finished their set,
they led the party over to the MGM Grand. We all had rooms on the
same floor, which only spelled out trouble. With the way everyone
was hyped up after their sets, I secretly prayed we wouldn’t get
arrested.

That should’ve been the furthest thing from
my mind.

Home sweet home.

Temporary home I should say. In the loft
next to Lozano’s. As soon as we pulled up to the Italian restaurant
Louisa and her family were outside waiting for us.

“Oh Miss Bryn, you’re finally back.” Louisa
scooped me into a hug and I hugged her back tightly. “You’ve lose
weight girl. Come inside and I’ll make you some lunch.” I rubbed my
stomach in response. I wasn’t the skinniest girl on the block but I
probably lost a good 5 pounds on the road, which was the opposite
of what I expected would happen.

“I would love it. I haven’t had a home
cooked meal in months,” I admitted. Cale and the guys stood behind
me, pushing each other around into the quiet downtown street and I
rolled my eyes. “Plus these men can’t cook worth a damn unless
they’re hiding it from me.”

Alberto chuckled and squeezed my hand. “Have
them come in with me, missy. I’ll whip them into shape.”

I yelled towards them, telling everyone to
follow us inside. Walking inside, the other waitresses came up and
gave me hugs, letting me know how different I looked. In a good way
I hoped. When we sat down, Louisa handed us all waters and big
plate of homemade bread sticks and butter.