“I don’t know. He hasn’t called again.”
“He will. When a man wants something, he stops at nothing to get it.”
Blinking, I try to hold back the tears, mostly because I’m tired of crying. “Maybe he doesn’t really want me, anymore.”
“Why? Because some pretty thing is tryin’ to stake a claim she don’t have?”
“Yeah.” I nod.
He chuckles. “Could be that he thinks you’re through with him. Maybe he’s giving you a little time. Maybe you shouldn’t assume nothin’, Toots.”
Gulping, I lower my head and look into my lap. He’s right. I shouldn’t assume anything. It’s one of the worst things that you can do. I can’t read Beaumont’s mind and he’s been nothing but honest with me, even when he knew that I wouldn’t like the answers.
“I think I need to go back home,” I whisper.
“You’ll be back in a couple days? Spend the weekend with me?” PawPaw asks. He’s worried about being alone for the anniversary of my grandmother’s passing.
Standing to my feet, I grin. “I’ll be here, nothin’ could keep me away,” I promise as I lower my body and touch my lips to his cheek.
“Proud of you, Toots,” he whispers.
Without another word, I make my way inside and get ready for the day. I have to leave early since my drive back home is a couple of hours long. It’s going to be a long day since I didn’t sleep even for a second last night, but I feel better than I did driving out there.
Something about my grandfather and his advice always does that, even if I don’t have a clear answer of what’s to come, it just always seems so much easier after I’ve talked it out with him and this is no different.
It’s time for me to make some things clear to Beaumont and to have some things cleared up with him. I’m not going to live scared in my own town. I’m not going to live in fear that this crazy woman is going to make my life hell, I won’t allow it. I’m stronger than that. Beaumont and I are stronger than that. This ends now.
BEAUMONT
When Hutton doesn’t answer the phone again, I make a decision. This tour has been widely successful and I’m going to finish it, but I need at least a few days to myself.
Marching into the bus, I’m not surprised to see Daniel fucking some woman on the floor while Brian is having his dick sucked by the woman I saw him standing next to in the bar.
“Out,” I bark.
Both women turn to look at me while both men glare in my direction. “Ladies, you need to leave,” I state.
My tone must convey my irritation and the seriousness of this moment, because both women quickly grab their shit and leave, naked. Brian lifts his pants up and over his hips, but doesn’t leave his spot sitting on the chair. Daniel pulls his own jeans back on, but stays shirtless.
“What the fuck, man?” Daniel asks with a sniff.
“I’m done,” I say.
They both look to one another, then over to me. “You’re what?” Daniel asks, though he doesn’t sound so much surprised as he does pissed off.
“I’m done. Meaning you’re both fired.”
Brian growls. “I help write your music, you can’t fire me.”
I shrug one shoulder. “You’ll be compensated however my lawyers decide is appropriate according to any contracts we have, but this is done. And Daniel, I’ve had enough of your shit.”
“What brought all this on?” Jesse asks, jumping out of his bunk, looking tired and confused.
Since meeting Laurie, Jesse has changed, and it’s been for the better. “Brian left his wife and has been using, and fucking Andi. Daniel and Brian have been in cahoots to get rid of Hutton and bring Andi back in, to try and force me to be with her. Brian, so she can continue fucking him and supplying him. Daniel, so he can use her in PR and make a boatload of cash because his current shit-ton isn’t enough, apparently.”
“Fuck.” Jesse whistles.
“Right?” I ask. Turning toward them, I cross my arms over my chest. “This is my life. This is not a publicity stunt. This is not a game. This shit is real between me and Hutton. I will not have the people in my circle, people who are supposed to be on my team scheming behind my back like this.”
“You can’t fire me, it’s not the end of the tour,” Brian announces, a smirk playing on his lips.
“Then, I have the right to end the tour at any time that I see fit. This was the last show. I’ll deal with the aftermath of that, but I am fucking done with you bastards.”
Making my way into the bedroom of the bus, I close the door and lock it behind me. Without a word, I pack my bags. I’ll deal with the repercussions later. Right now, the only thing that matters is Hutton.
Strapping my favorite guitar over my chest, I reach for my laptop bag and throw that strap over my shoulder before I grab ahold of my suitcase handle. My shit is all thrown in the bag, not even folded, but I don’t care.
Unlocking the bedroom door, I’m not surprised to see Brian and Daniel standing at the exit. Austin and Jesse are facing me and they both grin. I watch as they turn around and charge both Daniel and Brian.
My eyes widen when they take them both down to the ground. They all four struggle, but when Brian and Daniel are completely restrained, Austin lifts his eyes to meet mine and he smirks.
“Go get your girl, Beau.”
“You sure you don’t want to stay on with me?” I ask him.
We’ve been through some shit, but the past week this man has been at my back in a way that I never thought possible. And right now, he’s showing where his true loyalties lie. This man is a friend, he’s a brother, plain and simple.
“I think that I might need more than you can handle,” he chuckles. “I always got your back though.” He dips his chin before he lifts it back up. “Always. But this is your time to shine. You don’t need us, Beaumont, not that you ever did.”
“But, dude.” Jesse smirks.
Turning to him, I laugh because the guy is so fucking happy all the time, you have no other way to react other than to smile at him.
“Yeah?”
“You always need a bass.”
“I need a drummer too,” I say, jerking my chin toward Austin.
Austin looks down at Brian, then back toward me. “Meeting in a couple weeks, the three of us?”
“Come out to my place in Texas. We’ll do informal.” I grin.
“You motherfuckers,” Brian shouts, spit flying everywhere as he struggles against Austin’s hold. “Plotting and planning right here in front of us. Trying to cut us out, without me and Daniel, you would be just some hick trying to be someone.”
I let out a laugh. “Maybe I would be, but I’d have been happy with or without the fame. That’s where we differ. You both crave money and fame. I don’t, never did. I just wanted to be heard, to have my songs mean what they do to me to someone else.”
“Bullshit, you’ve got that big ass fuckin’ house in Texas. You have fancy cars, and a million-dollar home in California. You’re benefitting from your fame and fortune just like the rest of us. You aren’t a goddamn victim,” Daniel growls.