“It looks like someone is feeling much better this morning.” Jesse poked her head in the bedroom to check on their patient.

“I definitely am, but I’m not sure about him.” Lacey jerked her thumb toward the loudly snoring Dalton, sleeping on the other bed. His feet were hanging off the end and the blankets were twisted around him.

“He’s had a rough night.” Jesse explained.

“Out partying all night?”

“You don’t remember?” Jesse’s eyes lit up with surprise?

“Remember what? The last think I really remember is climbing on the bus and falling on the bed. The rest is a blur until this morning. I’m pretty sure I didn’t change my clothes, so please tell me you did that.”

“He wouldn’t leave your side, not even for a minute. He kept you cool by patting you down with the washcloth. He got you to take your ibuprofen. He also helped me change your soaked clothing and get you tucked back in. He slept in here…well…laid in here watching you most of the night. He finally fell off after your fever broke.”

“He did all that? Seriously?” Lacey was in awe. Her heart expanded three sizes. She was certain of it.

“Thank you for taking care of me, Jess. It means a lot.”

Jess looked over at Dalton and back to Lacey.

“Yes, yes it does mean a lot, doesn’t it?” and she winked as she left the room.

Lacey scooted off the bed and walked over to where Dalton was sleeping. Vague images of him holding her flashed into her mind. She sat down on the corner of the bed next to him. He was sawing some heavy logs. He must be exhausted. She didn’t want to wake him, so she placed a gently kiss to his cheek and left him to rest.

She donned a pair of sweatpants and walked into the main cabin where she found Beau working with his keyboard and Jesse shopping online.

“She lives.” Beau teased. “You are feeling better?”

“Yes. So much better. Whatever it was a hit-and-run kind-of thing.  Feels like it’s mostly over. It was a doozy. Sorry for all the trouble I caused.”

“Please, girl. I know you’d do the same for us. In fact, you had a whole crew ready to take care of you. All the stage, crew and band members were worried about you.” Jesse informed her.

“Seriously? That is so sweet of them.” Lacey was touched by their consideration.

“Honey, that’s what families do for each other. They look out and take care of one another. We are all family here. On the road, that’s all we’ve got is each other.”

“I certainly appreciate it. I felt like I was dying last night. Sure, glad it is moving on. I hope y’all don’t catch it.”

Beau looked like he might pass out at the thought of getting sick.

“Not to worry. If we do, we do, but I did Lysol everything down this morning, so hopefully that will take care of it. I also dosed us with extra vitamin c.” Jesse reassured her.

“Look at you, being all responsible and stuff.” Lacey teased her friend.

“Guess you have rubbed off on me after all.”

The bedroom door cracked open and a walking zombie named Dalton joined them.

“Dude, you look like shit.” Beau complimented Dalton.

Dalton opened his mouth to fire back at Beau, but stopped short. He clenched his jaw.

“Good morning. You made it with ten minutes to spare.” Jesse teased.

Lacey walked over to Dalton, wrapping her arms around his middle, she squeezed tightly.

“Thank you.” She whispered against his chest.

Dalton visibly grimaced. His hands gently grabbed her shoulders as he stepped back from her.

“Hey, that’s what friends are for. You look much better this morning.” He turned to the refrigerator and grabbed a bottle of orange juice.

Biting her lip and looking at Dalton with clouded eyes, she backed up out of his way.

“I, um, I’m going to take a shower.” Lacey excused herself.

When Jesse was certain Lacey was out of earshot, she unloaded on Dalton.

“What the hell was that all about? You spend the night nursing her like a mother hen and then blow her off in the daylight? What gives, Gentry?” Her nostrils flared.

His lips pursed and his face tightened at her barrage of questions. “Look, lay off. I’m tired. I’m hungry and I need a shower. I’m thrilled Lacey is better, but I’m not up for a cuddle session right now. End of this discussion. I’ll be in my bunk.” He pitched the empty orange juice bottle in the trash bin and crawled in his bunk, closing the curtain and securing his head phones.

Jesse’s incredulous stare looked to Beau. “That isn’t the same man I watched nurse her last night. Something happened. I’m telling you right now.”

“Maybe it is as simple as him being tired. I get grumpy when I’m tired. Don’t make more out of it than it probably is.” Beau warned.

“I’ve got that bad feeling again. I don’t like. Not one bit.” Jesse rubbed the back of her neck. “The first think I’m doing when we get home is getting a massage.”

 

******

Lacey sat at the vanity between Jesse’s and her bed blow-drying her hair. Silently she questioned Dalton’s behavior. His rejection hurt. If he had spent all night watching over her, then why had he pushed her away this morning? Had it been because Jesse and Beau were present? She didn’t think so. He’d been okay with public displays of affection when it had been just the personal circle of friends and crew, so what was his issue?

There was only one true way to find out. She would have to ask him.

Finishing with her hair, she pulled her bangs back with a headband. She dressed in her comfy leggings and tunic, knowing they would be stopping in Oklahoma City overnight. Coming into the hallway that separated the bunks from the main cabin of the bus, she heard hushed voices…then her name. She paused and listened.

“Look, Jess, I do care about Lacey, but you and I both know the road is no place for a relationship. We’ve had a good time, but I never should have started anything. I knew it wasn’t going to go anywhere. That’s why I fought it. If I don’t break it off now, it will only hurt her more later.”

“I warned you about this, D. Now what happens? How is she going to react and still be comfortable doing her job? Huh? How is that going to be possible?

“We’ll work it out somehow.” Dalton said, rubbing the back of his neck.

Lacey fell back against the wall, the breath leaving her lungs. She jammed her fist in her mouth and bit down to keep from crying out, the pain was searing. She touched her temple, closing her eyes. Was she really hearing this? He was breaking it off before they’d even gotten started? The sound she heard was her heart shattering into a million little pieces.

Her breath hitched as she struggled to get her emotions under control. She would not let Dalton make her the victim in this. Poor little Lacey rejected by superstar Dalton Gentry. No, sir. Not happening. She knew what she had to do.

Stepping back into her bedroom, she grabbed her phone and sent a text to Amanda.

“I’ll take the job. We’ll talk in Nashville.”

She received a response almost immediately. “Wonderful! Glad to hear it. Talk soon.”

Now all she had to do was tell the band.

The band was working on new material when she finally entered the main cabin. She didn’t want to interrupt, so she decided to wait until they reached Oklahoma City to talk to them. She grabbed a few crackers and a club soda, still not wanting to eat too much and went back to the bedroom.

She felt broken inside. Everything hurt. How was she supposed to make another ten-hour bus ride with Dalton and pretend everything was okay? She pulled out her laptop and looked at flights from Oklahoma City to Nashville.

Her finger hoovered over the button to purchase. Was she really going through with this? Then she remembered Dalton’s words to Jesse earlier, and she hesitated no more. She clicked the button for a one-way ticket home.

She felt the bus slowing down and turning. They must be coming into the hotel. Looking out the window, she could see they had. Closing her laptop, she packed up her mobile office. Looking around the room, her spirit sank even more.

This small bedroom had been her home away from home for the past two years, ever since the band bought the bus. Now, she would be leaving it behind and Dalton, Jesse and Beau.

Her eyes raised to the ceiling. “Please give me strength. I’m going to need all the help I can get here.” She fought back tears threatening to overtake her.

She squared her shoulders and lifted her chin. She could and would do this. It was the best thing for all of them involved, so that Peach Logic wouldn’t suffer and someday neither would she.

Entering the cabin, three sets of eyes were on her.

“There you are. I was about to come and make sure you were still breathing. You still feeling okay? No relapse?” Jess asked.

“No. I’m fine. I was just resting and catching up on some stuff.”

Dalton came over to her, watching her closely. “You sure?”

She looked him directly in the eyes. “Right as rain. Hey, do you think we can talk later? I need to discuss something with you, in fact, I need to talk to all of you after dinner if that’s okay and you aren’t too busy.”

Jesse looked up in surprise. “Of course, we have time. Do we have changes to our schedule in Nashville we need to go over?”

“No. Nothing like that. We can talk later. Excuse me.” She said directly to Dalton as she side-stepped around him.

Jesse looked at Beau and then Dalton, her eyes narrowed as she then watched Lacey exit the bus.

She jumped to her feet. “Wait a minute!” She ran into her room and came back a few minutes later.

“She’s cleaned it out. All her stuff. It’s gone. She’s leaving us.” Jesse was panting. “This is your fault, D. You have to do something.”

“Wait a minute. What are you talking about?” he walked back to the bedroom to look for himself. Even her favorite throw blanket was gone. No evidence of her remained.

“What the hell?” he muttered as he walked back into the cabin. “How did you know?” he looked to Jesse for an answer.

“She usually only takes in an overnight bag wherever we stay. She had her suitcase, overnight and mobile office.”

“Very observant. Now what?” Beau’s brows wrinkled as he looked to Dalton and Jesse for answers.

“Dalton fixes this. That’s what.’

“Me? How exactly am I going to fix this when I am the one getting ready to break it off with her?”

“You’ll find a way, remember?” Jesse spun on her heels and left him standing there with Beau.

“Dude, you are so screwed.”

“Shut-up.” Dalton scowled back at Beau as he grabbed his duffle bag and got off the bus.

******

A hot and humid summer rain storm had come in. Dark ominous clouds covered the sunset. Fitting, thought Lacey as she set her things down in her room. She wasn’t sharing with Jess this time. She needed some space. She paid to get her own room.

Sitting on the bed, watching the rain fall, the loud clap of thunder and bright flash of lightning matched the turmoil she felt inside. This was one storm she was going to have to internalize to minimize the damage. She wasn’t a drama queen, even though a good tantrum would feel good right about now. Or maybe a swift kick in Dalton’s private parts. An evil grin spread across her face.

A knock sounded at her door. Jesse, she was sure. Wrong again. A sense of déjà vu shrouded the moment as she unlatched the door.

“Can I come in?” he was leaning against the door jam, his forehead resting on his forearm.

“No time like the present.” Her tone was flat as she stepped back to let him in.

Dalton didn’t hedge. He jumped right in. “Are you leaving the band?”

Drawing a deep breath and pulling on her inner strength, she answered. “Yes, I am.”

“Why, Lace? Why would you do that? Is it because of us? Because of me?” he was standing in front of her now, his eye searching her face for answers.

“Partly but not completely. I would have thought you of all people would be relieved at the news, Dalton. Especially since you were planning on breaking off whatever it was we had started in the first place. This gets you off the hook. I’ve done it for you.”

“What? How? Did Jesse…” he stumbled over his words.

“How did I know? I won’t lie. I overheard you talking to Jess today on the bus. It just made my decision a lot easier.”

“What decision? What are you talking about?” he fell to the couch in disbelief.

“I’ve been offered a position at Milestone as one of their group managers. I’ve accepted.”

“Are you kidding me? You’re going to manage other groups? What about all we’ve done for you, huh?” Doesn’t that mean anything? Without us you would be jobless and a nobody. That’s the thanks we get for taking you on when you needed a job? You just jump ship when the grass is greener, is that it?”

She slapped him so hard her hand burned from the impact.

“You can go straight to hell, Dalton.” She walked to the door and yanked it open, finding Beau and Jesse on the other side with Jesse’s hand raised to knock.

“Now get the hell out of my room.” She didn’t look at him. She couldn’t. She was holding on to her emotions by a thread.

“Sorry, guys. We’ll have to talk after dinner. Come see me then.” She shut the door gently in their faces and threw herself on the bed to weep until there were no more tears left to cry.

Jesse and Beau followed Dalton to the elevator. They were on the top floor. Lacey had booked herself on the lower floors alone.

The elevator doors closed behind them in silence.

Never one to ignore the obvious, Jesse spoke up. “I’m guessing from the handprint on your face, the conversation didn’t go as planned?”

Dalton scrubbed a hand down his face. “No, Jesse, it did not. You were right. She’s leaving. Milestone has offered her a job, and she’s accepted it.”

“What? Our record label stole our assistant? Seriously? That can’t be!”

“Apparently, it is.” Dalton couldn’t stop the replay of his hateful words to her running through his mind.

“Why now? Why today? It doesn’t make sense.”

He sighed, his shoulders slumped. “It makes perfect sense, Jess.”

“Why?”

“She overhead us talking this afternoon.”

Her sharp intake of breath startled Beau. “What? What did she overhear? What did I miss.?”

Dalton’s closed his eyes briefly before answering. “She overheard me telling Jesse that I was breaking things off with her.”

“What? Have you lost your freaking mind? Well, obviously. Jesus, D, what’s gotten in to you? How can you play with a girl’s emotions like that, especially someone as special as Lacey? Man, I thought you were better than that.” Beau’s distain was clear in his tone.

“Look, I didn’t mean to hurt her, but maybe this is working out for the best for all of us given the current situation. Did you ever think of that?” His jaw was set.

Jesse bowed her head, looking at her feet. “He may be right about this one, as much as I hate to admit it.”

The elevator doors opened and the trio quietly lost in their own thoughts went to their rooms to contemplate their situations.

“Dinner in thirty?” Jesse asked the somber group.

“Yeah. Sure. Might as well. Let’s make it in the bar. I need a drink.”

Jesse met the guys down at the bar for dinner with a very somber face.

“She’s flying home tomorrow. That’s why she took her things from the bus. She didn’t feel comfortable riding the last leg. Nashville will be our last show with her. I still can’t believe it. She’s part of our family. I just can’t imagine being out on the road without her.”

“Bartender, another round of whiskey and coke. Make ‘em doubles.” Beau instructed.