Chapter Two
Sawyer
“Thank you for coming on such short notice.”
The mover handed me a clipboard. “No problem. Would you sign here?”
I scribbled my signature across the bottom line. This morning, I’d called the movers to come haul away all the horrid Christmas decorations before I left for Destin. When we got back from the tour in three months, the last thing I’d want to deal with was holiday decorations.
“Thanks. Hope you have a happy New Year.” I handed the younger man in the blue uniform his clipboard.
“You, too, ma’am.”
When the door closed, the apartment felt oddly empty. I straightened Kurt’s boots where they sat by the front door. His philosophy was “Why not leave them where I’ll next need them.” Inside, I felt like a crazy person. These quirks that drove me insane endeared him to me more. I loved his craziness, yet I could envision myself strangling him with the sleeves of his leather jacket, which hung on the back of a chair.
I chuckled. We’re quite the pair. Or we would be if he would give us a chance.
Checking the time, I saw that it was a little after ten. Kurt had left for an appointment with his lawyers. His record label had released a recording of him and Knoah without their consent. My best friend had a beautiful voice that harmonized perfectly with Kurt’s. I’d heard the recording of “Lost,” and it was mesmerizing. Overall, though, the release had created a marketing nightmare. His fans wanted the woman to sing with Kurt on stage, but that wasn’t going to happen. Knoah wanted no part of the rock-star life. And Kurt refused to let another woman sing the song. From what Knoah had told me, the song was about surviving Dylan’s—Kurt’s best friend’s and Knoah’s first husband’s—death. From the loss I’d experienced, I understood.
Garrick Shaw, Knoah’s current husband, would also be at the meeting to make sure the label paid for their mistake. Garrick took care of my best friend, always putting her best interest first. He was a good man. Such devotion from a man was something I yearned to experience in my lifetime.
I took out a few sticky notes and put them on the fridge with reminders for Kurt:
Review travel folder on desk
Decide regarding Colorado venue
Sign the New York agreement
For the first time in a long time, I enjoyed my job—loved it. But the man connected to it was another story. Until Thanksgiving, I had been the marketing manager for Reverence through my brother’s firm. Kurt asked me to be his assistant and liaison with the various companies he dealt with. The amount of trust that required warmed me. Though my brother, Cameron, hated to see me go, he knew it was a better offer for me, career wise.
Lucky me.
I sighed and finished packing my bags. Later today, my bags for the tour would be picked up along with Kurt’s. The full ones were stacked neatly at the front door. I wasn’t sure if Kurt had begun to pack or not.
The stack of clothes kept growing as I added a few more things. Three months was a long time to be away. In total, I think we only had three weekends off to come home. Being in a sardine can traveling across America would be interesting.
The sound of the luggage wheels was the only sound in the otherwise quiet living room. It was after one. Kurt was due back around three. For my own sake, it was best if I was gone before he got back.
I returned to my room and nearly gagged. “Damn him.”
Apparently, at some point this morning, Kurt had refilled the automatic cologne dispenser. Rubbing my eyes, I held my breath. The cologne was foul—a cross between chocolate gone wrong and rotten peaches. Terrible, terrible combination.
Is this how our relationship will always be? What will happen when he goes out with someone while we’re on tour? I already knew the answer—it would slay me. But I had to be prepared for it.
But, in the meantime, payback was fair. I gave a little cackle as I grabbed my body spray from my purse and went to his room. Clothes were strewn all over the place. A disaster area at its finest. In the corner, his sheets were wadded in a crumpled mess. I mashed my lips together in amusement.
I looked back at the stripped bed with only the comforter thrown haphazardly across the top. Maybe my perfume had driven him a little crazy. Seeing this made me happier than it should have. I unscrewed the cap. “All’s fair in love and war, roomie.”
The room filled with the flowery scent as I sprinkled it over the mattress and comforter. Then, for good measure, I sprayed some on my bed and couch.
Ha! Take that. You’ll have to get a hotel room to escape the smell.
As I walked back to his room, I was nearly knocked over with the smell.
Hell, I need a life.
The front door opened, and I frantically rushed out of his room, my heart galloping in my chest at the thought of getting caught spraying his bed. Hello, crazy lady. I took deep, calming breaths in the safety of my room, trying not to gag with the smell of the horrid cologne.
Kurt sounded panicked. “Sawyer! Hurry! In the living room! Come quick!”
“Coming! What’s wrong?”
No answer.
I hurried down the hall and came to an abrupt halt at the sight of Kurt standing there in his jeans and T-shirt with his hands to his temples. “We’ve been robbed. Call the cops. Someone made off with our Christmas shit.”
I rolled my eyes. “You scared the shit out of me!”
Kurt pulled out his phone and put it to his ear. “I need to call the cops. The demon Rudolph must be saved.”
I laughed and swatted his arm. “Hardy har har. I had it shipped to the tour bus we’re sharing.” His eyes widened, and I gave a sweet smile. “Gotta run. I’ll see you in LA on the thirtieth.”
“Wait! You’re not flying out there with us?”
Is that regret? I kept a neutral face.
The original plan was to fly out on Kurt’s jet in the morning for last-minute dress fittings. But I wasn’t needed for that, so I figured why come earlier than I had to? As it was, we would be together too much.
“No, I decided to go commercial so I can see my parents. Everything is set. You’ve got sticky notes on the fridge with reminders. I left a folder on the kitchen table with all the details. The ad campaigns are rolling, and we’re getting a good response. My luggage is ready for pickup if you could make sure it goes to LA.”
For a second, he seemed at a loss for words. I gathered my bags. Then he shook his head as if to clear his thoughts. “How’s your mom feeling?”
She was lucky to be alive. Normally, we went to Colorado as a family for the holidays, but with Mom still recovering from her snowmobile accident, we’d stayed in Florida. “Good. She’s walking with a cane now but still tires easily. With Cameron’s proposal on Christmas, I didn’t spend a lot of time with her. So I figured I’d go stay with them for a night or two before I take off on tour.”
Fact was, money had been tight for my parents. I knew it, but they’d kept it hidden, which worried me. It made me remember worse days, ones I wanted to keep buried. Dad would be signing the papers to sell his company in two days. It was bittersweet. From what I could tell, they’d be fine financially, but it had to have been hard for Dad to sell the company he’d built from the ground up. It had been what defined them for so long. Change was never easy. At least I was back in their lives and could be part of this transition. For many years, that hadn’t been the case.
“Let me know if you need anything.”
His offer was sweet and full of the best intentions. Problem was the something I needed was him, which I couldn’t have. So until we left for the tour, I needed some space. Kurt was a rock star. Women wanted him. Though he wasn’t a man-whore by reputation, I highly doubted he’d be celibate on the road.
I can do this. It will be for the best.
An awkward silence fell over us. I took a deep breath and shifted my bag. “I will. See you in LA! If anything changes, let me know.”
“Will do. Thanks for organizing my shit.”
“You’re welcome.” I gave a sassy smirk. “It’s why you pay me the big bucks.”
I opened the door.
“Wait.”
I turned toward Kurt and waited for him to continue. He popped his knuckles, an odd habit that betrayed the nervousness he rarely showed. Normally, Kurt appeared completely unaffected.
“Are you meeting up with anyone?”
Part of me wanted to say yes, but what if that spurred him on to meet someone? That was a dangerous game. And those types of games were not my deal. “No, just taking some me time.”
He nodded. “Have a massage on me.”
I gave a playful wink. “I’ll take you up on that. Thanks. See ya.”
“Bye, Sawyer. Be careful.”
“Of course. Always.”