Chapter Thirty-One
Silas
Riley still had not returned my call. I knew that she couldn’t make the concert, but I’d still expected her to at least message me back when she received my message. Hadn’t she been thinking of me? I figured she’d just had a bad night at work, or that maybe she’d left her phone at home. But the following day, I didn’t hear from her either. I sent her another message telling her that I was busy on Sunday but that I was doing everything in my power to get time off to come and see her. Sunday ended up being a whirlwind of interviews and meetings, and I didn’t get a moment to do anything else. It was hard to put on a front like that, but I didn’t want the world to suddenly start wondering why I was sad. I plastered on a smile and tried my best to act like the charming man that Garren wanted me to be. I owed it to him to be the best version of myself because it now wasn’t just me that I had to worry about. If I did well, it was good for his own reputation. I didn’t want him to think he had put his trust in the wrong guy. Later that night though, he pulled me aside.
“Everything okay?” he asked me.
“Everything is fine,” I lied. “Why do you ask?”
“You don’t seem yourself. You’ve been awfully quiet. Look, something is going on, isn’t it?”
I sighed. “There’s just someone I want to see while I’m here and I’m worried we’ll be so busy that I won’t get a chance.”
“Silas, you should’ve said something. Well, we’ll be leaving soon, but you’ll be happy to know that we have no interviews set for tomorrow. Why don’t you take the day off and go and see whoever you want to see?”
“Really?”
“Of course. Sadly, it can’t be much longer than the day, though. We really do have to get going after that.”
A day was better than nothing. “I’m fine with that. Thank you so much,” I said.
I immediately sent Riley a message telling her that I would be there on Monday to see her. I’m taking you out! Maybe a bike ride and a picnic? The thought of her holding onto me with the wind in our face as we rode to the field again made me happier than ever. I enjoyed this new lifestyle, but none of it seemed worth it without her. I had sent the message pretty late, but again the following day, there was no reply from her. What was going on? Maybe she had lost her phone. I would buy her a new one if that was the case.
Before going to see Riley on Monday, I decided to pop in and see my old boss. I wanted to spend the rest of the day with Riley, and I knew that if I went to see her first, I wouldn’t even bother with seeing anyone else. It was strange being back there, and as I made my way to the office, I couldn’t help but remember how my life was only a few months ago. This was the place where I had received that phone call from Garren and the day that my life had changed forever. I knocked on the door and when Gary looked up and saw that it was me his face broke into a huge smile.
“Silas! This is a surprise. Come on in! Wow, it’s good to see you. I was hoping you would come and visit.”
“You knew I was here?” I asked as I took a seat. The same seat I had sat on so many times before.
“Of course! I came to see your concert the other night!”
“You did?”
“You didn’t even tell us that you were playing here.”
“I know. I’m sorry. I didn’t want anyone to think I was bragging about it. How did you find out?”
He laughed. “You haven’t changed, have you? That’s good to know. But do you really think I haven’t been following you? I tell everyone that I meet that the famous Silas Aarons used to work for me.”
I chuckled. “I’m not exactly famous.”
“You’re well on your way. And it happened very quickly. Didn’t it?”
“So quick. My manager is very efficient. He gets the job done. I could never have done this without him.”
“All the same, he could’ve never done it without you. So, how has it been? What’s it like going on tour and singing to massive crowds?”
“It’s a little surreal, if I’m to be honest. I don’t think I had any idea that it would be like this. I guess you can’t really prepare for it. It’s great though. I’m actually singing and getting paid for it now. Who would’ve thought?”
“Oh, I always knew you would. You were too good for this place. You deserved more than this. I’m sad for me, but I’m happy for you.”
“Are you kidding me? This place was great. I was actually very happy here. I had a dream, sure, and I probably would’ve always wondered what it would’ve been like to sing for a living. But I was actually very happy here. And I enjoyed the work.”
“That’s good to hear. Well, for what it’s worth, we sure do miss you. You were great at this job, and the boys loved having you here. You were one of the best workers I’ve ever had. But we’re all very happy for you and very proud that we all know you. We’ve never known someone famous before.”
I laughed. I still thought of myself as just a regular person. The fact that strangers now knew my name was something I had not gotten used to yet. I wondered when it would start to feel normal. “It still so weird to think of myself like that.”
“You know, it’s probably good that you don’t. It’s good to stay grounded. Don’t change, Silas. You’re a great kid and the last thing I want is to see you change.”
I smiled at him. “Thank you. I definitely don’t plan on being anyone else but me. It’s so good to see you again, and so good to be back home. I know I haven’t been gone all that long, but it feels like I’ve been gone for years. So much has happened in such a short space of time.”
“Are you here for long?”
I sighed. “Sadly not. Million things to do and still a few more places to go. Then the agent is planning some overseas trips. It’s . . . overwhelming.”
“Life as a star, huh? Well, don’t be a stranger. And next time you play nearby, let us know. We’ve been following you, but I would hate to miss out on a concert.”
“I will. And thanks, Gary. I better get going, but it was so good to see you again.”
I walked out feeling great. There was nothing quite like seeing someone important to you to make your heart feel whole again. But there was still something missing. It was time to see Riley. I thought of going to buy her a phone first, but I was too excited to see her and was sick of delaying it. Instead, I drove straight to her house. My house. Our house.
I pulled up the driveway and smiled at the big house. I still remembered the day that I had first met Riley and how surprised I had been at her age. I had been even more surprised at how much the big old house suited her despite this, and how I had come to love it almost immediately. I got out the car and knocked on the door. When the door opened, it wasn’t Riley that answered, but Paisley. Her eyes narrowed when she saw me.
“What are you doing here?” she said and I was completely taken aback by the anger in her voice. What the hell was going on?
“Paisley, uh . . . what’s wrong? I came to see Riley. Why are you looking at me like that?”
“Riley doesn’t want to see you.”
“What? Why not? I don’t understand. I’ve been texting her, but she hasn’t returned any of my messages. I thought maybe she lost her phone or something.”
“No, her phone is fine. She hasn’t been replying because she doesn’t want to talk to you. But she does want me to give you this,” Paisley said and handed back the check that I had sent for Riley.
I stared at it in confusion. “But it’s for her. Please, I don’t want it back.”
“And she doesn’t want your dirty money. Now, you need to get your shit out of this house so Riley can move on with her life. It’s no good her staying here with all your things still here.”
“But . . . can I at least speak to her? I have no idea what’s going on.”
She laughed. “Oh, don’t act all innocent with me. I need you get your stuff out of this house. Find someone to do it for you. She doesn’t want you in this house, and neither do I.”
“But . . .”
A door was slammed in my face, and I stood there shocked at the exchange. I kept expecting Paisley to open it up again and to tell me that she had only been joking, but she never came back. I knocked again, but there was no answer. I had no idea what to do. I got back in the car and tried to call Riley, but she didn’t reply. I drove off with a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach. Had Riley met someone else? But even if she had, why would she be so angry with me? I couldn’t understand what I had done.
I called Dominic later that day. I had been hoping to see him and was more than prepared to drive to meet up with him. But sadly, Dominic was away.
“I’m back tomorrow. Can we meet then?”
I sighed. “I don’t think so. I’m not here for very long.”
“Are you serious? I thought you would be here longer. Why don’t you just ask if you can stay?”
“Trust me, I’ve tried. But there’s a schedule, and I have to stick with it. I can’t really go against my agent right now. Not after everything he has done for me.”
“Yeah, I totally get that. Well, that’s a pity, but hopefully we can see each other the next time. Or I can come and see you.”
“Yeah, for sure. Listen, Dom, I need to ask you a favor.”
“Sure, anything.”
“Something is up with Riley,” I said and explained to him what was going on. “Would you mind going to get my stuff? Just throw it all into bags or something and take it back to your place. I’ll come and get it the next time I’m here. I just don’t know what else to do right now. And . . . maybe you can try and find out what the hell is going on? I feel so confused. I was looking forward to seeing her more than anything else, and now she won’t even talk to me.”
“Of course, I’ll do that. I’ll go there first thing tomorrow.”
“Thanks, bro.”