Chase the Road (A Brothers of Rock - GONE BY AUTUMN - Novel) (10 page)

“
What
…”
Blake grabbed the phone and
thanked Sam. He put the phone to his ear.
“
Maya
…”

She was crying.

He hated when she cried. And she
hadn
’
t cried
this hard since
…

“
It
’
s my grandfather,
”
Maya blurted out.

“
Ted?
My buddy? What
’
s wrong?
”

“
Blake,
he had a stroke earlier this morning. It
’
s
his third one. He
’
s
…
he
’
s not going to make it through this one.
”

Blake felt like he had been punched
in the gut. He backed up, waiting for a wall to catch him. There was no wall,
but there was a set of steps that went up to the stage. He collapsed down on
them.

“
Shit,
”
he said.
“
Sweetheart, I
’
m so sorry. I can
’
t
…”

“
He
was all I had,
”
Maya
whispered. She sucked in a breath.
“
So
I
’
m going to head north and
see him. It
’
s a two hour
drive. I
’
ll go to the
cabin. He never wanted to get rid of that thing.
”

“
Yeah,
”
Blake said.
“
If you need anything, Maya, you
call me. Text me. I mean
…
a
car, money. A plane. I want
…”

“
Will
you come?
”

The question lingered in the
following silence.

Blake just stared straight ahead.
“
You want me to
…”

“
He
loves you. Maybe if he hears your voice
…”
Maya sighed.
“
No, that
’
s not right to say. I
’
m sorry. But you can at least
say goodbye.
”

“
Okay,
”
Blake said.
“
If that
’
s what you want. I
’
ll
be there.
”

“
What
about the shows
…”

“
We
’
re done now. We get a break. I
’
ll talk to Sam, sweetheart. I
’
ll work everything out.
”
Blake felt a sting in his heart
with his next question.
“
Is
Hunter driving you?
”

“
He
’
s not here,
”
Maya said.
“
He
’
s
on his way to London.
”

“
Oh.
”

“
I
called you first. I just
…”

Blake felt his heart swell.
She
called me first.
“
Okay.
Take a breath, okay? Can you wait for me to get there?
”

“
I
don
’
t want to,
”
Maya said.
“
I want to get to him
…
I can
’
t
…”

“
I
’
m sending a car for you. Right
now. You are not driving by yourself, sweetheart.
”
Stop calling her sweetheart, dammit.
“
Let
someone drive you. Pack a bag, take a breath, charge your phone. I
’
ll have mine glued to me. I
’
m getting a car right now. I
’
ll be there as soon as I can.
”

Maya let out a breath.

She calmed herself a little.

“
Okay,
”
she finally said.
“
Okay.
”

“
You
just pack and wait,
”
Blake
said.
“
I
’
ll take care of everything else.
”

“
Thank
you,
”
Maya said.
“
Blake
…
when we talked
…”

“
No,
no, swe
…
Maya. No. We
’
re not doing that. This is about
Ted. Your grandfather. Nothing is wrong here. I swear on it.
”

That was a lie. There was something
wrong. Blake loved Maya and he needed to say it.

Not right now, man.

“
Okay,
Blake,
”
Maya said.
“
I lo
…
I appreciate this. You. Everything.
”

“
Okay,
sweetheart,
”
Blake said and
winced.
“
Just go. I
’
ll be there soon.
”

Blake ended the call and jumped up.
He started barking orders at Sam and the band. They all moved with speed and
were willing to do anything. Willow Son quickly stepped up and told the guys
they
’
d take care of all the
after show interviews and would cover any radio shows as needed.

Blake had one focus -
Maya.

And not just for this
…
no
…
this was the start of
forever, again.

(10)

The show had been their best one
yet.
Maya knew she always said that to the guys, but this was the truth. It
was their best show. The bar had been packed with people spilling into the
streets, hoping to get in. The owner even had a cover charge that people paid
without fight, meaning Gone by Autumn was actually going to get paid for this
show. In fact, the last two months, they
’
d
been getting paid handsomely to play gigs. Part of the shows did include cover
songs, but this was working. The band had money to survive. They could gas up
the van without using Sam
’
s
credit cards. (Sam had two more cards left before he was completely maxed out.)

The entire place cheered, sang when
Ryan told them to sing, and they all commanded the stage for an whole hour.
That was a real set.

Maya slipped along the side of the
bar toward the backstage area. She had a little backstage pass strapped around
her neck, looking and feeling so cool and official. The bar was big enough to
actually have a backstage area, which made the show even cooler.

She showed her pass to the security
guard blocking her way and he moved to the side. There was a handful of people
backstage, most of them employees of the bar, trying to get to the kitchen to
get food, give more orders, and get supplies.

When she spotted the band standing
there, the look on their faces was priceless. Better yet, Blake looked fucking
sexy in a sleeveless shirt, his muscular arms sweaty.

Maya still couldn
’
t wrap her mind around what she
and Blake had been going through. The sex was so hot. But it was so much deeper
than that. They just hadn
’
t
really talked about it. A week ago, Blake had been stumbling drunk and grabbed
Maya by the shoulders, held her at arm
’
s
length, and confessed to her that he loved her madly.

I love you
…
like madly
…
I mean
…
I
’
m madly in love with you
…

Of course, four seconds later, the
rest of the band had appeared, leaving Maya dangling on a broken branch since
then, wondering if it was just Blake being lovingly drunk or if he was dead
serious.

She told herself that soon she
would say something for real. Tonight even. Considering it was the best Gone by
Autumn show, like, ever, why not top it off with her and Blake confessing their
love to one another.

It was absolutely beautiful.

A memory they
’
d
…

Maya took two steps and then
stopped when she saw a few other women approach the band. They were in shirts
showing too much skin, too tight, and jeans that seemed impossible to get on. A
blonde woman walked right up to Blake and ran her hand down his arm. She said
something to him and his eyes lit up.

Groupies.

Another part of the rockstar life.
Those wild and, usually, one night stand adventures. The purpose of the road,
Maya figured. Unless you were tied down. And if you were so-called tied down,
what stopped it from happening? Distance and time did strange things to anyone
’
s heart. It made the guilt less
and less. Plus, Maya figured there were
rules of the road
when it came
to being with a rockstar. What happened there, stayed there. Not to mention if
Blake was drinking and having fun. Did he really deserve to have to constantly
judge his own judgment?

He
’
d
been waiting for this his entire life.

Maya took her two steps back and
plenty more, until she was out of sight.

She ended up in the woman
’
s bathroom, sitting on closed
toilet, crying.

She could never share Blake.
It
would hurt less now to lose him than it would to have him break her heart
…

Maya had no more tears, but she
still dabbed the corners of her eyes. Everything was on her shoulders now. Just
…
everything. Her grandfather was
a good man. A strong man. He worked hard, kept Maya alive and raised her until
she was old enough to go out on her own. He loved music and that
’
s where the love started for
Maya. Although her grandfather preferred blues and jazz over rock, his passion
for music went to her.

And now he was in a hospital bed,
waiting to let go.

She
’
d
already told him to do so three times. Whispering in his ear, kissing his
cheek, holding his hand, telling him to just let go. To be free. To go jam out
in heaven with his favorite trumpet players.

But the stubborn man hung on.

Maya had met with doctors and
nurses, everything simply confirmed that there was nothing left to do. She had
known it was going to happen; eventually everyone runs out of time. Some sooner
than others, but no matter what, it wasn
’
t
easy for those who cared. Yeah, her grandfather loved cigars. Yeah, he loved
brandy. Yeah, he didn
’
t eat
the right foods all the time, but who gave a shit about that right now?

The head nurse, Daphne, brought her
a coffee and told her to get something to eat. Maya refused. She wouldn
’
t leave the room until
…

Maya closed her eyes and shook her
head. She couldn
’
t stomach
thinking it.

More so, she couldn
’
t stop thinking about Blake.
Christ, he
’
d been the first
person she called. Just instinctively called. Just like that. He was the first
person that popped into her mind, but that made sense since her grandfather and
Blake had been close.

Maya took out her phone and sent a
text to Hunter, explaining everything that was going on. She didn
’
t expect a reply, but one came
through within a minute or two.

I
’
m so sorry. Where are you?

Maya texted back the name of the
hospital. In her mind, she wondered how long it would take for Hunter to
return. If he could land and get another flight.

Her phone vibrated again.

I wish there was something I
could do.

Maya wrote back.

When do you land? Not sure how
long he has. You should have met him. He was a good man.

Maya didn
’
t feel very comfortable writing that last text.
Truth was, she couldn
’
t
picture her grandfather and Hunter actually getting along. The business look
and wealth would have definitely put her grandfather off.

It was just a nice gesture though.

And then came Hunter
’
s next text.

Sorry. I won
’
t be able to come back.
When I land
…
I have so many meetings. I
’
m
sorry I didn
’
t
meet him either. If you need financial support when he passes, I will help.
Please understand.

Maya read the text twice and felt
herself getting angry. Hunter wasn
’
t
even going to make an attempt? Then again, they had split up before Hunter
left, right? Why would he bother coming?

“
Because
he should care,
”
Maya
whispered.

Like Blake.

She shut her eyes.

Blake was a rockstar. On tour with
possibly the biggest band in the country. Maybe the world even. And he dropped
everything after a show to ensure Maya would get to her grandfather as
comfortably as possible.

And he was on his way here
…

Maya pressed a button on her phone
and started typing.

Yeah, thanks. I
’
ll be fine, Hunter. Good
luck with your meetings.

She wanted to take a jab at him
because she could. Because she was hurting right now.

Then Hunter texted back -
Just
worry about what you need.

That was it.

That
’
s
where Maya left it.

“
What
I need?
”
she whispered.

She looked to her grandfather and
her eyes filled with tears. A second later there was a knock at the door. When
it opened, in flooded Gone by Autumn. All five guys. They looked tired and worn
out. But in old time fashion, they surrounded Maya as she stood up. They all
hugged her, squeezing her tight in a sweat smelling, booze lingering scent that
made her burst into tears.

These guys were everything to her.
Like the family she never had. Like big brothers
…
well, all except one.

The hug broke and the guys all
moved away. All except Blake. He stood just a few feet away. He looked at Maya.
Then he looked at her grandfather. Then he looked at her again and his eyes
were instantly glossy.

Blake then opened his arms, and the
sight was the greatest thing Maya had seen in a long time
…
in a long damn time.

*

Blake held Maya and told himself to
never let her go. Hell or high water
…
well, that really wasn
’
t
possible. But he held her for a few minutes, walking backward and leaning
against a wall, with a crying Maya tucked tightly to his chest. She wept and he
stroked the back of her hair. He rested his chin on her head. The rest of the
band stood there and stared. Damn, the entire scene was uncomfortable, but they
all needed to be there for Maya. She deserved it; so did Ted. He was rough and
tough man on the outside but he had a heart of gold and that gold melted into
goo when it came to Maya.

And now he was barely holding on.

Blake knew how this was going to
come to an end, too. Ted wouldn
’
t
go in front of Maya. He had his own terms to do it. While Blake wasn
’
t exactly a believer in much of
anything truly spiritual, he believed that a bullish man like Ted would have
the strength to control his own passing.

So Blake held Maya tight. He kissed
the top of her head.
“
I
’
m sorry, sweetheart. At least
you made it, right?
”

Maya pulled away and looked up at
Blake. Blake cleared his throat and blinked fast. He didn
’
t want to lose himself in front
of Maya. He gently touched her face. All those old memories and feelings
doubled up on him, deep in his heart.

Shit
…

“
Thank
you for being here,
”
Maya
said. Before Blake could speak, she turned around.
“
Thank you all for being here
…”

“
Where
else would we be?
”
Asher
asked with a grin.

Maya laughed, finally.

Her body was inches from Blake
’
s. He stood there with his fists
balled up. Staring at Maya
’
s
body, desperate to touch her waist. To slide his arms around her and pull her
close. Hold her tight. Kiss her neck. Whisper to her that everything would be
okay and then spend the rest of his life proving to Maya that it wasn
’
t a lie.

“
We
’
re here,
”
Ryan said.
“
What
do you need?
”

“
Nothing,
”
Maya said.
“
Just glad you
’
re all here.
”

The band faced the bed and they all
took a few seconds in silence to say what they had to say. Nurses then came in
to check on Ted and they kindly said there were too many people in the room. A
bit starstruck, the nurse blushed as she laid down the hospital law. Everyone
then left the room but Maya and Blake.

Blake stood at the foot of the
hospital bed. He really hated seeing Ted like this. He remembered Ted with
thick and dirty hands. A cigar in his mouth, lit or unlit, always in his mouth.
His big brown eyes, bushy eyebrows that easily cut down when he was listening,
making him always look pissed off. Needless to say it was hard to talk to Ted.
You never knew if he was in a good mood or pissed off at the world, which was
always a fifty-fifty shot.

Now Ted was in a bed, hooked up to
machines, just waiting to go.

Blake stared and sighed. He shook
his head.

He then felt something touch his
hand. He looked down to see Maya slipping her hand into his. The feelings
rushed back again and Blake shut his eyes. This was for her grandfather,
nothing else. This wasn
’
t
Maya making a move. She needed love. She needed comfort. She was vulnerable,
hurt, and confused.

Simply put, Blake needed to
freaking control himself.

Maya put her head on Blake
’
s shoulder and they stood in
silence together for a few minutes.

“
You
know,
”
Maya said,
“
he loved you, Blake. He didn
’
t like the other guys.
”

“
What
other guys?
”
Blake asked.

“
The
band for starters.
”

“
Really?
”

Maya laughed again.

God,what a pretty laugh
…

“
Yeah,
”
she said.
“
He hated Asher. I think he
caught Asher checking me out a few times. But that
’
s just Asher, right?
”