Chase the Road (A Brothers of Rock - GONE BY AUTUMN - Novel) (4 page)

“
I
dumped his ass,
”
Maya
whispered.
“
Like you said
to do.
”

Blake had to contain a smile.

Goodbye Jeff. Go learn how to
play guitar, you loser.

Blake took Maya by the hand and
walked out of the room. They went outside and around back, grabbing themselves
some privacy.

“
What
happened?
”
Blake asked.

“
I
just told you. I thought about it. It doesn
’
t
work. It's not a big deal. You know? Just a guy, right?
”

“
Yeah,
right,
”
Blake said.
“
I know you liked him.
”

“
No,
I didn
’
t. I didn't like
him. I just liked
…
the idea
of it. Someone there. To hang with. To date. To kiss
…”

Blake felt the fire of jealousy
rage through him.

“
He
’
s not worth it,
”
Blake said.

“
Yeah?
Who is?
”

And there it was. Another damn
moment. When Maya was upset, flirty, and asking questions that came with heavy
answers. And Blake stood there, staring at her, knowing the answer, but not
speaking it.

Another breeze kicked up, grabbing
at Maya
’
s hair just like it
had done before. Blake hurried and reached up to Maya
’
s face, taking her hair and moving it out of the
way. He then held his hand to her face, his thumb stroking her cheek. Maya
grabbed at Blake
’
s shirt,
two handfuls.

“
Holy
shit,
”
she whispered.

“
Yeah,
”
Blake said.
“
Holy shit
…”

He came forward, pinning Maya up
against the back of the small garage the band rented out to practice in. Maya
pulled his body close to hers while Blake
’
s
lips crashed to hers. He tasted her, kissing once, twice, his tongue eager for
more. He broke the kiss and kept his forehead touching hers. They stared at
each other for a few seconds and then started right back up again.

This time, it was all go
…
Blake flicked his tongue to
Maya
’
s thin lips, just like
he had always dreamed of doing. Maya kept him tight to her body. Blake was
unable to control his urges and needs, and Maya made things worse when she made
a little wiggle and thrust move, sighing as she did so.

The hot kiss grew hotter, Blake
still holding the side of Maya
’
s
cheek. He resisted so hard to not thrust at her. Hell, to not start tearing her
clothes off.

Not now. Not here. Not like this
…

Maya deserved more. She deserved
better. Blake knew he wouldn
’
t
be her first, but he wanted to be her best. And he wanted to be her last. That
’
s what forever meant to him.

They kissed for what could have
been another hour. When they stopped, Blake smiled and ran his thumb to her
bottom lip. Her lips were red and puffy from kissing so hard.

“
We
go in there now, we
’
re
busted,
”
Maya said,
catching her breath.
“
We
’
re all flustered
…”

“
There
’
s no busted,
”
Blake said.
“
Let me take you out, Maya. Let
’
s do this right. Finally
…”

Maya grinned.
“
Can I think about it?
”

“
Seriously?
”

“
We
can make out while I think about it
…”

Blake kissed her again.

A few minutes later she broke the
kiss and smiles. Without a word, she walked away and looked back at the last
second and give a nod.

Yes.

And an hour later, that song the
band had started was finished.
It
was going
to be their first
radio hit
…

Blake opened his eyes and brought
his head forward. His neck was stiff and hurt like hell. He groaned and rubbed
the back of his neck. He looked at the bottle in his hand and then scrambled to
find a clock. His cell read it had been two hours since the guys left.

And Blake was feeling sober.
Groggy, mouth dry, but damn sober.

The dreams of Maya had been coming
on strong lately and weren
’
t
going to go away.

His phone then beeped with a text
message.

It was from Maya.

One more night until the tour
starts!

Blake dropped the phone and rubbed
his forehead again. He
’
d
give it all up though. The tour. The deal. The money. The life. Everything. He
’
d give it all up
…
for what?

For Maya?

Blake shook his head. He didn
’
t need to give anything up for
Maya. Other than his stubbornness to say and do something about his feelings.

Blake looked back and saw the
whiskey on the table.

Yeah, he was sober now
…
but that didn
’
t have to last long.

(4)

Maya sat at the table. She hadn
’
t touched her coffee because it
wasn
’
t all that good. Call
her tongue spoiled, but spending time on the road (hell, years on the road)
left her knowing what she liked and expected out of a cup of coffee. And
coffeemakers at home definitely did not make the cut.

Plus, it was kind of too late in
the afternoon to have coffee.

For Hunter, there was never a bad
time for coffee. He
’
d been
working with some international deals all week, meaning he was on a global time
schedule. So when it was rise n
’
shine time in Japan, that meant Hunter had to be up, ready, dressed, and
looking professional to talk business.

That meant his sleep schedule was
screwed. And that lead right into his coffee addiction.

Maya had two bags next to the door
and kept looking at them, feeling jittery. She hated this feeling. She never
lived this way. Lived to do what
…
to talk to someone about leaving? To ask for permission? To
…
what?

The door opened and Maya popped up.

Hunter came out of the office in
his apartment (which was just a second bedroom in the place, but redesigned to
look like a beautiful and professional office). He tucked his cell into his
pocket and shook his head.

“
What
’
s wrong?
”
Maya asked.

“
Nothing,
”
Hunter said and grabbed for her
arm.

He pulled, kind of aggressive, a
move Maya didn
’
t like all
that much. She threw her arms around him and looked up at Hunter.

“
Work,
”
he said and wrinkled his nose.
“
Sometimes it really sucks. You
know?
”

“
Actually,
I don
’
t,
”
Maya said.
“
I
’
ve
had one job and it
’
s been
…
I make sure it
’
s fun.
”

“
Hanging
with the rockstars?
”

“
Well,
it
’
s more than that.
”

“
I
know, I
’
m just teasing.
”

He kissed her forehead. Maya could
feel his spit lingering. She didn
’
t
like that feeling either.

Stop being bitchy and picky.

“
But
really though, is this it for you?
”
Hunter asked.
“
I mean, band
and all?
”

“
It
’
s what I have now. It
’
s what I love.
”

“
Well,
you know what I love?
”

“
What?
”

“
I
love you,
”
Hunter said.
“
I love every
…”
His head turned. Then he
frowned.
“
There
’
s bags at the door. Someone
here?
”

“
Just
us,
”
Maya said.

“
Someone
leaving?
”
he asked and then
backed up, putting Maya at arm
’
s
length.

“
Hunter
…”

“
You
’
re going to the show then.
”

“
I
don
’
t want to feel like I
have to ask. Or worry about it. You know?
”

“
I
never said you had to ask or worry. I would never do that to you. I just don
’
t get it.
”

“
It
’
s my life,
”
Maya said. She regretted the
way it sounded. Hunter
’
s
face dropped; he was hurt by the comment.
“
I
mean, my job. I
’
ve been
there all the time
…”

“
So
nothing changes in life?
”
Hunter asked.
“
I mean, I used
to go down to Andy
’
s every
Thursday for all-you-can-eat wings and fifty cent drafts. I don
’
t do that anymore.
”

“
Why
not?
”

“
Well,
first, I kind of grew up and got out of it.
”

Maya swallowed hard.
“
Are you suggesting that I grow
up?
”

“
No,
”
Hunter said. He crept forward
and touched her waist.
“
I
just
…
I want it to be us,
Maya. That
’
s all. Just you
and me. I don
’
t know what
you have to do there.
”

“
Come
with me then.
”

“
I
went to a couple shows,
”
Hunter said.
“
I like it a
lot. I mean, they
’
re a
great band. I just don
’
t
like music
…”

Don
’
t like music.

Maya thought about all the times
Blake and the guys would bust on her for never dating a guy who could play an
instrument. What would they think of Hunter if they knew he didn
’
t like music.

“
Okay,
”
Maya said.
“
Then why don
’
t you take a night and go to
that place you just talked about?
”

“
Andy
’
s?
”
Hunter asked with a grin.

“
Yeah.
”

“
It
closed down five years ago. And the building was knocked down. It
’
s a parking lot now for a
grocery store.
”

“
Oh,
”
Maya said.

Point taken straight to her heart.
Hunter didn
’
t think she
should go because it was in the past. Because things change. Because life
changes. Because some guy walks up to you at a bar and looks cute with his tie
loose. Then the next morning you wake up and look into that cute guy
’
s eyes and realize it wasn
’
t just a one night stand
…
and wouldn
’
t be. Not that Maya didn
’
t ask for all this
…

“
I
…”

“
It
means that much to you?
”
Hunter asked.

“
It
’
s Gone by Autumn,
”
Maya said.
“
They
’
re my life, Hunter. They
’
re my career. Everything I
’
ve ever done has been Gone by Autumn. It
’
s opening night of their tour.
”

“
So
even if I try and bribe you with expensive wine? Your favorite dinner?
Restaurant
…
order out
…
sit around in our PJ
’
s
…
maybe naked
…”

Maya forced a smile but hated the
feeling rolling through her. She didn
’
t
want to choose. That wasn
’
t
the point of all this. She envisioned just being on a path and someone being on
that same path right next to her. No stopping, or twisting, or turning.

“
Hey,
if that placed closed, why didn
’
t
you find a new place to get wings and beer?
”

Hunter laughed.
“
That
’
s what stuck with you right now?
”

“
Yeah,
”
Maya said.
“
Why not find someplace new?
”

“
Maybe
because I was sick of wings and beer.
”

Strike two
, Maya thought.

Who gets sick of wings and beer?

She smiled, again.
“
Well, I
’
m not sick of my job. Or life. Or what I
’
d like to do.
”

Hunter stood like stone for a few
seconds. Those classic handsome looks were almost addicting, but more
comforting than anything else.

Finally, Hunter reached up and stroked
the back of his fingers to Maya
’
s
face.
“
Let me carry those
bags for you.
”

As she walked to her car, Maya had
a sense of guilt and relief wash over her. That was followed by a memory
…
of Blake not using the back of
his fingers to touch her face but his hand touching. That strong hand, holding
her
…
pushing her up against
a garage, a wall, pushing her down to a bed
…

*

Blake stood at the side of the
stage and jumped up and down a few times. The crowd was already going crazy.
They hadn
’
t stopped yelling
and cheering. Rightfully so. Willow Son kicked ass. That
’
s all there was to say about it.

They kicked ass.

Whatever their deal was in the past
meant nothing now.

The fans accepted them back,
accepted Gone by Autumn too, and definitely accepted this tour. While it wouldn
’
t be some mega blockbuster tour
that lasted for years, it was something right now. Enough to capitalize on the
momentum for both bands.

Screw that.

Blake didn't care about momentum or
that business stuff. He cared about the shows. The music. The connection with
the fans. They were the ultimate drug to feed his addiction. Being behind the
kit for a couple hours in front of all those people was just what he needed to
keep his mind clear.

“
Wild
tonight,
”
Asher said,
walking up next to Blake, a guitar strapped on his shoulder.

“
Hell
yeah, man. I can
’
t wait.
”

“
You
’
re ready? Focused? All that
…
shit
…”

Blake looked at Asher.
“
I
’
ll
hit you again, man.
”

“
Next
time, I
’
m going to hit you
back.
”

Blake grinned.
“
It
’
s
all good. Speaking of which, where is Maya?
”

“
I
don
’
t know,
”
Asher said.
“
Haven
’
t see her. Or heard from her.
”

“
Opening
night and she
’
s not here?
”

“
I
don
’
t know, bro. Let that
shit go. Maybe she
’
s busy.
Working something for the band.
”

“
Or
with that guy,
”
Blake said.
“
I bet he doesn
’
t even like music. Some suit and
tie guy worried about numbers. Like Sam, but without the coolness.
”

“
You
think Sam is cool?
”

“
Who
thinks Sam is cool?
”
Ryan
asked, approaching.

“
Blake
does,
”
Asher said.

“
No,
”
Ryan said with a laugh.
“
Sam is far from cool.
”

“
He
’
s comparing him to Maya
’
s love interest,
”
Asher said.

“
Don
’
t say it like that,
”
Blake said.

“
Are
we back to that again?
”
Ryan asked.

“
No,
”
Blake said.

He took a few steps and was just a
couple feet away from the main part of the stage. The curtain was still down,
blocking all the behind the scenes action.

Finally, the lights went out.

The crowd got louder.

The band all stood together, two
techs standing with flashlights to light the way for the guys.

“
Let
’
s do this,
”
Ryan yelled.

“
Fucking
rock n
’
roll!
”
Asher growled.

He ran across the stage. Tanner
followed. Then Gabe and Ryan. Blake walked to his drum kit and cracked his
knuckles. A soundtrack blared through the speakers, rumbling the entire arena.
The black curtain blocked the crowd, but they were loud. They were very loud.

The band members put in their ear
pieces, making the sound equal for them all. So Ryan could hear his vocals
against the guitars and drums. So the guitarists could hear everyone else
playing as they did. The same for Blake.

Blake stood for a few more seconds
and then sat down. He held the drumsticks tight, his left leg bouncing like
crazy. The nerves were always this bad right before the show. The build up for
the fans was the same for the band.

Behind the kit Blake watched Asher pacing
like a hungry animal in a cage. Tanner kept flexing and rolling his shoulders.
Gabe bounced up and down like an excited kid standing at the top of the stairs
on Christmas morning, waiting to go down to see his presents. And Ryan stood
with his head hung, bobbing with the set up music blasting. There was a short
lived time when Ryan would have a cigarette in his mouth, trying to be cool.
But that was a lifetime ago.