First and Always: The Forever Duet

by Brooke, Rebecca

  The scent of apple hit me as soon as I stepped through the front door.

  Home.

  Christine kept an apple scented candle on practically every surface of our house. I dropped the bags in the foyer and wandered farther into the house. The sound of clanging glasses hit my ears and I followed the sound into the kitchen.

  Two weeks in our own private oasis, the time had finally come for us to return to real life. Life with jobs, obligations, and chaos. We both loved the lives we had, but damn, being away had been paradise. Swimming, snorkeling, spending the days in the sun, followed by nights wrapped up in each other. It was perfection.

  Christine stood at the counter making coffee. I walked up behind her and wrapped my arms around her waist. “Hey.” I nibbled on the edge of her ear and enjoyed the shiver that ran through her body.

  “Hey—”

  “Oh my God, didn’t you get enough of that shit on your honeymoon?”

  I whirled around and Jackson was sitting at the small breakfast nook in the corner of the kitchen. How the hell had I not seen him?

  Maybe everybody had been right all these years; once Christine entered a room, I only had eyes for her.

  “What the hell are you doing here? We just walked in the door and you’re already sitting at my kitchen table.”

  Jackson leaned back and rested his arms along the back of the bench. “Nice, considering I’ve watched your dog for the last two weeks.”

  Christine walked over and smacked me on the arm. “Don’t give him a hard time. He took great care of Zeus while we were away.”

  I walked over and dropped into the seat across from him. “Fine,” I grumbled, trying to hide the smile at the corner of my lips. “I guess we can have coffee.”

  “Dick.” Jackson kicked me lightly in the leg under the table.

  I reached down and grabbed my shin. “Ow, fucker.”

  He smirked. “That’s what you get for being ungrateful that I came here to drop your dog off to you.”

  “Okay, now we’re talking. You saved me a trip to your place.”

  Christine handed him a mug of coffee. “Ignore him.”

  He wrapped his hands around the mug. “I usually do. At least now he’s being nice.”

  “I’m always nice.” I took the cup Christine handed me. “How’s Megan doing?”

  “Fantastic.” He lifted the coffee to his lips and took a sip. “She’s pissed she couldn’t wear heels to the wedding, but her PT says a few more weeks and she should be almost a hundred percent.”

  “I’m really glad to hear that.” Christine sat on the bench next to Jackson. “She didn’t deserve any of that to happen.”

  Jackson sighed. “Tell me about it. I’m just glad she never has to go back again.”

  “Never?”

  “Nope. She had six months to go when she left. Now she can go back to the hospital full-time. Well, she can in a few months’ time anyway.”

  Christine tiled her head to the side. “A few months’ time?”

  Excitement filled my chest. “Do you mean what I think you mean?”

  Jackson glanced over at me and winked. “That’s exactly what I mean.”

  After so many years of friendship, Jackson and I could have an entire conversation without exactly saying the words. We knew each other inside and out.

  “Okay, you two, stop talking in your code. What are you talking about?”

  “It’s time for us to go back on tour,” Jackson answered.

  “Back on tour? After all this time?” Her gaze darted between the two of us.

  Jackson leaned his arm on the table, holding on to the mug with the other hand. “Yeah. They sold the tickets before we had to cancel when I went home to Megan. They’re ready to reschedule it all now.”

  Christine shook her head and laughed. “At least we’re already packed.”

  “Damn, I at least want a few nights in my own bed.”

  “Don’t worry, you’ll get it. From what Heath said, they’re going to start announcing dates soon. It’ll probably be about a month before we head out to finish the shows we have left.”

  I reached over and linked my fingers with Christine’s where they rested on the table. “I can work with a month. And now, Zeus can come with us on the tour bus.”

  The dog came barreling into the room from somewhere else inside the house as if he sensed we were talking about leaving him again. His claws scratching along the tile on the floor as he ran right to Christine’s side and sat at her feet.

  Christine reached down and scratched behind his ears. “Aww, boy, we promise not to leave you alone again. You get to come with us this time.”

  My lips curled up at the corners. I was surprised she even agreed to leave Zeus while we were on our honeymoon. I had a feeling if Jackson hadn’t been able to watch him, she would have wanted us to bring him or stay home.

  Jackson reached his hand down and Zeus ran right over to him. “He’s really a good dog. I have a feeling Megan’s gonna want to get a dog of her own now.”

  “Aww, you should get her one. Best birthday present Aiden ever got me.”

  “We’ll see. First we have to get her leave of absence for the hospital extended. No way in hell I’m leaving her behind again when we head out.”

  “I don’t blame you.”

  “Especially after the last time I went out on tour without her.” Jackson nodded. “Now tell me about the honeymoon. How was it?”

  “Oh my God, it was absolutely perfect. The weather was gorgeous, not a single drop of rain, and the water was the bluest I’ve ever seen.”

  “She’s not kidding, man. You should take Megan there. The private villa is everything you could hope for. All of the amenities with no people in your business.”

  “You mean no one trying to take pictures of you every five seconds while you’re just trying to relax?”

  “Not a single one.” You could hear the smile in Christine’s voice.

  I figured that had been one of the most important and relaxing parts of our trip. No one bothering us meant she truly had the opportunity to just enjoy herself without worrying what everyone else might capture in a picture for all the world to see.

  “Sounds like the perfect spot to take Megan on a honeymoon.”

  “I guess you’re actually going to take one this time.”

  He sighed. “Not yet. My mom and her mom were serious. Made us promise no honeymoons until we have an actually wedding.”

  A heavy, rumbling laugh left my lips. “I thought you might have been joking at the church.”

  “Not a single little bit. At least time on the road will give us a chance to plan so we can hold it when we get back.” Jackson finished off the rest of his coffee and set his mug down on the counter. “All right, I’m gonna get out of your hair. I promised to take Megan out to lunch when I got back.”

  Christine slid out of the booth first so Jackson could get out. As soon as he was standing, she wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed a kiss to his cheek. “Thank you for bringing Zeus back and for taking such good care of him.”

  “Anytime.” He tightened his arm around her for a moment and let go, moving to drop a hand to my shoulder. “Get some rest. We’ll talk more tomorrow.”

  I glanced over my shoulder and smiled. “Thanks, man.”

  Jackson waved on his way through the laundry room door.

  I shook my head. “How did I miss his car in the drive?”

  Christine walked over, choosing to sit on my lap instead of the bench across from me. Something I definitely didn’t mind. “Everyone has always told you, when it comes to me, you don’t pay attention to anyone else.”

  “Can you blame me?”

  “Not in the least.”

  Zeus danced around at our feet. “All right, boy. I get it, you need to go out.”

  She stood and I instantly missed the heat of her body, not that mine needed to get any harder. I reached down and adjusted myself in my pants.

  The soun
d of the sliding door hit my ears. The fence around our property gave Zeus all the room he wanted to run and roam through the woods. Christine came back into the kitchen and much to my dismay, chose to sit on the bench.

  “Don’t give me that look.”

  “What look?”

  Her brow rose. “The one that says you want to get into my pants.”

  “And there’s something wrong with that because?”

  She wrapped her hands around the bottle of water still sitting on the table. “Because we need to talk about this whole leaving again in a month. Why didn’t anyone tell us before now?”

  I scoffed. “Probably because I threatened them if they bothered us on the honeymoon with anything other than someone had passed away or was gravely injured.”

  Her mouth dropped open. “You didn’t.” I leaned back in the chair, crossing my arms over my chest and regarding her with silence. “Oh my God. You’re so bad.” She laughed.

  “Maybe. But they left us alone, didn’t they?”

  She flopped back against the seat. “Yes, and it was glorious.”

  Her eyes closed almost as if she was reliving the two weeks in her head. I lifted my cup to my lips, taking a sip of my favorite dark roast while the moment passed.

  I chuckled when I set the cup down and she still had her eyes closed. Eventually they fluttered open.

  “Good memories?”

  “The best.” A contented sigh left her lips, then she sat up and rested her crossed arms along the table. “But now we have to think about heading out again.”

  My stomach clenched. “Do you not want to go?”

  I didn’t want to think about heading out on the road without her now. Not that I ever did, but we’d just gotten married. I wanted her by my side for everything.

  “I do, but I know I have a few meetings scheduled over the next few months that I can’t cancel.”

  “We can always fly you back and forth whenever you need to be back.”

  “I know, but I hate leaving you on the road.”

  I reached out and laid my hand on her arm. “I know you do, but we’ll find a way to make it work. There was only about six months left.”

  “I know, but I was hoping to come home and—” She snapped her mouth shut.

  “And what?”

  “Nothing. Just thinking.”

  Christine had a terrible poker face. Her gaze had gotten lost somewhere across the room. I gave her arm a shake. “Tell me.”

  She brought her eyes back to mine. “It’s really nothing, I promise.” She moved her arms out from mine, sliding to the edge of the bench. The bottle in her hands still halfway full, she stood and walked over to dump it in the sink. “I’m going to let Zeus in, then we can unpack.”

  I stared at her retreating back as she went into the laundry room, shutting the door behind her. Whatever was on her mind, she was keeping it close to the chest. And I knew better than to push. She was calm and hadn’t gotten to the brink of a meltdown, which meant it was time to let it go.

  Eventually she’d talk. She always did. Until then, we had plans to make. Six more months on the road…not exactly what I hoped to come home to, but the fans deserved their shows. They’d waited long enough to reschedule. Besides, once we were done, Christine and I could come home and enjoy married life without the tour hanging over our heads all the time.

  The next seven months were going to be an adventure.

  21

  Three months of traveling from city to city, and we finally had two nights off in a row. In a month, we had an entire three-day weekend with no shows. Luckily it seemed to line up perfectly with the end of the last week Christine had to head home. We’d be able to fly back and finish the rest of the tour together.

  By the time I’d rolled over after a late show the night before, Christine’s side of the bed was empty. While I loved playing with Jaded Ivory, the shows we went on after them seemed to last into the wee hours of the night. I might not be a morning person, but noon was even late for me to roll out of bed.

  I forced my feet over the side of the bed and rubbed the sleep from my eyes. The scent of coffee filled my nose, perking me up a bit. It would be even better when I could actually get a cup. But first a shower.

  Voices drifted down the hall of the buses as I stepped out of the shower and into the bedroom. I grabbed the jeans off the bed. I loved playing live for the crowds, but I always missed my space when we were on the road. Sure the tour bus was only mine and Christine’s, but the bathroom wasn’t even big enough to change in.

  I tugged my jeans on and pulled the T-shirt over my head. With a quick dry to my hair, I threw the towel into the hamper.

  I caught my reflection in the mirror. The scruff on my face was getting a bit long. No need for a full beard; at some point I’d have to trim it up. I reached for the clipper when the voices hit my ears again and my curiosity won out. I set it on the counter and left the bedroom in search of whoever Christine was talking to.

  Not like there were many options when we were in a different city every night. No one to hang out with besides the bands and the crew.

  When I reached the sitting area/kitchen of the bus, I found Christine curled up in one of the recliners talking to Kylee.

  “I think you need to talk to him. Be honest or…” Christine clamped her mouth shut.

  Kylee glanced over her shoulder at me. “Hey, Aiden.”

  “Morning, Kylee.” She glanced out the window and back at me. I laughed. “I guess I should say afternoon.”

  “It is more fitting.” She smirked, but Christine seemed awfully quiet.

  “Should I leave for the boy talk?”

  They both rolled their eyes at me.

  “No. Don’t be ridiculous. I was telling Christine about my date the other night.”

  I opened the cabinet, took a mug down, and filled it with coffee from the steaming pot.

  “Date? How the hell do you date on the road? We’re never in the same city more than a—” I lifted the mug to my lips, freezing halfway there. A light bulb went off in my head and suddenly why Christine stopped talking when I came out made so much more sense.

  Christine looked away.

  “Who is it?”

  Kylee shook her head. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  “Bullshit.” I moved around the table and sat on the edge. “The only way you’ve been dating someone in this nomadic life we’ve been living is if it’s someone we’re on the road with and since everyone in Jaded Ivory is spoken for and you’re not a home wrecker, I’d guess it was someone in the crew.”

  Kylee stared me down. “It’s not.”

  I narrowed my eyes at her. “Who is it?”

  She crossed her arms over her chest. “Miles.”

  My mouth dropped open. It took me a few moments to locate my tongue, which Kylee found amusing if the smirk tugging at the corner of her lips was any indication.

  “Nothing to say?” Kylee taunted.

  Christine’s head shook as she laughed. “I always try to tell you to not be too nosy, but you just can’t help yourself.”

  “Can you blame me? Nothing about her story made sense.” I stood, my feet moving across the floor and back again before I could stop them. “I knew that bastard had been keeping secrets.”

  Miles had been so secretive lately, sneaking out once everything was packed up from the show. Didn’t want to head out for a drink on the few nights that Christine had been back in California. When I mentioned it to Christine she’d brushed it off as exhaustion.

  I spun on my heel and faced Christine. “You knew and you didn’t tell me?”

  She lifted her hands in the air. “Don’t blame me, Miles made me promise.”

  I covered my heart. “I’m wounded you’d take his side over mine.”

  Kylee sighed. “He was afraid that you’d be upset. We didn’t want you to feel like we were risking the band by being together.”

  I hadn’t even thought of that. “So thi
s thing with you two isn’t just fucking?”

  “Aiden,” Christine breathed, eyes wide.

  Kylee shrugged off my reference in her typical fashion. “It started that way, but I’m not so sure anymore.”

  Three raps sounded from the door. It swung open before I had a chance to say anything.

  “Hey, what—” Miles stopped midsentence as he almost reached the top of the stairs. His gaze darted from me to Christine to Kylee then back to me. “Shit.” He turned to leave.

  “Don’t think for one second about stepping off this bus before you get your ass up here and explain what the fuck is happening right now.”

  His shoulders slumped and he turned around, climbing the rest of the stairs into the room. “You know?”

  “He knows,” Christine offered when I simply stared at him.

  Miles walked over to take the seat next to Kylee. He looked at Christine. “I thought you promised not to tell him.”

  Kylee shook her head. “Don’t blame her. She didn’t say a word. I mentioned going out last night and”—she lifted her hand in my direction—“Mr. Perceptive here figured it out on his own.”

  Miles chuckled humorlessly. “I knew he’d figure it out at some point. I was just hoping that by then we’d be on more solid ground.”

  Kylee narrowed her eyes. “Solid ground? I didn’t realize things were so rocky.” She moved to stand, but Miles grabbed her arm, keeping her seated.

  “That’s not what I mean. There’s nothing rocky here, but it’s also very new. I hoped for some time together before we told everyone, then they wouldn’t think we were being stupid and risking everything we have.”

  I set my mug down and pinched the bridge of my nose. “Why does everyone suddenly think I’m a stuffed shirt that wouldn’t want people to date if they have feelings for each other?”

  Miles set his hand on Kylee’s thigh and looked over. “You mean you’re not mad?”

  I scoffed. “Oh, I’m fucking pissed, but not because you two are screwing. I’m pissed because you kept it from me. I’m not your goddamn parents. You want to date someone, date them. You’re both adults. You know the risks…but you also deserve the reward if you can find the one person who is yours.” I glanced over at Christine, blinded by her answering smile.