Just an Illusion - The B Side

by D. Kelly

“Noah, go put your wife to bed, she’s tired,” Karen scolds him softly.

  I’m exhausted, but Noah promised me fireworks and I’m not going to miss them.

  “Good idea, Mom. We’ll see you guys in the morning,” he says as he passes a sleeping Emme off to Rob before helping me up and leading me to the bedroom.

  “Sorry, Mel, with Em curled up in my lap I didn’t even notice how tired you were getting.”

  Reaching around him, I lock the door behind us. “I may be tired, Noah, but I’m pretty sure you promised me fireworks.”

  With a passionate gleam in his eyes, he reaches down and lifts my dress over my head. “If my wife wants fireworks, who am I to deny her?”

  When Noah’s mouth meets mine, I lose myself in his kiss, one delectable stroke at a time.

  Belle’s Oregon Update

  Slammers!

  It’s your girl Belle here! Today is August 1st and baby watch is officially on. Anyone with eyes who has seen Amelia Weston lately knows she’s about to pop!

  Let’s wish her and Noah all the best for their upcoming delivery. Now, back to the tour. This week, BAD is bringing the house down in Oregon. Next week, we’ll be back in Utah to finish the rest of their gigs there.

  Only two more months left of the Just an Illusion Tour. I can’t believe it’s been almost a year since we started this journey together, Slammed family. We’ve had a lot of fun, haven’t we? Your comments and jokes keep me on my toes and constantly laughing. Maybe once the tour ends, we’ll have to start our own “We miss BAD” fan club. On the plus side, the internet is a fabulous thing and pretty much anything BAD you want to see, read, or hear, you can find. EXCEPT, the upcoming BAD story Mel is creating for all of you. This book is going to be the shit. Everything you think you know about BAD may just be an illusion. What does Mel know that you don’t? Well … I can’t tell you, but I will keep you updated with all the release info once it’s set.

  I’m off to spend some time with my baby girl while her daddy brings the house down in his first Oregon show tonight.

  Talk to you later, Slammers.

  Don’t forget – Live today like there’s no tomorrow.

  Xs and Os

  Belle

  Utah

  #BabyWestonCountdown

  Tomorrow is the baby’s official due date. Poor Mel, she’s such a good sport, but being nine months pregnant doesn’t look very comfortable at all. I have a whole new level of respect for all women, especially the love of my life. We’re both exhausted and ready to meet Baby Weston. I wish the tour was over and I could move straight into fatherhood, but we all have a job to do and this one is mine. Send some positive thoughts and prayers our way over the next few days if you can. I can’t wait to share the first picture with you all!

  “I can barely breathe. How did you do this, Belle?”

  Today is August seventh—the day before Nate is due to arrive—and I’m miserable. Let’s not even talk about how hard it is to sleep. I know Noah’s exhausted because I keep him up with my tossing and turning. I offered to sleep in the bunk, but he refuses to sleep alone. He said he’d rather be tired than be apart.

  “I didn’t, Mel. You’ve been pregnant a whole month longer than I was. I’ve got no idea how you feel right now, but you look like a fucking miserable bitch.” She laughs and kisses Cadence. “Auntie Mel is uncomfortable. Maybe she’ll give you a playmate in the next day or two.”

  Cadence giggles and drools. We’re not the only ones who haven’t been sleeping—teething babies don’t make the best bed fellows. Belle’s here so the guys can try to get some sleep before their gig. Tonight, after the show, Belle is going to sleep here so she can finally get some sleep since they don’t have a show tomorrow night.

  “Are we still going to take a detour to see Rhymin’ Rieanne?” she asks.

  “I guess we are. I’d love to go, but there’s no way I’m singing, and I’m seriously not up to it. But I don’t want to be a buzzkill for everyone. I’ll keep Cadence so you can go, too.”

  “Didn’t Noah tell you? He already offered to keep her. He said there’s no way he’s taking the chance of leaving you alone while he’s in a bar when you’re about to deliver. I swear, Mel, I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. You hit the husband lotto.”

  Nate kicks with Belle’s words, and she’s laughing because she can see it through my shirt. “See, even Nathaniel agrees his daddy is a good guy.”

  As I watch Belle with Cadence, it’s hard for me to believe we’re really this old and married with kids. “Well, Darren is a pretty good guy, too, Belle. I’m not the only one who got lucky. Going to that BAD concert with you last year was the best thing that could have ever happened to either of us.”

  “Finally! She admits it out loud. I’ve been waiting a year for those words to leave your stubborn mouth.” Belle raises Cadence’s arms in triumph and Cadence giggles.

  “Whatever, you knew it even if I didn’t say it. But if you need more validation, I’ll give it to you while I’m weepy and hormonal. I love you, Belle. Thank you for introducing me to the love of my life and my new family.”

  The happiness on her face says it all. “I love you, too, Mel. Now I can officially brag about being the one to set the two of you up.”

  “As if that’s ever stopped you before.”

  She laughs. “I know, right?”

  The bus door opens and Noah walks in with a sleepy smile. “Did you sleep? You look like you feel better.”

  He leans down to kiss me “Five blissful hours. I feel like a new man.” Noah crouches between my legs. “Hey, Nate, come on and kick your way out of there today. Daddy is ready to meet you, little man.” Noah laughs when he’s met with a kick to the cheek. “Well, at least he knows my voice. That’s a good thing.”

  “Was Darren up yet?” Belle asks.

  “Yeah, he said he was going to come over as soon as he brushed his teeth.”

  “Did you hear that, Cadence? Daddy is coming to see you.” As if Cadence knows exactly what Belle said, she wiggles around excitedly. When Darren walks on the bus a few minutes later, and Cadence sets eyes on him, it’s obvious she wants her daddy by her excited squeals.

  Darren kisses Belle and then takes the baby from her, smothering her with kisses and love. Cadence is definitely a daddy’s girl. “Did you miss me, baby girl?”

  “See, Mel, this is what happens. You carry them for nine months, push them out of your vajay like a boss, and all they want is Daddy.” Belle’s watching them adoringly as she complains. She wouldn’t change it for the world.

  “We’re just lightening your load and doing our part,” Noah replies wistfully. He is so excited; he jumps up and asks if he should call the doctor every time I moan because I’m uncomfortable.

  “So Belle said you’re not going to the bar?” I ask.

  Noah looks at me, shocked. “You thought I was going? Why would you think I’d leave you alone? I don’t even like going on stage right now even though I know you’re right outside on the bus. You silly girl, my time is much better spent with you and Cadence.”

  Sawyer comes out of his room, where he’s been the past few hours playing his guitar. “Finally, there’s some fucking testosterone on this bus. It’s about time you guys got up, we have to be at the venue in less than an hour.”

  “Shut up, asshole, you’re just jealous you don’t have some estrogen in your life,” Darren retorts.

  “If it means I can sleep like a normal human being, I might be okay with that. And speaking of sleeping, you going to let my nephew come out and play anytime soon or what, Mel?”

  “Yeah, what’s up with that?” Wyatt says as he climbs onto the bus.

  “You guys have any ideas? I’m open to anything at this point.” I ask, and Sawyer’s reply is the last thing I expect.

  “Go fuck your husband.”

  “Excuse me?” I manage to choke out.

  Belle laughs. “He’s not wro
ng, they say sex can induce labor. I just never got far enough to utilize the option.”

  “Alright, it’s on tonight. Mrs. Weston, be ready after my show because we’re going to give it the good old college try.”

  “Dude …” Wyatt says with a groan.

  Noah chuckles. “Too much? I kinda figured, but there’s not really a romantic way to say ‘let’s fuck to induce labor.’”

  “Well, if anyone can figure it out, it’s you, Noah. Why don’t you think about it while you’re onstage and come home and seduce your wife? I promise not to listen.” Belle holds up her fingers in a scout’s honor pledge.

  “And on that note, I’m sleeping on your bus tonight, Darren. Since Belle needs rest, she can have my room.” Darren and Wyatt seem excited about a guys’ night and ask Noah to join them, but he politely refuses.

  After the guys leave for their show, Belle yawns as she’s feeding Cadence. “Is it wrong of me to be excited to sleep alone tonight? I haven’t slept by myself since I was in the hospital with her.”

  “Not at all. You haven’t slept through the night in months. I’d imagine it sounds heavenly right now. I’m excited to be able to sleep on my stomach again.”

  She laughs. “Even more of a reason to give it the college try with your man tonight.”

  After Cadence falls asleep, Belle and I eat some pasta and afterward, she paints my toe nails for me. You know you have good friends when they’ll touch the feet you haven’t been able to reach in months.

  “I think Marcus is going to ask Mama to marry him.”

  “I think so, too. How do you feel about that?”

  She’s thoughtful for a moment and curls her feet up under her on the couch. “He seems like a good man, a bit young, but they make each other happy. Who am I to judge?”

  We spend the rest of the night talking about the wedding and work. Then she fills me in on hearing Wyatt talking to Anna about having a baby and how, from his responses, it seems like Anna is completely on board. Sawyer better be careful; he’s going to catch baby fever soon, too.

  When the guys return from their show, I notice something different. Maybe it’s my melancholy mood tonight, or my hormones, but they all look spent. They had this amazing post-performance high about them the first night we met them, but I’m not seeing any of that right now. I almost don’t blame them; it’s been ten years.

  “You guys seem mellow tonight,” I tell Noah when he bends down to kiss me.

  “We’re just tired. We’ve had eight shows in a row, we’re looking forward to the night off tomorrow.” Adding Utah to the back end of the schedule forced them to give up a couple of days off. I sometimes take for granted this is still a job to them.

  Sawyer bundles up Cadence and Darren kisses Belle goodnight before grabbing Cadence’s things. “We’re off, ladies and gent. If Mel goes into labor, call me, and we’ll get the buses heading to the nearest hospital.” Sawyer lifts Cadence’s little arm up in a wave as they exit the bus.

  “Get some sleep, babe, we’ll see you in the morning.” With one last kiss, Darren goes back to his bus and a few minutes later we’re on the road.

  “Alright, you two, I’ve got work to do. I’m trying to get a few posts pre-written and ready to go. Noah, go push our girl into active labor.” Belle effectively waves us away, and Noah eagerly follows me into the bedroom.

  Suddenly, he’s more alert. We haven’t been having a lot of sex lately because I’ve been so uncomfortable. Once we’re both naked in bed, Noah spoons me from behind and pulls my leg back over his hip.

  With his mouth pressed to my neck, he kisses me in my favorite place as his fingers glide through the wetness between my legs. When Noah slides into me from behind, I gasp. He feels incredible.

  “I love you, Mel,” his heartfelt words a passionate plea, “and there’s nowhere in the world I’d rather be right now. Your body is my home.”

  “Oh, Noah!” All it takes are his beautiful words for me to fall over the ledge. As my walls contract around him, he thrusts harder and deeper. “I love you, Noah.” As I say the words, his body trembles behind mine, throbbing inside me as he lets his love fill me.

  “Damn, Mel, that was so hot. Quick, but hot.” We lay together, coming down from our post-sexual high as the baby swims around in my belly without a care in the world.

  “I’ve got to pee,” I whine, and Noah laughs, helping me up.

  “I have to say that might be the one thing I won’t miss hearing when you have the baby.”

  We both quickly throw on some clothes and I waddle to the bathroom while Noah gets us some water.

  “Did your water break yet?” Belle asks when I come out.

  “Somehow I don’t think it works that fast, smartass.”

  “Dammit!” she says. “I’m still keeping the faith. I’ve just got this feeling he’s going to come today. After all, it’s his due date.”

  It’s about one in the morning and my body feels it. “We’ll see. I’m off to bed. Don’t stay up too late, Belle. The point is for you to get some sleep tonight.”

  She rolls her eyes at me. “Yes, Mom, but I’m on a roll. I just need about fifteen more minutes and I’ll be done. Goodnight, you two.”

  As Noah and I walk back into our room, his phone rings. “It’s Sawyer,” he says, smiling, putting him on speaker phone as I use my handy metal bar to help me get comfortable in bed. I swear Sawyer makes him happier than I do most of the time.

  The stuffed Winnie the Pooh Sawyer bought for Nate has become my sleeping companion. He’s propped between me and the wall and eases the pressure off my back. I don’t think the baby will mind at all, considering he’s technically using it, too.

  “What’s up, Sawyer?” Noah asks, still standing in the doorway.

  “Hey, we wanted to give you a heads up. We’re pulling off the freeway in about five miles for the night. Have you noticed the fog out there it’s insa—”

  Everything after that moment is a mixed blur of sounds and images I’ll never be able to clear from my mind. It all happened at once, and yet it was like we were caught in this endless warp in time.

  This massive bright light exploded in front of us, and all the power in the bus flickered until it finally went out. I grabbed on to the metal bar with both hands as I watched the phone fly from Noah’s hand as he flew backward through the bus with a look of sheer terror across his face.

  But the screams were the worst. I couldn’t see Belle, but I could hear her screaming, until she wasn’t and everything was silent. An intense pain shot through my body as it slammed against the wall with such force I thought for sure I was dying. The ringing in my ears from my head cracking into the wall was so loud, but the wetness between my legs sent me into shock. I felt the blackness coming for me as I drowned in the warmth between my legs. Soon, there was nothing but darkness.

  Slammed Emergency Post

  Dearest Slammed Family,

  My name is Sam Stevenson, I’m the owner of SOS Publishing, who is the parent company of Slammed, Inc. This morning, at approximately 1:30 A.M., pacific standard time, Bus One of the Bastards and Dangerous caravan was involved in a multiple fatality accident.

  The accident scene is still under investigation, and many details are being withheld at this time. The following details have been approved by local authorities and families, to share with you all.

  Bus One was the only bus from the tour affected.

  The occupants of Bus One at the time of the accident were as follows:

  Noah Weston

  Amelia Weston

  Belle Dixson

  Harold Scott (their bus driver)

  It is with an extremely heavy heart I give you the following information.

  Noah Weston and Amelia Weston were air lifted to the closest trauma center with critical injuries. There is no word on the status of their unborn child at this time.

  Belle Dixson and Harold Scott were pronounced dead at the scene
of the accident. The entire SOS, Slammed, and Bastards and Dangerous family are devastated and in shock. Please, use your light to lift them all up in prayer today, and in the coming weeks, as we keep vigil over Noah and Amelia, as well as the rest of their family as they struggle to move forward.

  Harold Scott was a valued member of the Bastards and Dangerous crew and had been with the band for eight years. Please pray for his family in their time of need.

  Belle Dixson was a close, personal friend and her light is going to be missed in my life and the lives of her loved ones. I know you all loved her, too, which is why you follow her blog. The only slight comfort is that her daughter Cadence was on Bus Two at the time of the accident with her father, Darren Miller. Belle would have moved heaven and earth to keep her baby girl safe, and she was. Please pray for Belle’s family today, and in the days to come, in their time of need.

  Hug your loved ones, keep them safe, and let them know they are loved, today and every day. I will personally update this blog as more information is released.

  My condolences to us all,

  Sam Owen Stevenson

  The last book in The Illusion Series – Just an Illusion – EP is coming June 21st

  Please keep the Side A group spoiler free and join the group for The B Side –

  https://www.facebook.com/groups/1902315680013787/

  If you want to read Mel’s interviews with the band be sure you’re signed up for D. Kelly’s mailing list. Interviews will start releasing weekly in April.

  http://www.dkellyauthor.com/mailing-list/

  First and foremost, if you are still here and reading after that ending, I want to thank you. I know series are hard to read, especially when they leave you hanging on a cliffy, but I promise I’ll try to do you proud with the next book. This series has by far been my favorite and hardest to write. It was initially supposed to be a duo of books, but these characters have a story to tell and two books quickly turned to three, and if you’re in the reader group, you’re well aware of this already.