Total pages in book: 76
Estimated words: 76205 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 381(@200wpm)___ 305(@250wpm)___ 254(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76205 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 381(@200wpm)___ 305(@250wpm)___ 254(@300wpm)
I look down at the tile floor. Normally a compliment like that would have me head over heels with excitement, but right now, all I can think about is Dragon. Dragon…and the fact that we may have just blown a big chance because of Jenny and Andrea.
“Thank you. I’m glad your friend enjoyed our music.” I reach out and touch Dragon’s shoulder lightly. “We had a wonderful time. But without Dragon, I don’t see how we can go on tonight.”
“I’ll do everything I can, but I doubt the doctor will allow him to go until tomorrow.”
“Yeah. I understand. I want what’s best for him. That’s the most important thing.”
“I’m glad you see it that way. You’re a good friend.”
Am I, though?
If I were a good friend, I would’ve stayed with Dragon last night instead of becoming distracted by Brianna. I should have taken Dragon aside and tried to talk him out of the four-way he planned for us.
I look around the bay once more, taking in all the equipment, the supplies, the machines with their constant rhythmic beeping.
Beep…
Beep…
Beep…
The sound propels my anxiety, and I find myself holding my breath between beeps, as if that will somehow help Dragon. But it won’t. I’m completely helpless in this situation.
I jerk when my phone dings with a text, and I welcome the respite from the monotony of the beeping.
It’s Rory.
Jesse, can you come back to the hotel? Jett says he needs to talk to you and me together.
My heart sinks.
Sure enough, we’ve blown it.
Chapter Four
Brianna
If only…
I know better than to play the if only game, but I can’t help myself at the moment.
I look at Maddie. Her pretty lips are turned down into a frown. She’s worried for her sister and brother, for their big chance.
I look at my brother Donny and his fiancée, Callie.
Callie has the same look on her face as Maddie. She’s concerned, and rightly so. Jesse and Rory may have lost their shot for the band to make it big.
And I can think of so many if onlys…
If only I hadn’t come here…
But I did.
If only I hadn’t gone to bed with Jesse that first night…
But I did.
If only I hadn’t talked Maddie into coming for the duration of the tour and putting off her last semester of college…
But I did.
If only I hadn’t agreed to come back to the hotel last night with Maddie and Zane…
But I did.
And if only…
If only I hadn’t gone with Jesse last night to his room…
But I did.
It was wonderful, and I can’t bring myself to regret the act itself. But I have so much regret anyway. Regret that I even started this thing in the first place.
Why didn’t I leave well enough alone?
How selfish was it to force myself along on this tour and become a distraction Jesse didn’t need?
I should leave.
I want so desperately to fix this for Jesse, but I can’t. I have no resources in the UK. I have no musical resources in the US, for that matter. My only idea was Brock, and he torched that in a millisecond.
But Brock was right. This is the big chance for the band, and they can’t make do with an amateur drummer who hasn’t played in ten years.
If only…
If only…
If only…
I want to go home.
To go home to the ranch, where I’m appreciated. Where I’m needed. Where I’m not anyone’s distraction.
Dad would love it if I came running home. He’d put me to work right away, and I could dive into something—focus on something I love. That I’ve been groomed for my whole life.
My trees. My beautiful apple trees and peach trees.
And the Granny Smith orchard. Dad’s going to expand it. Expand my favorite apple.
I had an idea in my head, one I meant to talk to Dad about when I finished college. I want to curate some artisanal goods from our orchards. With Aunt Marjorie’s help, I could put together jams and jellies and butters.
If I hadn’t forced myself along on this trip, he and I could be talking about those ideas now. It’s only January, and there would have been enough time to look into sourcing and manufacturing, perhaps even getting an initial amount of product out by the fall.
But I didn’t mention it to Dad…
I didn’t mention it to him because it was more important that I come on this tour. That I be with Jesse Pike.
I put my childhood crush ahead of my family.
And I put it ahead of Jesse and the band.
How easy it would be to tell everyone I was flying home. That I changed my mind.
But then I look at Maddie…
Maddie, who I convinced to come—who I convinced to put off her last semester of college so she could stay for the entire tour.
Maddie, who always felt left out of the awesome foursome. Maddie, who always felt overshadowed by three amazing older siblings.