by Kat Mizera
“Thank you, Las Vegas—see you next tour! Good night!”
Wrapping our arms around each other, the members of my band and I took our final bow of the tour before turning to head backstage. Viktim of Prey was one of the hottest rock bands in the world right now, and some nights it felt like we couldn’t get any more successful.
I grabbed a towel from my guitar tech and wrapped it around my neck. I was drenched in sweat and high on adrenaline, like always after a big show, but tonight was different. We’d been on tour nonstop for nearly three years now, and the idea of actually taking a break was daunting. Though I could tour forever, the rest of the band had begged for a break, and if I was honest with myself, we all needed it. We’d been playing, traveling, and partying for too long. It was time to regroup, plan the next album, unwind a little. Not that I had any idea what to do with myself if I wasn’t playing music.
“I need to talk to you guys.” Nick Kingsley, our bass player, as well as my best friend with benefits, spoke in such a somber tone it made the hair on the back of my neck stand up.
“I just want to go home and sleep for a week,” Jade Simkowski, our lead singer, moaned, her long red hair fanning out behind her as she walked behind Nick towards our waiting tour bus.
“It won’t take long,” Nick said, bypassing a few fans with backstage passes and our road crew.
Jade and I exchanged a look but followed him, our drummer, BJ, pulling up the rear.
Nick climbed into the tour bus and collapsed on one of the lounge chairs, grabbing a bottle of water.
“What’s going on?” I asked, settling next to him.
“I don’t want to do another album,” Nick said quietly.
“What?” I gaped at him.
“Tabby and I are having a baby,” BJ blurted out, referring to his wife.
“Really, you guys?” Jade made a face, shaking her head.
“My dad wants me to work at the hotel,” Nick spoke softly, not meeting my eyes. “And the truth is that I’m not really good enough to do this. The only reason I’m here is because you asked me to be in the band. I’m a mediocre bass player who doesn’t write music. You’d be better off with someone who can pull their weight.”
“And I’m tired,” BJ admitted. “It’s been fun, but I’m ready to stay put for a while, be a husband, a dad.” BJ was the oldest member of the band at thirty, while I was twenty-two, Nick was twenty-three, and Jade was twenty-four.
“That’s a cop-out,” Jade said. “I’m a mom, and I’ve been on tour on and off for four years.”
“Your daughter is older,” BJ pointed out. “She wasn’t a newborn when we started. She also has a father who’s happy to split parenting duties.”
“She’s seven,” Jade responded testily. “Still really young, but this is how I afford to give her nice things, make sure she’s taken care of.”
“Okay, let’s take a deep breath.” I needed to take control of the situation sooner rather than later, because this band was my life, and Nick was essentially talking about ending it. “We should all go home, get some sleep, relax a little. We can have a meeting next week, take some time to digest and—”
Nick reached out and took my hand, cutting me off. “I’m not going to change my mind, Casey. I did this because you wanted it so much, and we got so big so fast…but being a rock star was never on my radar.”
I bit my lip to keep from saying something that would end a lifetime of friendship.
“I know you’re mad.” Nick sighed, squeezing my hand. “Go ahead and say what you want to say.”
“What is there to say?” I muttered, looking away. “Without you and BJ, Jade and I can’t do this.”
Nick reached for me, forcing me to look at him. “Casey, you’re going to find another band, another group of people to share your gift with. It’s wasted with me. I don’t have your talent or your drive. Besides, our agreement was one album and one tour. It’s been two albums and a huge, multi-year tour. Even if I wanted to keep doing this, we all need a break right now.”
“He’s right about needing a break,” Jade added softly. “I need to be at home with Alyssa for a while, doing mommy things. I love music, but my kid needs me, too, and Kirk shouldn’t be raising her alone, even if we’re not together anymore.”
I sighed, nodding. They were right. I hated it, but we were all tired.
“I have to get going,” Jade said, standing up and pulling me into a hug. “I’m taking the red-eye home so I can be there to surprise Alyssa when she wakes up in the morning. I’ll call you in a couple of days and we’ll regroup, okay?” She turned to the guys and smiled. “I love you guys, even if you’re pains in my ass.” She hugged them both, grabbed the backpack she always traveled with, and got off the bus.
“Tabby’s waiting to take me home,” BJ said, getting to his feet. He leaned over and kissed my cheek. “Love you, Casey. Don’t be mad.” He high-fived Nick and went in the direction Jade had gone.
“Are you going home?” Nick asked, his blue eyes finding mine in the semidarkness.
“Where else would I go?” I asked, frowning at him. “Tour is over, and we live here.”
“You could come home with me if—”
“Come on, don’t.” I shook my head at him. “It’s not like we’re a couple. And, frankly, I need a break.”
“From me?” Nick actually looked hurt, and I managed to stop myself from rolling my eyes.
“From you, from music, from everything. As much as I love being on the road, now that we’re home, I need some normal too. I want to hang out with my parents and see some friends. Hibernate for a while.”
“You can’t stand hibernating,” Nick said, eyeing me suspiciously. “That’s your least favorite thing. If you’re not in the spotlight, on the go, guitar in hand, you’re miserable.”
“Maybe you don’t know everything about me,” I shot back, annoyed that he knew me so well.
“But maybe I do.” He reached out and tugged a lock of my hair. “Come on, don’t be mad. Wanna share a cab?”
I gathered a few of my things and threw my bag over my shoulder. “After your little bombshell, I honestly need some time to myself.” I leaned up and pressed my lips to his cheek. “I’ll call you in a couple of days.”
“You’re pretty mad, huh?”
“I’m not mad, Nick.” I paused and turned to look over my shoulder at him. “I’m lost.”
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www.KatMizera.com
Also by Kat Mizera
Las Vegas Sidewinders:
Dominic
Cody’s Christmas Surprise
Drake
Karl
Anatoli
Zakk
Toli & Tessa
Brock
Vladimir
Royce
Nate
Sidewinders: Ever After
Jared
Dmitri’s Christmas Angel
Ian
Sidewinders: Generations:
Zaan
Tore (2021)
Anton (2021)
Alaska Blizzard:
Defending Dani
Holding Hailey
Winning Whitney
Losing Laurel
Saving Sara
Chasing Charli
Tending Tara (2021)
The Royal Trilogy:
Nowhere Left to Fall
Nowhere Left to Run
Nowhere Left to Hide
Royal Protectors:
Sandor
Cocky Protector (book 1.5 and part of the Cocky Heroes Club books)
Xander
Axel
Dax (A Royal Protectors/Las Vegas Sidewinders crossover)
Inferno:
Salvation’s Inferno
Temptation’s Inferno
Redemption’s Inferno
Tropi
cal Inferno (formerly “Tropical Ice”)
Romancing Europe:
Adonis in Athens
Smitten in Santorini
Lucky in Lugano
Other Books:
Special Forces: Operation Alpha: Protecting Bobbi (Susan Stoker’s Special Forces World)
Special Forces: Operation Alpha: Protecting Delilah (Susan Stoker’s Special Forces World)
Brotherhood Protectors: Catching Lana (Elle James’s Brotherhood Protectors World)
