The Hope That Starts

by Heidi Hutchinson

  “The catching. I fall all the time.”

  Something crossed his face, a thought or a concern, but it was gone before she could get a grasp on it.

  “You should limit how often you fall,” he warned, serious.

  “I can't help it,” she whispered truthfully.

  Something was happening, but for the love of Pete, Zelda had no idea what it was. It felt like birthday cake, puppies, and meeting David Tennant. Her heart was hammering inside her chest and she was slightly concerned it was going to come crashing right out in front of Harrison. That would be gross.

  Suddenly his arms shifted around her middle, glided up her side, his fingers touching the pendant at her throat.

  “What is happening here? A Dirty Dancing reenactment?” a female voice interrupted with amused curiosity.

  Harrison must not have heard because he made no indication that he did. Zelda looked just past his shoulder and saw Lucy Diedrich looking on with a silly grin on her face.

  “We'll know for sure if he calls her Baby,” Lenny added from beside her. Lucy nodded in agreement.

  Zelda looked back up at Harrison and raised her eyebrows.

  “Okay, Han Solo, we have an audience now. You think you can help me back into a vertical position?”

  “Hm?” Harrison's eyebrows dipped for a moment. “Oh, right.”

  He set her upright with an ease that made her toes tingle, made sure she was steady, and then faced the ladies that had joined them.

  Zelda had met everyone the night before, but she still couldn't get over the incredible beauties that had married into the band. Lenny, with her natural blonde hair and confident demeanor. Lucy, with her warm expressive face and laid-back manner. They fit. Zelda had yet to meet Mike's girlfriend, Clarke, but was told she would be joining them later on in the tour.

  “She fell. I caught her,” Harrison explained their previous pose. He adjusted the hat on his head, then shoved his hands deep in his pockets. “I'll show you the bus later,” he said, nodding towards Zelda's general vicinity. Then he stalked off in the opposite direction.

  All three women watched him for a moment.

  “That was bizarre,” Lenny stated flatly, a crease forming along her forehead.

  “I was going to say the same thing,” Lucy agreed.

  They turned to Zelda for an explanation, but she had none.

  ***

  Harrison tried to shake off the odd sensations coursing through his body. What the hell was that with the new photographer? Twice now, he'd had a small interaction with her that left him feeling completely out of his mind. Though the second was way worse than the first.

  Lenny and Lucy had basically just caught him holding her captive while he looked deeply into her green eyes and touched the pendant at her throat (which he was pretty sure was Irish). It could have been a romance novel cover.

  But she had referenced Star Wars and Star Trek (The Original Series) accurately and without caring whether anyone knew what she was talking about. And she had fallen, that had actually happened. He'd be a real dick if he just let her fall down when he had the ability to catch her.

  Right?

  Harrison took the long way around the parking lot, doubling back to his bus. He climbed on board without Zelda seeing him, and went to the back lounge. The large, tinted windows gave him a perfect view of her and what she was up to.

  Taking pictures.

  Like she was hired to do.

  Harrison felt terrible. And kind of like a creeper.

  He and Kiley weren't exclusive. That was certain. But that didn't mean he should be keeping his options open. He knew exactly what he'd be thinking if Sway were in the same position.

  “She's pretty cute...” Sway joined his thoughts and company, crashing onto the couch beside him.

  “I'm seeing someone,” Harrison muttered, knowing that he had just agreed to Sway's fishing statement.

  “Yeah, but ever since the last tour, when you got a taste of trying to juggle two ladies at once, you've had the itch.”

  Harrison glared at him. “I have not. Don't be absurd.”

  “Dude, you're a one-woman man. Don't try to be something you're not.”

  “Why are you insisting that I'm trying to do that at all? I'm very clearly stating that I'm with Kiley.”

  “Yeah, but is Kiley with you?” Sway shook his head before Harrison answered. “I know I have a reputation to contend with, but I'm a hopeless romantic. I believe in love at first sight, and soul mates and all that shit. What that woman is doing is not cool. Zelda, though?” He looked over his shoulder at their new bunkmate. “Zelda is very cool. Plus, she's Irish. Your mom will ask her to marry you the second Greta tells her of Zelda's existence. She'll probably even slide your grandmother's antique engagement ring onto her finger for you.”

  Harrison was irritated but still chuckled at the visual. “What makes you think my sister would tell Ma that?”

  “Please,” Sway scoffed. “I heard how you told on her and Shane before they were even dating. Paybacks, my brother.”

  Shit, that was true. Harrison had told their mom that Shane was going to be marrying Greta before they had even kissed for the first time. Well, damn.

  He waved his hand to dismiss all of these ideas.

  “Greta is unlikely to meet her. And,” he emphasized when Sway rolled his eyes, “I'm with Kiley. I don't even know Zelda.”

  Sway looked at him in pity.

  “Oh, Harrison. Have you learned nothing from watching the others fall before you?”

  Harrison was only half-listening because at that moment, Zelda backed off of the curb and into an open dumpster. She popped up quickly, camera held high above her head, looking around to see if anyone had noticed.

  Harrison smiled to himself. No, he didn't know Zelda, but getting to know her was going to be awesome.

  Chapter 4

  Don't Stop Me Now

  Zelda scrolled through the images on her digital, pleased with the results for how early in the morning it was. And the fact that she had fallen into a dumpster. Again, that was the money shot.

  The sun had been in the exact perfect place between the buses to create a solar flare of epicness. Luke, lead singer and rock hottie, was talking to his wife Lenny, who was equally stunning. He smiled at her, a secret smile. A smile that said more than his songs ever had. Reached out with a hand and brushed her hair behind her ear. His fingers lingered along her jawline. Lenny's expression could only be described as someone who knew with perfect clarity the extent of his love for her.

  It was one of the most intimate moments Zelda had ever captured on frame. And it was only day one. She had a feeling that this group of people was going to provide her with more than enough photos just like this one.

  “There's a rumor that you're afraid of geese.”

  Sway joined her at the small table near the kitchenette she'd secured for herself once the buses got underway. She had never ridden on a tour bus and she was surprisingly motion sick. At least until they got out of town and onto a long stretch of road with fewer turns.

  Hüsker Dü was right at home. He had staked out an empty bunk and claimed it for himself. Since it was a sixteen sleeper, he really had his pick. Someone had made a big sign and taped it to both doors warning to watch for the cat. Zelda thought that was pretty sweet, whoever had done it.

  “I'm not afraid... exactly.” She scrolled through a few more frames before shutting down the camera. “And it's more ducks than geese.”

  She rummaged through her bag and snagged the power cord. Sway turned sideways so his back was to the wall of the bus; he bent his knees and planted his feet on the seat of the booth. Zelda plugged in the camera and set it aside as she dug in her purse for a new memory card.

  “You fill one already?” he asked, sounding surprised.

  “Yep. You people are amazingly photogenic.” Zelda kind of couldn't believe it. She'd basically won the lottery when she landed this job.

  “So, th
e name Zelda?” Sway asked, and she lifted her eyes to him. His forefinger traced an imaginary line on the table. “Family name, or...?”

  She got this question a lot. Most people pretty much assumed the truth and were very straightforward about it. Then again, she usually hung out with gamers and graphic novel junkies. Being around the cool kids was definitely a first.

  “Nope. My parents were nerds. I was named after the game,” she said.

  “No shit?” Sway glanced over her shoulder to where Harrison was filling the cabin with the sounds of his video game victories.

  Zelda smiled as she thought about it. “Yeah. I'm the product of hasty, unplanned nerd love. They make more nerds.”

  Sway chuckled. “Are they still together?”

  “Of course,” Zelda answered obviously. “When nerds fall in love it's a forever thing.”

  “Are they still in Iowa?”

  She nodded the affirmative. “They have a little game shop where they also sell gourmet sandwiches. Which is hilarious, because my dad doesn't allow food around the games at all.”

  Her search for the memory card temporarily forgotten, she suddenly remembered and continued digging. She found the edge of the memory card case and pulled it free.

  “I used to run the sandwich shop when I was eleven.” She rolled her eyes at Sway's expression. “I was being supervised, obviously, but everyone knew who was really in charge.”

  Sway cracked a crooked grin. “And your parents just let you call the shots.”

  “George and Lola were great parents, just not in the conventional sense of the word,” she teasingly replied.

  “Do you get to see them a lot?” he asked.

  Zelda shrugged. “Not as much as I'd like to,” she admitted. “But hopefully after this I'll be able to make a trip home.” She finally snapped the fresh card into the camera and began packing the rest of her supplies back in the bag.

  Sway nodded as he looked across the bus and yawned. “I hate these drives. They're always so boring.”

  Zelda looked to the big screen TV that was filled with some violent video game. “Harrison seems to have found something to do.”

  “I need a new book to read.”

  “Kendra told me that the David Warren book was yours.”

  “Yeah, but I've read it three times already,” Sway muttered grumpily. Then he faced her with interest. “Do you read?”

  Zelda snickered. “Uh, yeah. Like, all the time.”

  “Gimme one of yours.” He sat up straighter, his light blue eyes dancing with sudden interest.

  “I doubt you would get into what I read,” she answered coyly.

  “Why?” His lip curled. “Is it like vampires and teenagers and stuff?”

  Zelda laughed out loud. “No, but I read a lot of romance.”

  “I like romance.” He shrugged, raising his eyebrows.

  Zelda felt her cheeks get hot and she looked down at her task. Their recent conversation had been so benign, Zelda momentarily forgot that Sway was the ladies' man, the flirt, the seducer. She should not be discussing the romance novels that she read with this man.

  Bad idea. Just... bad.

  “Ooh, Zeldy's cheeks are kinda pink,” Sway teased, and Zelda felt a fresh wave of heat hit her face. “They must be steamy.”

  “There might be some steam involved,” she admitted, and then immediately regretted it. Did she mention bad idea?

  “Let me read them,” he demanded enthusiastically. Her eyes flashed up to his. “C'mon, I've never read romance. Give me a recommendation.”

  She closed her eyes and rubbed her forehead with her fingertips. How was she going to get out of this one? What could it really hurt? So he'd know she read some sexy books. Most women did. It didn't make her weird. No weirder than she already was, anyway.

  “Okay, there is this one author that I absolutely love,” Zelda said, giving in. “She can do no wrong in my eyes. Her name is Sullivan Summers. I have all of her books on the app on my phone, but it's not like I can lend that to you.”

  Sway already had his smart phone out and was thumbing over the screen. “I'll text Kendra and have her get me one of those e-reader things in the next city.”

  “That's a good idea,” Zelda approved, wondering if he would actually read them.

  “Whoa, she's got like twenty-five books! You've read all of these?” he asked, scrolling through the selections.

  “Yeah, but start with her Folding Chair series. That one is her first and my personal favorite,” Zelda recommended.

  “Are these going to make me embarrassed to look at you?” Sway asked seriously, their eyes connecting.

  Zelda smiled. “I don't think so. The sexy factor is up there, but it's not over the top.”

  “Why this author?” he asked, really wanting to know her answer.

  Zelda shrugged as she thought about it. “Her writing hits all the right marks for me. It's fast paced, clever, romantic, hilarious... She knows how to build the perfect hero.” She smiled at him again. “Read the first book and then we'll talk about it.”

  “Like a book club,” he muttered. “You should read Unstoppable then, since I doubt Harrison ever will.”

  “I'm going to read it, get off my case, mom,” Harrison called over his shoulder.

  Sway rolled his eyes at Zelda, who laughed silently because she had actually forgotten that Harrison was still with them.

  “Hey, if you're texting Kendra, will you ask her to get some sandwiches or something? I'm starving,” Harrison added.

  “You're always starving,” Sway retorted, but started texting anyway.

  “Don't you guys have a whole fridge full of food? We just left a little while ago,” Zelda prudently pointed out. She had watched Kendra's assistant, Zed, throw a bunch of stuff into the kitchen seconds before they pulled away from the city.

  “Probably,” Sway answered, not looking up.

  Zelda covered the screen of his phone with her hand. “Let me make you something before you give Kendra premature gray hairs.”

  She made sure her things were tucked close to the wall so as not to start sliding all over the place in case the bus started tipping over. Okay, thoughts like that were not going to help her deal with her motion sickness. She walked cautiously over to the small refrigerator and opened it up.

  Deli meats, cheeses, veggies, and condiments galore.

  She pulled open one of the cupboards and found two loaves of french bread.

  Avocados and tomatoes in a net tied to the wall.

  This would do nicely.

  She located the cutlery and some paper plates. Then she quickly fashioned two beautiful, nearly gourmet sandwiches. If they had time at the next stop, she'd go out to purchase better ingredients. Some people just didn't know what to look for.

  She slid one sandwich onto the table in front of Sway, then carried the other one the short distance to Harrison, who was still hammering away on his video game controller.

  “Holy shit,” Sway stated loudly and seriously.

  Zelda spun back to look at him, but his eyes were closed in ecstasy and his mouth was full of a huge bite of food. She guessed that meant he liked it.

  Harrison paused his game and looked down at the plate she offered to him. “You made me a sandwich?”

  “Dude,” Sway spoke up again. “If you don't marry this girl by the end of the tour, I freaking will.” Then he took another huge bite.

  Harrison shook his head and sighed heavily. “Sorry about him. We've been talking about shock therapy maybe to help with his issues.”

  Zelda smirked. “He's not so bad. It's nice to be appreciated.”

  Harrison's dark eyes darted up to hers and they held for a moment. Zelda cleared her throat and pushed the plate at him again. He finally took it and smiled with thanks.

  The bus went up and then down again, as if on a big wave in the ocean, and Zelda felt her stomach repeat the process. She swallowed hard.

  “I think I'm gonna try to lay down for
a minute if you don't mind.” She pressed her palm to her abdomen.

  “You okay?” Harrison asked her for the second time that day.

  “I think it's the time difference making me more sensitive to the motion sickness,” she explained, waving off his concern.

  “We can get you some of those little pills,” Harrison suggested, concern clouding his features.

  She patted his shoulder reassuringly. “If it doesn't get better, I'll look into that.” She turned to the steps that led up to the bunks. “Enjoy your sandwiches, boys. I'll make better ones tomorrow.”

  ***

  Harrison watched until she had made it all the way to the top, and then a little longer, until he was certain she was finally lying down. He looked back at the plate of food sitting in his lap. If he had been an Instagram user, this would be worthy of a photo. It was the most beautiful sandwich he had ever seen in his life.

  “If you don't eat it, I will,” Sway threatened, licking mayonnaise off of his thumb. The rest of his sandwich had been decimated.

  “That good, huh?” Harrison asked with a chuckle, but even he could see it was going to be newsworthy.

  The video game forgotten, Harrison picked up his plate and joined Sway at the table.

  “I heard you two bonding. Are you really going to start reading romance novels?”

  “Heck yeah,” Sway replied without hesitation. “I like to read. But more than that, I need something that won't leave me an outsider on this bus all summer.”

  “You have never been an outsider,” Harrison chided.

  “Yeah, well, the minute your smile changed at her sci-fi reference, I knew I needed to find something. Besides, I'm always up for broadening my horizons.”

  “Right,” Harrison sniggered quietly. Then he took a bite of the sandwich.

  And his whole life changed.

  It was really no secret that Harrison loved food. It was the core of many a joke told in and around the band and his family. He ate round the clock and when it had been too long between meals, he could get particularly grumpy. But he'd never been described as being too picky when he was hungry. He appreciated good food, to be sure, but when he was hungry, anything would do.