“What?” Lane’s voice kicked up a couple octaves, and she flinched. “What do you mean broke your leg? Oh my God, Mom! Are you okay?”

I held her hand tighter, but not for the same reason as before. Now, I was worried. Kathy was like a second mother to me, and I was concerned for her well-being.

“Okay, I’m coming down there. As soon as I get back to the bus, I’ll get packed and book a flight.”

Shit. I settled back in the seat. This wasn’t the time to give her the ring. It was best if I waited a couple days until she came back from helping out her mom.

A couple minutes later we parked next to the bus, and Lane ended her call. “So, Mom took a nasty fall while trying to clear a bird’s nest from the gutter on her house. She broke her right leg in two places and needs surgery.”

“That’s terrible. Is there anything I can do to help?”

“No, but I will have to go help her for a while. Hopefully, Striker will understand that I won’t be around to consult, and he’ll be okay with working with me via email until Mom’s back on her feet.”

I knitted my brow in confusion. I didn’t like the sound of this. “How long will you be gone?”

Lane frowned, and my stomach dropped. That was the face she got when she was about to tell me something I didn’t want to hear. “I don’t know. I guess as long as it takes to get her back on her feet.”

“Any idea how long that will be?”

Her frown deepened. “The surgeon she just saw said it would be six to eight weeks of recovery.”

Six to eight weeks? How the fuck would I make it without her that long?

Shit.

“I’ll go with you. We’ll leave tonight.” It was the only logical solution I could come up with.

She shook her head. “No, Noel. You can’t. There are a string of shows you’re booked for. Maybe when you get done—”

“No. I can’t be without you.” The thought of not seeing that angel face everyday was a weight that nearly crushed me.

“You aren’t coming with me.”

I flinched. “You don’t want me there?”

“Of course I do.”

“Then what’s the problem?” She wasn’t making any sense.

“I won’t hold you back from your dream. Finish this tour. I’m not going anywhere this time. I promise.”

She was right. A lot of people were counting on us. The roadies and production people didn’t get paid if we didn’t play. I couldn’t be selfish in this situation, even though I really, really wanted to.

“Okay, fine. But can I spend every off day I have with you?”

“I can’t let you spend all that money flying back to see me every spare moment you get.”

“Money isn’t a problem for me, Lane. You know that. All that matters to me is being with you every second I can.”

She sighed and reached her dainty fingers up to touch my face. “Sometimes you seem too good to be real.”

I stared into her green eyes and threaded my fingers into her dark hair. “Now you know exactly how I feel about you.”

Chapter 10

The bus felt cold without her. I lay on the bed and stretched my hand over to touch the pillow where her head typically laid. It’s only been a couple hours, and I was already losing my shit.

It was early, and I wasn’t tired, but I didn’t feel much like being social.

I picked up my cell and checked the time. In about ten minutes, her plane would land, and I could call and make sure she got there safe. Traveling alone wasn’t something I liked her doing. There were too many crazies out there, and I wouldn’t be there to shield her from them.

A knock on the door startled me from my thoughts. “Come in.”

Riff pushed the door open and stood in the doorway. “We’re about to start a Halo campaign. You in?”

This felt like old times—the bus rolling down a lonely stretch of highway while we kicked each other’s asses in a war video game. It was the best way we found to pass the time, other than sleeping, when we were cooped up inside Big Bertha for hours on end.

But right now, I wanted to wallow in my sadness over being without Lane. “Nah, I’m pretty tired.”

Riff folded his arms across his chest while his crazy Mohawk stood high on the top of his head. “Dude, I know you miss her, but you can’t mope around in this room the entire time she’s gone. It’s not healthy.”

I sighed. “I know, but it’s hard to be without her.”

He nodded. “I know what you mean, but still you have to live, man. She won’t be gone for ever.”

That was true. I would see her again in a week when I got a three-day break between shows, but until then, I didn’t see anything wrong with a little depression. “I get it. But I’m really just tired. It’s been a long day.”

A sarcastic laugh tumbled from his mouth. “Kyle took you shopping all day, how stressful could that be?”

Since he was my best friend, I needed to share with him my true venture of the day, so I fished the ring box from my pocket. “It was kind of a big deal.”

I held it between my thumb and index finger for Riff’s inspection. His eyes widened. “Holy shit! Does she know you have that?”

I shook my head. “Nope.” I sighed. “She left before I got a chance to ask her.”

“That’s a huge deal. You sure about this? Don’t you think you should wait awhile?”