More of my granddad’s wisdom comes to mind. “A woman’s like a guitar, son. It’s all in how you hold her.” After that he’d added, “Get comfortable with her but never take her for granted, appreciate every single inch and curve. The imperfections are what make her unique, what make her yours.”
“Please don’t hate me, Dallas,” she whispers. “I couldn’t stand it if you hated me.”
“I could never hate you, Robyn. Go to sleep, sweetheart.”
Jesus. I was mad as hell that she didn’t tell me about Belinda, but I didn’t say anything about hating her. Watching her drift off to sleep so peacefully after her night full of outbursts and erratic behavior makes me wonder if she’s a pod person or secretly has an evil twin.
But it was a sexy jealous evil twin and when she dozes off in my arms, I stay awake watching her to make sure the vomiting really has passed. By daybreak I’ve decided to keep her, evil twin and all.
Robyn is still recovering from food poisoning or whatever the hell she had so she isn’t coming to the show in Nashville tonight. She texts me a “have a great show” message but when I respond by asking if I can come by her room and check on her after, she doesn’t answer.
Mandy told me to meet her on Wade’s bus before the show at the Woods Amphitheater at Fontanel. After making sure that Katie was in their room to keep an eye on Robyn, I left the hotel and joined far more folks than I expected on Wade’s fancy-ass bus.
The built-in furniture is all black leather and sleek marble surfaces. There’s a flat screen against the wall that’s nearly as big as the bunk I sleep on in my bus.
Wade sits leaned back in a booth across from his manager and a few guys from his band. Mandy, Ty, and Lex are here as well.
Barry Borscetti’s face is on the computer in front of them and he’s talking when I walk in.
“He’s here,” Wade’s manager, a husky guy named Rick, says when Mandy and I make our way over. “We’re good to go.”
“What’s going on?” I look to Mandy for an answer and she grins like someone with a secret.
“Dallas, we’re glad you’re here,” Barry says, drawing my attention from my manager. “Your agent has been filled in so the paperwork is already being processed.”
I feel like I’m missing the punch line to an inside joke. “Okay. Someone want to fill me in now?”
“It’s about the tour,” Barry says. “Jase has signed on for an international leg of the Kickin’ Up Crazy tour and we couldn’t be more excited. With the success of ‘Better to Burn’ and the enthusiasm for your upcoming album, we’ve decided to include you as well. Congratulations. This is going to be an amazing opportunity for both of you.”
“The exposure alone is going to skyrocket your career, Dallas,” Mandy whispers from beside me, wrapping her arm around mine and holding on tightly.
“Mexico is confirmed for three dates. Five shows in Canada,” Barry is saying as I tune back in. “Two shows in Rio de Janeiro and two London venues have committed. There’s a foundation supporting a campaign called Bring Country Music to the UK that is ecstatic about having you boys over there. We’ll have two shows in the Philippines, which will provide some photo ops with service groups that you’ll be visiting while you’re there. We’re still working with Australian vendors and should hear back from Tokyo today.”
“Sounds great, Barry,” Wade says. He sounds as tired as I feel but we both know how huge this is. Not just for us, or for this tour, but for country music.
Once upon a time, it was only in the southern United States, then it expanded to reach the rest of the country, and now it’s taking on the world. It’s surreal to be a part of that and I can’t even think straight as I imagine visiting those parts of the globe.
“Have a great show tonight, fellas,” Barry says before signing off.
“Well, this calls for another celebration,” Mandy announces. “I’ll have someone bring in some party favors for after the show tonight. We’ll see if Midnight Bay can help us out with that.
The mention of Midnight Bay reminds me of Robyn. I hope like hell she’ll be joining us for this leg of the tour. The craziest part? I can’t even imagine it without her.
31 | Robyn