Chapter 21: Chapter 20

Zeke

I’ve been going crazy since the party, replaying everything that had happened. London up and disappeared with Paisley. Last I knew, I helped Paisley into the car and watched them both drive off.

I can still smell her perfume on my skin. She felt perfect…right…fucking home.

Nothing’s going right. Paisley haunts my dreams. I never want to see her face frozen in fear, her body shaking, and those tears again.

Her green eyes pleading, begging to be saved…but from what? I need to protect her, but I fear I’ll never be the man to do it justice.

I’m the first one to say I’m a player, but I’m also the first one to say I want to settle down. Hell, I’d even give up Oblivion for the right girl.

I have to meet up with the guys soon. Without Paisley, I don’t know if I wanna stay in Austin for the rest of our time off. A new start in a town could do me some good.

I want to get away from everything. I could rent a little cabin, hide out in the sticks, write lyrics, and fiddle with tunes. Just find ~myself~ again before we head back on tour.

~Mother fucker.~ I need answers. I need to know what the hell happened, and why I ended up in a brawl.

I spent hours at the sheriff’s office being questioned about why I attacked some clown. Then I spent another couple of hours dealing with the record label over our announcement.

The whole time, all I could think about was Paisley.

I grab my cell to shoot London another text.

Zeke

Please tell me where you are. I need to talk to her.

Desperate times cause for desperate measures, not that I’m expecting a reply.

I haven’t gotten a reply from any of the other thousand messages I’ve sent since she zoomed away with my girl in her back seat.

I rest my head against the headboard and close my eyes. Images of Paisley’s smile plague me.

~God, she’s beautiful.~

It’s as if I’m watching a home movie. Every memory we made together plays in my mind.

Gripping the comforter firmly, I find it hard to see the happiness, especially with where our relationship stands right now. I reach for the pad and pencil beside my bed and scribble down lyric after lyric.

When I look into your eyes

It’s like watching the cloudless sky

Or catching you in the starlight

Every word comes with ease as I pour my heart onto the paper. How I can describe how much I feel? How much she has gotten under my skin?

Well, I won’t give up on us

Even when at times it gets rough

I’m surrendering all my love

I’m still looking up

And even like now you’re needing your space

To do some soul searching

I’m not going anywhere

See what you find

I close my eyes, needing to see my girl. Even if it’s only a memory, I’ll take it… God, I’ll take her anyway I can have her, and I’ll be waiting for her when she comes home.

Cause even the stars will burn

They even fall to the Earth

Shit I’ve got a lot to learn

But God knows you’re worth it

No baby, I won’t give up

Each word is true. I won’t give up until she’s back here.

If she wants to tell me it’s over, she’s gonna have to look me in the eye to do it. Not that I plan to let her go. I won’t let this end… I’ll be right there to protect her, no matter what.

No, babe, I won’t give up on us

Even when the skies get rough

I’m giving you all my love

Baby girl, be my turtle dove.

I drop the pad on my bed as the emotions get too much to handle. Grabbing my keys, I make my way to the bar. I need the boys and a beer.

“Zeke, you here to suck my lollipop yet?” Blake bellows as soon as I walk through the door.

I flip him the bird. It’s the only bit of energy I can muster.

“You look like shit.” Caleb’s words wash over me.

“I could say the same to you.”

“You still haven’t heard anything?” Caleb asks. I shake my head in defeat, and he slaps my back. “It’ll work out.”

“I don’t see how. She’s disappeared off the face of the Earth. After everything I did for her, shit, dude. It’s not like I’m telling her she owes me…I’d do the same over and over to protect those I love.

“I just need to know she’s okay, and it has to be with my own two eyes. I’m going crazy!”

Caleb slaps me again, and we take a seat in the booth.

“That’s love for ya. That fucker takes hold without any warning and knocks you out.”

Oh yeah, I’m aware. I love that girl more than anything, and for the first time in my life, I have no plans, no desire to fuck this all out of my system.

I’m completely lost. The guys are all chatting among themselves, anything from the antics of last night to our upcoming tour.

“What about you, Zeke? What do you want?” Jay asks and the others stare at me.

I’m not sure what they want me to say. I’ve been staring down at my cell the whole time, hoping for a reply.

“Honestly, I just want to get away from here. I just don’t think I can carry on. Everything I thought I knew, everything I thought I wanted, turned to fucking shit.”

“You know you sound like a chick, right?” Blake chirps in.

And yeah. He’s right… I wanna kick my own ass.

“Zeke…” Tania is at the edge of the table.

I narrow my eyes. If it wasn’t for her, I wouldn’t be pining the loss of Paisley right now.

“You’ve got some nerve.”

“I-I-I just wanted to apologize.”

“Save it. Guys, I’m heading out… I’m done.” I storm past her and out of the bar. Fuck this shit.