My Lucky Days: A Novel (30 page)

But mainly it gave me some time alone. I hated missing his shows, but there was something to be cherished about solitude. Those few hours when Lucky performed were the only hours I could hear my own thoughts.

At the end of June, Lucky was on the Texas leg of the tour. He did a college event in Lubbock and then a small venue in Midland. The air conditioner in the bus broke somewhere between San Angelo and San Antonio. The stale heat intensified the musty smell, and I threw up twice.

We drove the last two hours with the windows down, at least the ones we could get open. When the bus finally reached San Antonio, Lucky got us a hotel room. I took a real shower and slept in a real bed. For the first time in weeks, I felt better . . . until the next morning, when I boarded the bus again. The driver had gotten the air conditioner fixed and the vents went back to filling every nook and cranny with the scent of mothballs and sweaty ass.

When the tour reached Austin, Lucky went to the airport and flew back to Nashville. He was gone for two days and we picked him up in Houston. He spent those days with Jack Harlow, finalizing everything for the next tour. The real one with a real bus and better venues.

After the final show in Kansas City, he would take a few days off in Oklahoma before heading back to Nashville for a couple of weeks. They would leave mid-August for three months. Unless the baby came early, he should be done and home in time for the actual birth.

At least, that is what he promised me.

As he played the last few shows in Texas, life on the road was getting harder for me. I was tired all the time. Lucky and I spent most of our alone time together just lying on our bed. Sometimes he whispered little songs to my stomach. It was sweet and made me smile.

I loved him. And I knew he loved me.

But I hated life on the road. It was no way of living.

Lucky worried about me. I could tell. The guilt flashed in his eyes sometimes as he held me. But I never said anything and neither did he.

I
looked out the window, seeing the familiar Tulsa skyline. As the bus moved through the city streets, something came alive in me. It almost felt like home—and Peyton was coming to the show. I was excited to see her. I needed just a glimpse of the familiar, both the city and the people. Things would get better now.

The bus parked in the area outside of Cain’s Ballroom. This was possibly his favorite stop on the tour. A homecoming of sorts for Lucky. I gathered my stuff, getting ready to leave the bus, but he stopped me. I saw the sad look in his eyes as he pulled me to his chest.

“What’s wrong?” I asked, wrapping my arms around his neck.

“I know you hate this. Being out here with me.” The ache was in his voice, a sad, lonesome ache. “We don’t talk about it. But I know.”

I heard his words, but I didn’t know what to say back. Yes, I hated this. I hated every minute of it. But I loved him. Even though my feelings for him would never cancel out my hatred of actually being on the road, I still loved him.

“I don’t think we should discuss this today,” I whispered. “You have looked forward to this show the whole time. I want you to have a good time tonight. And I’m excited to see you play. This is one of your dreams. And tonight it’s going to happen.”

“I know.” He cupped my cheeks with his hands. I stared into his sad eyes. “But I want you to leave with Peyton tonight. Have her take you home. I know you won’t leave on your own. But I know you’re not happy, Katie. You don’t feel well. And I’m a worthless dick if I ask you to stay one more minute.”

“What? No, I’m not ready to leave you yet.” The tears fell down my cheeks.

He shook his head. “I want you to leave. This isn’t good for you or the baby. We both know that.”

“I told you. I would stay until Kansas City. It’s only another ten days. Just let me finish this out. Okay? You’re going to . . .” I swallowed back the ugly tears. “You’re going to leave for three months. I want these last few days.”

He rested his forehead against mine. “I’m sorry, Katie.”

“Don’t be sorry. I knew what I was getting into.”

His nose ran down the length of mine, and then he place a soft kiss on my lips. “Run away with me, Katie.”

“I already did,” I teased.

He smiled as his eyes lit up. “I mean right now.”

And before I could reply, his hand pulled me through the bus and out the front door. The sun hit my face and it took a few minutes for my eyes to adjust. The air was dry and hot as he led me down the sidewalk. I knew where he was taking me without saying a single word.

As we approached the spot, he wrapped an arm around my waist, brushing a kiss on my cheek. This felt good. It felt right and a rush of happiness filled my heart as Lucky and I stepped on the bricks that defined the Center of the Universe.

A few people mingled in the area. Lucky linked his fingers through mine as we inched closer together, standing with my sandals between his cowboy boots. We were close. My stomach pressed against him as the smell of hamburgers floated in the air.

“What are we going to yell?” I asked, but Lucky didn’t reply. I looked back into his eyes. They were softer and I couldn’t read his expression. Something was going on with him. I felt it. “You okay?”

I heard the sound of birds. And I found myself counting my breaths. I counted to five before I heard his voice and even then, I wasn’t sure if it was real or an echo.

“Marry me.”

My eyes opened wide in surprise. I’m not going to lie and say it had never crossed my mind after finding out about the baby, but I just didn’t really think he would actually ask me. I know a baby was a big step, but marriage was . . . something entirely different for us.

“I know life with me won’t be perfect,” he whispered. “But I’ll do everything I can to make you as happy as you make me. And right now, as I’m standing in this very spot, you and our baby are the center of my universe. And I want you. Forever. Do you want me?”

“I want you.” I nodded, feeling a tear run down my cheek.

He wiped it away with his thumb. “Then marry me.”

I smiled, feeling several more fall from my lashes. “Yes.”

His lips crashed against mine. A kiss of new beginnings in a place full of old and sweet memories. I wrapped my arms around his neck as he held me close to his chest. I would never forget this moment.

Lucky pulled back, staring at me with a sweet smile. Fishing something out of his jeans pocket, he lifted my left hand. “I’ll get you a better ring someday. But I picked this up when I was in Nashville. It’s an antique. Or at least that’s what the guy said at the pawn shop.”

I stared down at the plain gold ring with a tiny diamond in the center. “You had this planned?”

“Yeah, I wanted to wait until we got here.” As he slipped the little ring on my finger, the flutters in my chest came alive and wild. He swept me up in his arms, spinning me around in a circle. I laughed as my voice echoed back to us in the Center of the Universe and the diamond chip sparkled in the sunshine.

Lucky and I entered the front door of Cain’s Ballroom. The place was a time warp of old country nostalgia. Walking across the wooden floor, I saw all the legendary photos of those who had played before him.

“Katie!” Peyton came rushing up to me. She grabbed me in a quick hug and then backed up with wide eyes. “
Oh my gosh!
Your stomach is like giant now.”

I winced, running a hand over the large bump. “Gee, thanks. Missed you too.”

“You’re so cute, though.” She grinned. “Can I touch?”

“I’m surprised you asked.”

She shrugged. “Well, I’m trying to be a better person these days.”

“
Reeeeeally
?”

Her hands ran all over the growing roundness of my stomach. “I love it. So amazing. I can’t believe you are really having a baby.”

“I see it every moment of every day. And sometimes I can’t either.” I held up my hand. “And I’ve got some other big news too.”

“What!” she shrieked, grabbing my hand to get a better look. “He didn’t tell me.”

“Was he supposed to?”

“Yes. Luck.” She hit his arm. “You are required to ask my permission before taking my sweet innocent Katie off to be your sex slave for life.”

“Peyton!” I laughed, the deep-belly kind that made me gasp for air and almost pee my pants, since that cute baby bump resided on top of my bladder.

I had missed this. I had missed this so much.

“My dear Peyton.” He turned on that innocent charm. “Will you grant me the permission to marry Katie? I promise to love her and make her life hell with my terrible jokes.”

“All right. I guess you should make this official before you get her knocked up or something.”

“I thought so too.” He laughed before giving me a soft kiss on the lips.

She linked her arm through mine, tugging me away. “Later, Luck. I need some alone time. I’m bored as hell in Bedford.”

Her smile was bright and contagious as she pulled me to the other side of the room. I felt giddy seeing my roommate again. Her blonde hair was in a high bun on top of her head, with little wispy pieces hanging down. But all of that was overshadowed by the cleavage at the top of her yellow sundress. Peyton was all boobs and freckles today.

“So I’ve got a little news.”

“Yeah?”

Her hands clapped together in excitement. “I
finally
hooked up with Clark.”

“What! When?”

“Umm.” She grinned like a naughty cat. “About ten minutes ago. I was right,
sooo
very right about him. Total lumberjack.” Her laughter echoed across the dance hall as I stared in horror at my friend.

“He’s a manwhore, Peyton. Like a real one. And I’ve seen his manwhoreness over and over again on that damn bus.”

“Slow down, Laura Ingles. I know exactly what he is. And I don’t care.” But her verbal denial forgot to tell her eyes to participate. There were tears behind those fake lashes. I pulled my dear friend into a tight hug. I felt so very sad for her. This Clark obsession would never mean more than a reality show hot tub scene—and now she had given him the power to hurt her.

She leaned back, turning her head to the side so I didn’t see her wipe the wet streaks off her face. “So um . . . we should talk about your baby shower, which you have totally ruined now with your wedding shower.”

“Okay.” I squeezed her hand.

We talked nonstop until the room filled up and the show started. She pulled me out toward the front of the stage. The band was playing the fast intro before Lucky came out.

Peyton started twisting around on the floor in her brown cowboy boots. “Come on. Dance with me.”

“I can’t dance. Not like this.”

“Who gives a shit that you’re pregnant? We’re dancing!”

By the time Lucky stood front and center, she had me moving around with her. He winked at me before his voice came deep and loud from the mic.

Baby, let’s take it out of town,

To where the city lights don’t shine.

We gonna crank that music up,

As we park by the old bridge sign.

Takin’ tequila shots,

On the bed of my truck.

Watchin’ you dance just right.

It’s a salt and lime, rockin’ kind of night.

We raise ‘em up, raise ‘em up high.

Hands in the air.

Hearin’ you sing along,

As the radio plays a Hank Williams song.

Deep base shakin’ the cab of my four-wheel drive.

Watchin’ you dance just right.

It’s a salt and lime, rockin’ kind of night.

Stars in the clear sky, they are bright.

But not as bright as that look in your eyes.

Hearin’ you singin’ along,

As the radio plays a Lynyrd Skynyrd song.

Deep base shakin’ the cab,

Of my four-wheel drive.

Watchin’ you dance just right.

It’s a salt and lime, rockin’ kind of night.