Dark affairs

After the show is finished we hang out backstage for a while, the crew, a few fangirls and the opening band, they're called SWMRS. How weird is it nowadays, like, we're so cool and indie we don't need vowels any longer.

Jack and I cuddle on the couch and just watch the party and so do Rian and Cass. She will have to leave soon and catch up with her touring band and I feel sorry for them, they didn't get a lot of quality time together with all this stuff happening today.

Soon the party dies down as we will have a night drive because for the next stop of the tour we're back in LA where they play two shows tomorrow and the day after.
That also marks the end of my tour engagement, so I'm practically back home by tomorrow and I planned on just staying in my apartment these two night and drive to the shows from there.

It has only been a week but I can't wait to get out of this bus. It's cramped, it's noisy and smelly and that's probably the reason everyone is so on edge all the time.

Some people might like the buzz but I'm looking forward to being on my own in my comfortable and quiet own space.

When Cass says goodbye she makes me promise to keep in touch and I do so wholeheartedly, she is feisty and crazy and I would like to get to know her better. And then she has to leave and I realise how much Rian likes her and almost doesn't want to let her go.

Although he is extremely proud of her success it must be really hard to make this relationship work with two different touring schedules. I pat his shoulder in empathy when I see he actually wipes at his eyes and he smiles at me thankfully and retreats to his bunk.

As we drive through the night, I'm sleeping in the spare bed but the noise of the engine and the snoring of the guys don't make for a pleasant rest . So I get up early and realise the bus is parked in the rear of our next venue. I watch some TV until the rest of the band joins me in the lounge one by one.

The last one to appear is of course Jack and he yawns and loudly demands food. We sit around discussing breakfast options of who wants to go where when Alex gets a text, he turns to the group his eyes still on his phone,

"Hey uhm, guys, Lisa just texted me she is coming to pick me up in like ten minutes, so I'll be going home with her and coming back for the show tonight."

This info doesn't sit well with me. As his wife is normally not in the picture, I tend to ignore the fact he is 'happily' married but things like that harshly remind me of the reality that Alex belongs to someone else.

I know, Jack and I decided to not continue our three way relationship, at least for now, and it's not right but I still feel possessive.

So while the boys respond to his announcement with hums of acknowledgement or disinterest I can't stop myself from snapping, "well, good for you."

I turn to Jack and ask him if he likes to go to IHOP for food and he only studies my face for a second until he agrees smiling. A few of the crew are eager to join us and so I pull out my phone to google the nearest branch.

I haven't noticed Alex coming close to me as I'm staring at my screen waiting for the page to fully load so I'm startled when I hear him whisper, "Mickey, don't be like that," in an almost pleading manner.

"I don't know what you're talking about?" I play dumb and turn away from him giving him the cold shoulder and I hear him sigh behind me.

Jack and Phil each order an Uber because we're too many people for one car when there is a sharp knock on the door. Brian who stands closest opens and in comes Lisa wearing a dazzling smile.

"Hi guys! " she greets everyone and then turns to Alex, "hey Honey!" She throws her arms around his neck and Alex also wears the biggest smile hugging her tightly and kissing her after greeting,"Liz, Darling! So glad you're here, I've missed you so much!"

Her eyes dart towards me as we all still sit around waiting for our rides and have to witness the happy reunion.
I try to keep my face emotionless.

Once they let go of each other after multiple hugs and kisses, she turn to me.
"Mickey, I thought I bring Max with me, so you don't have to come get him." She tells me with a rehearsed smile.

I only then notice she had set down his travel bag by the door when she came in and although we agreed that I only pick him up tomorrow and it will be complicated to have him while I'm officially still working, I jump up to get him out of his confines. When I look inside he yaps and practically jumps at me wagging his short tail like a mad dog.

I had feared her dislike of me would lead Lisa to not properly look after my dog.
Although I don't think she's that kind of person and wouldn't take it out on an innocent animal I'm relieved Max seems happy and healthy and in a great mood.

I pick him up and cuddle him to my chest grinning. I sit down beside Jack and he immediately ruffles his fur and starts a play fight with him over some candy wrappers.

We are completely absorbed in our little bubble of happiness when I look up because I can feel eyes on me.

Lisa stares at me and I can't read her expression so I quickly say, "yeah, thank you so much for looking after him, he looks like he enjoyed it. It will be a bit inconvenient with me still working today and tomorrow but we'll manage, so thanks again."

I smile at her thankfully and then notice Alex intense stare, he looks almost jealous but I think I only imagine that.

"Well we can take him with us for the day and bring him back before the set, so you don't have to worry about him Mickey" he offers and earns a glare from Lisa which he chooses to ignore.

"Oh, no, I have overused your generous offer already." I deny immediately "Jack and I will manage."

I don't know why I added that but it makes Alex set his jaw and glare at me."Fine"
He says and grabs Lisa by the waist and immediately the smile is back on his features. "Lets go then Baby."

Lisa has a confident smirk when she turns around waving goodbye to everyone." Bye guys, see you later,"

When they're gone I turn to Jack and whisper. "Am I the only one that feels like this was all kinds of fake here?"

Jack grins, "that's how they always are, welcome to the club."

When the cars finally arrive and we drive to the nearest IHOP, I smuggle Max in hiding him in his transport bag and hoping he'll stay quiet.

So after we had a huge breakfast we ditch the rest of the guys and Jack and I go to the park to let Max run around and play.
When we're all exhausted we lie on the grass in a sunny spot and enjoy the day. Jack sits propped up against the trunk of a tree and I have my head in his lap while he plays with my hair.

Jack breaks the comfortable silence when he asks, "what was up with you this morning, you seemed pissed off?"

I see no reason to not tell him my thoughts truthfully.

"Urgh, it was Alex, you might think I'm stupid but it angers me when one day he tells us how much he needs us and can't lose us and we actually consider not telling him that we want a break because he seemed to have a meltdown about it but the second his wife turns up, its like he is the happiest person, not even waisting one thought about us. It just makes me reconsider everything he ever said because it all just seems like a lie." I angrily huff and rip off some grass blades and throw them at Max who tries to catch them in the air jumping.

Jack stays quiet for a while so I turn to look at him and he sadly smiles, "I don't think you're stupid at all and I do feel the same but I have tried so many times to talk some sense into Alex and ask him to at least be honest to himself without effect that I have given up on believing he will change."

He looks at Max who has started to dig a hole into the lawn and chuckles at his antics, "so it's either accepting him the way he is or leave him to live his life that's a lie. I'm still not sure what's the right thing to do."

I look at him and suddenly I'm overwhelmed with a warm fuzzy feeling for this kind and thoughtful man who constantly jokes around and loves to make everyone happy. So I just crawl up until I straddle his lap and hold his face between my hands.

"The right thing to do right now is kiss the fuck out of you." And that's what I do.

Notes

Aww Fluff!