Page 32 of From the Ashes
“Oh good, we’re going to Georgia. I bet it’s a lot warmer there so I can finally take it out on a ride.”
“Phie… youcan’tbe serious.”
“Tony,” I said, ignoring the pleading tone in his voice. “I’mdeadserious. You want to eat up the next three months of my life doing stupid bullshit and getting free sex? Then figure out how to get my motorcycle to Savannah.”
“In twelve hours?”
“Tick-tock.”
With that, I hung up the phone, feeling rather pleased with myself. I threw my arm back over my eyes, dropping my phone to the rug beside the couch. Ireallydidn’t want to get on a plane in the morning, but I was quickly coming to the conclusion that I had no choice. Contracts and lawyers were the last thing I wanted to deal with because I never won those arguments. My degree had been in creative writing, not law. Even then, I’d barely graduated college to begin with.
And yet, somehow, I’d managed to write a bestselling romance novel. I didn’t think it was because the book was particularly brilliant or original or even that well written. Mostly it was due to timing. There was a big demand for more representation in the publishing sphere and the big publishing houses were desperate for decent content. I’d like to think that it was my book that got me noticed by thecompany, but really it was Tony. He was loud, charismatic, and he didn’t give up. That’s how he got me into bed the first time and that’s how he got my book sold for half a million dollars.
While all of that was thrilling, I had sorely underestimated the amount of work it would entail. I figured the company would cut me a check, and I’d give them the book. After that it was hands off. But there was so much more to it than that. It seemed like I spent every day working harder than I’d ever worked in my life. Then at night it was headshots and press conferences and interviews for newspapers.
Most nights I just collapsed in my bed, too tired to even shower. But on those rare nights when Tony and I were staying in a hotel or he’d come down to work with me in person, I was allowed to give in to my carnal desires. It was nothing more than innocent fun of course. Both Tony and I knew that. But it was nice when it happened. In a world full of stress and deadlines and demands, it was a brief respite from the insanity of my life.
And now I’d be able to have a lot more of those nights on the road. However, I still didn’t feel good about travelling across the country. Mostly because of one thing.
Creekside, Oregon.
I hadn’t seen my parents in over a year thanks to the book deal. While I’d promised to fly them out as soon as I got settled, now that I was going on tour, they’d want me to come home. I wanted to see them, I really did. Mom was beside herself being away from me for so long. I missed her too of course and I missed Ted. Both of them had been so supportive of my dreams. In fact, they’d sent me nearly ten thousand dollars to keep me housed and fed when my bank account ran dry and negotiations were dragging on for months with the book. It wasbecauseof them that I had this book deal. So, when they inevitably asked me to come home, I knew I wouldn’t be able to say no.
But I was terrified of going back to Creekside for one singlereason.
Him.
I’d promised myself long ago that I would never step foot in that town again. Not after the way he’d cut me out of his life and broken my heart. The man I thought was my best friend… my special someone that I would spend the rest of my life with.
Well, it turned out that all of that was nothing more than a stupid teenage dream. However, that realization only made it hurt worse. Not only had I allowed myself to fall in love… but I’d been fuckingstupidwith my affections at the same time.
Typical Phoenix.
But I’d learned my lesson. Now guys were kept at arm’s length. I didn’t date, and I didn’t want to, especially now that I was well known and had come into a lot of money. Chances were any guy that showed interest in me was just trying to get their fifteen minutes of fame or fuck me out of my hard-earned dreams. That’s why Tony was the perfect companion. He didn’t want feelings, and neither did I. We just wanted to get off and move on. And I was perfectly happy with that.
Sitting up on the couch, I made a promise to myself. First off, I would go home to see my parents at some point during the trip. I owed them that. And secondly, I would see them andonlythem while I was there. No wandering around town, no visiting old haunts, and no searching for people that obviously didn’t want me around anymore.
And then, after this tour was done, I’d move my parents out east and I’d never have to set foot in that horrible, painful place again.
With my mind made up, I got off the couch and went back to the bedroom, pulling my suitcase off the top rack of the closet. I had a three-month trip to prepare for and I only had twelve hours to do it.
Being a famous author was far busier than I wanted it to be.
CHAPTER 13
Phoenix
“Tony… you’re really starting to piss me off now,” I said, slumping against the couch as the bus thundered down the road. “Why is this book signing thing such a damn mess?”
“I don’t pick the schedule, Phie,” he replied, not looking up from his laptop. The man had a habit of delivering bad news and then making himself look busy to throw me off. But I wasn’t falling for it this time. “It’s just the way the publishing house wants us to do it.”
“Then why the bus?” I squawked. “If you knew we were going to pinball across the country like this, why not just take a plane?”
“And miss you getting upset about all this?” He glanced up at me with a smirk. “Why would I want to do that?”
“Tony, I’m serious! What’s the point of all this?!”
“Look,” he said, pushing his laptop aside with a sigh. “The bouncing between coasts is only the two stops. We start in Savannah and then go directly to Seattle. From there we’ll work our way down the westcoast and then hit a couple along the gulf before hitting the east coast.”