Page 64 of See Her
Mayzie
The next fewdays are just as much of a cluster-fuck of schedule changes and glitches, and on day fourteen, it seems to culminate. From L.A., we’d traveled to San Diego, and then to Phoenix, where we are now, parked in the bus at the venue. I’m sitting at the dinette table with my laptop, working on some assignments for work while Jack and Matt tool around with their guitars and talk about the set list. Heavy and deliberate footfalls signal the arrival of Sean, one of the road managers.
“Guys, we just got a call from one of the local radio stations.The segment they were doing for their noon rush fell through. See Her is one of their top played songs, and they want an interview. I told them we’d be there ASAP. Get to the SUV’s, now,” he barks, leaning in through the hallway.
This doesn’t faze me much; it’s just a prime example of how unpredictable the band’s new crazy schedule can be.Jack and Matt put their guitars down and get to their feet.
“Back soon, baby.” Jack leans down to kiss me before heading to the front of the bus.
“Chris is already out there. Where’s Josh?” Sean asks.
“He went for a run,” Matt answers.
“Alright, I’ll get a hold of him,” Sean says, whipping out his phone as he follows them to exit at the front of the bus.
Finding myself on the bus with no men for a change, I decide this would be prime time to take a shower.We spent the night on the road, and between working and sleeping, I haven’t taken one yet, and I could seriously stand to freshen up.I grab my toiletries and towel out of the bunk, and come back to cram myself in the tiny bus shower. I get the water running, strip out of my clothes and step in, enjoying the peace and quiet and letting the steam envelop me. I have my body and hair completely sudsy when there is a bang on the door, so loud and harsh it startles me, making me slip. I grab onto the door to steady myself when I hear shouting.
“Who the fuck is in there?! Get out, I need to get in!” I hear Josh yelling through the door. He probably just heard about the radio interview on his run and high-tailed it back here.Shit.
“It’s me!” I shout back. “Okay, hold on.” I start vigorously working the shampoo out of my hair, trying to rinse it out as fast as I can.
“For fuck’s sake!” I hear him shout, and I hear his footsteps moving away. I jump out of the shower and wrap my towel around me. Still completely dripping wet, I step out of the door to find Josh, shirtless and zipping up a pair of jeans. His skin is glistening with sweat and I see a pair of shorts and another t-shirt discarded near his feet. My guess is he got a little ripe on his afternoon run in the hot weather.
“Sorry, go ahead,” I say, sweeping my arm to the side to gesture to the shower.
“Fucking forget it.They were going to hold the car for me for five minutes so I wouldn’t have to go to this interview reeking of sweat, but too fucking late now. Thanks.”
The last word is coated in acid and it makes me cringe.
“Josh, I’m sorry. I thought you’d all left.”
He’s digging through his bunk, probably for a clean shirt. I fucking hate that I’m in nothing but a towel in front of him, but since my bag is in the bunk, he’s blocking my access to my clothes. Add in the fact that he’s pissed, it makes me feel extra vulnerable.
“Just like always,” he says, finding a t-shirt and pulling it over his head, before digging out some cologne. “Everywhere I turn, there you fucking are.” He sprays the cologne about seven times. “Tell me something,” he says, throwing it back and grabbing a comb. “How did I miss you at practices and shows over the last ten years?”
I feel a cold brick drop down to the bottom of my stomach as I translate what he’s saying. The band has been together and striving towards this for a decade, and I’m not supposed to be part of that. I pull my towel a little tighter and try to obscure myselfas much as I can, clinging to the wall.Water is still dripping off me, and I’m starting to shiver.
“Look,” I start, blinking against the anxiety terrorizing my insides and try to straighten my back. I’m trying to be understanding but strong. “I agree it should just be the four of you here, but it was a really hard call with Jack and I just getting married a little while ago.”
“Yeah,” he says, grabbing his phone and wallet. “Funny how that happened so quickly after the song's release.”
My jaw drops at what I’m hearing.
Oh hell no, is he suggesting what I think he is…
“I did not marry Jack because I saw you guys getting attention,” I grind out from between clenched teeth. “I don’t know if you said that to cut me,” – because it worked, sadly – “but I’d love to hear what your problem really is with me.”
“Fine!” He throws his comb down and it pings off a table before clattering to the floor. “This is supposed to be our time, alright?” he reveals, throwing his arms out. “We’ve only been working towards this for close to half our lives, and when we finally get our big break, Jack can’t be bothered because he now has steady pussy to come home to.”
A sharp gasp rips down my throat and my entire torso contracts into itself at his words as he mercilessly continues to lay it out. In all fairness, I did tell him to.
“He’s making us look like assholes at after parties. Half the fans are shrinking away because he’s too worried about your feelings and other bullshit.”
“Josh!” Matt’s shout cuts off the asshole’s tirade. “What the hell? We’re waiting for you. We’re late!” He comes trudging onto the bus, stopping abruptly when he sees Josh and me, seemingly having a face off. “What the hell’s going on here?” I don’t even want to think about how this must look. A heated argument with my husband’s bandmate while I’m dripping wet, in nothing but a towel.
Josh pushes past Matt and stomps off the bus, while Matt turnsback to face me.I don’t even know what to say, so I duck back into the shower, just to avoid any interaction. I don’t care to have another half-naked conversation with another band member.When I finally hear the bus door slam shut, I slump against the door and close my eyes.
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