See Her (Turn it Up #1)

Chapter 27

27

MAYZIE

O ver the next two weeks, we settle into a blissful routine. I try to get as much work done as I can in the mornings while Jack is still sleeping after working a bar shift so that we can have the afternoons together. We take walks with the dogs, have lunch, and have sexy time before he goes to work. On his days off, we hang out in the house, sometimes we’re both doing our own thing, but we’re together. He likes to fix things like creaky doors and uneven window sills, and he’s put up shelves for both my books and his vinyl collection.

We also made a point of bringing the families together by grilling out in our backyard, and it went about how you’d expect. Jack grilled steaks while my dad grilled him about whether he’s ever done drugs or been arrested and if he got straight As in school. My brother’s girlfriend clung to his arm and griped in his ear about how quickly Jack proposed and what was taking him so long while he chugged a beer, his eyes lifted to the heavens. Jack’s sister, Sarah, sat with her husband, Mike, at the picnic table and shoveled chips in her mouth as she watched all the conversations like she was at the movies.

The saving grace was Jack’s dad, Bill, who sat down with my parents for a heart–to–heart. While assuring them that he was just as cau ght off guard and full of questions as they were, he expressed his feelings about how he knows first–hand that life is short. My Dad and Mom softened just a little after he told them how he certainly never planned on losing Jack’s mom, and how he supports seizing happiness before it slips from your hands. It didn’t make them come all the way around, but they were a bit more open to listening to him go on about how good of a guy Jack really is.

It's going to take time, but it made me feel optimistic with moving forward and building bonds, and I’ve been able to relax as Jack and I have been finding a domestic routine.

I always wake up slightly as he climbs into bed with me late at night, and the most wonderful feeling comes over me every time. I’m immediately wrapped in a blanket of love and security that I didn’t know I was missing. There is something about being in that state of half–sleep and feeling his warmth settling next to me. Sometimes I wake up all the way, and we do amazing things to each other. Others, I settle back into sleep with the comfort of him being there.

What we don’t do is look See Her up on the internet. We watched the video the one time the label sent us a link so we could view the final product. It was surreal yet invigorating to see Jack, me, and the guys in a video that was going to be viewed around the country. As discussed, there were occasional shots of me, but not enough to take the attention off the guys. The scene in the St. Michelle is intense with the way they showed Jack shredding the shit out of his guitar while watching me dance, and what I didn’t expect was the special effect added in at the end.The videographer made it look like the theater was crumbling and falling apart all around the band, as if by the sheer force of their music. It is truly a work of art.

After the first viewing, we haven’t watched it again, or checked the music charts. Jack is afraid he will become obsessed and would rather just go on with life and find out when t he time is right, if we hear anything at all that is. He figures that if we don’t hear anything, it will be less of a blow that way.

But one night, it seems he can’t run from it anymore. He comes home from the bar at 10:30, when he was supposed to stay late and close.

“Hey, what are you doing home?” I ask from the nook where I’m working on my laptop.

“Well,” he says, shucking his jacket and hanging it behind the door on the coat rack. “There was a huge crowd, but they weren’t there to drink.”

“What does that mean?” I ask, closing my laptop.

“Apparently, the song is doing well,” he says, unbuttoning his shirt and pulling it out of the top of his pants so it can hang open. “Locals that know me from the shows are getting a bit excited.” He bends down to kiss me before heading to the fridge and getting out two beers.I feel a little zing go up my back at the new but comfortable gesture, and then sigh.It’s like a little reminder that we really are married.“You’d think having a huge crowd would be good for business, but no one was ordering anything,” he continues. “All they wanted to do was bombard me with questions and shit.” He pops the beers open as I walk over to grab one from him. “I had to leave out the back because it got too out of hand. I’m not sure I can go back there. I mean it could die down, but I don’t know…” he trails off as he tips the bottle back. We head over to the couch as he keeps talking.“On the plus side, I got to come home to you earlier,” he says as we sit down and both put our feet up.

“It’s a very welcome surprise,” I tell him as he settles down, leaning in on me a bit with his hand wrapped around my bare thigh. I’d changed into a t-shirt and pajama shorts a while ago. We both take a drink as we hear his phone go off. He leans forward to set his beer down, leaning even further into me to fish his phone out of his back pocket.He glances at the screen before bringing it to his ear, his other hand still rubbing my thigh, subtly stirring up some feelings of comfort and arousal, whether he means it to or not.

“Matt,” he answers, “you wouldn’t believe what just happened.” And then he’s quiet as a look of disbelief comes over his face…

“You okay, sweetheart?”

I look up to see Jack leaning against the fridge, his eyes holding numerous layers of concern.

“Yeah, I’m fine,” I briefly shoot him a smile before looking back down at the pan I’m scrubbing the shit out of. “Why?”

“You look like your mind’s somewhere else. And you’re going to put a hole in that pan.”

My heart starts to beat faster at the mention of it, though I try to cover it up with a giggle as I dry my hands on a towel.

“We got some amazing news last night,” I reason. “A lot’s about to change. You’re probably going out on tour, you know?”

I don’t tell him about all the things that are scaring me; that how the idea of him taking off to a different league of existence makes me worry about being left behind. But I will not ruin this moment for him by making it about me, and I won’t be the woman that holds him back from realizing dreams he’s had since long before meeting me.

Jack blinks and raises his eyebrows at my musings. “Maybe. We’ll see what Ron has to say on this call. Do you want to go with me?”he asks.

The guys are all meeting at Matt’s to take the call.

“This is a band thing. You go ahead.” I step lightly towards him and rest my hands on his chest and he wraps his arms around my waist.

“It has to do with our future, which means it involves you, too. ”

“You’re right, but the other guys may not see it that way. Let’s give them a chance to get used to that idea. It’s been just the four of you for so long.”

“M’kay,” he plants a kiss on my lips before turning towards the door, giving me a last glance over his shoulder. “I’ll come straight back home.”

“I can’t wait,” I respond, smiling serenely back.

Jack

Mayzie’s not fooling me. There are a million things going through her head. Matt’s call last night brought news that the song has been gaining more attention and air time each day, and Ron wants to do a conference call to discuss the next phase of the label’s investment with us.In our first meeting, he mentioned it would be going on tour as an opening act. Mayzie was elated, but it definitely shocked the hell out of me. I thought it was a lucky thing just getting noticed and having the chance to record the song, but to have it go off the way it has? I have to be honest, I was not expecting it. I was happy and thankful that we got to put at least one song out in the world, and then officially start my new life with my girl.

The last couple of weeks together have been so amazing.Everything from watching her dance in our kitchen in the mornings to kissing her goodbye before work has made me happier than I ever could have hoped. She’s been trying to get into cooking more now that it’s the two of us, and she’s only set off the smoke detector once. God, I love her. My favorite thing though, is spending every night with her in our bed, her body close to mine. Beneath me, on top of me, or just next to me, it doesn’t matter. Under the covers with her is my happy place.

It's no wonder I’m feeling more amped up about her than I am thi s call as I make the drive to Matt’s house. My thoughts are all on wanting her to be okay, and while she was undoubtedly excited for me, I could tell that one tiny segment of her feels just a little bit scared.To be truthful, so am I. Our marriage is still so new and needs a lot of attention from both of us. If a tour is in fact happening, leaving without her is just not an option. I need her with me.

“810K?” Josh repeats the number of views Ron just told us the video has already. We’re sitting at Matt’s kitchen table around his phone which is set to speaker, as Ron delivers the news of the song’s success. “In three weeks?” he repeats again. I guess the rest of the guys had the same mentality I did and didn’t pay attention to the charts or YouTube.

“Damn straight 810K, and number 48 on the ‘Hot Hundred’!” howls Chris.

Okay, all of us but him stayed offline.

“That’s right,” Ron confirms, from the phone’s speaker. “That’s higher than the average momentum, the kind we need to take action on, and people are asking all over social media sites how and when they can catch a show. Next step is going on tour, as an opener.” He’s all business, and definitely not dancing around the issue.

“When? And for who?” Matt asks.

“The Shock Wave is set to leave in two weeks, and their opener fell through. We want you guys in. Turn it Up is the perfect fit to open for them, and it will get you in front of the target audience.”

“The fucking Shock Wave?!” Chris repeats.

“Who was originally going to open?” Josh asks.

“Is that really important?” Ron retorts.

“Hell no,” Matt answers .

After celebrating with some more howls, back slaps and high fives, Ron calls for quiet.“So get yourselves together, pack your things, rehearse, tell your families, all that. Tour starts in Seattle and leaves from there. You’ll join them for the first six weeks, and if things keep moving steadily upwards, we’ll extend your time on the road with them.”

“Whoa. Ron, one quick question,” I say, leaning forward a little so he can hear me. “Who can come with us?”

“There are six bunks on your tour bus, and you get two rooms at hotel stops. You guys have to agree on how to use them. Why?” I look around at everyone else and am met with a bunch of smirks.

“I married Mayzie,” I say, unable to control my smile.

“What do you mean, you’re not coming on the tour?” I practically sputter at Mayzie. It’s hard to speak coherently when your heart is beating furiously in your damn throat.

“I will not be Yoko,” she returns, matter-of-factly.

“Hey, you are not Yoko,” I hold a finger up at her, “and explain to me how the hell I’m supposed to go on tour for six weeks without my wife – who I just married , by the way.”

“I just think it would be better if I stayed out of this, at least for a while.”

“And you think that’s a good idea, why?”

“Because!” She throws her hands down. “This is new territory for you guys with a lot of glitches to work out. You’re going to be living on a bus together and in hotels; you’ll be doing rehearsals and sound checks and set up and whatever else rock bands do on tour.” Her list goes on as she waves her hands in every direction. “This is about the band , and the band was with you long before I came along. I’m afraid if you throw me in the mix I could really get in the way, and, I don’t know, throw off your m ojo, your vibe, whatever you want to call it.This is a crucial time for you guys, and you need to have your heads together, focusing on your music.”

“Uh, I hate to shock you, but it’s a critical time for us, too.” I raise my eyebrows at her and move my hand between us.

“I know,” she utters, walking closer and dropping her head to my chest dejectedly, her hands gripping the front of my Henley as my arms circle around her. “I don’t want to be apart, but this is going to be such a crazy time,” she muffles through my shirt.

“I know it is. But we can either spend our newlywed phase completely apart, or on a crazy adventure.”

“But it’s the band’s crazy adventure, not mine.”

“I’m part of that band, and you’re part of me,” I murmur down at her, stroking her chin with my thumb, coaxing her to look up at me.

When her eyes find mine, they look as if they’re searching their depths for something until she heaves out a heavy sigh.

“Jack, it will be so hard with me there.”

“It will be harder without you,” I shoot back, not missing a beat, making her close her eyes on a scoff.

“Jack, you can’t do that.” She pushes away and turns to put a few feet between us.

“What?” I return, exasperated.

“It’s just not that simple,” she whips back around. “You can’t just say a few sweet words and expect me to get on board with what you want.”

“Funny,” I say, rolling my eyes cynically, “I thought being together was something we both wanted.”

Her mouth falls open as my chest rises in a sharp breath, and I know I’ve fucked up.

“That,” I hold my hand up before she loses her shit all over me, “was immature, and I didn’t mean it. I’m sorry.” I rush all the words out while trying to sound as sincere as possible. Tonight would not be a good one for me to spend on the couch .

Mayzie stares back, pressing her lips together as she’s hopefully turning my apology over in her mind.

“I just… want us to make sure we think about what’s best for us in the long run instead of what would just make us happy in the moment.”

I drop my head, not wanting to hear this. I know I’m being selfish, and the shitty thing about it is I don’t even care.

Mayzie’s being the sensible one by wanting to think things through, to make sure being in this environment together will help us not hurt us in this delicate first stage of our marriage, while I just know what I want – and that’s her with me on tour.