Free Backstage Pass: On Tour (The Backstage Pass Rock Star Romance) by Elizabeth Nelson

distraction.”
    “Not a pain.” He kissed my head. “Never a pain.”
    “Always a distraction?” I smiled up at him.
    “Definitely. But a good kind.”
    I distracted him with a very thorough kiss but didn’t let it go much further. We still had planning to do and I knew it would be all too easy to fall into the ease of our bodies so we wouldn’t have to make the hard choices.
    “Okay, so no to me going on tour with you. Now what?”
    “I could try to fly home between stops.”
    I shook my head. “That will exhaust you and you’ll already be running on empty based on how crazed your last tour was.”
    “There has to be a solution that doesn’t include us not seeing each other for the whole tour, right?”
    “ Doesn’t seem like it.”
    I groaned and rolled back on the mattress, throwing m y thigh open over his. “I don’t want to go that long without you.”
    “Next one I’ll make Ainsley build in more time between stops, and I’m arguing for a bus for you. We just have to get through this one. Okay?”
    “I guess if you’re keeping the house, I can putter around in the yard.”
    “That a girl.”
    So we left our decisions at an impasse and he managed to further distract me for the next several hours. At one point, we heard Mom and Dad come up the stairs and I made Jesse turn up the radio and sing louder when they closed their own bedroom door down the hallway. Talk about a mood killer.

CHAPTER 12
     
    Weeks bled into months and Drake finally approved me to a sustainable maintenance program and my doctors gave me a clean bill of health. I was free to take up anything I wanted, but they suggested I eased into anything new and tried my best to be smart.
    Since that had never been my strong suit, I couldn’t believe they were actually prescribing it. But I was willing to play along and give them whatever answer they wanted if it meant I had more freedom.
    Even though I wasn’t real sure where I want to go with that freedom. Classes were almost over and Kerri and Axel have come up a few times, but they were so engrossed in each other I was surprised we hadn’t heard an announcement—baby, marriage or otherwise. I still couldn’t figure out which one of them was more in love, but it was adorable. And a fine distraction when I wanted to just veg out and listen to Kerri go on and on about how fantastic Axel was. I really was happy for them.
    But every now and then, it made me long for the normalcy of shopping for plates and napkins that matched the bedspread.
    I got up to nine miles a day and my times aren’t anywhere near my personal best, but they weren’t horrid, and they were getting better, which I’d learned was what was important and the only thing I should use as a measuring stick. Was today better than yesterday?
    Nothing else should matter.
    Jesse and I talked nearly every night. Scout was still being a douche, but they were so busy with the tour and PR stops that they didn’t have time for his drama, which was good, though it concerned me that it was still a lingering issue.
    Jesse was right and it was going to continue to be one for a while if they didn’t address it. And that made me nervous. I didn’t want Scout to be an issue. I thought he liked me.
    I finish ed the day’s run and collapsed on Mom’s porch, arms outstretched, thighs burning. I should stretch, but in a minute. My phone chirped and I rolled my head to look at the readout.
    “Hey babe.”
    “Sash? Sorry, I can barely hear you.”
    “Yeah,” I yell ed. “Where are you?”
    “Backstage. It’s insane. We’re about to go on.”
    “What are you doing calling me?” My heart sped up. Please don’t let there be anything wrong.
    “Can you meet me at the house? I’m flying out of here right after tonight’s show, wanted to see if you could drive down and meet me. I can send a car.”
    “No, that’s silly. I can drive.”
    “Are you sure?” His voice was softer even though he still had to yell so I could hear