Free Our Song by Casey Peeler Page B

closed. I love these two, and honestly, every day is hard because they aren’t a part of my life like they used to be.
    As the clock approaches four in the morning, they stand to leave, but I can’t let them drive at this time of night.
    “Y’all just stay. I’m leavin’ in the mornin’. It’s late, and I’ve missed y’all,” I tell them.
    Lyndsay looks at Chase. “Whatever you wanna do, Lynds,” he says.
    “Well, I’ve never stayed on a famous country star’s tour bus before, so hell to tha yeah!” she exclaims.
    I loan Lyndsay some pajamas, and we get ready to watch a little TV before going to bed. Within ten minutes, Lyndsay is ready to call it a night, and I tell her to take my bed. She doesn’t argue and shuts the door behind her. Chase and I finish watching Grown Ups, or should I say, attempt to watch it. Before I know it, the sun is rising, and I’m snuggled into the crook of his arm. Shit!
    Trying my best not to wake him, I attempt to slide away as he begins to mumble something that I can’t understand. Then, his arm starts to squeeze me like a boa constrictor. That’s when I realize he’s no longer asleep and just being the ass that I love.
    “I can’t breathe, Chase! Let me go!”
    “I’ll let you go when you scream to the world that I am best man on Earth.”
    Without thinking, I do exactly that. I yell those words, and Lyndsay pushes open the door like the smoke alarm just sounded. Her hair is all kinda crazy. “What the hell was that?” she asks.
    “Oh, you know. It’s just me professing how Chase is the best man on Earth, because if I don’t, he will squeeze all the air outta my lungs.”
    “Lord, can y’all fall in love already?” She turns around and returns to bed.
    Chase and I look at each other like she’s lost her damn mind. That’s one thing I know about Chase and me. We are just friends. He’s been there since the first day I walked into Joe’s, and he’s always stayed. When I needed a dance partner, he was there. When I needed a drinking buddy, he was there, and when I just needed a friend, he was there. Chase is my constant.
    Chase finally lets go of his death grip, as there is a knock at the door. I make my way over and open it. Jake Bryant is there, packed and ready to go to my hometown. Who would have ever thought that I’d take a country music star home to the podunk town of Lattimore?
    “Hey, Jake. Come on up.”
    Once he’s on the bus, he has a confused look when he notices both Chase and me still in our clothes from last night.
    “Chase and Lyndsay stayed last night.”
    “Well, I hate I missed the party,” he says as he eyes Chase.
    I just shake my head. Give me ten minutes, and we’ll be on the road.
    Hurrying into my room, I tell Lyndsay to get moving and also inform her that the country god is on the bus. I’ve never seen a girl move so fast in my life.
    “What?” she asks.
    “Um, he’s just a guy.”
    “To you, maybe, but I’m no dummy. I see the way he looks at you. In fact, if I were you, I’d act on that if I had the chance.”
    As I stuff some clothes into my bag, I answer her, “I can’t go there. Do you know what will happen to this tour if we go there?”
    “Belle it’s only for three more months. Then after that, you know you’re going to get asked to headline.”
    “I don’t know about that, but if so, it would make things weird. And I don’t do weird.”
    Lyndsay drops it, and we make our way to the living area. Chase and Jake seem to be engaged an in-depth conversation. They both look like they are ready to throw blows at each other.
    “Everyone ready to go?” I ask to relieve the tension. “Chase and Lynds, Jake and I will follow y’all.” I have to say that it’s nice that he has his truck handy, because I honestly hadn’t thought that part through. I guess I would have ridden home with Chase and Lyndsay or called Beau to pick me up.
    As Jake’s diesel engine hits the highway, he turns down the radio. “What