Page 123 of Luci’s Lullaby

“What am I doing? I must be good enough, Charlee told me she loves me.” Looking around, I see nothing that means a thing to me. Everything I want and need is back down Highway Seventeen. In Cherry Grove where my friends are, where my family lives.

“I’ve gotta catch them.” I run after them. Rounding the door, I come face to face with who I am right now.

“Samantha.”

She starts clapping. “What a wonderful show of love and friendship. Bravo!”

“How do you know?” I grind my teeth.

“I know everything I need to about you and don’t forget it.” She curls her lip.

I cross my arms. “You know nothing about this.”

“I own you, just like I do Aksel,” she sneers.

My heart beats for the first time in weeks, and I can hear Charlee’s voice telling me I’m better than this. I’m still not convinced I’m a good man but Charlee thought I once was. I hope I can do it again, I need her to believe in me.

“Sue me, I’m done.”

“I will, and you’ll be done in this business forever.” She curls her lip.

I shrug. “If I don’t have them, I don’t want anything.”

I hustle past her to the elevators. They finally open and I hop on, closing them as fast as possible. I left all my things back there and believe it or not, I’m not even sweating my guitar.

I run to the first cab I see and toss money in the window. “Grand Hyatt DFW. There’s an extra hundred if you can make it in ten minutes.”

The driver takes off and in twelve minutes, he’s pulling into the circle of the hotel. I take a hundred because he damn well deserves it. I jump and pop my head in the front window.

“Here ya go, man. Thanks!”

“But I missed it.” He looks at me quizzically.

“I’m getting my family back, they’re worth it.”

I run into the hotel as fast as I can. The doors open, and I pray I’m not too late when I punch the floor. It feels as though it takes forever to get there, but as soon as the doors open, I run for my life.

I pound on the door and get no answer. I check my phone and see I should still have time. Running back to the elevator, I push the buttons a hundred times, but they’re going down. I take off down the stairs, doing my best not to fall and break my neck.

“You’ve got to be shitting me, I gotta start working out again,” I pant as I double time it.

I burst through the doors outside in the parking lot. I spin in circles, looking for everyone. Nothing. I must have missed them. I bend over, releasing a wail.

“Are you okay?” a voice asks. I glance up to find Chord, leaning against the wall.

I struggle to catch my breath, holding my side. “I got… a stitch… in my side… from running.”

“Why didn’t you take the elevator, asshole?” He chuckles as I flip him off.

“Couldn’t… in use…thought it was you.” I gulp for air.

“It’s always something,” Chord sniggers.

“Nice one, pal.”

He bends over, looking me in the eye. “Dude, I thought you played country music?”

“I do,” I say breathlessly.