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Most days, Mick loved his life. He lived just as well—if not better—than some of the musicians he managed. He’d accomplished everything he ever set out to do, and yet... something was missing.
“How’s that for cliché,” he said with a sigh.
He knew if he said that to anyone that they’d look at him like he was crazy. They would point out that he could have just about anything money could buy, but... it wasn’t like that. It wasn’t about shopping for something. It was deeper than that. Lately, he’d become just a little more jaded with just about everything. He’d watched friends and family members meet their forever someones before getting married and settling down. For years he swore that wasn’t what he wanted, but... maybe it was.
I’m lonely.
Shit.
Just last weekend, he’d been in North Carolina with the guys of Shaughnessy. Riley, Matt, Dylan, and Julian were all there for Riley’s birthday and even put on a surprise concert in the tiny coastal town of Magnolia Sound. They’d played there before, but the amphitheater was tiny compared to the stadiums they tended to sell out.
Still, it had been a good weekend. It had been wild to look at the four of them and remember them as the twenty-year-old punks they were when he first met them fifteen years ago, and then see the family men they’d turned into. Men who found the balance between rock star and husband, rock star and father. They were all amazing, and he considered them to be his best friends—particularly Riley Shaughnessy—but... did he really want what they had? Was that what this was all about?
He could sit here and make himself crazy, or he could pick up the phone and at least talk it through with someone.
His phone was instantly in his hands as he walked over and sat in his favorite chair. The weary sigh was out before he could stop it, and that’s when Riley answered the phone.
“Mick! Hey! What’s up?”
“Hey, Riley,” he said, and almost cringed at how tired he sounded.
“Uh, oh. Everything okay?”
“Yeah, I just got back to the city and I made the mistake of letting someone stay here.” He then explained all about Libby and how this one little favor was going to cost him a couple of thousand in cleaning bills.
Riley’s first response was to laugh. “Dude, you’re too trusting for your own good. It wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world for you to say no sometimes. I think you’re getting soft in your old age.”
“Need I remind you how I’m only three years older than you are?”
“It might as well be thirty. And the fact that you’ve embraced the whole going gray thing, you just look older. And I say that with love.”
“Some say it makes me look distinguished...”
But now that it was out there, maybe he was aging himself a little before his time.
“Maybe, but I swear, I think you were born old.”
It wasn’t the first time anyone had said that to him.
“So other than Libby trashing your city hideaway, what’s going on? You were just here last week and I know we’re not talking business until after the holidays, so...”
Ugh...am I really going to do this? He wondered. Was he the guy who called up a buddy to talk about his feelings?
“Mick?”
“Okay, so um...this isn’t about business, but...do you have a few minutes? I mean...are Savannah and the kids nearby and need you or something?”
“Savannah’s folks are in town, so they’re all out right now. You called at the perfect time, so...what’s going on? You sound like there’s definitely something on your mind.”
“There is, but...” Groaning, he raked a hand through his graying hair. “Shit. You know what? It’s nothing. Never mind. I’m just in a mood because of this shit with Libby. I’ll talk to you next week.”
“Mick, wait!” Riley quickly interjected. “Look, we’ve known each other for a long damn time and you’ve listened to me gripe about things going on in my life. If there’s something you need to talk about, it works both ways. I’m always here to listen.”
“I know, Ry. You’re a good friend.”
“And as a good friend, I’d like to help. Seriously, man, what’s on your mind?”
“I got back here today and was wading through all the debris and...I don’t know...it just hit me that...I’m alone. It’s not like that’s news, but for some reason today it just hit harder.”
