Page 25 of Pretty When It Burns (When The Lights Go Down #1)

Chapter twenty-two

"Save You" - Matthew Perryman Jones

Grayson

Finally, a doctor comes into the waiting room shortly after Joey arrives. Brandon is with her, but I don’t have time to ask why. All of my focus needs to be on the situation in front of me. Mia and Brandon wait behind while Johanna and I go to speak with our mother’s doctor.

“The good news is, we stopped the bleeding,” he tells us once the three of us are alone. “But as I’m sure you know, this incident wasn’t a good sign. She doesn’t have much time left now.”

I wish so badly that my mother hadn’t gotten sick, that things could just go back to the way they were before I found out because I’m not sure how much more I can take. If she had to get sick, I wish Johanna just hadn’t told me. Nothing would’ve had to change.

Fuck this.

I don’t want to do this anymore.

I want to go back to New York, back to the band and our tour. I want to lose myself in the music, get in front of a crowd, and forget any of this is real. I need to convince myself that I have some sort of purpose again.

Amidst my thoughts, my phone buzzes in my pocket and I welcome the distraction.

Eric Anderson

Hey bro. Tony and I have been talking with the other bands on the tour today, and we just want you to know that if you want to postpone the tour, or even cancel it, we’re all fine with it.

We can’t imagine what you and Jo are going through.

If you need time to figure it all out, please take it.

We all love you, bro, and we’re here. Whatever you need.

Without giving it much thought, I quickly pen a response. I already know my answer.

Grayson Harris

No way are we cancelling or postponing anything else. We will be back tonight, and I’m ready to get back on the road. Playing music is the only thing I know how to do right now, and if I don’t do that, I’m gonna go insane. Please tell everyone we’re okay, and we’ll see you all soon.

After I put my phone away, I turn to Johanna.

She looks absolutely devastated.

The doctor had also said we’re able to see Mom now, that she’s conscious again, and of course, Johanna wants to go immediately. I go back to the waiting room to get Mia and Brandon. If I want to introduce Mia to my mother as my girlfriend, I have to do it now.

We let Johanna and Brandon go first as Joey hadn’t gotten to see her since the incident. When it’s our turn, Mom smiles at us as we enter, but I can tell she’s tired and weak.

“Mom,” I say, walking over to her with Mia by my side. “This is my girlfriend, Mia.”

“Hi, Mrs. Harris,” Mia says as she takes one of my mother’s hands. “It’s good to see you again. How are you feeling?”

Mom’s smile gets bigger. “I’m just happy that I got to see my boy. I’m thrilled he found you, and that he’s happy.”

“Me, too,” Mia tells her sincerely. “You raised an amazing son, Mrs. Harris. I can’t thank you enough.”

We chat with her for a little bit, but she’s fading. She needs her rest now more than ever.

Before we exit the room, Mom grabs Mia’s hand and pulls her close.

“Take care of our boy, okay?” she whispers, so softly I almost don’t hear.

Mia nods and squeezes her hand one last time before joining me at the door. This is the beginning of the end, I can feel it. This is fate, and it isn’t always so kind.

After a long day of travel and emotion, the four of us make it back to New York from Cumberland where Eric, Tony, and Rylee are waiting for us at the last venue.

Our next show is in Philadelphia the following night, and as if we haven’t done enough driving today, we still have more to go.

I have a lot to process, and thankfully the tour bus will be the perfect place to do that.

Eric had texted me while we were on the road back to New York to let me know that he and Tony had taken care of loading everything up. All we need to do is show up and we can get going, but when we arrive, we find the venue surrounded by reporters and paparazzi.

Tony, Eric, and Rylee are cornered, cameras flashing and audience clamoring.

Watching the vultures try to get information out of my friends makes both my head and my heart ache.

I never meant to get any of them involved when I don’t even want to be.

When he sees our cars pull up, Eric tries to shoo us away, but I know I have to face this.

These people are relentless. It isn’t going to stop until I give them what they want.

“Grayson! Grayson Harris!” one of them yells, causing the crowd to move towards us.

How is Angela Harris? Is she dead? How are you dealing with this? Who’s the pretty girl? Where’s your wife?

The questions keep coming, and each one crosses another line more invasive than the last. Johanna is ghostly white and looks like she could collapse. Brandon supports her weight as they attempt to make their way through the crowd.

“No comment!” Brandon snaps as he finally reaches the edge of the crowd at the entrance to our tour bus. “Fuck off, why don’t you?”

Once they’re safely inside, the questions shift towards Mia, who’s looking up at me with her big, green eyes, silently asking what to do.

Before I have too much time to think about it, I wrap my arms around Mia’s waist and pull her as close as possible, smile, and kiss her—hard—for the whole world to see.

If it’s even possible, the crowd gets wilder and the camera flashing intensifies.

“This is Mia Michele Alexander,” I proclaim. “And this woman is the love of my life!”

Gasps erupt from the crowd, one of them being from Mia herself.

Cheers and hollering follow as I grab Mia’s arm and pull her through the sea of people to the entrance to the bus.

Eric, Rylee, and Tony follow closely behind us.

By the time we’re back on the road to Philly, the headlines have already dropped.

Grayson Harris (@catastrophically_gray) confirms split from Lily Vance (@lilysdilemma): “This is Mia Michele Alexander (@miaalexandermedia) and this woman is the love of my life!”

You heard it here first! Grayson Harris confirms split rumors from wife, Lily Vance, and debuts new romance in the same announcement earlier this afternoon.

Harris’ new lady is Mia Alexander, 26, of Dallas, Texas.

She originally hails from Harris’ hometown of Cumberland, Maine.

Alexander is a photographer and media manager for DTX Music Media, a media consulting company based out of the DFW Metroplex specializing in promoting up and coming musical talents in the area.

In an earlier interview, Harris describes Alexander as the “love of his life” after sharing a passionate kiss in the parking lot by their tour bus. These two are absolutely adorable together, and it seems Catastrophically Charismatic fans agree.

“Mayson” has definitely caught our hearts and our attention! Check back for updates.

I roll my eyes at the fact that they refer to accosting us outside our tour bus as an “interview,” but at least this one is tamer than normal. I take a deep breath and hand my phone to Mia, who lays beside me in our bunk.

“So,” she says softly so only I can hear her. “Did you mean it? You love me?”

“Sweetheart,” I chuckle. “I think I’ve known I loved you since the moment you showed up in my life again. Of course I meant it. I wouldn’t just throw that around.”

“I love you too, Grayson Makai Harris,” she murmurs. “Always have, always will.”