Page 2 of Rockstar Baby

For God’s sake, I could see nothing out here. Even a deer would be welcome company. And where were all the other vehicles? Surely someone else had to live in this godforsaken backwoods area.

Maybe not. Maybe this was where they’d find my body. I’d become the subject of one of those tragic dead guy music specials. Did they even do those anymore?

Fuck, I’d have had more sex if I’d known this would be my last stand. I didn’t even have on proper footwear. The autopsy pictures would show my beat up Jordans with the hole in the heel and everyone would murmur about how I must have spent all my money on wine, women, and song.

More like beer, pizza, and recording equipment.

“Look, you’re closer to Crescent Cove than you are to my place. With the storm, why don’t you go back to town and get a room for the night? By morning, the storm should be easing up so you can make it out here. Or better yet, I’ll come to you. Just text me where you’re staying.”

It took me a moment to decipher what he was rambling on about, since I was currently trying not to slide off the road in my small sedan. I should have demanded a truck at the very least. This car had no traction whatsoever.

“You must be joking.”

Kellan cleared his throat. “It’s late, man.”

“So you already said. Is it your bedtime or something? Need I remind you that I traveled across country to help you with your first solo single? You’re the one who wanted to make sure it was a success.”

Kellan had basically begged me, but I wouldn’t remind him of that yet. Unless he gave me no choice.

I was hotly in demand. It was simply a fact. If I took the time to work with someone, they had serious chops and there was a good likelihood of our collaboration being a hit. Or someone had requested a favor. That was rarer, because I didn’t make a habit of putting myself in that position. I didn’t like to be beholden to anyone. Ever. Or for anyone to be beholden to me.

Life was less messy that way.

“I did. I do. But Christ, man, we just got Wolf to sleep. He’s the fussiest sleeper on the planet.”

“Look, mate, I feel for you with your issues with your pet dog, but—”

Kellan laughed long and hard, filling the car with the sound. “Wolf’s my son. Nice one with the dog though.”

I frowned although he couldn’t see me. “I didn’t know you had any of those.”

“Yeah, well, came as a surprise to me too, but it’s a been a couple of years and here we are.”

“I’m happy for you, but I’m not happy for me. For one, I can’t even find a lane to turn around in.” Or anything but trees. And snow. And darkness. And snow.

“If you’re on North Hollow, go up to the old, closed Heaphy’s gas station. Turn around there then follow North Hollow back to a 4-way stop and take a left. That’ll take you right into Crescent Cove in about twenty miles or so.”

“Twenty miles? Why can’t I just program the GPS from here?” I didn’t see any gas station. Of course it had to be an old, non-functional one when I’d just noticed my tank was stuck near E.

So much for the rental car place making sure the car was set to go. Sure, no problem, I can stop for gas out in the middle of the woods. Why not?

“You can but the amount of woods in this area sometimes gives it fits. Just follow my directions and you’ll be fine. In this weather, you don’t want to be taking the scenic route the GPS will try to take you on.”

“Scenic, is it? Is that what they’re calling this?”

Kellan heaved out a sigh. “Look, man, I’m sorry about all this. Try to find the gas station. If you can’t, call me back in an hour and I’ll come find you. If I try to leave now, Wolf will hear it and Maggie will pitch a fit.”

It was my turn to sigh. “Along with the son, you have a girlfriend too?” It was only logical, but I didn’t get too personal with the people I worked with if I could help it.

I was focused on the music.Onlythe music. I didn’t give two figs about who was waiting—or not waiting—at the dinner table.

“Wife. Didn’t we discuss all this already?”

We probably had, but I tended to tune out when it came to family and all that. It was a potential job hazard in my line of work. Not that I had any looming entanglements on the horizon, but I also made sure not to cultivate them. My happiness was found in the studio, not in building family units.

I’d spent enough time trying to put an ocean between me and mine.

My old man didn’t get my love of music versus a good stable job like he had in the fields. My mum wasn’t much better. She’d stayed home with her children and thought that a family was the cornerstone of life. My younger brother Thomas went his own way, as did my younger sister Maureen. Yet my mum behaved as if we were living in a Norman Rockwell painting. Even if her marriage didn’t seem particularly happy and her kids weren’t close, the idea of home and hearth was all she cared about.