Music Notes (Heartbeat #3) by Renee Lee Fisher Page A

make my rounds through the people and then head back to my room, but then in front of me looking as lovely as she always does, was Meila.
    “Hey, I was looking for you,” she said sweetly, obviously trying a new approach. She had apparently realized that the aggressive moves weren’t working, and decided to go with something softer. Not that she needed to do anything to get me because she was not ever going to have me.
    “Well, I thought I would have a beer or two and then head to bed.”
    “Rand are you kidding me? What, have you become like fifty years old? Since when does a freaking rock star that just played an awesome show have a drink and go to bed, unless it is with someone?” Meila was suggesting.
    “Meila, no offense but you and I are never going to hook up. That shit just isn’t going to happen, not tonight, not any night!” I waved my left hand up to her. Next, Raeford pulled me over in his direction. He is always so quiet, but I know he watches all the shit that plays out before his eyes.
    “Man you look like you need saving. That girl Meila has it bad for you. If you were drinking up a storm I would be following your ass around so that you didn’t screw your marriage up, but you seem to be fine. You’re not putting away those beers too fast, and I think you know what you have waiting for you on the east coast. You got me?” Raeford asked.
    “I got you. She just doesn’t want to give up, and she just keeps coming around. I don’t want to piss her off because we have a lot more shows, but I don’t want her to keep coming on to me. I wish Madison could have stayed. Meila stays at bay when Madison is here.”
    “All I know is, things are on thin ice with me and Jillian lately and even I won’t stray because I don’t want to screw it up with her. If it winds up being over then I will move on, but not until then. I know she’s too good for me, and although I think I should walk away and let her move on to someone better, I am staying and trying not to mess it up.”
    “I thought Madison was out of my league too, but look where it got me. I’m still pretty sure she’s too good for me, but man I love her so much. I know us guys don’t put our feelings out there, but shit, she has me in a vice. I can’t get through a day without her. This next leg of the tour in Texas is going to be brutal on me.”
    “Well, we got halfway through it already, Rand. We couldn’t be more proud of you taking the leap to solo out there and your vocals prove you are where you should be.”
    “Since you seem to be in a sharing mood, thanks man and not just for what you said, but for rescuing me from Meila. She is definitely out to bust up my happiness.” Then I reached out to grab another beer. The first one I babied, the second and several after went down so smooth. The coolness flowed over the lump in my throat that formed while thinking of my wife. I sat down after a bit listening to Maxwell brag about the shows, and Kent saying he’d be back. He was going to head to his room to have some late night pillow talk with Cecile. Ron was never one to hang out too long. I watched as he piled a plate full of food from the buffet, and then he was no where to be seen. I know he headed back to his room to spend hours with his girl Dahlia on the phone. He always had his phone to his ear even on the plane until it was time to shut it down. Other than on the plane, he only turned his phone off when we were about to go on stage. I often wonder if he ever forgets to silence the ringer, and it would go off during the concert. He had it set with the ringtone of, “Let’s Spend the Night Together” by The Rolling Stones. If it ever did happen, I’m sure the fans would eat it up. The bartender pointed to my empty beer, and asked if I wanted another. I wanted to signal no more, but I looked up and he had already brought me some more cold ones. I don’t remember when the shots started to line up either, but they were so quick to