Escaping Me (19 page)

Chapter Twenty:

A Violent Shove in the Right Direction

Hunter and Henry come to take Aiden to their suite but he refuses to leave in case Cam comes back.  Although I think he forgot that he totally demolished the room.  After a call to Tad who assures us that he will take care of it none of us believe the slimy bastard so Henry makes a few calls himself.

Hunter paces
the room while Aiden lies sleeping face down on the fold out.  His shirt was covered in his own blood from punching the walls so we had to cut it off of him.  He also shattered all mirrors along with throwing anything that wasn’t nailed down.  The room is a total loss which I’m sure the hotel manager is really happy about now while he does the walk through with Henry. 

I sit beside Aiden
getting the first good look at the tattoo on his back.  He has a set of angel wings that span his entire back even dipping into the waist band of his jeans.  They look almost like iron and wire framed in feathers.  The feathers are tattered and worn, looking partially shredded.  It’s almost like he barely made it out of a battle of some kind.  It’s dark, very gothic looking.  “They’re so he can always escape the pain he carries inside of him.” Hunter says as he slams a beer cap on the bar. “Our sperm donor was a piece of shit.  Aiden always wanted to just fly away and escape it all.”

“You mean?” I start to ask but choke on my words.

“I mean it was a shit ass way to grow up.  I protected him.  Our mother is a worthless whore who couldn’t say no to the mother fucker.  So every time he asked to come back she let him.”

“I’m sorry.” I whisper because wh
at else do you say to that shit?

“Nothing to be sorry about Daisy.”
Walking over Hunter sits beside me. “So our childhood sucked ass.  It could’ve been worse.” He shrugs. “Could’ve been a helluva lot better but it could’ve been worse because he rarely got to Aiden.” The look on his face is cold and serious telling me all I need to know.

“You’re a good guy asshole.” I say kissing his cheek.

He chuckles. “I’m really not.  I thought you were gonna cause all kinds of problems on this tour.  I told Landon to fuck off.  Told him no regular pussy on the bus but I’m glad you’re here Daisy.  You came through for my brother tonight when I wasn’t here.  One last thing to do though, we gotta get that bitch back.”

Grabbing my phone I head into the bedroom thumbing in a text to Cam:

Why Cam?

Her reply is instant:

I had to.

Taking a deep breath, I pace the room as I type my reply.

Meet me.  I need to know u r okay. 

After assuring her that I will come alone
, I get an address of a restaurant that she will be at in half an hour.  Quickly, I grab my bag, throw on my shoes then walk back up the hall. “Hunter, I gotta go see a bitch about a drummer.” I blurt heading for the door.

“Whoa there Wildflower.
  Not alone you don’t.” He says grabbing my hand on the knob. 

I look at our hands then at his face. “
I told Cam I’d come alone.  So I’ll go alone.”  I say jerking the door open meeting Gray’s steel gaze.

“Going somewhere
baby?”

“I need to go see Cam.  I told her I’d meet her in thirty minutes, time is ticking.”
I answer, silently pleading for him to just move.

“Henry
go with her but give them space.  Maybe she can talk some sense into Cam.” Gray says pulling me flush against him. “You.  I couldn’t love you more right now if I tried.”

I brush my lips over his softly. “I love you too.  Be back soon.” I say taking Henry’s arm as he walks me to the elevator.

***

“What the fuck is it with all of us and these damn diners?
  Can’t we go to a coffee shop or get pizza?” I say slumping into the booth across from Cam.  She looks horrible.  Her hair is pulled up in a bun, her face splotchy and swollen from crying.  Her eyes are the same emotionless horror as Aiden’s.  Can’t she see what she is doing to them? 

“Ho
w is he?” She asks staring into her coffee mug unable to meet my eyes.

“He needs you.” I say simply.  Cam huffs out a laugh. “He does Cam.  I’ve never seen anything like it.  He wrecked the room, total
fuckin’ loss man.  Aiden kicked our door in, fell to the ground then cried like a goddamn baby until he passed out.  He was covered in blood.  Fuck Cam, I don’t know how to help him.  He’s so lost.  Hunter says you push back the bad shit in his life.  You keep him grounded.  Now you’re here, not with him so he’s not grounded.  He’s shattered and from the looks of it so are you.  Why would you willingly put the both of you through this Cam?”

“I know that Aiden has his shit.  His past is dark I know that.  He hasn’t shared any more than I have about mine but we all have our shit to deal with.  I can’t be what he needs
in the long run when the band makes it big, hell I can’t deal with it now.  I can’t give myself over to him that way then have him hurt me because I’ll never recover from that Daisy.  Fuck I’m ruined now after just a few months.  I’ll never love anyone the way I love Aiden.  I just can’t go on like this only to have us both hurt in the end.  Our relationship isn’t one of permanence even as much as we both may have wanted it to be.  He’ll move on.  Aiden has the guys and now you to help him.” Turning she wipes her eyes.
 

“But it should be you Cam.  You could fix everything just by coming with me now.” I say gesturing to the door.

“For how long Daisy, huh?  How long before I end up being pushed aside for someone better?  Someone who is made for the spotlight that Aiden belongs in?  It was great while it lasted.  I’ll love him for the rest of my life but I can’t.” She shakes her head then stands.  Tears falling freely down her face as I stand to stop her from leaving.

“Cam please just
think this through.” I plead.

“I have.  Don’t let it come between us Sweet
s.  Let me know how he’s doing?  I need to know that he moves on.” She says hugging me tight.  Then I watch as Camaron walks out of the diner and disappears from view.

This entire day has pissed me off to no end.  First, Landon and Tad storming our room, now poor Aiden broken just as much as Cam is with no one wanting to do fuck all about it.  Looks like I’ll just have to take matters into my own hands.  A violent shove in the right direction is what they need although a padlocked room along with some duct tape would probably work too.  I stomp over to Henry grabbing his arm. “Take me back to the guys big man I’ve got shit to do.”

***

Henry opens the door for me to the hotel suite I share with Gray.  I have steamed the entire ride back to the hotel.  I am so angry with Camaron that I can’t see straight.  Aiden too!  They are letting everything get in the way of what they want, just to be together.  Cam thinks she can’t be what Aiden needs but it looks like she is all she needs.  Well, it’s time Walking in I look over at Aiden and Hunter sprawled across the fold out.  Gray is propped up in a chair watching a movie. “Well how’d it go?” He asks patting his lap expecting me to come sit with him.  Sorry Gray I have bigger fish to fry.

I shake my head as I kick off my shoes.  Walking over
, I step up onto the fold out rolling Aiden to his back. “Wake up Aiden!  If you want Cam back you gotta get your shit straight.” He groans trying to open his eyes. “Henry will you make some coffee?” Looking over I smile at him sweetly. Henry just nods heading straight for the kitchen.

“Daisy, leave me alone.” Aiden whines
pulling the pillow over his head.

“No.” I shout.
  Yanking the pillow I smack him with it. “I’m sick and tired of you two telling me to leave you alone.  Or to drop it.  For the best my happy ass!” I scream kicking him in the hip. “Fuck the both of you and your goddamn high horses.  Trying to do what’s best.  Get your ass up and take a shower so you can be sober when I tell you how the fuck you’re going to knock some sense into Cam.  She needs a reality jolt to her heart in a bad way.  I’m gonna make sure you give it to her.”

His eyes meet mine
at the mention of her name. “Where is she?” Aiden asks desperately.

“I don’t know
where she is right now.” I reply honestly then sit beside him. “I talked to her.  I know her reasons so I’m going to help you Aiden but she’s my girl.  You gotta tell me she’s it for you.  She’s hurtin’ really bad thinkin’ that this is best for you both. From what I’ve seen of you two together I don’t believe that and I’m thinking you don’t either.  We gotta make her see it if that’s what you want.”

Aiden sits up, grabbing both my hands in his
squeezing almost painfully.  I watch his face contort in pain.  My eyes glued to his bandaged hands.  We still don’t even know if he can play tomorrow night after the number he did on them.  It took us an hour to get all the broken glass and wood splinters out while he just laid there.  I force my eyes up to meet his encouraging him for his answer. “Daisy, Camaron is my constant, she’s my bass line.  It doesn’t matter if I’m behind my kit or not it’s her that keeps me in time with the rhythm of her heart.  At times it feels like mine beats in time with hers.  Like we’re one and the same.  There are times when I can’t tell where she ends or where I begin.  I’m broken without that.   You might as well take it all because it means nothing without her.  After these last few months Cam made me forget how dark things can be.  She is it for me because other than the people in this room she’s the only good thing I’ve ever had.  I can’t lose her and I won’t give her up.”

“Good.” I say on an exhale. “
Now go shower.  After we chug some coffee the plan begins.”

“Can someone please tell me why I just had to listen to my brother become pussy whipped by our best friend
’s fuckin’ wife without you showin’ us your tits?  Seriously isn’t there a rule book Gray?” Hunter groans rolling toward me.

“I’m sorry but I’ve already dealt with your love life or lack of I should say.” I giggle. “I can get a message to Chase for
ya if you want.” Hunter just shakes his head. “Aw, Cunter I know you better than you think.  Just admit you like her.  Say that you wish she was a boomerang not a Frisbee and I’ll call her for you honey.”

“
I don’t need her Daisy.  There’s fresh pussy in every town just waitin’ for me.” He says but lacks his usual confidence.

“We’ll see.” I say shoving off of the fold out strutting into the kitchen with a huge smile on my face.
  I can feel another bet coming on.  This time I’ll get shoes out of it or some shit.

Twenty minutes later Aiden sits at the table with all of us. “So what’s the plan?” He asks as Henry hands him a mug. 

I look around at all of us sitting around the table and giggle. “I call this meeting to order.”
I stutter through my laugh, “Do we need rings or a bat signal?  Knights of the Shaft table assemble?” I bury my face in my hands laughing uncontrollably. 

“You’re a
fuckin’ riot.” Hunter says sarcastically. “Get on with it.”

I take a deep breath t
rying to gather my thoughts.  Then when I’m sure the giggles have passed I look at Aiden. “Cam doesn’t think she’s good enough for you.  She has it in her head that you’ll replace her with someone else.”

“That’s bullshit!” He roars
slamming his injured hands on the table.

“Aiden calm the hell down man.” Hunter warns
, glaring at him from across the table.

“I didn’t say that any one agrees with her but that’s how she sees it.  She also told me that she’ll love no one like she loves you Aiden.  That’s how I know this will work.  She made me promise that I would help you move on.  That I’d let her know that you do.” I say with a grin.

“What the hell is wrong with bitches?” Hunter asks shaking his head. “If I ever found a piece that was worth another go I’d for sure not let some other fucker get at it.”

Turning I point my finger at him. “I’ll deal with you later pretty boy.”  Looking back at Aiden I lay it out. “You’re
goin’ to move on Aiden at least Cam will think you have.  She’s so far gone over you I think she will blow a gasket when she sees you with anyone else.”

“I can’t just be with someone else Daisy.” Aiden’s voice cracks
as he scrubs a hand over his stubble.

“You won’t
have to Aiden.  We just have to make it appear to be something it isn’t.  You let me worry about that.  What I need from you is a plan to deal with slimy ass Tad.  That isn’t what it appears either I think.”

“You’re right.  I need proof though.  I’ll get what I need in Minnesota but there’s shit in their room now if I could
just get in there.” He says grabbing his phone, thumbing away. “See Daisy?” He starts showing me figures he’s added up. “The numbers are way off.”  I look at the rest of the guys giving them a wink.  Aiden’s back. Gray looks at me with a big smile of course Hunter looks at me like he just wants to kiss me but I don’t think bleaching your mouth is healthy so I’ll pass.

Henry sits his mug down on the table with a thud, “There is always someone in that room unless it’s just before a show.  They meet with you guys after sound check then go back to their room for the night wit
h some groupies.” Glancing at me he frowns, “Sorry Daisy.”