𝐉𝐚𝐱 𝐏𝐎𝐕

I sit quietly in the busy waiting room, the murmurs and footsteps blending into a distant hum. I reach into my back pocket and pull out my phone, my fingers gliding across the screen as I quickly send a group text to the guys. Filling them in on the situation and conveying that I won't be able to join them for recording today, and perhaps not even tomorrow. I reassure them that I plan to pick up where we left off as soon as I am comfortable leaving Allie, and encourage them to proceed with recording the bass and drum tracks in my absence. Our target is to complete the record by April, giving us a nine-month window for recording and careful planning before the record releases and we go on tour. This timeframe also allows me plenty of opportunity to record my vocals and rhythm guitar tracks once Allie has recovered.

I gently slide my phone back into my pocket, lifting my eyes to catch Trevor exiting Allie's room. He strides over to a tall woman with straight, long, ash brown hair, who stands nonchalantly against the opposite wall. In an attempt to divert my attention, I focus on the pamphlets displayed on the wall, the muted television airing a home improvement reality show, and the various families gathered around the waiting area.

My gaze is drawn back to Trevor as I notice him walking hesitantly in my direction. I draw in a deep breath and straighten my posture in the plastic waiting room chair. When he approaches, our eyes briefly lock before he motions to the empty chair next to me and asks, "mind if I take a seat?"

"No worries," I respond with a casual shrug.

"Listen, man, it's nothing against you. I was just completely unaware that Allie was involved with someone. It caught me off guard," he explains, absently scratching the back of his neck.

"I understand. I'm sure she planned to tell you and not have you find out this way," I reply.

"So, how does this work with you being... well, you?" he asks hesitantly.

"We haven't delved into this topic much yet. It's all quite new to both of us. If you're worried about my 'rockstar lifestyle,' it's not as glamorous as you may think. We mainly go on stage, practice, and then rest. There isn't much partying, at least not from my end."

"You don't ever feel tempted? With all those opportunities at your disposal," he asked, his eyebrows furrowing in a questioning manner.

I shake my head as I reply, "not really, man. That's never been my intention when we got signed. I just want to create music that resonates with people. The guys and I spent years playing our music in garages, and we finally decided to play at a festival to expand our reach. We never anticipated getting a record deal after our first festival performance."

Trevor sits contently in his seat beside me, taking in my words and nodding to himself.

"If you and Allie stay serious, what's the plan with touring?" he asks curiously.

The way he casually enunciates the word "if" makes me cringe internally. I know this is shocking and new for him to get used to, but there's no need to place any doubt anywhere when he doesn't know how we are together. I cannot begin to imagine my world without Allie being a part of it.

Feeling a wave of discomfort washes over me, and I quietly fight the urge to say something I would soon regret. I let out a small scoff as I shift uncomfortably in my seat in response to his comment.

"I plan on leaving it up to Allie. We haven't discussed what our plan is as of yet, but we would have room for her on the tour bus if she wished to come along for the tour. We've recently secured a bus for when we set out for the Overcast Tour in June," I explain, suddenly wishing this conversation was over.

Trevor's demeanor shifts suddenly as he shakes his head and locks eyes with me.

"Well, I told Allie that it's fine for you to meet the girls, especially since my girlfriend already has. If you'd like to join them, go ahead," he says while motioning for Marissa to sit next to him.

I nod in acknowledgement as I watch Marissa take a seat next to Trevor as he leans forward and gently kisses her cheek, engaging in conversation right away. With a deep sigh, I slowly rise from my seat and start walking at a deliberate pace toward Allie's room.

I gently tap on the door and pause for a moment before slowly pushing it open. Allie meets my eyes and gives a subtle nod as her head lies on top of her youngest daughter's head.

Stepping into the room, I softly close the door behind me, the latch barely making a sound. As I approach the bed, I'm overcome with emotion as I watch Allie tenderly holding both of her daughters. It's a heartwarming sight, and anyone with the privilege to see it will know that she was destined to be their mother, as her eyes gleam with unmistakable pride.

"Hi," she whispers with a warm smile.

"Hey," I whisper back, a grin tugging at the corner of my lips.

I inch forward as I sit in the vacant chair beside the bed while Allie's oldest daughter hears us and turns from her mother's side.

When I look at her, the first thing I notice is how much she resembles her mum, but also shares a strong resemblance with her dad. Her straight, light, auburn hair reaches her shoulders, and her dark brown eyes sparkle in the light reflecting off the windows.

"Hi there, you must be Charlotte," I greet with a warm and friendly tone. Charlotte responds with a hesitant smile and a shy nod, seeking guidance from Allie, who in turn offers her daughter a reassuring smile.

"I'm Charlotte, and I'm five," she says with such a matter-of-fact tone that my smile widens.

Allie can't help but chuckle as she teasingly remarks, "she feels the need to make sure everyone knows she's five years old. Isn't that right, Lottie?"

Allie's youngest child stirs at the sound of the voices around, appearing to have been asleep against her mother's chest. As she yawns and turns her head towards me, a look of confusion crosses her face.

"And you must be Lydia," I say gently, careful not to startle her. She gazes back at me with weariness in her bright blue eyes and returns her head to her mother's chest.

Allie leans in and whispers, "she doesn't talk much, so please don't take it personally."

I raise my hands in a gesture of understanding and reply, "none taken. I'm not usually much of a talker either."

In the small, confined space, I am captivated by the wealth of information about these two little girls. It feels as though I am immersed in their world, yet my curiosity continues to grow, making me want to uncover more about their lives. I've so far learned that Lydia is mesmerized by the movie Frozen, prefers to go barefoot anywhere she goes, and tends to take her time warming up to strangers. Which makes me feel privileged to have her sitting on my lap, absorbed in playing with my phone. Then there's Lyla, who is an incredible child. She is one of the most intelligent kids I have ever encountered at her age. Her eloquent speech puts some adults to shame. She loves the color pink and is driven by a desire to help people, just like her mum.

"Do you have to head back to the studio today?" Allie asks as she plays with Charlotte's hair as she sits on the edge of Allie's bed.

"Not for today. We have plenty of time to finish the record," I say peering up to meet her gaze, giving her a warm smile.

Allie returns the smile as she peers down and kisses the top of Charlotte's head when a rapping at the door surprises us.

"Come in," Allie announces.

Trevor walks into the room with hesitant steps, his expression revealing his displeasure at the sight of his daughter sitting contentedly on my lap. He pauses at the doorway, his unease palpable as he swallows hard and shakes his head slightly before addressing Allie.

"Sorry to interrupt, but I do have to start heading back home since I have work tomorrow. We just wanted to make sure you were okay," he says disinterestedly.

"I want to stay with Mommy," Charlotte says with a pout.

Trevor attempts to reassure her, "I know, Lyla, but Mom needs to rest."

"It's okay, sweetie. You go with Dad, and I'll call you tonight, okay?" Allie says with a half-smile, showing a mix of sadness and reassurance as she watches Charlotte reluctantly leave her side.

Trevor strides over and positions himself before me, instantly picking Lydia up from my lap. She lets out a pleading cry as her father positions her on his hip, her arms outstretched toward me. Her piercing cries cause me to grimace softly as he removes the phone from her hands and hands it back to me with a tight-lipped smile.

"Lot, give Mom a hug. We have to go," Trevor says, beckoning his daughter to follow him.

Charlotte embraces her mother tightly, her eyes brimming with tears as she reluctantly releases her grasp and takes slow, hesitant steps toward me, wrapping me in a hug, warming my heart as she tightens her small arms around my waist.

"Bye, Lottie. I'll see you again soon, okay?" I say softly, offering her a promising smile.

Lyla responds with a nod, her gaze fixed on the floor as she wipes her eyes before following her father out of the room.

As the heavy wooden door creaks shut behind them, Allie's face falls to a look of defeat as she lies back in bed again. She takes deep breaths as her chest rises and falls, her eyes fixed on the ceiling, blinking tears back rapidly.

I carefully climb back into the bed beside her, cradling her in my arms. Her head nestled against my chest as we mold together seamlessly like two interlocking puzzle pieces.

I run my hand gently over her hair, planting a small kiss on her temple as I whisper in her ear, "it's okay, Al. They'll be okay, and they'll be back with you before you know it. We just have to get you feeling better."

"I know," she says, her voice shaking with emotion. "It's just hard, and I hate that they had to see me like this," she adds, gesturing toward the wires that are attached to her.

"I'm sure they were just happy to see you," I say as I rub her arms in a comforting way.

Allie shifts in the bed, her eyes locking with mine as she places her hand on my cheek.

As she looks into my eyes, she murmurs, "I don't know how you always know exactly what to say, but thank you," she says, gently pulling my head towards her as our lips connect, igniting a fiery sensation in my chest.

I gently lift her chin with my finger, locking eyes with her deep ocean-blue eyes as I softly say, "I would do anything for you, Allie. We'll make it through this," I assure her.

Regardless of what lies ahead, whether it means I have to leave the band or not, I mean every word I say. I can't bear the idea of walking away now. The guys and I will need to have a serious conversation much sooner than I expected.