Karen is gone and when Lindsey asks about it, I change the subject. I make excuses, saying she will be back but of course I know she won't. After our spat, I begged on hands and knees for Don to forgive me for overreacting that day in the living room, and he did. I couldn't let him slip away. I actually ended up thanking him for thinking of my feelings instead of being the guy he used to be and taking it from me just because I offered. I was so very drunk.

Our first show went amazingly well and I felt so good out there with him. I flaunted our budding romance on stage, touching his face, rubbing his shoulders as he sang and the crowd ate it up. Backstage we were all over each other, any chance we could get. Even passing in the wings, he would smack my bum or whisper a sexy little something in my ear. Night after night we would go a little further. The first night was innocent enough but the second and third nights he pleasured me and I definitely pleasured him. He was very satisfied and I was so very grateful I could keep him around this way. I need him so very much. After our fourth show, I felt ready for so much more.

I was in my hotel room in just a silk robe, nothing underneath, nursing my 5th tumbler of whiskey. I spoke to the girls briefly before they went to bed then I chatted with Lindsey idly about the news, the weather and other boring topics. I was dying to get off the phone. Don let himself in and sat on the end of the bed. I was staring at him the entire time as I told Lindsey how much I loved him and missed him, knowing it would make Don angry. He had gained a jealous streak recently and I loved pushing his buttons. As soon as I hung up the phone, he pounced. He lay on top of me, kissing me hungrily, pulling my robe from around my body.

"You sexy thing!" He purred, nipping at my neck, a hand moving down the front of my body, finding my sensitive bud.

"Mmmm" I moaned, looking him directly in the eye.

"Do you like that?" He asks.

"Yes, more." I tell him. I can feel his arousal growing in his jeans and I unzip them, stroking his length. He groans and immediately stops touching me. He gets up from the bed and I'm confused. "What are you...?"

"Let me fuck you" he says, not dancing around what he wants at all.

"How poetic" I say, playfully.

"Yes or no" He's staring at me expectantly.

"Yes! Yes, fuck me" He descends upon me again and though it's enjoyable it doesn't feel right. I can't put my finger on why.

After we finish, Don gets out of bed to find his jeans and gets his pack of cigarettes.

"Want one?" He asks, holding up a cigarette.

"What are they?"

"Menthols...Kools"

"Sure" I say and he lights it for me. I put it to my lips and take a long drag, blowing out the smoke above our heads.

"Can you still make rings?" He asks and I nod. We both take another long drag and make as many rings as we can, falling into fits of giggles at the silly competition. "I know it's kind of mushy and it might be a total turn off but I've really liked spending time with you."

"Wow, the fabulous Don Henley is saying he likes to spend time little ole me!" I say teasingly.

"Well I think I like little ole you" he says, being so cute.

"I've liked spending time with you too" I tell him and he smiles.

He leans over and kisses my hair, putting an arm around me. "Good night, Stevie." He says, putting out his cigarette in the ashtray.

"Good night Don" I settle into him, thinking we will be going to sleep like this when he unexpectedly gets up. I watch him get dressed and he leaves just like that. Like I was nothing.

I feel even more alone than I did before, only a bottle of wine to keep me company.

---

My drinking reaches an all time high and I've had to cancel a show here and there. First, they were just rescheduled then when the day came again, I wasn't in any state to perform. I hadn't heard from Lindsey and I was so incredibly lonely. Don and I continued to fool around, I was so empty inside. He would comfort me as I threw my guts up when I didn't realize I had surpassed my limit. I splashed water on my face and when I looked into the mirror, I was virtually unrecognizable. There were dark circles under my eyes, my make up dark and haphazard, my eyes were lifeless and dull. I was bloated and achy from all the alcohol and I started to cry. I screamed, smashing the mirror with the crystal tooth brush holder. People rush into my room and pull me away from the debris but I don't even realize it. I pass out in someone's arms and I wake up much later on the bed, tucked in. I keep asking for Karen, I want Karen but she's no longer around.

Lindsey calls me to tell me he wants to come to my last show with the girls, they miss me. I happily agree, I miss them too and I want to feel human again. I'm told there are rumors going around about me and Don so I shut them down right away.

"I believe you, Steph" he told me and I smiled, knowing he would always protect me and stand by my side.

I heard he had arrived with my little girls, but I hadn't seen him all day long. Soundcheck and then the show. Vocal rest in between to save my voice. It was rough sounding, raspy and it hurt to sing. It would lose muscle randomly, embarrassing me on stage. Don came into my dressing room and started in on me. I sounded like shit, looked like shit...where was the praise he had given me just a week ago? We were changing fast, I was changing even faster. His drinking had picked up again too and the reviews of the show were horrible. Don tries to kiss me and I push him away.

"I can't, baby. My girls are coming today with Lindsey" I slur.

"Like they'd want to see you like this. Why didn't you tell them to stay home and let them live their cute little life"

"I missed them and Lindsey was so nice to bring them here" He tries to force himself upon me again and I shove him. "I can't. This could destroy my marriage if he catches us"

"Destroy your marriage? You didn't give a shit about your marriage or your precious little girls when you were begging me to let you come back after the show and suck my dick every night" he said with a crude, filthy chuckle. His behavior was making my skin crawl.

"You're disgusting"

"And you're a whore. So what?"

"You're not different at all! I thought you had changed"

"I've always been the same, darlin'. Ole Donny Boy will never change" He can barely stand and he holds onto my dressing table for support.

"I don't know why I let this happen" I say, finding the tiniest amount of clarity.

"'Cause I'm irresistible." He says and I feel physically sick.

"Yeah right. I'm so over this. I hate you! You said you loved me but you lied. You lied to me to get me into bed"

"You've always been a road fuck, Stevie. I know that, you know that. Hell, Joe knows that. You remember Joe don't you?"

"Fuck you!"

"It ain't me babe, oh oh oh, it ain't me babe. It ain't me that you're lookin for babe" he sings, drunkenly.

"I'm going home" I say, slinging my bag over my shoulder and turning to leave.

"Hey! What about the show?"

"Shove it up your ass!" I yell, slamming the door and causing things to fall off the wall. I push past so many people, my arms folded over my chest. My hair is frizzy, my make up is running down my face and I feel awful in every possible way. I run right into someone and when I look up, I see that it's Lindsey.

"Lindsey, honey...you're here..."I say. "And my babies!" I squeal, crouching down to squeeze them. "What's wrong?" I stand up again and his eyes go wide at the sight of me.

"Stevie...what the hell is happening? This place is a wreck...what's going on?"

"I...I..." I don't know what to say, I want to offer him something but I have nothing to give.

"Honey, where's Karen?" He asks, holding onto me. I stare at him, my vision going blurry. "Stephanie?" His voice sounds far away and everything goes black.