He's So Aggravating, But I Think I Like Him

Chapter Twenty Two

Mandy

I tucked my newly dyed black hair behind my ear, hoping no one I knew saw me. I dyed my hair as a way of disguise, plus I ditched my glasses. I wouldn't have bothered, except I was terrified of my old bandmates seeing me, and hating me. I looked around frantically for Macy, who had run off a few minutes prior.

"Macy!" I called out, but got no answer. While I was looking around for Macy, I stopped paying attention to where I was running and I ran into a man with long dark brownish hair.

"Are you okay?" He asked me. I nodded, still looking around. Macy couldn't keep running off like this!

"Looking for someone?" He asked.

"Yes, my daughter ran off not too long ago, but there's a lot of people here and I need to find her," I said. Then, remembering my manners, introduced myself.

"I'm...." I trailed off. What's my fake name? Jesus, how could I have not thought about this?

"I'm...Balery," I forced out.

He smiled, "I'm Clayton. And, if you don't mind, I'll help you look for your daughter."

I nodded gratefully, "Her name's Macy, and she's a non-listening little heifer," I said.

He laughed and we exchanged phone numbers quickly so he could text or call me if he found her.

"Alright, well, see you later, Balery," he said, then stalked off, calling Macy's name out. When I turned around, I smacked myself in the forehead.

Balery? Really, Mandy, really? You read that name in a book once, and then you use it as a fake name? Why not Lucy or Ashley, something common. But no, fucking Balery. Way to give your stupid fake name to an admittedly cute guy.

I headed off in the opposite direction of where I was and continued looking for Macy.

Thirty minutes passed. Then an hour.

I was beside myself with worry. What if someone took her? Who knows what kind of crazy people are lurking around here?

Right when I was starting to panic, I received a text.

I think I found her. Head over toward The Natural Born Killers bus, that's where we are.

I released a breath I hadn't realized I'd been holding. I walked around the bus area until I found the bus I was looking for.

I remembered Ronnie talking about these guys. They're new to the game and this is their first big tour.

"Thank god!" I called upon seeing Clayton, who was sitting on the ground with Macy trying to keep her occupied. He looked up and smiled. Macy jumped off the ground and ran up to me, shouting "Mommy!"

I picked her up when she jumped, "Where'd you run off to earlier? I was worried," I said.

She smiled sheepishly, "I was hungry."

"You could have asked Uncle Ronnie or Jacky, or Derek, or Ron, or Ryan to get you some food," I finished. I had half a mind to go back home with her. It was the first day of the tour and she'd already disappeared for an hour.

She smiled again, "Sorry."

I shook my head and turned to Clayton, "Thank you for finding her. I was worried."

"No problem. Glad to help," he said.

I turned to walk away when he called my name.

"Yes?" I turned back and asked.

He looked to the ground, "Would you want to maybe, um, go out at some point this week? Like, on a date?"

I smiled, "I'd like that."

Clayton offered a return smile. "Okay! Thank you-I mean, sorry. Crap! I'm gonna shut up, I'll see you later. Bye Balery!" He said quickly, then ran off around the bus.

I smiled and began the trek back to the bus. Halfway back to the bus, I got a text from Jacky.

Hey, need some help with my guitar. Come to the lounge?

That was the cool thing about this specific venue. There was a band and staff member only two story lounge. And I haven't had the opportunity to go in yet. I sent a quick text back agreeing to help.

I put Macy down because she was getting heavy and we walked to the venue. On the way in, Macy insisted I get her a donut from the coffee shop inside. I groaned, but stepped in line. I suppose feeding my child is a part of parenthood.

A few minutes later, it started to get really hot in the coffee shop. Tiny beads of sweat began to dot my hairline. I took the hair tie out of Macy's hair and pulled my own up. She's younger than I am, she can stick out the heat better than I can.

Someone got in line behind me. And, I swear to god, I think that person growled.

"Miranda Grace Roberts, miss, you have a lot of fucking explaining to do."

My muscles locked up and I stood perfectly still. There's no way she recognizes the back of my head, after I dyed my hair.

"Mandy, I know you can hear me, turn around and face me like an adult. You think I don't recognize that tattoo on the back of your neck?" She said.

Dammit, I forgot about that tattoo. It was a tattoo of a heart that I got while we were drunk together as teens.

I turned around slowly to face the last person I wanted to see.

Maddie. My former best friend. The one I just up and left with no explanation.

"Hey," I stammered. Her eyes watered, which made mine do the same thing.

"Why'd you have to leave? What made you do that?" She asked, getting right to the point.

I sighed, "It's a long story, and I have to meet my friend in a few minutes."

"Well, I guess I'm coming with you because we need to talk," she said firmly.

"Fine, this is my daughter, Macy," I said with a wave toward my daughter.

Maddie's eyes widened.

Three hours later

"Wow," Maddie said after I told her, in detail, my life in the past five years. We were walking back to my bus to continue to catch up.

"Yep," was all I said. It was weird to think back and tell my life's story to someone who used to always be by my side.

We continued to talk until we bumped into someone, or a few someones. I looked up and gasped, wondering how I was gonna get out of this without raising questions.

Right in front of me was Ronnie, Craig, and Max. And we were all face to face with each other for the first time in at least five years years.