Chapter 12

12

S even days after Jake's collapse, the tour picked up again. The shows that had been canceled were added on at the end of the tour, with more days between them to allow the guys to rest. Besides canceling shows, a few media events were canceled, too. Fans sent gifts in for the guys, several with get-well cards for Jake.

Celine checked in with the guys regularly, more than the once-a-week she originally told them. She hung around more often, but Jake thought it had more to do with the glances that were thrown between her and a certain best friend of his.

While Jake's strength returned, he could see Claire's diminishing. Celine, Ben, Will, and Lonnie paid special attention to Claire, but tried not to fuss over her when anyone else was around. Although, Jake noticed.

Everyone piled onto the bus to head toward their next destination. Celine got on their bus with them, since it would be only a few hours of driving to get there. It allowed her time to catch up with the guys individually. Lonnie also remained onboard with them.

Claire immediately went to her bed to nap. The rings around her eyes seemed to darken as the days passed. Lonnie took a seat in the front lounge with a book while the rest of the group went to the back lounge to play video games. Jake remained up front and waited for everyone to leave before sitting down in front of Lonnie and narrowing his eyes.

Lonnie rolled his eyes and leaned back. "Spit it out, kid."

Jake tipped his head toward the bunks.

"What's going on with Claire?"

Lonnie shook his head. "You know I won't tell you anything she has confided in me."

"True. But there has to be general information I can know that isn't sworn to secrecy."

Lonnie sighed and watched Jake for a moment before reaching into the black backpack by his feet. He pulled out a tabloid and handed it to Jake.

On the front page was a picture of Claire as she ran into the hospital with Ben, and the headline read, "Claire Evans Runs from Baby Daddy".

"Fuck," Jake muttered. He flipped to the article and skimmed it. There were several quotes from Charles saying how his pregnant girlfriend fled to the tour to see her brother and never came home. There was a sob story about missing her and just wanting to make sure he saw the birth of his child.

Jake handed the magazine back to Lonnie, not wanting to see it any longer, but also not wanting it to stay out for anyone to get their hands on in case Claire hadn't seen it yet.

Lonnie shoved it into his backpack.

"He went to the press? Claire knows?"

Lonnie nodded. "He's trying to paint Claire in a bad light. We suspect he'll come after her soon."

The hairs on Jake's arms raised. "Can't they arrest him before that happens?"

"Claire filed a police report against him and has a restraining order. We have been working to file them in every state we go, making sure you're all covered as well. But the problem is she doesn't think he'd abide by one, anyway. He's unhinged."

Jake nodded. He thought the same thing. The guy will come after Claire regardless of there being a restraining order. Criminals do not care in the end.

"What's being done to protect her?"

"We have security keeping an eye out at every event. We've requested she stay backstage and not watch every show. Every arena you guys play has security checking for weapons, so we have that additional protection as well."

Jake's eyes shifted toward the bunks again before his voice lowered even more. "Stay with her at all times."

Lonnie leaned forward and rested his elbows on his knees. "I promise you, Jake. I'm doing everything in my power to make sure she's safe."

"I know you are. I just… I'm worried."

"I know this is an impossible request, but let us worry about her. You need to worry about yourself. You can't let this affect your sleep. The best thing we can do is keep things as normal for her as possible. She knows what's going on, but she doesn't need to be reminded every second of every day."

"Okay," Jake said. "Shouldn't the others know too, in case they see something?"

The look on Lonnie's face told him they already knew.

Jake sighed. "So this was only kept from me?"

"We're just trying to make sure you recover and didn't want to give you something else to worry about."

"I've always been worried about it."

"I know. We just thought it was for the best."

"So why are you telling me now?" Jake asked.

"We all agreed that if you asked, we wouldn't keep you in the dark. No one wants to lie to you."

"Is there anything else I need to dig for answers on?" Jake raised an eyebrow.

Lonnie chuckled. "No. That's it. You now know as much as everyone else."

"Keep me in the loop, please. Wondering if there's information you all are keeping from me will just make me more anxious."

Lonnie looked as if he was considering what Jake said before slowly nodding. "I will."

"Thanks."

Jake stood and headed toward the bunks. Claire's curtain was pulled shut, but he suspected she was still awake. He sat down on the ground outside of his bunk and leaned his back against it. He closed his eyes and let out a deep breath slowly.

Life felt chaotic, even though Will had attempted to get them more free time. Jake didn't know if that was necessarily a good thing. All it did was leave him more time to think.

"Jake?" Claire whispered. "What are you doing?"

Jake's eyes popped open to find Claire's bunk curtain pulled back and her peering at him. Her hair was in a messy topknot, and a hint of a pink tank top peeked out of the covers.

"Just want to keep you company if you'd like it."

A soft, tired smile touched her lips. "You look like you could use some sleep like me."

He shrugged. "I'm okay."

She watched him for only a moment before telling him to pull his bunk curtains closed. He furrowed his eyebrows before doing as she said and looked back at her. She scooted back into her bunk further and motioned for him to join her.

He didn't hesitate for even a second before he crawled into her bunk. It was snug since they weren't designed for two people, but it was doable. He struggled to pull the curtains shut behind him, and Claire giggled when he swore under his breath.

Finally, they were engulfed in darkness. It only took a moment for his eyes to adjust. Claire smiled up at him.

"I hope this won't make things uncomfortable between us," she said.

"Not at all." He wrapped his arms around her and tugged her into his chest. "Is this hurting you at all?"

She shook her head. "My ribs haven't been bothering me much lately. I think they may have only been bruised."

He sighed into her hair and pressed a kiss to the top of her head. His entire body relaxed at the feel of her in his arms. It felt so right. He didn't want to risk ruining this moment, but he couldn't help it.

"I don't know that anyone will think I'm actually in my bunk," he whispered.

Through a yawn, she replied, "I don't care."

And he didn't either.

Claire's body relaxed, and her breathing deepened. She was fast asleep in his arms, and it only took a moment before he was asleep as well.