“Do you think we just made a baby?”
She was still lost in a dream. “I don’t know.” It didn’t matter if they made a baby this time, or if they never tried to conceive with direct sexual contact again. Nothing would ever replicate or take away from the carnal love and desire that the three of them had just exhibited for one another.
Chapter Nineteen
Three weeks on the road went by faster than expected. Tonight was the last show of this leg of the North American tour, and Tommy was filled with an ambiguous mixture of regret and anticipation. Everyone’s energy level had escalated with each show and right now they were sky high. They were saving the best for last. They had been rehearsing the song Angel penned for Lucas, now titled Punk Rock-A-Bye Baby, and planned on revealing it to the crowd at the New Orleans Arena.
Tommy looked back at Jessi playing with Lucas on the bed and imagined another baby playing along with them. Nothing would make him happier. He sat on the edge of the bed, and Lucas immediately crawled over to him with his little butt wiggling. Tommy picked up his son and stared into eyes as blue as his own. “Are you having fun playing with Mommy?”
Lucas answered with an array of baby gurgles and a giggle.
“I’ve been letting him draw on my Tablet,” Jessi turned the display around so Tommy could see it. “So far, he made this masterpiece.”
It was a bunch of large oval circles, really nothing more than some scribbles, but Lucas recognized it as his artwork and clapped his hands, obviously proud of his work.
“An artist?” Tommy asked his son. “And I thought you were going to be a rock star.”
Lucas squirmed out of his grasp and crawled back to Jessi. He pulled himself up, hung onto her shoulder, and played with her hot pink hair.
Jimmy called Tommy from the lower level of the bus, and he reluctantly got up from the bed. It was time to leave for sound check, and he knew that when he came back Lucas would be down for the night. He leaned over and patted Lucas on the butt. “I gotta go, baby boy. You got a kiss for your daddy?”
Lucas fell back onto his diaper, brought the palm of his hand to his mouth and blew Tommy a kiss.
Joyous laughter bellowed from Tommy’s mouth. Fatherhood was everything he had ever dreamed of. He took Lucas’s hand and kissed it. “I’ll see you in the morning, Lucas. Love you.” He kissed Jessi. “I’ll see you later, hon.”
“He’ll be winding down soon. I’ll head over as soon as he’s asleep.”
He kissed her again and let his lips linger until Lucas’s hands were in his hair, and his kiss turned into a smile. “He’s pulling my hair again.”
“What are you doing to Daddy, silly boy?” Jessi gave Lucas her Tablet. “Play with this, baby.” At the sight of the Tablet, Lucas forgot about Tommy’s hair and resumed working on his masterpiece. “I’ll call you before I head over to make sure Angel has all of his stage attire. We packed up everything last night, and I gave his cases to the handlers who unloaded the equipment this morning.”
“Not to worry, hon. If he’s missing anything, you know he’ll be the first to call.”
This time it was Damien who hollered from downstairs. “Dude! Come on! Security is waiting for us!”
Tommy left Jessi and Lucas with another kiss and headed to the arena for the last show before they returned home to New York.
Tommy waited at the side of the stage with his bandmates and listened to the screaming crowd. The four of them huddled together in a pre-show embrace. They eyed each other with the same electricity. It ran through their veins and tied them together. At that moment, Immortal Angel was one being whose sole purpose was to bring killer beats to life and entertain a crowd of 19,000 people at the New Orleans Arena.
Tommy’s heart thudded in his chest with the familiar anticipation that occurred during the last few seconds before the show started, but tonight something was missing – Jessi. It dampened his spirits, and the thrill of it all was diminished by her absence.
“Tonight marks the end of another tour,” Angel said. “I’ve lost count of how many times we’ve graced the stage together. I’m blessed to share this journey with each of you.” He pulled his arms together and tightened their circle. “There’s never been any drama between us, only friendship, love and support. Brotherhood.”
Jimmy’s foot bounced on the floor in tune to the thunder of the crowd. “I hear ya, man. Nothin’ but love right here.”
Damien nodded his mohawk. “Let’s kill this shit.”
The stage lights dimmed and the crowd roared. “I think it’s show time!” Tommy took hold of his Les Paul like it was a mighty scepter. His long fingers graced the neck with a delicate dance. He didn’t need to think about chord progression or which notes would follow. His hands and fingers took over and delivered a cry that announced the start of the show.