Chapter 1
“Babygirl, we have to leave now or you’re going to be late. “, Colson yelled up the stairs as I was rushing down the hall. He kissed me as he I handed him Zoe. “I’m sorry Daddy, I had to pee and change her shirt again she spit up.” I said as I grabbed her diaper bag and outfit. He pulled the door close as I climbed into the back sit to buckle her into her car seat. “Baby do you have your cap and gown?” he asked before we drove off. I nodded yes as I buckled up. I looked at him as he held my hand. I thought about what we had been through in the past two years. We had survived my dad finding out about us, a miscarriage, high school, fights, addictions, the birth of our daughter and now we were on the way to my high school graduation.
Kells lifted my hand to his lips as he sped down the road. Everyone was cheering as I stepped up on the stage carrying our angel that kept us going every waking hour. I had succeeded in doing something that no one had ever thought I would, not even myself. I was a mother, high school graduate, wife, daughter, manager. Even with all those titles I was still his BabyGirl and he made sure that I knew it every chance he got. We had a few days before we would be leaving again, but today we were celebrating my accomplishments. My new and old family came together to make sure I knew how great I was.
“The bus is here” Kells said as he peeked into our bedroom. “What’s wrong?” he asked as he hugged me from behind. “Nothing I just feel like I am missing something.” I said as I leaned back against him. “Babygirl if we forget something, we can buy another one, if we can’t mom and dad can ship it to us. Come on baby you don’t want to drag the goodbyes out”. He kissed the top of head. “I want you to call me as soon as you get there.” Lily told me as she kissed Zoe forehead “Colson you take care of my girls,” Don told him. “I will dad, promise. Kam joined us as we made our way to the bus. “Don, don’t worry he will, or we will whoop him good.” “Good”, Don said seriously. “I put the hotel information on the table, we should be there by 6 tonight. Kells has one show tonight after that we will head the rest of the way.” I told our as Lily got some last minute snuggles in with Zoe. “This house is going to be so dull without you my sweet princess,” her grandma told her. “Come on baby we’re already running late,” Kells said as Lily handed Zoe to him. We waved as the bus door closed. “Goth, I put your stuff in the back.” Tay said as she started to play with Zoe. “I have to say this maybe a first for me, having an infant on a tour bus, but if anyone can do, it’s you lot.” Robbie said as he walked up to the front.
I giggled, “Daddy I’m gonna go put her down and get her stuff sorted”. “Okay sweetie I know you’re hungry and sleepy, mommy woke you up earlier than normal.” He said as he kissed the top of her head. I crawled up into the center of the bed and laid Zoe on a pillow between my legs. “What does Robbie know anyways?” Tish said as she walked in. “That baby has been in more clubs around the country then anyone I know, and that was before she was born.” Nisha added. “Thank you, guys, for coming along with me. I mean it, I love the guys, but they wouldn’t be able to help me as much as I may need.” I said leaning forward hugging the girls with Zoe in between us still nursing.
Tisha picked up Zoe after she was done feeding so I could fix my clothes while Nish fixed her bed. We went back to the front of the bus once she was sleeping soundly. Nisha placed the monitor on the table as I curled up beside Kells. “Changed, fed and sleeping”, I said opening my PC. “So, it takes three grown ass women to take care of a little baby,” Ryan said laughing as we all said “Yes”. Kells had ment every word he said to her in the hospital three months ago. He had come back and married that girl. My father was a little hesitant because of Zoe still being so little but he knew he couldn’t stop her.
I snuggled closer into his arms as Kells played with my hair. I didn’t that he did it while I was working, because it helped me to relax and focus. I pulled up my emails to make sure I had everything in order. “So, what all do we have to do today,” he said looking over my shoulder at the screen. “Let’s see,” I said scrolling down the line, “Confirmations for the hotels. Um the merch invoices, your photo shoot, dates and times. Umm a few mag journalists want to meet with you tonight. One asked to ride with us to Florida. Just the normal stuff really.” I told him. “And to think,” he wrapped his arms around my now flat waist. “7 months ago, this was just a dream.” “Yeah, I know.” I smiled as I laid my head back against his shoulder. “Hey Robbie, what is this from the company?” I asked. “Oh, that is some more paperwork”. “About?” I asked him. “Basically, we want to do the reevaluation after the numbers come in form the summer tour.” he answered. “So, I don’t have to read it right this moment?” He nodded no.
“So, let’s see." I said as he went back to his work. They gave me Kells business account because I was saving them money. They were so impressed that they wanted to add me to the payroll when the tour was over. They trusted my business savvy mind so much they let me control all of his accounts. Vendors, club bookings, publications, everything. At 18 years old, this average housewife and mother of a 3-month-old, would be working for a multimillion company. My business attire were my husband’s hoodies, tank tops, shorts, and flip flops.
Kells read the email over my shoulder “Baby that’s great,” he whispered into my ear. “Tanks Daddy. “, I whispered back. We had been on the road maybe three hours when Zoe started to wake up. “I’ll get her baby.” He said as I slide forward letting him up. He had left the monitor on the table so everyone could hear him. “Hey there cutie.” he said softly. “What are you doing awake. Oh, that’s why.” You could hear him messing around with her bag. “Oomph baby girl you mommy was right you do smell like daddy.” We heard here Zoe giggle as he blew raspberries on her belly. “You got your mommy’s giggles. Mommy giggles just like that, when I do it to mommy too.” he laughed. We were all struggling not to laugh too loud at this point.
“Zoe Bird, you got to bear with daddy for a few minutes. Mommy is working. Yes, she is”, he said as we heard Zoe giggle loudly. Zoe was making noises like she was talking. “I know angel. You don’t say”, he said as he carried her to front while feeding her a bottle. No one was talking. “What”, Kells asked blankly. Kam picked up the monitor turning it off as we all busted out laughing. “Bruv, I don’t want to hear you say a word.” Kells told Kam laughing. “I caught you just the other day doing the same thing with her." The guys started hitting their chest making fun of Kam. “I’m a grown ass man dammit”, “The smoke got me”, “Cuz y’all aren’t going to let me live that down, are you?” Kam asked. “NO”, they all said bursting out laughing again. Kam took Zoe from Kells, “We know what we were talking about, don’t we Zoe girl.” Zoe grinned at her Unkies Kam. “Mm hmm that’s right they just jealous, we got the inside scoop on them all.” Kam said in a softer voice. “You better burp her or you gonna look like the one that missed this morning”, Kells told him laughing handing him a towel.
Kam threw the towel over his shoulder, as Zoe gurgled and cued “I know tell them Unkie Kam knows what he is doing.” as he rubbed her back in a circular motion. “See”, Kam whispered, “Zoe knows who got her back”, he said as he turned around to show us that she was sleeping. “Well Unkies Kam you can keep her tonight instead of us”, Tish said patting his shoulder, “No, see”, he said backpedaling, “Me and her have an understanding. She makes me look good and I don’t torture her with my snoring." Nisha giggled as she took her to her bed while I called ahead to double check the reservations and the codes for the back entrance, elevator, and hotel suit. “Okay thank you so much for your help” I said as I hung up the phone.
“Everything good baby?” “Yeah, they said they will have more security tonight on your way back, but right now not many people have figured out where we are staying at. But he did say that we have a small crowd to contend with.” I walked up the front to tell the driver where to turn in at. “Okay”, I said coming back, “Kam and Ryan you will be behind the twins and Zoe. We will be in front of them. Um Ollie here is the code for the door memorize it then burn it. Keagan the elevator code does the same. The rest of you lot just make sure no one gets near my baby.” Tisha picked up Zoe as Nye grabbed her diaper bag. Tisha sat down beside the door holding Zoe tightly as she cried while Kells put my laptop in my massager bag. “Shh baby girl.” Tisha whispered as she rocked her. “You can go back to sleep as soon as Auntie Tish can get you inside, I promise”. We got into our positions as the bus turned into the parking lot.
What was supposed to be a few people turned out to be more like Fifty. Ollie jumped down running for the door, he punched in the code, swinging the door open. Keagan ran inside to the elevator. Kells and Loyalty stepped out first, Kam and Ryan helped Tish with Zoe, as Nisha and the others surrounded them. Ollie pulled the door close as the last one came in. We had made it into the hotel, but we still had one more to go. The elevator door closed just in time as the crowd running towards them. We all started singing Zoe’s song to settle her down.
Keagan held the door as we went out. Kam and Ryan checked the suit as the crew stood just inside the door. Tisha gave Zoe to her mama once it was all clear. “There, there Zoe Rose, you are alright.” I whispered as we walked inside. “Shh, I know”, I said as Zoe fussed at her mother. “Shh sweetie daddy is warming it up for you.” I whispered as I rocked Zoe back and forth on the sofa. Kells and the guys went outside to smoke a blunt or two, while Robbie and us girls stayed inside. “Tish, will you get my phone for me”, I asked as I rocked Zoe on my lap feeding her with one hand. “Baby, where is my laptop?" I asked as he peeked his head in the door. “In your bag, you need me to get it?” he asked as I nodded, “Please”.
