She shook her head and gently spoke. “Sully, let go, please. C’mon, get up.”
He did as she requested and she opened her arms to him. He fell into her arms again and let go in heaving sobs, desperate to come up with the right words through his tears. “What can I do? I’ll do anything, just give me another chance. I want us to be strong together again like we used to be. Please.”
She pulled back and took his face into her hands. “It’s too little too late for that. I already told you what’s in my heart. It’s not up for negotiation. We’re not the same people we were when we first got together.”
She shook her head. “Clearly, I’m not enough for you. Even though nothing happened but a little bit of kissing, taking a groupie back to your room when you’re high? That’s unacceptable and disrespectful to me, your wife. Do you get that? And the lies about the drugs and the partying, Sull. It’s too much.”
She wriggled from his embrace and folded her arms in front of her chest, attempting to put up and invisible wall of protection. She opted to go back to all business. The last thing she wanted was to leave space to entertain his rallying and the justification of his position. “I think a separation will do us both some good.”
He sighed and stared at her and then shook his head, unable to control his angry outburst. “You think that us getting a divorce is the best fucking idea? What kind of solution is that? That’s giving up, Kit. That’s quitting. That’s what that is. And we’re not quitters, Kathryn.”
She stared at him, doing her best not to be reactive. She carefully considered her response and spoke calmly. “I said separation, Sully. Divorce would be the next logical step eventually, yes, but I did not say divorce... yet. Let’s be crystal clear on that.” Her eyes then narrowed. “Those drugs are twisting things around in your brain. Get your fucking story straight.”
She knew all too well how easy it was to get caught up in his web of influence, so she didn’t give him any leeway. She stood tall and looked at him.
She spoke coolly. “Do your best out on the road, Sully. Lead the troops. You’re the one that decided to keep this tour in motion, so finish it strong. Give the fans the show of their lives. Sing your heart out.”
He sat down on the sofa and bobbed his head in agreement. His bloodshot eyes searched hers desperately looking for her approval. When he didn’t see it, he felt his anxiety shoot into overdrive again. Suddenly, his future held an unusual amount of uncertainty it never had since he met her almost a decade ago.
He nodded knowing this was one thing he could get right. “I won’t let you down.”
She forced a grin. “Go get ‘em. Sean and Giselle are waiting. Get that meeting done and get on the jet. The audience awaits.”
He sighed. “I feel like I shouldn’t be leaving right now. We should be booking an emergency marriage counseling session instead and I…”
She shook her head. “You put this in motion, Sully. Don’t back down now. I’ll be fine. I’ve got family around me. Go. And send in Sean, please.”
He nodded. “I love you, Kitty.”
She forced a grin and felt slightly alarmed by the reality of the changes that were taking place right before her eyes. She had a strange feeling it would be one of the last exchanges they would have like this for some time. Although, she had made her decision clear, she couldn’t deny her deep feelings for him.
She sighed as she met his eyes. “I love you too, Sully.” She swallowed hard feeling the exhaustion roll through her body.
CHAPTER 6
Oblivious to Kit’s physical state, Sully headed out, absorbed in his own little world of anxiety, despair and overwhelming responsibility for closing out one of the largest tours he had ever experienced.
Moments later, Sean appeared, looking concerned. “Kit-Kat, you don’t look so good.”
She sighed. “I don’t feel so good, Sean.”
He rushed to her side. “Here, let me help you.” He guided her to the couch where she slumped down, stunned and spent. She didn’t have the strength or energy to process what was happening, but she wanted to have a quick chat with Sean before he headed out.
She looked at him. “Is this tour viable? Meaning, can you pull it off or is Sully out of his mind?”
Sean shrugged his shoulders. “We’ve got the momentum. We have a few shows that we cancelled that we get to make up at the end. It should be three and a half months, maybe four. Hopefully smooth, but I can’t guarantee it. The band is imploding, Kit. I think you know this already.” She nodded as he continued. “I’m not going to bring you into it. I’ll do as much damage control as I can. Giselle is a good day-to-day lead for Sully.”
He chuckled. “Sully’s not as polished as you as the manager, but he’s pretty good. He’s got good strategies and the guy knows how to sell it, so the tour should be pretty solid with him leading. Bryan is a strong MD, he knows how to stand up to Sull, so we should be good. Bryan is a good buffer. Sully values his opinion and listens to him.”
Kit grinned. “I guess Sully respects him because Bryan is classically trained and they’ve know each other since they were kids. Bry’s been a great musical director for this band from the start. How’s he holding up?”
Sean shook his head. “Like I said, it’s a
