Just Ride: Legion of Guardians Read Free

knew how to be. After finishing community college and majoring in performing arts, I decided to take a leap of faith, after some pushing from my mom, and ask Wiley to let me be the opening act for one of the local bands.
    At first, he was reluctant since he wasn't sure where my mom stood on the issue. Then I think he thought I would get my feelings hurt if I wasn't any good. After he and my mom talked, he let me perform one song, and after bringing the house down with an oldie but goodie, he sort of became my manager and started to make calls for me to sing at other bars. One night, an agent just happened to be in the audience, and signed me on the spot. And that’s how my entire singing career started. I loved to sing, but only because I was naturally good at it. My family always loved and celebrated it, but having lots of people all of a sudden showing their love and support was brand new for me, and I got caught up in the hype.
    After a little while, the demands for me to travel grew, so I moved away, got involved in some light drama and fell in love with my first biker. Jaz was his name, and he was biker/rocker to the core. He played the bass, and man, could he play! Jaz sported tats all up and down his arms, creeping up his neck, and even circling his thighs. He was from New York State, and he loved to rock. We made sweet music, among other things, for the seven months we were on tour, but once our tour was over, so were we. All of that would have been fine, except I had rearranged my life for him and he had already moved on.
    Jaz was a part of some biker club that did a bunch of illegal shit, but I was in love and that was all that mattered. I was making coke runs, seducing guys for him, all while in a continual state of inebriation. We both stayed intoxicated, which was another reason the relationship worked. After Jaz collapsed during a show, he had to do thirty days of rehab, which meant when he was out. I stayed sober as well to show my solidarity. What I found out was that besides the great sex, there wasn't much conversation as we had little in common outside of the band and our love of drinking. Also, Jaz was no longer the lead bass player, so that tore at his self-worth. Our last day together included me walking in on him fucking my backup singer in my trailer. The bitch had the nerve enough to stop for a moment and said, “Backup for backup. Try the lead bass player.”
    Then he kept on fucking her.
    That was by far the worst moment of my life. The only thing I could do was kick over that stupid bike. For weeks after that, I regretted not slashing the tires. Somehow, I thought I'd feel better.
    Maybe a little.
    The night of the performance at Wiley’s, I was so nervous. Mom wanted to come, but said she was feeling weak. This was the third day in a row that she felt that way, but she had new medicine, so the doctor said it was to be expected. She had the names and numbers of everyone I would be with, including Wiley’s, if she needed me.
    Maybe nervous wasn’t the word after all to describe my feelings, because I swear there was a panic attack coming next. Dressed in skinny dark jeans, a loose yet light baby pink blouse that slouched on one side of my shoulder and my trusty black four-inch heels, I figured was perfect. My makeup was heavy around the eyes yet natural on my cheeks and lips. I spent a lot of time prepping my hair to have a dainty yet wistful look with silver droplets in my ears.
    Wiley put his arm around me and said, “Doll, go to that place ya go. You'll be fine.”
    He practically towered over me standing at six foot three, more than enough of a beer belly to hold him over for a while and worn jeans that I’m sure he never changed. Looking up into the old man’s eyes, I saw years of experience but also love. I smiled at the man’s words. He was absolutely right. When I sang, I just went somewhere else; a happier place, calm, drama free, and most importantly, safe. Safe from heartbreak,