Expectations

Chapter 42

A few hours after Hallie is born, I have to say goodbye to everyone and leave to catch a plane to South America. The second leg of the tour started there over a week ago and we only came back to the states for the award show. The original plan was for everyone to fly back together to South America after the award show, but I'm running a little late since I had to find a new flight back by myself.

When I finally land, it's already 11:00 a.m. so I go straight to the venue. Going into Alex's dressing room, no one is in there but the bathroom door is closed and I hear the shower turn on. Looking at my watch, I figure Alex must have just finished up a workout with his trainer and is in the shower now.

Running off zero hours of sleep after being up for over twenty four hours, I lay down on the couch only intending to close my eyes for a few minutes, but Alex's voice coming from the shower lulls me to sleep.

"Hey," a soft voice pulls me from my unconsciousness, and a gentle hand runs up and down my arm. I know its Alex by the familiar scent of shampoo wafting into my nose.

I slowly blink my tired eyes open to see him kneeling down in front of me, hair still damp from his shower and a smile on his lips.

"Hi," I rasp out, forcing myself to sit up on the couch despite my body feeling so heavy with sleep.

"When did you get here?" he asks, standing up and taking a seat next to me.

"Whenever you got in the shower." I yawn, closing my eyes again and resting my head on his shoulder.

"Have you slept at all?"

"No," I groggily admit. From getting ready for the award show yesterday to jetting between countries, I didn't sleep at all, my anxiety of flying preventing me from any rest.

He lets out a disheartened sigh, resting his hand on my thigh. "Get some sleep, Joss. We have a little over two hours before we have to go to interviews and everything."

"Hmm, I'm ok," I lie, trying to fight my sleep, but I can't even manage to open my eyes.

"It's ok, I got you. I'll wake you up when we have to go. Get some sleep," I hear him say before I slip back out of consciousness, and I feel him press a kiss to the top of my head.

-

The piercing screams in the arena help keep me awake when the show starts.

"You ok?" Shay yells over the crowd. "You should really get some sleep. It's ok if you miss one show, you know?"

I vigorously shake my head, trying to wake myself up. "I'm ok." I try to flash her a convincing smile.

She just rolls her eyes. "You're so stubborn."

I momentarily close my eyes until the song ends and more screams fill the air. When I open my eyes I spot a pair of blue ones staring back at me with concern. I send Alex a convincing smile, letting him know I'm ok.