Brett sat down at the table with Carl, Kevin, and Jeff, feeling relieved. He had a whole different rush of a feeling flowing through him. A rush of pride, a rush of happiness. For the first time in a long time he had sat down with a woman and talked to her. He didn’t treat her like some toy. Even when he was married he and Lisa were always having sex. It wasn’t just a thing with the groupies.

“So?” asked Kevin.

“So?” Brett asked, shaking his head.

“Tell us what happened!”

“Oh. Right, right.”

He grabbed a cigarette and lit it up and started his story.

“When we were on the last tour I hooked up with Kim, but she’s not a groupie, she’s a fan. When we were in the hotel room she asked me if I really wanted to do it because of my family and I was stunned she knew, but then she reminded me she was a fan and not a groupie.”

“Right,” agreed Carl. “I remember seeing you talk to her last time.”

“Yeah. So ten you know about how I told Lisa and then we got divorced.”

Everyone just nodded their heads in agreement.

“Then at the last show I hooked up with Jade from high school.”

“Uh-huh,” they all replied.

“Well, tonight I found Kim again and I took her back to the hotel and we were getting into in and she told me she didn’t want to because she felt like she had caused the divorce. So, she talked me into wanting help and we just went and hung out, talking and stuff. It was something I haven’t done in a long time. It really made me feel good.”

“Good for you,” replied Jeff. “We’re glad to hear it.”

As the Fuel tour continued on the East Coast of the country Brett tried his hardest not to give it, and won. It was hard, but he did it. And he felt like he was starting to make a recovery. He still wanted to get help and he still wanted to get his family back.

After six weeks Fuel returned to their homes in Harrisburg, well, except for Brett, he returned to his apartment. He found a pile of mail in his mailbox, and in that mail sat countless notices telling him to pay his monthly child support or he would be back in court. Just what he needed. Now he had to call Lisa and work everything out. He really didn’t want to call Lisa until he had started getting his help, but this needed to be taken care of.

“Lisa, you need to call the lawyer.”

“Why?”

“Because I got all these noticed telling me that I need to pay my child support or I’ll be back in court. I wasn’t here to pay it or to get the notices, so we need to get all of this settled.”

“All right. I’ll call him. When are you taking Ryan again?” she asked.

“Um, I’m really not sure. Give me a few weeks, I’ve got some things to get straightened out and then I’ll take him for a weekend. Maybe even a few afternoons. I have to wait and see,” he said, not wanting to tell Lisa about the help he was going to get. He wanted to surprise her.

“Why?” Lisa asked, a little cocky. “Do you have a new girlfriend you’re cheating on?”

“No. Actually it’s something I’m doing for you and Ryan, but I’ve got to keep it a secret for now.”

“Whatever. I’ll call you and get back to you in a few days.”

Kevin, Jeff, and Carl knocked on the door on Brett’s apartment and waited for him to answer.

It was two weeks after they had returned from the tour and Brett was attending his first meeting for his sexual addiction. The guys were coming along to help him and give him some support.

Brett answered the door, dressed and ready, with Ryan by his side.

“Hey Ryan,” Jeff said as he rubbed his head. “Did ya have fun with daddy?”

Ryan replied with a shake of his head. He was always shy, even towards Kevin, Jeff, and Carl, who he had been around him ever since he had been born. But then again he was just a little boy. A little boy dealing with his parents divorce.

“I have to drop him off on the way there, so I’ll take my car and follow you guys.”

“There’s room in the car for his car seat,” said Kevin. “We can all fit.”

Brett agreed and everyone piled into Kevin’s car. It was a tight squeeze, but like Kevin said, everyone fit.

Brett knocked on the door of his old home and waited for Lisa. She answered the door, dressed in a black dress that fit her body perfectly, her hair was done and up and smelled of the same sweet scent that she had worn when she met Brett, vanilla.

“Hi Brett,” she said as she bent down and picked Ryan up. “Was he good?”

“Yes,” brett replied. “Where are you going all dressed up? A date?”

“No. I have a meeting with the lawyer.”

“Why get all dressed up then?” he asked.

“Jeez. Maybe because I wanted to look good. I wanted to change a bit. Maybe because I want to forget about my past.”

“Oh, so now you want to forget about me and everything I gave you?” he asked, becoming frustrated.

“No, Brett. I cant sit here and fight with you. I’ve got to go.”

“Who’s going to watch Ryan?”

“Robyn,” she replied.

“Kevin didn’t say anything about that. Anway, why not have Mikayla or Shauna watch him?”

“Because they don’t have kids and I think that Ryan would rather go to Kevin’s and play with Jason then just sit with them and do nothing. I really do need to go. I’ll talk to you later.”

Brett stood there as Lisa and Ryan left, leaving Brett standing in the driveway. He walked to the car, got in and they pulled away.

“What the hell was going on?” asked Carl.

“She’s just giving me attitude, making me feel bad. And the sad thing is, I do. I really do.”

…to be continued…

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